my hip gets tired while walking around. i don't see why this should be this case since the screw removal didn't bother anything inside...unless the bone itself is tired. i've replaced most of my steristrips after 1mo. the scar looks good. i feel a little tenderness around the incision area. possibly bone holes where the screws came out. the area where i fractured my butt bone continues to be sensitive still while sitting. while i may be clinically healed (i.e. the bone is grown in per x-rays), i probably won't feel 100% until a year. same with the hip.
at least with crutches, i was still getting daily upper body exercise. while waiting for my screw-removal incision to heal, i really didn't do much. i started doing light exercises 3wks post-screws, trying not to stretch out incision. pushups, shoulder raises, lats, rows, planks, crunches. squatting feels weird perhaps from being tight. lunges are ok. full-range situps and leg raises for abs still don't feel good. went boxing for the first time again 1mo-post screws. cardio/endurance is way down but hip held up fine. hip actually felt no pain jumping rope on one leg, so that's an improvement from a month ago. my boxing trainer (one i haven't seen since pre-PAO) said i looked fatter. on my way home, my UPS guy said it looked like i was limping. so, i'm fat and limping.
i'm back with my old trainer! hurray. his workouts cause me more fear than getting PAO. we're working on rings again, kettlebells, bodyweight stuff. i'm very sad that i can only manage 3 pull-ups now. technically chin-ups cuz i have to do them underhand grip for now. i was regularly doing 5x5 in early april and regained my personal best of 7 pullups (overhand) in mid-Feb. my trainer suggested i'm having a hard time with pull-ups too b/c of my weight gain (probably about 8-10lb). all my other strength doesn't seem to have diminished that much. we did trap deadlifts 65lb 5x3. trap deadlifts use quads more than the hip but i'm still squatting very cautiously cuz i feels things shifting and clicking. my trainer also noticed my lordotic curve looks straighter than before, perhaps my hip is still tight in front. also started golfing again regularly.
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Weeks 21-24 & Screw removal
the acupuncture dr suggested that the sessions will help with my bone health more than the numbness. he thinks the numbness comes back naturally when the body feels like it. so i stopped getting acupuncture since i was trying to treat numbness. that's kinda disappointing news.
i added back box jumps to my gym activities. i don't think it's so bad as long as impact is absorbed properly when landing on the box.
SCREW REMOVAL
a few days before screw removal, a pre-op nurse called me to go over health history etc. the business day before screw removal, i called pre-op to get my screw removal day surgery time. it was set for 1:30 and show up 90 min ahead. i didn't need to go in for xrays or labs. day surgery is typically scheduled after the more complicated/longer morning cases. not all dr's take out screws but as a pediatric orthopod, i think Dr Millis prefers to take out hardware. i find them bothersome and poking out at times and Dr Millis also wants to take more images so it's probably better to have them out.
we flew up to boston the day before screw removal. i ate a late dinner, around 9:30, of vietnamese pork chops on rice with a runny fried egg on top. and an avocado shake. i had to follow the same NPO guidelines as PAO, so no solids after midnight and no clear liquids 2hr before surgery. i snack and eat all the time so i was really scared about being hungry all the way until my 1:30pm surgery time. i got some apple juice to get some calories in the morning. i asked about coconut water (since it's high in electrolytes) but it was dinged b/c it's not clear.
i had to stop fish oil 2 wks prior to surgery. other preparation i did was bring my no-rinse bathing wipes, my cough pillow and some of the pain and nausea meds from PAO. luckily it's warmer now so i brought dresses to wear so i wouldn't have to deal with pants around my wound. and i packed my granny undies again.
the morning of screw removal, i actually went to flour bakery to pick up some pastries. they're famous for their sticky buns and the almond croissants are tasty too. i didn't eat them, just looked at them fondly. i got a call from an OR nurse asking me to come in earlier if possible. i was mostly restricted by my last liquid intake. this day surgery (hardware removal cpt code 20680) did not require pre-authorization from my insurance carrier.
at day surgery pre-op, check-in was signing some consent forms and producing a urine sample. a nurse went over my health history and took vitals. Dr Millis and his fellow Dr Novais came in to check on any questions i had, and i signed more consent papers. my main concern was having my incision scar heal prettier this time around so Dr Millis suggested keeping steri-strips on for 4mo and to really try not to over-stretch that area for a month or so. he said upper body exercises while seated should be fine, but to really try to lay low for the first 2 wks. we decided not to do general anesthesia and opted for conscious sedation. i did conscious sedation for my impacted wisdom teeth and remember hearing them wrangling my teeth out. both dr's said this would be much easier than that. they take the screws out manually(!) with a screwdriver. i was afraid if i was "awake", i'd hear power drills going and have bone chips flying in my face.
anesthesiology Dr Sethna and his resident started poking stuff into me. i got woozy then was rolled into the OR. i remember a little more this time around. they showed me on the TV screen. i started spotting this AM so i left my panties on and they pull them down in the OR. i remember hearing lots of voices and then they gave me my screws in a baggy and i was clutching onto them. when i came to, the first thing i said was "i played golf twice". very random.
i was pretty alert and felt good in recovery. i had a huge foam bandage on, from mid-thigh to belly. not quite like the Millis diaper but still pretty puffy. good thing i had loose undies and a dress cuz there's no way i could get pants over this roof insulation padding. Dr Millis checked up on me and the nurses went thru discharge. had some apple juice and oyster crackers. the only thing that hurt was the huge IV in my hand. they gave me crutches again. i think i was wheelchaired out in less than an hour. Dr Millis suggested i eat light first and might have difficulty being comfortable sitting at a restaurant, so we went straight to pick up peking duck and lobster with ginger&scallion sauce. i ate heartily back at the hotel, including my pastries from this AM, then got sleepy and dozed off.
i woke up from pain after my post-op morphine wore off, even tho i also took 1-2mg of dilaudad. it felt like a really really bad burn and intense stretching. walking around to the bathroom and standing up straight was also uncomfortable and the whole area feels sore. i didn't bathe the first night but used my no-rinse wipes. luckily i don't have any nausea this time. i slept with a pillow under my knees b/c lying flat seemed to stretch the incision area. sleeping on the unoperated side caused much discomfort in the incision area.
the following morning i removed the puffy protective bandage and the gauze underneath was pristine (no blood leakage). i was reminded that the painkillers may cause constipation but didn't have a problem. i showered and was going to visit Dr Millis but since there was no bleeding he said not to go in. i didn't think i'd need crutches but i'm glad they gave me a new pair cuz it's difficult to stand up straight and it's nice to take pressure off the operated side. i took the T (boston subway) and got lunch but had to walk really slowly. i should probably be eating my pain meds more frequently b/c i have much pain but can tolerate it. i guess i didn't feel any of this during the PAO cuz i was on epidural for 3 days.
i'm getting a lot of itchiness again, on my belly and upper back. same as after PAO, most likely from the pain meds. plane ride back to NYC was fine. i still have to crutch slowly b/c i feel like the incision is stretching a lot or something but i didn't opt for the wheelchair. i don't think i need the cough pillow this time around. it doesn't hurt to sneeze which is good b/c of allergy season.
i ended up using crutches for 6 days after getting the screws out, 2 crutches for the first 2 days then using 1 or 2 crutches depending on how far i was walking. Dr Millis made the screw removal incision the exact same as my PAO one because i wanted to clean up some blobby scarring. usually i think the screws can be removed with just a ~2in opening (vs the 5in PAO incision). i think scar tissue was cut out which made my skin feel more tight, which is why i think i had trouble standing up straight for a while. it felt like i might split open my incision.
i added back box jumps to my gym activities. i don't think it's so bad as long as impact is absorbed properly when landing on the box.
SCREW REMOVAL
a few days before screw removal, a pre-op nurse called me to go over health history etc. the business day before screw removal, i called pre-op to get my screw removal day surgery time. it was set for 1:30 and show up 90 min ahead. i didn't need to go in for xrays or labs. day surgery is typically scheduled after the more complicated/longer morning cases. not all dr's take out screws but as a pediatric orthopod, i think Dr Millis prefers to take out hardware. i find them bothersome and poking out at times and Dr Millis also wants to take more images so it's probably better to have them out.
we flew up to boston the day before screw removal. i ate a late dinner, around 9:30, of vietnamese pork chops on rice with a runny fried egg on top. and an avocado shake. i had to follow the same NPO guidelines as PAO, so no solids after midnight and no clear liquids 2hr before surgery. i snack and eat all the time so i was really scared about being hungry all the way until my 1:30pm surgery time. i got some apple juice to get some calories in the morning. i asked about coconut water (since it's high in electrolytes) but it was dinged b/c it's not clear.
i had to stop fish oil 2 wks prior to surgery. other preparation i did was bring my no-rinse bathing wipes, my cough pillow and some of the pain and nausea meds from PAO. luckily it's warmer now so i brought dresses to wear so i wouldn't have to deal with pants around my wound. and i packed my granny undies again.
the morning of screw removal, i actually went to flour bakery to pick up some pastries. they're famous for their sticky buns and the almond croissants are tasty too. i didn't eat them, just looked at them fondly. i got a call from an OR nurse asking me to come in earlier if possible. i was mostly restricted by my last liquid intake. this day surgery (hardware removal cpt code 20680) did not require pre-authorization from my insurance carrier.
at day surgery pre-op, check-in was signing some consent forms and producing a urine sample. a nurse went over my health history and took vitals. Dr Millis and his fellow Dr Novais came in to check on any questions i had, and i signed more consent papers. my main concern was having my incision scar heal prettier this time around so Dr Millis suggested keeping steri-strips on for 4mo and to really try not to over-stretch that area for a month or so. he said upper body exercises while seated should be fine, but to really try to lay low for the first 2 wks. we decided not to do general anesthesia and opted for conscious sedation. i did conscious sedation for my impacted wisdom teeth and remember hearing them wrangling my teeth out. both dr's said this would be much easier than that. they take the screws out manually(!) with a screwdriver. i was afraid if i was "awake", i'd hear power drills going and have bone chips flying in my face.
anesthesiology Dr Sethna and his resident started poking stuff into me. i got woozy then was rolled into the OR. i remember a little more this time around. they showed me on the TV screen. i started spotting this AM so i left my panties on and they pull them down in the OR. i remember hearing lots of voices and then they gave me my screws in a baggy and i was clutching onto them. when i came to, the first thing i said was "i played golf twice". very random.
i was pretty alert and felt good in recovery. i had a huge foam bandage on, from mid-thigh to belly. not quite like the Millis diaper but still pretty puffy. good thing i had loose undies and a dress cuz there's no way i could get pants over this roof insulation padding. Dr Millis checked up on me and the nurses went thru discharge. had some apple juice and oyster crackers. the only thing that hurt was the huge IV in my hand. they gave me crutches again. i think i was wheelchaired out in less than an hour. Dr Millis suggested i eat light first and might have difficulty being comfortable sitting at a restaurant, so we went straight to pick up peking duck and lobster with ginger&scallion sauce. i ate heartily back at the hotel, including my pastries from this AM, then got sleepy and dozed off.
i woke up from pain after my post-op morphine wore off, even tho i also took 1-2mg of dilaudad. it felt like a really really bad burn and intense stretching. walking around to the bathroom and standing up straight was also uncomfortable and the whole area feels sore. i didn't bathe the first night but used my no-rinse wipes. luckily i don't have any nausea this time. i slept with a pillow under my knees b/c lying flat seemed to stretch the incision area. sleeping on the unoperated side caused much discomfort in the incision area.
the following morning i removed the puffy protective bandage and the gauze underneath was pristine (no blood leakage). i was reminded that the painkillers may cause constipation but didn't have a problem. i showered and was going to visit Dr Millis but since there was no bleeding he said not to go in. i didn't think i'd need crutches but i'm glad they gave me a new pair cuz it's difficult to stand up straight and it's nice to take pressure off the operated side. i took the T (boston subway) and got lunch but had to walk really slowly. i should probably be eating my pain meds more frequently b/c i have much pain but can tolerate it. i guess i didn't feel any of this during the PAO cuz i was on epidural for 3 days.
i'm getting a lot of itchiness again, on my belly and upper back. same as after PAO, most likely from the pain meds. plane ride back to NYC was fine. i still have to crutch slowly b/c i feel like the incision is stretching a lot or something but i didn't opt for the wheelchair. i don't think i need the cough pillow this time around. it doesn't hurt to sneeze which is good b/c of allergy season.
i ended up using crutches for 6 days after getting the screws out, 2 crutches for the first 2 days then using 1 or 2 crutches depending on how far i was walking. Dr Millis made the screw removal incision the exact same as my PAO one because i wanted to clean up some blobby scarring. usually i think the screws can be removed with just a ~2in opening (vs the 5in PAO incision). i think scar tissue was cut out which made my skin feel more tight, which is why i think i had trouble standing up straight for a while. it felt like i might split open my incision.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Week 17, trying to get back to normal
my first day off crutches at the gym, i did some kettlebell swings and snatches with 12kg. the swings were a bit uncomfy on the hips at first with clicking feelings but it went away. 2nd day at the gym i did wall balls with 10lb ball. wow, my legs were so sore, i think i was walking worse after these workouts than after surgery! i almost needed to pull out my commode chair again cuz i couldn't sit. nothing hurt otherwise. lunges surprisingly don't bother me at all. with squats i need to modify how deep i go cuz it doesn't feel stable and i feel myself shifting to my good side.
i started boxing again too and feel some discomfort when pivoting/rotating on the lead leg (my operated left leg). i feel fine the next day however so hopefully my leg just needs to get used to the movement.
practiced my golf swing with a wooden stick. rotation/pivoting felt fine but i wasn't making any impact on the ground. will be interesting to see where the ball goes when i get back out. this is def the longest stretch of time i've gone w/o playing golf.
from month 2 to month 4, i'd say i put on maybe 8lb of unwanted weight. probably a combo of being mobile but not able to do real cardio. plus i sought out maybe 20 different cupcake and pie shops and fried chicken joints for taste tests in that time.
for PT, i continue the figure-4 and hip flexor stretch over the table. i think i might add ankle weight full leg raises (while lying down) to help strengthen the hip area.
after walking for a while, i feel like i start walking funny. it's not really pain. maybe it's being cautious and a little tired. or is my operated leg longer now?
i tried acupuncture for my numb spot. the dr ran electrical pulses thru a few of the needles, including one on the top of my foot. the needle in my numb spot i didn't feel at all. i don't notice any improvement after 1 try and will go again next week.
i've started training again, boxing 2x/week plus a boxing class, and strength 2x/wk. my former trainer has decided not to make me strong anymore but would rather make me chubby and meet for burgers and toasted marshmallow shakes instead. so i met a couple new trainers to see who could rebuild my lower body and bring PAOer back to my hips! we're taking it slow as they're learning about limitations just as much as i am.
my screw removal is set for may as a day surgery at CHB, roughly 6 months post-op.
i started boxing again too and feel some discomfort when pivoting/rotating on the lead leg (my operated left leg). i feel fine the next day however so hopefully my leg just needs to get used to the movement.
practiced my golf swing with a wooden stick. rotation/pivoting felt fine but i wasn't making any impact on the ground. will be interesting to see where the ball goes when i get back out. this is def the longest stretch of time i've gone w/o playing golf.
from month 2 to month 4, i'd say i put on maybe 8lb of unwanted weight. probably a combo of being mobile but not able to do real cardio. plus i sought out maybe 20 different cupcake and pie shops and fried chicken joints for taste tests in that time.
for PT, i continue the figure-4 and hip flexor stretch over the table. i think i might add ankle weight full leg raises (while lying down) to help strengthen the hip area.
after walking for a while, i feel like i start walking funny. it's not really pain. maybe it's being cautious and a little tired. or is my operated leg longer now?
i tried acupuncture for my numb spot. the dr ran electrical pulses thru a few of the needles, including one on the top of my foot. the needle in my numb spot i didn't feel at all. i don't notice any improvement after 1 try and will go again next week.
i've started training again, boxing 2x/week plus a boxing class, and strength 2x/wk. my former trainer has decided not to make me strong anymore but would rather make me chubby and meet for burgers and toasted marshmallow shakes instead. so i met a couple new trainers to see who could rebuild my lower body and bring PAOer back to my hips! we're taking it slow as they're learning about limitations just as much as i am.
my screw removal is set for may as a day surgery at CHB, roughly 6 months post-op.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Four-months Post-Op Appt
i have been cured of my crutches! hooray! i had my 4-mo post-op appt and i was prepared to hear that my stress fracture was not healing because i haven't been sitting at home quietly like a good patient. PA erin showed me xrays from today and a month ago and said everything is healing well. the main bone part where all the screws are is healed in fine. the cuts in the bottom part still need some time. i sometimes have a dull ache/bruise feeling in my butt crease. PA erin said this is normal even tho the fracture is healing. i have been cleared for golf and boxing (lots of rotational/pivot motion but ok). i still can't do impact activities, so no jump rope, box jumps, running stairs etc. i can squat with light weight (10lb should be fine) so i might try to do wall balls again (squatting and throwing a medicine ball against the wall).
i will probably get my screws taken out in the next couple of months. i'll need a couple weeks for the incision to heal again before being active so the scar will heal smoothly. Dr Millis suggested i don't need to get general anesthesia, just some sedation and no intubation. it takes maybe half an hour and i'm on my way. i'll try to schedule it so it won't interfere with golf season (which seems so far away in this cold weather). screw removal is done mon/fri, usu after major surgery cases are completed.
PT jamie gave me a pilates move to do. lying down, press lower back into ground and march feet up and down with knees bent. this helps core. she suggested some other hip strengthening exercises. i asked her if i really need to do them since my hip is quite strong as is and i never really did those types of things pre-surgery. she didn't think i'd have to, but if i get bored maybe i will. i will continue with my stretches (pinformis figure-4 and hip flexor off edge of table) b/c i think i'm still tight in these areas.
my cross-legged sitting position is getting more comfortable. i can bring knees to chest (tucking) while upside-down a little easier now too. there will be some limitation there now since the surgery makes my femoral head bump into the acetabular roof more.
a small triangle-shape area below my incision has gained back full sensation in my large numb spot. there is a patch that feels bruised and is a little sore when i walk, around mid-thigh. otherwise my numb spot is still very large, which i'm told is normal. Dr Millis commented that he inserts the screws in such a way that the nerve doesn't need to be fussed with when he removes the screws.
i didn't realize...that may have been the last time i saw my hip team! unless my right side decides to act up.
i will probably get my screws taken out in the next couple of months. i'll need a couple weeks for the incision to heal again before being active so the scar will heal smoothly. Dr Millis suggested i don't need to get general anesthesia, just some sedation and no intubation. it takes maybe half an hour and i'm on my way. i'll try to schedule it so it won't interfere with golf season (which seems so far away in this cold weather). screw removal is done mon/fri, usu after major surgery cases are completed.
PT jamie gave me a pilates move to do. lying down, press lower back into ground and march feet up and down with knees bent. this helps core. she suggested some other hip strengthening exercises. i asked her if i really need to do them since my hip is quite strong as is and i never really did those types of things pre-surgery. she didn't think i'd have to, but if i get bored maybe i will. i will continue with my stretches (pinformis figure-4 and hip flexor off edge of table) b/c i think i'm still tight in these areas.
my cross-legged sitting position is getting more comfortable. i can bring knees to chest (tucking) while upside-down a little easier now too. there will be some limitation there now since the surgery makes my femoral head bump into the acetabular roof more.
a small triangle-shape area below my incision has gained back full sensation in my large numb spot. there is a patch that feels bruised and is a little sore when i walk, around mid-thigh. otherwise my numb spot is still very large, which i'm told is normal. Dr Millis commented that he inserts the screws in such a way that the nerve doesn't need to be fussed with when he removes the screws.
i didn't realize...that may have been the last time i saw my hip team! unless my right side decides to act up.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Weeks 10-13...not much going on
back at the gym and with my new hairline fracture, i'm trying not to move my lower body so i'm taking a break from lazy bike and swimming (actually kicking with a kickboard) for now. doing some weighted pull-ups, front dips, normal push-ups, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, handstands, speed bag and double-end bag in the boxing studio (to get some cardio back in!). the first time i did the new PT moves, the figure 4 was very tough for my left hip. the hip flexor stretch with my left leg hanging off the table, it felt like my femur head and knee were gonna pop out of their sockets. the thera-band leg lifts and left leg balance went fine. i'm keeping crunches, abs with side-swing medicine ball, side-to-side for abs on pulley machine, quad stretch and added plank.
since i'm supposed to continue taking my crutch out for a walk, i can still cut to the front of the line at Whole Foods to the handicap register. makes grocery shopping so much more bearable! i actually find crutching with one stick more tiring than with 2 sticks.
my 60 days on baby aspirin ended (after 30 days on lovenox shots--for blood clotting) so i'm not on any more PAO-related drugs. i wonder if my leg doesn't have good range of motion because of flexibility or if the surgery changed how my bones fit together and so the "hinge" is obstructed now. i can cut my toenails a little better now but i have to make an effort to keep my foot close to me. and sitting cross-legged still isn't so comfortable. i'm thinking about getting acupunture for the huge numb spot on my thigh which isn't really getting smaller. i started noticing my screws when i wore normal pants once. i was wondering why that area was tender/sore. also, sometimes feel a dull ache in my butt where Dr Millis says my ischium is cracked. hope the bone is healing!
since i'm supposed to continue taking my crutch out for a walk, i can still cut to the front of the line at Whole Foods to the handicap register. makes grocery shopping so much more bearable! i actually find crutching with one stick more tiring than with 2 sticks.
my 60 days on baby aspirin ended (after 30 days on lovenox shots--for blood clotting) so i'm not on any more PAO-related drugs. i wonder if my leg doesn't have good range of motion because of flexibility or if the surgery changed how my bones fit together and so the "hinge" is obstructed now. i can cut my toenails a little better now but i have to make an effort to keep my foot close to me. and sitting cross-legged still isn't so comfortable. i'm thinking about getting acupunture for the huge numb spot on my thigh which isn't really getting smaller. i started noticing my screws when i wore normal pants once. i was wondering why that area was tender/sore. also, sometimes feel a dull ache in my butt where Dr Millis says my ischium is cracked. hope the bone is healing!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
10-week Post-op Appt
since i was away and Dr Millis was away, my 2-month post-op appt was scheduled closer to the 10-week mark. i re-read one of Dr Millis' old emails and it suggested that i could be off crutches after 8 weeks. so i possibly coulda chucked those things a long time ago! will i get post-crutches depression?
unfortunately my post-crutch depression will need to wait. we flew up to BOS for my 2nd post-op appt. Dr Millis opened the xrays i took that day and said, looks good--did we really do surgery on this hip? then he pointed out that there's a new hairline fracture where he made a cut on the ischium. he explained that he doesn't put screws everywhere so the piece down in the back can wiggle around with different activities and potentially crack. it's neither common nor uncommon and someone earlier in the day found a hairline fracture too. i feel no pain from this fracture, which would literally be a "pain in the ass", somewhere in the middle of the butt crease. he had me walk across the room unaided and commented that my gait was completely normal...but i should be using one crutch until the next appt. PT jaime said it'd be ok to walk around the house unaided. i'm going to return my wheelchair, which i haven't used since week 3 on a shopping mall field trip.
so, no more rowing for me but i can still swim and do stationary bike. i have to avoid hamstring and adductor motion, and any movement where i push against my left foot. my new PT moves are: 1) figure 4 stretches for both legs (ankle on opposite knee) and pull towards chest. 2) hip flexor stretch by hanging left leg over edge of table/bed and bringing right knee to chest. 3) leg lifts to front, side and back with blue theraband (graduated from orange band!). 4) stand on left leg and do right leg lifts w/o resistance (works on left leg balance). i can still do ab crunches and quad stretches but no more butt bridges (works hamstring/adductor). there is no more right/left weight-bearing restrictions, i can stand/crawl on knees, do toe push-ups, plank.
i have 4 screws in which Dr Millis wants to take out when my bone is healed. my pre-op MRI showed abnormal cartilage near the labrum on the medial side of the femoral head, some sort of cysts.
most people feel 95% back to normal around 6 months and it probably takes about a year to be back to 100%.
unfortunately my post-crutch depression will need to wait. we flew up to BOS for my 2nd post-op appt. Dr Millis opened the xrays i took that day and said, looks good--did we really do surgery on this hip? then he pointed out that there's a new hairline fracture where he made a cut on the ischium. he explained that he doesn't put screws everywhere so the piece down in the back can wiggle around with different activities and potentially crack. it's neither common nor uncommon and someone earlier in the day found a hairline fracture too. i feel no pain from this fracture, which would literally be a "pain in the ass", somewhere in the middle of the butt crease. he had me walk across the room unaided and commented that my gait was completely normal...but i should be using one crutch until the next appt. PT jaime said it'd be ok to walk around the house unaided. i'm going to return my wheelchair, which i haven't used since week 3 on a shopping mall field trip.
so, no more rowing for me but i can still swim and do stationary bike. i have to avoid hamstring and adductor motion, and any movement where i push against my left foot. my new PT moves are: 1) figure 4 stretches for both legs (ankle on opposite knee) and pull towards chest. 2) hip flexor stretch by hanging left leg over edge of table/bed and bringing right knee to chest. 3) leg lifts to front, side and back with blue theraband (graduated from orange band!). 4) stand on left leg and do right leg lifts w/o resistance (works on left leg balance). i can still do ab crunches and quad stretches but no more butt bridges (works hamstring/adductor). there is no more right/left weight-bearing restrictions, i can stand/crawl on knees, do toe push-ups, plank.
i have 4 screws in which Dr Millis wants to take out when my bone is healed. my pre-op MRI showed abnormal cartilage near the labrum on the medial side of the femoral head, some sort of cysts.
most people feel 95% back to normal around 6 months and it probably takes about a year to be back to 100%.
Monday, January 24, 2011
9 weeks already--when will I be normal?
i have been trying to find more things to do at the gym and have been attempting to hit the double end bag and heavy bag. i'm not sure if this causes too much pivoting and twisting in the hip so i stop after a little bit. plus i'm standing a bit upright cuz i'm not sure if i should be bending at my hips yet. i'd probably move around the bag more too but i probably shouldn't be doing the quick movements either. nor have i been cleared to get off crutches! now that pull-ups are bothering my still-healing neck, i threw in bench press and rows to kill time. also rowing was bothering my hip a little so i went back to bike. i'm falling apart! amazingly i haven't missed a single day of PT. they're so boring but i know they will help.
i finally got the courage to get on a scale. i'm pretty much the same weight. i heard stories of people gaining 15-30lbs while on crutches and was very fearful cuz i love to eat. PA erin said that healing burns calories, but i don't think my healing can keep up with my eating.
i was able to clip a couple of toenails on my left foot quickly without causing too much discomfort. i'm still cautious about standing on my left leg alone while putting on pants or socks or washing my feet.
my numb spot remains quite large; the whole left front half of my thigh from knee to groin. i massage it with a soapy buf-puf in the shower everyday, per PT jaime who says stimulating it can help the nerves wake up. my hip flexors are still very tight whenever i stand up. i wonder when i won't notice any residual from surgery--tightness, clicking, no restrictions on physical activity...
the whole foods near me is notorious for long lines. there are 35 registers, 10 or 11 queues and it's not unusual to see the line wrap all around to the entrance. one trip i waited in line and the cashier said next time i could go straight to the the handicap register #35. that really is handy, esp for the times when the checkout line is super long. the handicap card works for airport security lines too. i haven't really noticed much special treatment otherwise (after all here in NYC, cars honk at me in the crosswalk when i have a walk signal). one other time, we went to stephanie's on newbury in my wheelchair 1-wk post-op. that restaurant is always super crowded (but mediocre food). when my guy asked how long the wait would be for 2, he was told 20-30min. then the maitre'd saw me and said, oh, we'll get you right in; just wait a minute.
i finally got the courage to get on a scale. i'm pretty much the same weight. i heard stories of people gaining 15-30lbs while on crutches and was very fearful cuz i love to eat. PA erin said that healing burns calories, but i don't think my healing can keep up with my eating.
i was able to clip a couple of toenails on my left foot quickly without causing too much discomfort. i'm still cautious about standing on my left leg alone while putting on pants or socks or washing my feet.
my numb spot remains quite large; the whole left front half of my thigh from knee to groin. i massage it with a soapy buf-puf in the shower everyday, per PT jaime who says stimulating it can help the nerves wake up. my hip flexors are still very tight whenever i stand up. i wonder when i won't notice any residual from surgery--tightness, clicking, no restrictions on physical activity...
the whole foods near me is notorious for long lines. there are 35 registers, 10 or 11 queues and it's not unusual to see the line wrap all around to the entrance. one trip i waited in line and the cashier said next time i could go straight to the the handicap register #35. that really is handy, esp for the times when the checkout line is super long. the handicap card works for airport security lines too. i haven't really noticed much special treatment otherwise (after all here in NYC, cars honk at me in the crosswalk when i have a walk signal). one other time, we went to stephanie's on newbury in my wheelchair 1-wk post-op. that restaurant is always super crowded (but mediocre food). when my guy asked how long the wait would be for 2, he was told 20-30min. then the maitre'd saw me and said, oh, we'll get you right in; just wait a minute.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Weeks 8&9
at the gym, my rowing pace increased to a 2:30-2:45 pace for 2000m without any issues. i switched to the orange theraband for PT, which has more resistance.
one day we were walking around a bunch and i ended up crutching around 2 miles. i was completely fatigued and almost couldn't make it home. i thought i may have overdone it but turns out i had minor flu. since i'm taking aspirin still, i had to make sure not to take anything with nsaid (e.g. theraflu). i slept a bunch and a couple days later, i had an appt in midtown east and decided to wander around, and 3 miles later i was home. i felt fine crutching but perhaps the activity caused my hip to have some minor pain when weight-bearing.
i tend to have tight shoulders/upper back from boxing and i think i still have the problem from crutching all the time now. one night i turned from my side while sleeping and i got a bad neck kink. i put a heating pad on my neck and later used tiger balm. i couldn't use salonpas patches because they have nsaid.
i spontaneously crossed my legs and didn't think anything of it. i was on a bed tho, so the puffiness probably made it easier. i've been having increased popping and clicking action in my hip. Dr Millis suggested it's b/c i've been pretty active. i hope it's not anything bad.
i was in the SF area for 10 days. this is usually our mid-winter golf trip...but of course i was not able to participate. i didn't feel like using my crutches while home at all. i think i can handle short stints around the house but i never leave home w/o the sticks. in the city, i still walked a lot but avoided the hills and stayed on flat streets. i'm not sure how i would have done on crutches on some of those big hills. my neck started feeling a little better but i messed it up again while doing pull-ups.
shortly after my PAO, i tried to set up a wheelchair rental for my trip to SF. it seemed it wouldn't be a problem; my insurance said it was fine, one of the NY apria reps said they would do it and i just needed a new prescription for it. i got transfered to the NY travel rep and she said she couldn't do it, that they only do travel DME for oxygen tanks. she asked why i couldn't bring my own chair and i explained that it would be very difficult for my guy to bring his suitcase, carry-on, travel golf bag, my suitcase and push me. i called the menlo park (SF) branch and they told me they could do it for me and just needed NY to set up my travel profile. NY wouldn't do it so menlo park tried to work it out with them. i called a CHB case manager if she could help, and she reported back that it was a payment issue, that NY didn't want to share the fee with menlo park. after a few days, menlo park called me back and said they'd send the wheelchair for me free of charge. my SF trip rolled around and my wheelchair didn't show up. they called me a few days later asking if i got the chair. i was doing fine w/o it and realistically, the wheelchair was most useful in the first month when i moved painfully slow with the remedial half-step crutch walk. i was also a good shopping cart in my wheelchair.
one day we were walking around a bunch and i ended up crutching around 2 miles. i was completely fatigued and almost couldn't make it home. i thought i may have overdone it but turns out i had minor flu. since i'm taking aspirin still, i had to make sure not to take anything with nsaid (e.g. theraflu). i slept a bunch and a couple days later, i had an appt in midtown east and decided to wander around, and 3 miles later i was home. i felt fine crutching but perhaps the activity caused my hip to have some minor pain when weight-bearing.
i tend to have tight shoulders/upper back from boxing and i think i still have the problem from crutching all the time now. one night i turned from my side while sleeping and i got a bad neck kink. i put a heating pad on my neck and later used tiger balm. i couldn't use salonpas patches because they have nsaid.
i spontaneously crossed my legs and didn't think anything of it. i was on a bed tho, so the puffiness probably made it easier. i've been having increased popping and clicking action in my hip. Dr Millis suggested it's b/c i've been pretty active. i hope it's not anything bad.
i was in the SF area for 10 days. this is usually our mid-winter golf trip...but of course i was not able to participate. i didn't feel like using my crutches while home at all. i think i can handle short stints around the house but i never leave home w/o the sticks. in the city, i still walked a lot but avoided the hills and stayed on flat streets. i'm not sure how i would have done on crutches on some of those big hills. my neck started feeling a little better but i messed it up again while doing pull-ups.
shortly after my PAO, i tried to set up a wheelchair rental for my trip to SF. it seemed it wouldn't be a problem; my insurance said it was fine, one of the NY apria reps said they would do it and i just needed a new prescription for it. i got transfered to the NY travel rep and she said she couldn't do it, that they only do travel DME for oxygen tanks. she asked why i couldn't bring my own chair and i explained that it would be very difficult for my guy to bring his suitcase, carry-on, travel golf bag, my suitcase and push me. i called the menlo park (SF) branch and they told me they could do it for me and just needed NY to set up my travel profile. NY wouldn't do it so menlo park tried to work it out with them. i called a CHB case manager if she could help, and she reported back that it was a payment issue, that NY didn't want to share the fee with menlo park. after a few days, menlo park called me back and said they'd send the wheelchair for me free of charge. my SF trip rolled around and my wheelchair didn't show up. they called me a few days later asking if i got the chair. i was doing fine w/o it and realistically, the wheelchair was most useful in the first month when i moved painfully slow with the remedial half-step crutch walk. i was also a good shopping cart in my wheelchair.
Weeks 6&7
i go to the gym almost every day and take the weekends the off. i added pushups to an elevated bar and front dips to my strength days. instead of bike, i decided to try the rower. my first time i did 2000m at a 3' pace to be careful. Dr Millis said it was ok as long as i listened to my body. i tried to invert and do a skin-the-cat and do leg raises on the dips/leg raise chair. neither one of those went well. tucking my knee to chest is very uncomfortable and causes pain.
i tried to go see the christmas displays in midtown on christmas day. it was such a zoo cuz all the tourists were out even tho nothing was open. i thought i could walk home but then we hopped on a bus back. NYC also got hit with a big blizzard. i had an appt and the office wasn't closed so i went ahead to my appt. i got a lot comments out in the snow on my crutches but it really wasn't that bad. just walk slowly and watch your step.
i am able to lift my leg up and prop onto stuff easier. i can't really sit cross-legged comfortably yet. my knee doesn't drop down and i have to hold it up so it doesn't hurt.
i've tried to take a few steps w/o crutches and it really is scary. i think i'm afraid of damaging something. after a few days of trying, i can do it but am very gimpy and probably shouldn't be doing it. i also finally can vacuum! using one crutch for safety. i felt that i could do almost anything on my own except vacuum so i feel like i'm completely self-sufficient now.
Week 5 & One-Month Post-op Appt
we flew up to BOS for my one-month post-op appt. i decided not take the airport wheelchair but they let you thru priority on crutches. i wasn't sure if i could walk thru the metal detector unassisted so i got treated to a full body pat down. my crutches got sent thru the bag scanner. the flight was uneventful and i was greeted with a wheelchair in BOS airport so i took it. on the way back to NYC, i went thru security by hopping on my good leg so i wouldn't have to get pat down.
PA erin was away this week so the appts were running really late. i didn't get into an exam room until 2hrs after my appt time. i had xrays done and Dr Millis was very pleased with my new pelvis/femur angles. the gap between the bones on the side of my hip where the cut was made is still 9mm wide! i didn't realize there was a real gap. other areas of the cut bone were growing in well. my left quad looks scrawny compared to my right. when i wear pants, the material on my left thigh is wrinkled funny while the right is taut...but they didn't do any girth measurements at the appt.
i have no more restrictions on my hip bending angles, i don't need to sleep with a pillow under my knee, i can sleep on my side (with a pillow b/w my knees) and stomach, and i can do a normal gait with my crutches while walking--so no more keeping bad leg in front of good leg at all times anymore. i can walk much faster! and i am to put 40% weight (up from 16%) on my left side. the only way i can really mess up my hip is by having a bad fall.
my new PT moves are butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch while lying on belly, and theraband leg raises. jaime gave me a yellow band to start with and i move up to the orange band when i feel stronger. the theraband leg raises def felt weird.
i also was cleared for the gym! i can do bike 0 resistance for 5min, upper body that doesn't engage lower body, gentle swim, calf press, quad ext and ham curls.
i also can stop my lovenox shots (hurray) and switch to 81mg aspirin for 60 days. what a productive trip!
the day after my 1mo post-op, i went to the gym and did 19' (3mi) on upright stationary bike. our gym has expresso bikes where the screen shows a video of bike path graphics, so it's like going for a "real" bike ride with scenery. i don't think i'd survive on a bike otherwise. i also hit the speed bag, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, overhand pull-ups, and quad extension. i was able to do 7 OH pull-ups pre-surgery and i seem to have lost 2 in the hospital. i'll have to work on that. i mentioned to jaime that my knee felt unstable and she explained that with quad dis-use, the muscle that connects to the knee gets weak.
i alternate my quasi-strength day with gentle swimming with a kickboard and walking in the pool forward and sideways for around 30min. i was very tentative my first time in the pool and barely made any ripples in the water while kicking. i started taking the bus to the pool b/c it's less stairs than going into the subway. but then i decided just to crutch back which is just under a mile.
my itching has stopped completely. i started to massage my scar with coconut oil, perpendicular to the scar with a 2 fingers. PT jaime and PA erin both said it didn't really matter what i use to massage. i am prone to keloid formation and there is some bumpiness on one end of my scar. i feel the massage is helping to break down the collagen there. my scar isn't very pretty and has some extra blobby parts instead of just being a thin line. there's a nubbin poking up on one end and parts of it seem folded over funny. i wonder if some inexperienced resident sewed me up. i want a plastic surgeon next time!
PA erin was away this week so the appts were running really late. i didn't get into an exam room until 2hrs after my appt time. i had xrays done and Dr Millis was very pleased with my new pelvis/femur angles. the gap between the bones on the side of my hip where the cut was made is still 9mm wide! i didn't realize there was a real gap. other areas of the cut bone were growing in well. my left quad looks scrawny compared to my right. when i wear pants, the material on my left thigh is wrinkled funny while the right is taut...but they didn't do any girth measurements at the appt.
i have no more restrictions on my hip bending angles, i don't need to sleep with a pillow under my knee, i can sleep on my side (with a pillow b/w my knees) and stomach, and i can do a normal gait with my crutches while walking--so no more keeping bad leg in front of good leg at all times anymore. i can walk much faster! and i am to put 40% weight (up from 16%) on my left side. the only way i can really mess up my hip is by having a bad fall.
my new PT moves are butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch while lying on belly, and theraband leg raises. jaime gave me a yellow band to start with and i move up to the orange band when i feel stronger. the theraband leg raises def felt weird.
i also was cleared for the gym! i can do bike 0 resistance for 5min, upper body that doesn't engage lower body, gentle swim, calf press, quad ext and ham curls.
i also can stop my lovenox shots (hurray) and switch to 81mg aspirin for 60 days. what a productive trip!
the day after my 1mo post-op, i went to the gym and did 19' (3mi) on upright stationary bike. our gym has expresso bikes where the screen shows a video of bike path graphics, so it's like going for a "real" bike ride with scenery. i don't think i'd survive on a bike otherwise. i also hit the speed bag, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, overhand pull-ups, and quad extension. i was able to do 7 OH pull-ups pre-surgery and i seem to have lost 2 in the hospital. i'll have to work on that. i mentioned to jaime that my knee felt unstable and she explained that with quad dis-use, the muscle that connects to the knee gets weak.
i alternate my quasi-strength day with gentle swimming with a kickboard and walking in the pool forward and sideways for around 30min. i was very tentative my first time in the pool and barely made any ripples in the water while kicking. i started taking the bus to the pool b/c it's less stairs than going into the subway. but then i decided just to crutch back which is just under a mile.
my itching has stopped completely. i started to massage my scar with coconut oil, perpendicular to the scar with a 2 fingers. PT jaime and PA erin both said it didn't really matter what i use to massage. i am prone to keloid formation and there is some bumpiness on one end of my scar. i feel the massage is helping to break down the collagen there. my scar isn't very pretty and has some extra blobby parts instead of just being a thin line. there's a nubbin poking up on one end and parts of it seem folded over funny. i wonder if some inexperienced resident sewed me up. i want a plastic surgeon next time!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Pre-Surgery Prep
based on a lot of research i did, i assumed i would just be a big blob lying in bed all day. my first thought was hygiene. i got No-Rinse bathing wipes from amazon. they're a bit expensive; $8 for a pack of 8 sheets. the wipes are thick, very refreshing and don't leave a yucky residue. my trainer sings the praises of huggies wipes so i got a whole bunch of those (green tea cucumber scent and butter shea) because they're a lot cheaper and are equally refreshing tho a little less thick. they were also great for wiping my feet which i couldn't reach in the shower for a few weeks. i also got No-Rinse shampoo because it got great reviews. the first time i used it, i rinsed it out with water because it felt heavy and i didn't feel clean.
i read that socks would be difficult to get on so i looked for comfortable shoes that don't require socks. i finally gave in and tried UGGs and the competitor brand EMU. the ankle and short boots for both brands were not really slip-ons so i got the UGGly lexi slipper. they're warm, secure and comfy for the cold northeast winters, and i don't need to use my hands to get them on. EMU boots are kinda clunky and the soles didn't seem as grippy.
the surgery incision is quite large and in a vulnerable spot so i wanted to get comfy pants that wouldn't be tight around that area. since i wouldn't have any free hands while crutching, i looked for lounge-y pants with pockets and sweatshirts/robes with pockets. i also thought i'd wear comfy skirts and dresses to keep my wound free, so i picked up leg warmers and thigh-high socks. i thought about getting a fanny pack but settled on shortening the straps on a small messenger bag and hanging it around my waist. PA erin also suggested i get underwear a size larger. hiphuggers and girl shorts protected my wound area well. as Dr Millis pointed out tho, the incision follows a conservative bikini line quite well.
i read that it was good to strengthen the upper body and the area around the hips to help recovery. i think this is more for people who don't move much. i was boxing 4-5x's a week (lots of upper body), and since my hip was bothering me for a while, the workouts with my trainer were pretty upper body-focused already. we did gymnastics rings stuff, handstands and modified handstand pushups, pull-ups and weighted pull-ups (i think the best i ever did was 1 pull-up with 30lb weight), dips, clapping push-ups, kettlebells. otherwise i think that good prep for upper body would be lat pull-downs, rows, dips, etc.
my gym allows a medical freeze with dr's note for up to 6 months, without a monthly freeze fee. Dr Millis wrote a note that i would be unable to use the gym for 6mos, but i was back in the gym the day after i was cleared for gym activity at my 1-mo post-op appt.
in terms of diet, because of the blood-giving, i tried to eat iron-rich foods and vitamin c to help absorb the iron. i tried to eat healthier but that's very difficult for me, esp since the last 6wks before surgery i was in japan for 2wks, SF for 1wk, boston, chicago, DC, and eating anything that looked yummy.
i didn't think of applying for a temporary handicap permit til after surgery. for NYC, the application form needs the dr's license #, diagnosis, signature etc. i didn't get the form to Dr Millis til my 1-mo appt. after submitting the application, i received an "incomplete" notice a few weeks later due to illegible physician handwriting. oh well. better planning next time.
i had a routine dental appt set up the week of surgery. i canceled it b/c there's a small chance of my blood getting infected if my gums bleed during cleaning or whatever.
since i'd probably be greasy and pasty looking after surgery, i did some beauty maintenance before my surgery date, including a facial, mani/pedi (remove all polish for the oxygen monitor during surgery), brazilian keratin for my hair (so i wouldn't have to worry about frizzy hair), and eyelash perm (so my eyes would be bright for my visitors!).
i didn't really do much to prepare the apt for post-surgery. the only thing i really needed was an extra pillow to put under my bad leg while sitting and sleeping. oh, and i bought a lot of books on amazon.
i read that socks would be difficult to get on so i looked for comfortable shoes that don't require socks. i finally gave in and tried UGGs and the competitor brand EMU. the ankle and short boots for both brands were not really slip-ons so i got the UGGly lexi slipper. they're warm, secure and comfy for the cold northeast winters, and i don't need to use my hands to get them on. EMU boots are kinda clunky and the soles didn't seem as grippy.
the surgery incision is quite large and in a vulnerable spot so i wanted to get comfy pants that wouldn't be tight around that area. since i wouldn't have any free hands while crutching, i looked for lounge-y pants with pockets and sweatshirts/robes with pockets. i also thought i'd wear comfy skirts and dresses to keep my wound free, so i picked up leg warmers and thigh-high socks. i thought about getting a fanny pack but settled on shortening the straps on a small messenger bag and hanging it around my waist. PA erin also suggested i get underwear a size larger. hiphuggers and girl shorts protected my wound area well. as Dr Millis pointed out tho, the incision follows a conservative bikini line quite well.
i read that it was good to strengthen the upper body and the area around the hips to help recovery. i think this is more for people who don't move much. i was boxing 4-5x's a week (lots of upper body), and since my hip was bothering me for a while, the workouts with my trainer were pretty upper body-focused already. we did gymnastics rings stuff, handstands and modified handstand pushups, pull-ups and weighted pull-ups (i think the best i ever did was 1 pull-up with 30lb weight), dips, clapping push-ups, kettlebells. otherwise i think that good prep for upper body would be lat pull-downs, rows, dips, etc.
my gym allows a medical freeze with dr's note for up to 6 months, without a monthly freeze fee. Dr Millis wrote a note that i would be unable to use the gym for 6mos, but i was back in the gym the day after i was cleared for gym activity at my 1-mo post-op appt.
in terms of diet, because of the blood-giving, i tried to eat iron-rich foods and vitamin c to help absorb the iron. i tried to eat healthier but that's very difficult for me, esp since the last 6wks before surgery i was in japan for 2wks, SF for 1wk, boston, chicago, DC, and eating anything that looked yummy.
i didn't think of applying for a temporary handicap permit til after surgery. for NYC, the application form needs the dr's license #, diagnosis, signature etc. i didn't get the form to Dr Millis til my 1-mo appt. after submitting the application, i received an "incomplete" notice a few weeks later due to illegible physician handwriting. oh well. better planning next time.
i had a routine dental appt set up the week of surgery. i canceled it b/c there's a small chance of my blood getting infected if my gums bleed during cleaning or whatever.
since i'd probably be greasy and pasty looking after surgery, i did some beauty maintenance before my surgery date, including a facial, mani/pedi (remove all polish for the oxygen monitor during surgery), brazilian keratin for my hair (so i wouldn't have to worry about frizzy hair), and eyelash perm (so my eyes would be bright for my visitors!).
i didn't really do much to prepare the apt for post-surgery. the only thing i really needed was an extra pillow to put under my bad leg while sitting and sleeping. oh, and i bought a lot of books on amazon.
welcome to hipPAOer
hi! i am keeping this blog to help others preparing and recovering from PAO surgery, and hopefully get some tips from PAO veterans. i had my left PAO done with Dr Michael Millis at Children's Hospital Boston on November 12, 2010.
MY HIP BACKGROUND
i was diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia, CHD (or developmental dysplasia of the hip, DDH) in summer 2010. i was told i have bilateral hip dysplasia, not too severe and less on the right side. i first noticed pain in my left groin area after trying to do one-legged squats with my trainer 2 years earlier (in my early 30s). i went to various orthopedic/sports medicine/primary doctors who told me to stretch more, stop exercising, avoid ballistic motion, or said i had leg length disparity or a torn labrum that was causing my pain. i avoided exercises that bothered my hip--mostly deep squats--and with time it would feel fine. i also did p/t with shake&bake treatment, massage, tried acupuncture and icing. those were all temporary fixes.
i'm pretty much a gym bunny. when i am healthy, i box 4-5x's/week, train 2-3x's/week, and usually play golf sat&sun during golf season. i do Crossfit type workouts, body weight exercises, gymnastics rings, rowing, jump rope, kettlebells, run stairs, box jumps. i hate running and stopped running when my hip started hurting.
in dec 2008 (one-legged squat pain was earlier in the spring), my trainer had me deadlift 135lb x1 rep and i did it fine. in spring 2009, i lost some weight (5-6% of my bodyweight) and we attempted a deadlift again but i was no where close to 135lb and it was hurting my hip. so we stopped trying to do deadlifts. in spring 2010, we were front squatting 70lb x5 rep when my hip got very unhappy. this was not a new exercise or weight for me, plus i hadn't been squatting as deep for a while. for whatever reason, this was the worst my hip pain ever got. my hip would hurt when my leg extended back while walking and i couldn't lift my leg comfortably over the shower tub or get socks on while standing. this lasted for a few weeks.
i was having shoulder blade issues so i went to a chiropractor to see if he could fix that. i told him about my chronic hip issue and he bent my leg around and decided i should get an MRI (NOTE: my trainer had been bugging me to get an MRI for over a year at this point but different dr's i saw wanted to try other futile treatment instead). the MRI report actually had bad news, suggesting dysplasia, grade 4 chondromalacia (arthritis), and a labral tear. i sent the report to a non-practicing physician friend who trained in orthopedic medicine. his response was, "bummer, you have hip dysplasia?" and suggested i go see a hip specialist, ideally one for PAO. he has a good buddy at Hospital for Special Surgery HSS, Dr Edwin Su who is a hip&knee specialist. after meeting with Dr Su, he referred me to Dr Michael Millis at Children's Hospital Boston CHB (my friend also happened to rotate under Dr Millis during med school). so far, NYC doesn't have a PAO guy but HSS is working on getting Dr Ernest Sink from denver.
MY HIP BACKGROUND
i was diagnosed with congenital hip dysplasia, CHD (or developmental dysplasia of the hip, DDH) in summer 2010. i was told i have bilateral hip dysplasia, not too severe and less on the right side. i first noticed pain in my left groin area after trying to do one-legged squats with my trainer 2 years earlier (in my early 30s). i went to various orthopedic/sports medicine/primary doctors who told me to stretch more, stop exercising, avoid ballistic motion, or said i had leg length disparity or a torn labrum that was causing my pain. i avoided exercises that bothered my hip--mostly deep squats--and with time it would feel fine. i also did p/t with shake&bake treatment, massage, tried acupuncture and icing. those were all temporary fixes.
i'm pretty much a gym bunny. when i am healthy, i box 4-5x's/week, train 2-3x's/week, and usually play golf sat&sun during golf season. i do Crossfit type workouts, body weight exercises, gymnastics rings, rowing, jump rope, kettlebells, run stairs, box jumps. i hate running and stopped running when my hip started hurting.
in dec 2008 (one-legged squat pain was earlier in the spring), my trainer had me deadlift 135lb x1 rep and i did it fine. in spring 2009, i lost some weight (5-6% of my bodyweight) and we attempted a deadlift again but i was no where close to 135lb and it was hurting my hip. so we stopped trying to do deadlifts. in spring 2010, we were front squatting 70lb x5 rep when my hip got very unhappy. this was not a new exercise or weight for me, plus i hadn't been squatting as deep for a while. for whatever reason, this was the worst my hip pain ever got. my hip would hurt when my leg extended back while walking and i couldn't lift my leg comfortably over the shower tub or get socks on while standing. this lasted for a few weeks.
i was having shoulder blade issues so i went to a chiropractor to see if he could fix that. i told him about my chronic hip issue and he bent my leg around and decided i should get an MRI (NOTE: my trainer had been bugging me to get an MRI for over a year at this point but different dr's i saw wanted to try other futile treatment instead). the MRI report actually had bad news, suggesting dysplasia, grade 4 chondromalacia (arthritis), and a labral tear. i sent the report to a non-practicing physician friend who trained in orthopedic medicine. his response was, "bummer, you have hip dysplasia?" and suggested i go see a hip specialist, ideally one for PAO. he has a good buddy at Hospital for Special Surgery HSS, Dr Edwin Su who is a hip&knee specialist. after meeting with Dr Su, he referred me to Dr Michael Millis at Children's Hospital Boston CHB (my friend also happened to rotate under Dr Millis during med school). so far, NYC doesn't have a PAO guy but HSS is working on getting Dr Ernest Sink from denver.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)