Murray’s op took three times as long as it should have because his bones are so strong
Former world No 1 took so long in hip surgery to save his career his family became worried in the waiting room but is now targeting a return to tennis
ANDY MURRAY'S career-saving op took three times as long as expected to perform because surgeons struggled to drill into his strong bones.
The procedure on January 28 became so complicated, the two-time Wimbledon champ’s family in the waiting room became increasingly concerned for his well-being.
Speaking for the first time since the hip op, Murray revealed: “The operation is supposed to be 45 minutes, but mine took a bit longer because the bone is really strong.
“It took a while to get a prosthesis into my bone. It took an hour-and-a-half to two hours — which everyone was a bit worried about in the waiting room.
“They were told I’d be back after 45 minutes and yet 2½ hours later and I wasn’t back.”
The 31-year-old aggravated the injury during the 2017 French Open when he was world No 1 and claims tennis over the next 18 months became a “horrible” experience.
During his tearful pre-Australian Open press conference in January, Murray explained he was in daily agony, struggling to even put on socks and shoes.
Five weeks on from having a metal plate inserted in his hip, while he is still limping, Murray can at least walk his two daughters round the block and ride his scooter.
He is not running but expects to be hitting balls from a stationary position in four weeks.
Murray’s daily rehab involves 45 minutes of physio, 90 minutes in the swimming pool, an hour of weights, 15-20 minutes of cardio on a bike and cross-trainer and 45 minutes of exercises.
At home, he has an anti-gravity treadmill, enabling him to walk 40 minutes per day at 85-90 per cent of his body weight.
Any potential comeback, including one last hurrah at Wimbledon this summer, can be assessed around the end of May when he can undertake high impact activity.
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Murray, speaking at the launch of his partnership with new kit sponsors Castore, said: “When I wake up in the morning I’m not stressed by hip pain all the time. The last 18 months were by far the hardest for me. Now I don’t feel like I’m battling against anything.
“After two weeks I was still on crutches and not really walking. And now I am crutch-free walking and the X-ray two days ago showed the prosthesis hasn’t moved.
“The doctor seemed very happy where I’m at after five weeks.
“I’m happy the decision was made to have it done because now I know the next ten years — or however long it lasts — will be a lot more enjoyable.
“It’s not about proving anyone wrong or being the first person to do it. Tennis is something I love doing.
“If my hip allows me to do that — without pain — and I can still enjoy it then I’d like to try.
“But if I can’t, then I can’t and I’ll be happy I’m not in pain every day.”
Nobody has ever returned to the top of the singles game after such trauma.
American doubles ace Bob Bryan, 40, is back playing again after the same surgery but playing with a partner is far less rigorous.
Murray will not discount doubles as a stepping stone and the prospect of him teaming up with his older brother Jamie on the grass courts would thrill his huge army of fans.
But the fire inside him, the determination that propelled him to two Wimbledon titles, the US Open and two Olympic gold medals, has not diminished.
Murray went under the knife at the Princess Grace Hospital in Marylebone under the supervision of Sarah Muirhead-Allwood, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon with more than 20 years’ experience.
He added: “She operates exclusively on hips. It was great.
“I had it done midday on Monday and I was out on Thursday evening.
“Over this period, I’ve spoken to a lot of different specialists. They told me things were going to turn out better than what they had.
“I felt speaking to her, she told me the truth, saying ‘There’s absolutely no guarantees you’ll get back to playing. You just have to see how it goes’.
“She said, ‘Just be realistic and this might not work out. But what I can guarantee you is your pain will be gone’. And that has happened.”