It is important to select a Doctor who knows what he is doing.  The claim to
fame for some of the Doctors I investigated was they studied under the
Doctor I selected.  I decided to go with the teacher rather  than the
student.  Be warned however, I think he is thinking about retirement.  I
anticipate using 2 crutches for 3 weeks with 1 crutch for two-three weeks
following.  The Doctor told me one of  his patients drove from Michigan to
California for the operation.  Three days later he rode back to  Michigan
and SHARED driving with his wife.  The Doctor told me I could drive in 2
weeks following the operation.

Day of Surgery:

Everything went smoothly.  I was given an epidural and wheeled into the
operating room.  I remember looking around and finally staring at the
ceiling. The Anesthesiologist said I was going to get a shot of pain killer
in the epidural after the operation and then said I was going to sleep.  I
remember looking at the  ceiling and thinking "this is taking longer than I
thought it would."  Next thing I remember is being told the operation was
over.  I found myself in a large recovery room still in a daze.  I was
wheeled into my room and promptly threw up.  Someone said it was probably
from the motion of the bed.  Not so.  I threw up about every 1-1/2 hours
from 2 p.m. until 10 p.m.  I was also  itching.  That was the worst.  Both
the throwing up and the itching were do to the anesthesia or pain killer.
In any case I did not want another shot and didn't receive any.

Day 2:

Started on the walker.  No big deal.  The biggest problem was getting out of
bed but after I mastered that I began walking around the floor using the
walker.  No or very little pain.  Had the drain removed from the hip and the
epidural removed from my back.  Only one needle still inserted (hand).
Spent 10% of time doing exercises, 10% of time walking, 80% of time laying
in bed.

Day 3:

Started using the crutches.  Walked around the floor out of boredom.  No or
very little pain.  Doctor visited and liked what he saw in terms of
progress.  Had the last needle (in my hand) removed.  Doctor said I could
return to the gym the following week and ride a stationary bike with the
non-operated leg going along for the ride.  Spent 10% of time doing
exercises, 10% of time walking, 80% of  time laying in bed.

Day 4:

Discharged from Hospital.  Took a Tylenol before trip because I was
expecting some pain after relative inactivity over last 3 days.  Took cab to
airport.  Entered back seat through driver's side.  Slid along seat and kept
operated leg in well.  Met at airport with wheelchair.  Did sit down roughly
since I had not gauged the level of the seat.  The angle between thigh and
torso was close to 90 but improved when the 4" seat cushion was placed on
the seat.   Wheeled to gate and sat for 2 hours with a short walk to
bathroom.  Pre-boarded and sat in bulkhead seat on the 4" seat cushion.  No
problem with angle.  Flight was about an hour.  Met at gate with wheelchair
and was wheeled to the car in the ramp.  No problem getting into car.
Thigh - torso angle was good.  To this point had been sitting down for
about 5 hours.  Thigh of operated leg had swelled and the swelling was very
cool to the touch.  Raised leg for next 3 hours.  Ate small meal with a
small glass of wine.  Slept in supine position with pillow between my legs.
Lots of pain in lower back after 4 hours.  Propped up back with pillows and
slept fairly well for next 4 hours.   Spent 5% of time doing exercises, 90%
of time sitting and 5% of time walking.

Day 5:

Started taking Indocine, Provacid and Coumadin.  Experienced some swelling
principally in thigh, but slightly in calf of operated leg.  Rested it.
Swelling went down but not completely.  Other leg normal.  Still not taking
any pain meds.  Sent for prescription - over 24 hours since last dose of
Indocin and prevocid.  Pain level 1.5 of range 0-10.  Start taking Coumadin.
I had some pain in specifically in the hip when I went to bed but did not
take anything for it.  It was at a level of 3-3.5 from 1-10.  Pain level is
about what I had expected from the operation.    I found I can alleviate the
pain in the lower back at night by placing the pillow under the knee rather
than between the legs.  It seems my back hurts when the pillow is between
the legs and my leg hurts when the pillow is under the knee.  I alternate.
I am eating well during the day.  Unbelievable that eating as little as
possible of the hospital food for 4 days with very little exercise and I
gained 4 pounds.  I slept more soundly than any night since operation.
Spent 5% of time doing exercises, 90% of time sitting and 5% of time
walking.

Day 6:

Returned to work (administration  and work at home) which is good since it
kept my mind off of condition.  Leg still slightly swollen (mostly in thigh
but some in calf).  Pain level during the day was 0-.5 from 1-10.  Leg feels
good.  Instead of sitting in dining room chair I put two sofa cushions on
top of each other.  It provides enough support while raising the sitting
surface.  It also allows me to elevate the leg on the table in front of the
sofa.  After about an hour in this position the leg gets a little tight.
Walking with crutches seems to loosen it up.  Tweeked it a little when I
forgot to take my crutches once when walking.  Leg gave out but I caught
myself before fall.  I was driven to the lab to give first blood sample.  No
problem getting in and out of car.  No problems using stairs.  Slept well at
night.  A little pain was experienced when raising operated leg into bed but
it went away.  No pain in the lower back or otherwise experienced during the
night.