Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Half twisted
2.5 weeks ago I had a tibial derotation osteotomy and a modified Brostrom ligament reconstruction with a gastrocnemious release and a great toe plantar plate reconstruction with tendon transfer. My stay was in Grand Rapids and 6 days inpatient. They used a block that stayed in 3 days (thus the epidural catheter in my thigh) and general anesthesia. My kidneys decided to act up which is part of why I stayed longer than usual. The pictures I think will say it all. So very excited for a straight and stable leg!
Saturday, June 1, 2013
2 years post RPAO
Yesterday, May 31, was my 2 year mark for my RPAO (and 2.5 years for my LPAO). I had high hopes that at this point in my sustained recovery I would be updating with things like I'm running and hiking and doing crazy awesome things that crazy awesome 32 year olds do, but I'm not there yet. I don't know when I will be either.
I'm scheduled for a right hip injection on Monday. This will be 7 months post hip scope. My left hip has been acting up a lot lately and I don't know yet why or what it even means. I can't even mow the yard or be intimate with my husband without either hip freaking out. My left knee is still hurting me and has never gotten any better after any of my hip surgeries.
Next week, Friday June 7th, I am having my right tibia, ankle, and foot worked on.
I have ligament instability (my surgeon's words "your ankle is basically unattached") and will have a modified Brostrom ligament reconstruction, tibial derotation (at supramalleolar level), a dorsal plate reconstruction with tendon transfer, and a gastrocnemius lengthening.
It seems as if all this stuff I keep having done is really holding me back from really truly recovering but my body mechanics just plain suck. I can't seem to do anything anyway so I am pursuing corrective treatment.
As of now my endurance level for any activity is pretty limited. Just walking and standing in the grocery store is painful. That's not normal. I still have pain and stiffness in my right hip with flexion beyond 80 degrees and I can't rotate it out in a figure 4 without immediate pain. I feel things like bubble wrap popping in my hip. That feeling elicits a lot of pain. It goes tingly and numb when I lay on it. Then the fact that it just aches, a lot. A really bone deep ache. I'm not sure what is going on with my left hip. It started acting up a couple weeks ago. Any activity caused it to get achy, a pain where I didn't want to bear weight on it, and clicking. Now it's back to baseline where I just have the painful snaps throughout the day. It is simultaneous with my knee. All I can do is keep an eye on it. I don't have any "drop me to the floor" giving out pain anymore but I've had similar shadows of that pain hit me recently.
The good news is, I don't limp like I used to (unless I'm getting up after sitting for awhile). And with my left hip, the amount of time I'm in pain is short compared to the right side. I'm still planning on the day when I can participate in an organized run or adventure race. Maybe a bike race could be in my future.
I've honestly had a few days where I've cursed ever having surgery in the first place because it seems to have caused a chain reaction to more than I ever wanted, but overall, I think I'm better than I was.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
The "maintenance" years
I had my last "regular" appointment with Dr. Z on the 28th of January! It sounds so surreal to say that. He doesn't need to see me back until 2014, and yearly from then on. We're in the "watch and wait" period and done with the preservation surgeries. It's a bitter sweet thing. I've become accustomed to driving to Detroit every few months and checking in with Dr. Z, and I really have enjoyed getting to know him as more than just The Surgeon. I think I will truly miss getting to chat with him!
The low down on the hips:
Left hip = good. We're both very happy with the turnout. In fact, it's a model hip, and we both really wish my right would have followed suit.
Right hip = so/so. I reported that it's catching again, and still hurts. The last scope gave me about 3-4 weeks of relief, then it went back to being painful. He even felt it catch when he put it through ROM. I'm pretty much back to 90* flexion. He knows it's not great and feels bad that he couldn't get it to be like my left hip, but ultimately it should last a while if I'm smart about what I do. Looking at my left socket vs my right socket, it's pretty easy to the naked eye to see that the cartilage on the right is much narrower than the left. And he said the cartilage is flaking again or the spurs are coming back which is what is causing the catching. But he said another scope would not be helpful, as it would cause more harm than good, potentially breaking the cartilage down even more. I agree, seeing as this one only lasted a short time. I don't need any help on speeding up the process to a THR. However, the removal of the adhesions under my SDD scar really helped. So at least that was worth the pain of surgery! Although my hernia is still there at the bottom of the scar.
What makes me really love and appreciate Dr. Z is that he isn't dismissing me even though he is done working on me surgically. He asked that I keep in touch and that he will continue to follow along with me for whatever I need, whenever. Be it a hip injection or advice or whatever. He assured me he knows my hip hurts and he won't just forget about me.
He gave me the lowdown on exercise and what will be safe and hip friendly. I need to listen to my body and be smart about what I choose to do. I can do a variety of exercises, as long as there is no lunging or squatting involved. This means that I must modify yoga or pilates to be centered around my right hip's needs. I asked about running and again was told not to make it a main form of exercise, but rather I can mix it in to a routine of swimming, biking, yoga, etc. Basically no sustained running, just short, gentle runs. Also, he stressed not to put my right hip through any prolonged flexion or try to push it past it's comfort zone, as this would cause more pain and suffering.
He wanted to know how I felt overall with the right hip, going back from the beginning (pre-SDD), and the best I could say is 50/50, but that I'm still happy and have no regrets what-so-ever. The left hip outcome really helps things too. I think he was glad to hear that, and what's nice is that I know he is genuinely concerned and truly cares. I believe he went into medicine for the right reason.
***Just received the office notes on 2/8/13 - "XRAYS: AP pelvis radiographs and bilateral false profile demonstrate significant right hip joint space narrowing. This is 50% of that of the left. Overall alignment of the acetabulum is normal. IMPRESSION: Right hip joint space narrowing. TREATMENT: I explained to the patient I think her recurrent stiffness is likely related to osteoarthrosis and the grinding sensation she is experiencing due to chondromalacia. I don't think it is reasonable to repeat arthroscopy as this will likely elicit degenerative changes in her hip...The patient will follow up in a year for AP pelvis, sooner if there are any issues."
So, while I do not have any appts set at this time to return to see him (I won't be setting up my yearly follow up until this summer) I always have the option to come in for "as needed" appts, or if either hip gets worse.
* Not hip related, but seeing Dr. Z assessed and referred, I am going to be seeing a foot and ankle surgeon on 2/21/13 for my right great toe and ankle. The toe is arthritic and has limited motion and a visible bone spur. The ankle has an audible snapping coming from my lateral/anterior ankle. Both are causing progressively worse pain. I asked if this was because of my hip/anteversion and the affect on my gait, but he does not think so. He just thinks I have unhealthy cartilage and joints, and that I will end up with several joints affected throughout my lifetime.
** A little tid bit I find awesome, Dr. Z is a US Top Doctor, which is peer nominated and voted. Congrats Dr. Z!
The low down on the hips:
Left hip = good. We're both very happy with the turnout. In fact, it's a model hip, and we both really wish my right would have followed suit.
Right hip = so/so. I reported that it's catching again, and still hurts. The last scope gave me about 3-4 weeks of relief, then it went back to being painful. He even felt it catch when he put it through ROM. I'm pretty much back to 90* flexion. He knows it's not great and feels bad that he couldn't get it to be like my left hip, but ultimately it should last a while if I'm smart about what I do. Looking at my left socket vs my right socket, it's pretty easy to the naked eye to see that the cartilage on the right is much narrower than the left. And he said the cartilage is flaking again or the spurs are coming back which is what is causing the catching. But he said another scope would not be helpful, as it would cause more harm than good, potentially breaking the cartilage down even more. I agree, seeing as this one only lasted a short time. I don't need any help on speeding up the process to a THR. However, the removal of the adhesions under my SDD scar really helped. So at least that was worth the pain of surgery! Although my hernia is still there at the bottom of the scar.
What makes me really love and appreciate Dr. Z is that he isn't dismissing me even though he is done working on me surgically. He asked that I keep in touch and that he will continue to follow along with me for whatever I need, whenever. Be it a hip injection or advice or whatever. He assured me he knows my hip hurts and he won't just forget about me.
He gave me the lowdown on exercise and what will be safe and hip friendly. I need to listen to my body and be smart about what I choose to do. I can do a variety of exercises, as long as there is no lunging or squatting involved. This means that I must modify yoga or pilates to be centered around my right hip's needs. I asked about running and again was told not to make it a main form of exercise, but rather I can mix it in to a routine of swimming, biking, yoga, etc. Basically no sustained running, just short, gentle runs. Also, he stressed not to put my right hip through any prolonged flexion or try to push it past it's comfort zone, as this would cause more pain and suffering.
He wanted to know how I felt overall with the right hip, going back from the beginning (pre-SDD), and the best I could say is 50/50, but that I'm still happy and have no regrets what-so-ever. The left hip outcome really helps things too. I think he was glad to hear that, and what's nice is that I know he is genuinely concerned and truly cares. I believe he went into medicine for the right reason.
***Just received the office notes on 2/8/13 - "XRAYS: AP pelvis radiographs and bilateral false profile demonstrate significant right hip joint space narrowing. This is 50% of that of the left. Overall alignment of the acetabulum is normal. IMPRESSION: Right hip joint space narrowing. TREATMENT: I explained to the patient I think her recurrent stiffness is likely related to osteoarthrosis and the grinding sensation she is experiencing due to chondromalacia. I don't think it is reasonable to repeat arthroscopy as this will likely elicit degenerative changes in her hip...The patient will follow up in a year for AP pelvis, sooner if there are any issues."
So, while I do not have any appts set at this time to return to see him (I won't be setting up my yearly follow up until this summer) I always have the option to come in for "as needed" appts, or if either hip gets worse.
* Not hip related, but seeing Dr. Z assessed and referred, I am going to be seeing a foot and ankle surgeon on 2/21/13 for my right great toe and ankle. The toe is arthritic and has limited motion and a visible bone spur. The ankle has an audible snapping coming from my lateral/anterior ankle. Both are causing progressively worse pain. I asked if this was because of my hip/anteversion and the affect on my gait, but he does not think so. He just thinks I have unhealthy cartilage and joints, and that I will end up with several joints affected throughout my lifetime.
** A little tid bit I find awesome, Dr. Z is a US Top Doctor, which is peer nominated and voted. Congrats Dr. Z!
Monday, December 31, 2012
Goodbye 2012, Hello 2013
What's a girl to write on the eve of the New Year when not much exciting has happened? I guess a blip on recovery will suffice and we'll see where that takes us.
I went back to work on Dec. 20th, just shy of 2 weeks ago. Because of the holidays, I've not worked a full week and that has really come in handy. Next week will begin the full work weeks and, sigh, I am ready, whether I like it or not. Sitting in my office chair doesn't feel great, but I get up and move/stretch a lot and have my heating pad on all the time. While at home I reclined any time I was sitting, which is hip friendly.
I still haven't made my PT appt yet, 1) because of my ear restrictions, which are now lifted and 2) because my PT saw me at work and told me that they are extremely busy right now but would squeeze me in. I will hold off til next week. I've been doing most of my own PT at home from the exercises I was given last time and that seems to be helping. My goal is to get back into running form. Little by little I've thought to myself, "screw it, I'm gonna run, even if it kills me". Ok, it won't kill me but it might "kill" my hip. I'm ok with that...I think. First though I have to feel it out and see if I can even tolerate running anymore, which will start with speed walking on an incline on the treadmill to a slow jog to a fast jog to running. I worry I won't tolerate it because I stopped taking my pain medicine altogether a month ago. It was a personal decision even though my doctor felt I should remain on it. As I've said in the past, only time will tell.
Among other "exciting" tidbits, I enrolled in school for the spring to finish my Bachelors in Nursing (way long over due) and will decide from there which direction I want to go with my Masters. I initially thought Nurse Practitioner, but am considering Research Clinician as well.
I have a 3 month follow up for my right hip on Jan 28th with Dr. Z. I imagine that appt will be the "turning point" in how often I see him. I think he will want a 6 month check, and then yearly from then on. If that's the case, that will really throw me off, but in a good way. I've been so used to going to Detroit every few months for the last 3.5 yrs that it's going to be a little hard honestly to not think about the next trip down there.
So my hip? It doesn't always hurt, at least not enough to count, but when it does, it hurts A LOT. How to describe it...the deep dull ache with some throbbing, like an ear ache. It started catching a lot again. It catches when I turn/pivot, when I vacuum, when I come to a hard stop and try to push off (this actually causes a sticking, almost locking sensation).
When I have my leg abducted and flexed, I feel a snapping/clicking in the medial groin/hip area when I move my leg from flexion to straight. I didn't notice this before the scope.
My left hip has a symptom that I noticed starting in late summer/early fall and seems to come and go. Everytime I notice it though, it's worse than the time before. I'm feeling a clicking internally and by palpation when I walk on the outside lower edge of my hip (sort of where the butt and thigh meet but closer to the back of the greater trochanter). This leads to an apprehesion feeling and a need to "pop" my hip, which I do on the lateral side. I believe this to be my IT band. I often need to "unstick" my knee as well, and can very forcibly pop the knee cap by twisting my femur away from my tibia. It feels better once popped. The ITB isn't tender to touch but my bursa is tender on the greater trochanter. My left side still just feels wobbly. No aching in the hip just occasional sharp catches, which also happens in the knee but the knee also aches.
2012 brought a close to my hip preservation surgeries. It was the year I found peace and meditation through running. It was the year I was told my right hip is done and full of arthritis, consequently putting an end to running, my form of stress release. 2012 brought about a change in my nursing career, one I didn't anticipate I would not enjoy as much as I'd hoped. But it also led me down another path to furthering my education and hopefully getting me back to where I thrive, in the surgical setting, transitioning patients from pre-op to post-op and during surgery.
I don't have a clue what 2013 will have in store. But I do know I'm surrounded by the most encouraging and loving family and friends to get me through. And if it means a THR sooner than later, well, Bring It!! I'm prepared, and I'm going to have fun doing what I want to do in the meantime.
I went back to work on Dec. 20th, just shy of 2 weeks ago. Because of the holidays, I've not worked a full week and that has really come in handy. Next week will begin the full work weeks and, sigh, I am ready, whether I like it or not. Sitting in my office chair doesn't feel great, but I get up and move/stretch a lot and have my heating pad on all the time. While at home I reclined any time I was sitting, which is hip friendly.
I still haven't made my PT appt yet, 1) because of my ear restrictions, which are now lifted and 2) because my PT saw me at work and told me that they are extremely busy right now but would squeeze me in. I will hold off til next week. I've been doing most of my own PT at home from the exercises I was given last time and that seems to be helping. My goal is to get back into running form. Little by little I've thought to myself, "screw it, I'm gonna run, even if it kills me". Ok, it won't kill me but it might "kill" my hip. I'm ok with that...I think. First though I have to feel it out and see if I can even tolerate running anymore, which will start with speed walking on an incline on the treadmill to a slow jog to a fast jog to running. I worry I won't tolerate it because I stopped taking my pain medicine altogether a month ago. It was a personal decision even though my doctor felt I should remain on it. As I've said in the past, only time will tell.
Among other "exciting" tidbits, I enrolled in school for the spring to finish my Bachelors in Nursing (way long over due) and will decide from there which direction I want to go with my Masters. I initially thought Nurse Practitioner, but am considering Research Clinician as well.
I have a 3 month follow up for my right hip on Jan 28th with Dr. Z. I imagine that appt will be the "turning point" in how often I see him. I think he will want a 6 month check, and then yearly from then on. If that's the case, that will really throw me off, but in a good way. I've been so used to going to Detroit every few months for the last 3.5 yrs that it's going to be a little hard honestly to not think about the next trip down there.
So my hip? It doesn't always hurt, at least not enough to count, but when it does, it hurts A LOT. How to describe it...the deep dull ache with some throbbing, like an ear ache. It started catching a lot again. It catches when I turn/pivot, when I vacuum, when I come to a hard stop and try to push off (this actually causes a sticking, almost locking sensation).
When I have my leg abducted and flexed, I feel a snapping/clicking in the medial groin/hip area when I move my leg from flexion to straight. I didn't notice this before the scope.
My left hip has a symptom that I noticed starting in late summer/early fall and seems to come and go. Everytime I notice it though, it's worse than the time before. I'm feeling a clicking internally and by palpation when I walk on the outside lower edge of my hip (sort of where the butt and thigh meet but closer to the back of the greater trochanter). This leads to an apprehesion feeling and a need to "pop" my hip, which I do on the lateral side. I believe this to be my IT band. I often need to "unstick" my knee as well, and can very forcibly pop the knee cap by twisting my femur away from my tibia. It feels better once popped. The ITB isn't tender to touch but my bursa is tender on the greater trochanter. My left side still just feels wobbly. No aching in the hip just occasional sharp catches, which also happens in the knee but the knee also aches.
2012 brought a close to my hip preservation surgeries. It was the year I found peace and meditation through running. It was the year I was told my right hip is done and full of arthritis, consequently putting an end to running, my form of stress release. 2012 brought about a change in my nursing career, one I didn't anticipate I would not enjoy as much as I'd hoped. But it also led me down another path to furthering my education and hopefully getting me back to where I thrive, in the surgical setting, transitioning patients from pre-op to post-op and during surgery.
I don't have a clue what 2013 will have in store. But I do know I'm surrounded by the most encouraging and loving family and friends to get me through. And if it means a THR sooner than later, well, Bring It!! I'm prepared, and I'm going to have fun doing what I want to do in the meantime.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Return to work set
I will be 6 weeks post op coming this Friday and things are going relatively well. I've been going without crutches for a week now and although short distances are ok, walking in the mall or for any extended period of time is not working out so well. I still feel a catch in the front of my hip. My limp comes back and my whole leg fatigues.
I have started home PT though to try to help strengthen the hip. Due to the recent ear surgery I had to remove adhesions from my inner ear, I'm on certain restrictions that prevent me from doing formal outpatient PT for another 2 weeks.
I'm released to go back to work with no restrictions on Thursday Dec 20, 2012. One and a half weeks left to get a little more strength and rest in before resuming everything as before.
Overall, I'm able to do just about anything, just have to modify a little if it's uncomfortable. Exhaustion and back pain are the biggest things I'm dealing with right now.
**I have 100 degrees hip flexion according to my office visit notes
I have started home PT though to try to help strengthen the hip. Due to the recent ear surgery I had to remove adhesions from my inner ear, I'm on certain restrictions that prevent me from doing formal outpatient PT for another 2 weeks.
I'm released to go back to work with no restrictions on Thursday Dec 20, 2012. One and a half weeks left to get a little more strength and rest in before resuming everything as before.
Overall, I'm able to do just about anything, just have to modify a little if it's uncomfortable. Exhaustion and back pain are the biggest things I'm dealing with right now.
**I have 100 degrees hip flexion according to my office visit notes
Friday, November 30, 2012
2 year celebration
Today is my 2 year LPAO anniversary, (and 4 weeks post right hip scope). What a fast and wild ride! I am very happy with my left hip and the outcome. Dr. Z has gotten it stable enough to withstand running, so I'd call that a success in itself. As far as pain goes, the hip joint itself doesn't bother me much. The surrounding areas do in different ways though. And it's all attributed to the femoral malalignment. Dr. Z and Dr. T are well aware and have told me that muscle strength is key but it will never be perfect. Derotation is always an option, but only I can make that decision. Right now I'm happy enough with things and trying to recover from my right hip, so this will remain on the back burner.
Left hip progress at 2 years:
No more giving out in front of hip, but there is occassional posterior giving out.
No more shocking sharp, stabbing pains with weight bearing.
I can spread my leg without feeling like the hip is going to pop off like Barbie's leg might.
Can withstand running.
Things that still need improvement:
Hip still pops/snaps painfully.
Still feels like a wobbly pogo stick at times, but it's the whole leg and I assume this must be the miserable malalignment throughout entire leg.
Still fatigues easily no matter how much strengthening I do.
Still can't comfortably sit Indian style although it doesn't really hurt.
Happy Two Years to me!
Left hip progress at 2 years:
No more giving out in front of hip, but there is occassional posterior giving out.
No more shocking sharp, stabbing pains with weight bearing.
I can spread my leg without feeling like the hip is going to pop off like Barbie's leg might.
Can withstand running.
Things that still need improvement:
Hip still pops/snaps painfully.
Still feels like a wobbly pogo stick at times, but it's the whole leg and I assume this must be the miserable malalignment throughout entire leg.
Still fatigues easily no matter how much strengthening I do.
Still can't comfortably sit Indian style although it doesn't really hurt.
Happy Two Years to me!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Post op news
So there's good news and bad news with this post. I had my two week follow up yesterday with Dr. Z and it both surprised me yet confirmed what I really already knew.
Good news:
The FAI portion of the surgery went really well. He showed me the areas he shaved down and showed me how much ROM I have now which is about 105 degrees, which we were both ecstatic about. It might even improve more beyond that! My incisions are healing nicely, no issues there. My lateral thigh/bursa area are extremely tender to touch but it should resolve in the next few months.
Bad news:
He showed me my scope images and what he saw in the hip did not make him happy. My acetabulum (socket) is ok cartilage wise, no further softening since a year and a half ago, just some labral degeneration which he debrided. But my femoral head is looking awful. The cartilage was shredded to pieces. It looked like floating crab meat or parmasean cheese flakes. My femur also had bone spurs on it that reminded me of looking at the knobby part of a dog's chew bone that has the nubs all over it. He ground all the spurs down and smoothed all the cartilage down but overall he was really dissatisfied. He said that I have an arthritic hip and I have to be careful now. Total hip replacement came up a few times. As in, this is the next logical step. It doesn't sound like there's anything left to do to help save it. I asked about the intertrochanteric osteotomy to shift the bad part off the weight bearing zone and he said it'd be a last ditch "hail mary" effort. That didn't sound promising. It's not off the table, but it doesn't sound likely it would be beneficial. My guess is he's thinking it wouldn't delay the THR at this point and it'd be awful to put me through that to only go right into the THR, but we'll see.
It's definately more real now. Last year when the PAO healing was so touch and go, it seemed scary when he said it could be 2 months it could be 20 years before THR, but now after this scope, it's inevitable it's going to happen soon. He's telling me to avoid running and find another avenue of exercise, like swimming. He asked if I was ok with that and I told him no. He conceded to say gentle and very short jogging for 1 or 2 days a week would be "ok" but would really prefer me not to do it at all. So this means 5k's are out. I still plan to ask him if I can run one or two 5k's a year when I see him again in January, so I'll update on that.
Basically right now it's too hard for us to conclude how things are going to turn out because I'm only 2 weeks and a couple days post op. It's to irritated and fresh to know what's happening. He'll have a better handle on it when I come back again and I should know more about the condition of my hip.
At this time, 2 more weeks of crutches then wean. Start PT at 4 weeks post op. I'm cleared to start driving again (yay!) and go back to work at around 6 week mark unless I feel I can go back sooner. Right now I'm not ready for going to work yet. I'm still pretty tired and my leg still hurts alot when I use it more than 5 min.
I can shower without my bench though and I'm able to get dressed standing for the most part. I need a chair if I'm tired and the muscles are fatigued. I'm also capable of light house work (loading/unloading dishwasher and washer and dryer). No vacuuming yet, no bending over to clean bathroom yet.
PT instructions say no squatting or lunges so I won't be doing any type of exercise that requires those motions. I'm still just extremely upset about the no running thing. I really need to reflect on this and decide what is best for me and if I'm willing to give it up for the sake of saving my hip.
Good news:
The FAI portion of the surgery went really well. He showed me the areas he shaved down and showed me how much ROM I have now which is about 105 degrees, which we were both ecstatic about. It might even improve more beyond that! My incisions are healing nicely, no issues there. My lateral thigh/bursa area are extremely tender to touch but it should resolve in the next few months.
Bad news:
He showed me my scope images and what he saw in the hip did not make him happy. My acetabulum (socket) is ok cartilage wise, no further softening since a year and a half ago, just some labral degeneration which he debrided. But my femoral head is looking awful. The cartilage was shredded to pieces. It looked like floating crab meat or parmasean cheese flakes. My femur also had bone spurs on it that reminded me of looking at the knobby part of a dog's chew bone that has the nubs all over it. He ground all the spurs down and smoothed all the cartilage down but overall he was really dissatisfied. He said that I have an arthritic hip and I have to be careful now. Total hip replacement came up a few times. As in, this is the next logical step. It doesn't sound like there's anything left to do to help save it. I asked about the intertrochanteric osteotomy to shift the bad part off the weight bearing zone and he said it'd be a last ditch "hail mary" effort. That didn't sound promising. It's not off the table, but it doesn't sound likely it would be beneficial. My guess is he's thinking it wouldn't delay the THR at this point and it'd be awful to put me through that to only go right into the THR, but we'll see.
It's definately more real now. Last year when the PAO healing was so touch and go, it seemed scary when he said it could be 2 months it could be 20 years before THR, but now after this scope, it's inevitable it's going to happen soon. He's telling me to avoid running and find another avenue of exercise, like swimming. He asked if I was ok with that and I told him no. He conceded to say gentle and very short jogging for 1 or 2 days a week would be "ok" but would really prefer me not to do it at all. So this means 5k's are out. I still plan to ask him if I can run one or two 5k's a year when I see him again in January, so I'll update on that.
Basically right now it's too hard for us to conclude how things are going to turn out because I'm only 2 weeks and a couple days post op. It's to irritated and fresh to know what's happening. He'll have a better handle on it when I come back again and I should know more about the condition of my hip.
At this time, 2 more weeks of crutches then wean. Start PT at 4 weeks post op. I'm cleared to start driving again (yay!) and go back to work at around 6 week mark unless I feel I can go back sooner. Right now I'm not ready for going to work yet. I'm still pretty tired and my leg still hurts alot when I use it more than 5 min.
I can shower without my bench though and I'm able to get dressed standing for the most part. I need a chair if I'm tired and the muscles are fatigued. I'm also capable of light house work (loading/unloading dishwasher and washer and dryer). No vacuuming yet, no bending over to clean bathroom yet.
PT instructions say no squatting or lunges so I won't be doing any type of exercise that requires those motions. I'm still just extremely upset about the no running thing. I really need to reflect on this and decide what is best for me and if I'm willing to give it up for the sake of saving my hip.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Unrestricted
I can flex my hip freely to a little over 100 degrees! This is truly wonderful! This is the outcome I was hoping to achieve and thankfully it happened. I know my husband and family have been grimacing at the thought of "what if this didn't work". Well the hip is definately not a "good" hip anymore but now that I have free, unrestricted movement (which I've never experienced on this side) it is amazing. More so than what my left hip felt like after being stabilized with the PAO! I will report the exact amount of degree of flexion after my follow up appointment. I'm sure it's better than anything I've achieved before. But more than numbers is just truly NO blockage or a hard end point feeling. It's great!
My pain has improved too. It's not bad at all now. When I'm resting (laying down) it aches to the point of distraction, so I'm not sleeping well. Plus if I stand more than a couple minutes I get pretty achy. Moving helps ward it off. I still feel like something catches if I'm bending the hip, so I'm resigned to the fact that feeling will probably always be there.
I got my surgical report back and among the things Dr. Z found were chondrocalcinosis, bone spurs, frayed cartilage and labrum, softening of the cartilage and cartilage fissuring, synovitis, dense adhesions of the capsul and near the bursa and glute muscles, and of course the acetabular impingement. He burred down 7 mm of the impingement and what a difference! Among all the other work he did in my hip, this is what made the most impact, although he feels it's going to be the release of the adhesions. Time will tell. He's usually right.
I'm unusually atrophied in the thigh in my opinion. I think it might be because of all the other surgeries on this hip. But it has made walking unassisted really difficult. I can't go more than two steps without a pronounced limp, pain, and my knee locking up. But I am getting better at walking more "correctly", that is, with my foot pointed straight and not outward. I'm glad that the instructions say to use the crutches for 4 weeks. Even straight leg lifts and knee extensions are too painful and hard right now. My thigh shakes and there is a sharp pain initially with a dull ache afterward. It is only 2 weeks post op tomorrow, but I still have the mentality that I should be up and running by now. Not very realistic, I know. The majority of my discomfort right now is laterally and at the knee, except at night, then it's all the hip joint.
Mostly what excites me is that the feeling I have with this unrestricted hip flexion is that I feel as good about it as my left hip!! Dare I say it will last?? I can hope, what else do I have? 2 week follow up with Dr. Z is on Monday.
My pain has improved too. It's not bad at all now. When I'm resting (laying down) it aches to the point of distraction, so I'm not sleeping well. Plus if I stand more than a couple minutes I get pretty achy. Moving helps ward it off. I still feel like something catches if I'm bending the hip, so I'm resigned to the fact that feeling will probably always be there.
I got my surgical report back and among the things Dr. Z found were chondrocalcinosis, bone spurs, frayed cartilage and labrum, softening of the cartilage and cartilage fissuring, synovitis, dense adhesions of the capsul and near the bursa and glute muscles, and of course the acetabular impingement. He burred down 7 mm of the impingement and what a difference! Among all the other work he did in my hip, this is what made the most impact, although he feels it's going to be the release of the adhesions. Time will tell. He's usually right.
I'm unusually atrophied in the thigh in my opinion. I think it might be because of all the other surgeries on this hip. But it has made walking unassisted really difficult. I can't go more than two steps without a pronounced limp, pain, and my knee locking up. But I am getting better at walking more "correctly", that is, with my foot pointed straight and not outward. I'm glad that the instructions say to use the crutches for 4 weeks. Even straight leg lifts and knee extensions are too painful and hard right now. My thigh shakes and there is a sharp pain initially with a dull ache afterward. It is only 2 weeks post op tomorrow, but I still have the mentality that I should be up and running by now. Not very realistic, I know. The majority of my discomfort right now is laterally and at the knee, except at night, then it's all the hip joint.
Mostly what excites me is that the feeling I have with this unrestricted hip flexion is that I feel as good about it as my left hip!! Dare I say it will last?? I can hope, what else do I have? 2 week follow up with Dr. Z is on Monday.
Thursday, November 8, 2012
This recovery is out of control!
I'm 6 days post scope and already have more to share:
Just some interesting observations I've had in the last couple days:
1) my pain suddenly (not gradually) has become what I think is "out of proportion" with the surgery I had. It is intense and not letting up. It is from buttock wrapped around to almost the groin and down thigh to knee (in front only, butt and just below butt in back). Everything hurts it, movement, weight bearing, touch, thought....ok not thought but then when I do think about it it does hurt more! It's ridiculous. Pains meds don't touch it, ice doesn't work (I've found sitting on ice is the best at this point but it doesn't really do much or last), and heat is pointless. The quality of the pain stays the same. There's an underlying element of soreness, like an extremely bad sprain/strain, but throughout the whole thing is this piercing, throbbing, ache that becomes sharp enough to induce tears if I move too much or just the wrong way.
2) Interestingly enough, I've found that weight bearing flat footed aggravates the pain (I can walk with the crutches, slowly) but I started going back to old habits and placing all my weight on the outer edge of my foot (so pinkie toe down to the floor, big toe up to the ceiling) and standing or walking this way. It really helps relieve a lot of the weight bearing/walking pain. This position also aligns my leg nearly perfectly straight, which I have pointed out to both Dr's Z and T before and they had said it was because of the twist in my bones.
I guess I'll be walking on the outside of my foot til it stops hurting otherwise. I don't know what else to do or think.
The intensity of the pain, being "out of proportion" with what I had done, worries me slightly, but the nurse in me says that I don't have a fever, the area is not red or overly swollen or overly warm to touch, so I doubt it's an infection. The only thing I can plausibly come up with right now is a hematoma and the pressure it would cause and that might make this pain I'm having seem reasonable. Otherwise, I'm at loss. A scope recovery shouldn't hurt about as much as my SDD recovery.
Just some interesting observations I've had in the last couple days:
1) my pain suddenly (not gradually) has become what I think is "out of proportion" with the surgery I had. It is intense and not letting up. It is from buttock wrapped around to almost the groin and down thigh to knee (in front only, butt and just below butt in back). Everything hurts it, movement, weight bearing, touch, thought....ok not thought but then when I do think about it it does hurt more! It's ridiculous. Pains meds don't touch it, ice doesn't work (I've found sitting on ice is the best at this point but it doesn't really do much or last), and heat is pointless. The quality of the pain stays the same. There's an underlying element of soreness, like an extremely bad sprain/strain, but throughout the whole thing is this piercing, throbbing, ache that becomes sharp enough to induce tears if I move too much or just the wrong way.
2) Interestingly enough, I've found that weight bearing flat footed aggravates the pain (I can walk with the crutches, slowly) but I started going back to old habits and placing all my weight on the outer edge of my foot (so pinkie toe down to the floor, big toe up to the ceiling) and standing or walking this way. It really helps relieve a lot of the weight bearing/walking pain. This position also aligns my leg nearly perfectly straight, which I have pointed out to both Dr's Z and T before and they had said it was because of the twist in my bones.
I guess I'll be walking on the outside of my foot til it stops hurting otherwise. I don't know what else to do or think.
The intensity of the pain, being "out of proportion" with what I had done, worries me slightly, but the nurse in me says that I don't have a fever, the area is not red or overly swollen or overly warm to touch, so I doubt it's an infection. The only thing I can plausibly come up with right now is a hematoma and the pressure it would cause and that might make this pain I'm having seem reasonable. Otherwise, I'm at loss. A scope recovery shouldn't hurt about as much as my SDD recovery.
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