Video Transcript
(0:13) Okay, John Stewart, mark three. Sticks, crutches, who needs them? Not him. Isn’t he wonderful?
(0:25) Okay, so my operation was done by Kristian Kley about six weeks ago in the Cromwell Hospital.
I had both hips replaced in one day. (0:35) The operation went very smoothly and I was actually walking with crutches the same day. I walked about 10 metres in my room. (0:42) The next day I walked without crutches in the room and I walked about 30, 40 metres around the ward.
(0:48) I was then discharged on the same day and by the end of the next two days I was walking at home maybe 10 metres the length of my living room without crutches. (1:00) Pain was only from my muscles and soft tissue complaining. It wasn’t the joint itself. Everything there was very comfortable.
(1:09) Since then I’ve increased the amount of walking I’m doing outside and inside and within a week I was walking into my little town which was about maybe 500 yards without crutches and walking back. (1:23) It included a slight slump. So since then that distance has increased. I’m now walking increasingly on flat surfaces rather than on slopes, maybe two and a half to three miles without pain.
(1:37) I feel as though my gait is fairly normal and I’m walking at a fairly normal speed. I’m still getting slight complaints from my soft tissue but to all intents and purposes I would say the operation has been a miracle.
(1:53) People that see me can’t believe how quickly my recuperation has been and how when they compare it with their operations that the amount of walking I’ve been able to do so quickly has been so lengthy. (2:10) I would say to anybody if they have hip problems then the operation done by Kristian Kley and Adrian Wilson is an absolute miracle and I would recommend them to anybody.
John’s Hip Replacement Journey
I have a long history of back pain, including L4/5 spinal fusion, injections into my facet joints and disks and denervation. I think my report of why I chose to see Kristian Kley and Adrian Wilson highlights their personal and professional skills.
While talking to Mr. Patrick McKenna, my spine consultant in London, he suggested that the scans, x-rays, lack of mobility and pain in my spine, indicate that my spinal issues were being exacerbated by the condition of my hips and my (resulting) terrible posture.
He suggested that I should make an appointment to see Dr Kristian Kley, who performs a minimally invasive form of hip replacement than usual and he is able to perform a bilateral hip replacement in one operation. The whole procedure takes about an hour and recovery is far quicker with less chance of infection and clotting. I went to see Professor Adrian Wilson, who works alongside Kristian Kley. He had received my x-rays and the diagnosis from Patrick McKenna. I spent a lot of time with him talking about my background and the impact of my hips on my back problems. He diagnosed severe arthritis in both hips with consequent minimal movement. Adduction was very limited and abduction was only slightly better. My posture and gait were both described as being terrible. He gave me lots of information about what could be done as an alternative to surgery, in terms of injections and physiotherapy and then he explained the procedure of hip replacements and described to me the type of hip replacements that he and Kristian Kley carry out. He explained everything about the operation itself. He had models to show me the ball that was inserted into the femur with a titanium spike and the socket which inserts into the pelvis. He explained the whole procedure, and any possible effects in terms of the complications of major surgery, and reiterated that the way that they do it is with minimal invasion. This lessens the chances of infection, blood clotting and recovery time compared with traditional procedures.
He was very positive about the impact it would have on my hip mobility and my posture, enabling me to walk vertically, thus easing the pressure on my spine. This could help me return to participation in physical activities that I have had to give up. It would, hopefully, enable me to put my shoes and socks on without using aids!
My wife was at the meeting with Professor Wilson. We decided that the operation was inevitable at some time. So, we went home and discussed it with family and we made the decision to go ahead with the operation in the Cromwell Hospital on the 10th of January. After Christmas, I got confirmation from Orthopaedic Innnovation that the operation was booked. I was provided with lots of information about pre-assessment procedures with clear and helpful guidance.
The hospital and Orthopaedic Innovation were very efficient in terms of identifying timings and giving me instructions as to where I would go, what would be happening and what I would need to do.
I arrived at the Cromwell Hospital for pre- assessment the day before the operation and had meetings with six or seven people over the course of two hours. They completed many tests – various blood tests, blood pressure, blood oxygen, x-rays, a urine test, an ECG and a meeting with a physiotherapy practitioner, explaining everything that I would need to do before and during and after the operation.
The whole process was incredibly detailed and thorough, it made me feel very positive and very confident that my surgery the following day would be in the hands of people who were of a very high quality.
I was admitted into the Cromwell on Friday morning at 7 a m and, again, the level of care that I received was exceptional.
I had a visit from the two surgeons, the anaesthetist, the pharmacist, the physiotherapist, a dietician and several nurses, all attending to my every need. By the time that I went down to the theatre I was fully aware of everything that I needed to know. About an hour later I was awoken in the recovery room, feeling pretty good with no pain.
I lay there for a while before being taken back to my room, where I probably dozed for a little while. The nurses regularly took blood pressure and oxygen measurements. Throughout the day, people kept me supplied with food and drinks. The wonderful physiotherapist, Ilse, provided an ice machine to lessen the possibility of bruising. She taught me bed exercises and ones for the future and advised me how to use crutches. The time had come to test the efficiency of the surgery!! Two hours after my operation I was walking with crutches, probably up to ten metres in my hospital room. I was astounded!
The level of care provided throughout my short stay was of consistently high quality. Nothing that I asked for was too much for the nursing and other staff.
Operation +1day
Adrian Wilson video called me to check on my well-being. I gave a very positive response. The distance I was walking increased to around the whole ward and I learned how to climb stairs thanks to Ilse. She gave me thorough advice and information about recuperation and further exercises.
The pharmacist prescribed medication and when to take it. So, I went home in a black cab fully aware of the recuperation process.
Later in the day I walked again, vertical for the first time in years.
Operation +2 days
I experienced some moderate pain at times with movement, especially in the right hip. I started taking my medication. I was walking further and more regularly. I was able to walk without crutches for short distances, up to ten metres at first.
Ice packs were used for 30 minutes on each side several times a day.
Operation + 3 days
Further improvement. I followed a s imilar routine with medication, ice packs and exercises. My w alking was improving, including without crutches. My p ain was minimal, any aches I did have were more on the right side than the left. Sitting and lying were comfortable. I culd s leep in any position (back, sides, front). I cooked dinner that night using the hob and oven. My appetite is not great.
Operation + 4 days
Contining progress. I w alked down and up the slope on drive and lane for 100 metres with crutches . I was also w alking inside the house and up and down the stairs without crutches. My mobility was increasing daily. I had n o need for stronger painkillers than Paracetamol. By the end of each day I was very tired and in bed by 21.30.
Operation + 5 days
I experienced my first car journey since being home. It was easy to get in the car bottom and head first and then swing my legs over. 40 minutes felt like it was probably enough. I am enjoying continuous improvement. My appetite is not back to normal since the operation – perhaps this is due to the medication? My daily routine is dressing, moving, ablutions and showering is improving daily.
Operation + 6 days
Is it really almost a week since the operation?! My progress was well in advance of where I thought I would be. I continued with the medication and exercise and walked round a supermarket holding the trolley.
Week Two
Although there is some mild discomfort at times, particularly when standing from sitting, I am sure that this is muscular or linked to tendons/ligaments as the joints themselves are not sore. I do not need extra pain relief tablets. My appetite is improving slowly. I tried drinking a small can of beer at the weekend but was not really interested. I have prepared and cooked a roast dinner without problems, though I had tired legs by the end. My legs throughout have felt ‘heavy’ and ‘achy’, a symptom I sometimes get when tired. I do not use crutches but most of my walking is indoors and over short distances.
Summary
Although I felt very positive about the operation before surgery, I did not expect to be able to walk as well as I can so soon after the operation. I walked 100 metres from a car park to a cinema after ten days. The skills of these two surgeons are of the highest quality and I can not thank them enough for preparing me so well and enabling my recovery to be so truly rapid. The evidence for my comments is in the text above. Friends and family, including some who have had hip replacements by ‘traditional methods’, are astounded that I am vertical and can walk without crutches in such a short time.
It was very interesting to hear the opinions of hospital staff about my two surgeons. They are both very highly respected by everyone.
