THR 1st April Surgery and doing well

[Jyoti]

Thanks all. We didn't even talk about the hardware so assume all is well there. It has been so far.

I appreciate I need to be patient but for him to say that he can't say if I will be off the crutch at all is a bit of a worry. I have the motivation to work hard and do what I have to do, but even if I did everything, there is still that small doubt at the back of my mind. I know I have up to 12 months so hoping that there will still be improvement.

I have the appt with the podiatrist on Monday and KMI in under 2 weeks time so will let you know how that goes.

I did ask my OS about his experience with his previous surgeries of people with a similar history to me and he said out of 17, 15 were happy with 2 unhappy. He didn't say whether all 15 walked independently but I'm assuming the best but the other 2 still used walking aids.

He's hoping I'll join the 15 and make it 16 :wink1:
Jyoti

 

[VThereandnow]

Jyoti, I just realized that sometimes I write a post and then realize I am confused or on the wrong page of posts. I just went back and read more of your post and realized that happened. Now I have a better understanding of what you have been going through. Sounds really frustrating and patience is an understatement. Seems like you HAVE been patient. I'm so sorry and understand why you are scared and frustrated. So glad to see all the support you have here on this site. Sounds like some of you have been supporting each other for a long time. Don't give up. You seem like a fighter, so keep fighting and looking for answers. I am sending some positive energy your way. -cathy

 

[Jamie]

Jyoti.....your surgeon was just covering all the bases. They do that sometimes. But YOU know your drive and your body and YOU will work hard to get where you want to be. I know this is true. So.....keep doing the good things you've been doing and let's show him how grand a recovery can be, okay?

 

[alexthecat]

Jyoti, are you getting any kind of response from your gluteus medius muscle when you do the side leg lift? If that leg moves at all, even if it's just a millimeter, it means that the muscle is "awake" and trying to do its job. That muscle is the key to overcoming the Trendelenberg gait, so just keep working on that.

Aside from that, there is a lot of built-in redundancy in the muscles of your hip and thigh. If there are particular muscles that aren't able to work properly, it may be possible to train other muscles to compensate.

I really do think you can get through this. It's a lot of work, but you are young and determined. You'll get there. I wonder if you could talk to some of the 15 happy patients that your OS referenced though. I'm not doubting that they might be happy with their outcomes, but what were their expectations? If they just wanted not to be in a wheelchair, using a cane forever might seem okay to them, even though you or I wouldn't consider that a good outcome for ourselves. Then again, if they did recover to a level that you would find acceptable, they might have some pointers for you.

 

[Jyoti]

Thanks everyone for the support

Yes, Alex, it has only been recently but I can do the side leg lifts. It's not great and it lifts probably only a cm or 2. It fatigues quickly also. However, my current Physio did say when I first met him that I have muscles in my glutes but it is trying to activate them.

I will keep keep going and do my exercises.

 

[alexthecat]

Well, I think a cm or two is pretty great for a start! The difference between one cm and nothing is huge. I honestly think you're going to be able to overcome this. I'm very optimistic for you. You know me and you know I don't sugarcoat things, right? I wouldn't say this if I didn't completely believe it.

 

[Jyoti]

@cmac: I Went to my Podiatry appt and she told me to try Feldengrais rather then the KMI. She said with KMI I would need to go regularly as all to do with myofacial release and someone else would need to do that. Made an appt for next week so let's see:wink1:

It was an interesting appt as she could really see the benefits of the surgery and said my hip was so much better. I last saw her 2 years ago. However, she said that I need to retrain my gait completely as I still have the bad habits of compensating so my left leg still doing alot of the work. She spoke of my muscles still being so tight. She felt the Feldengrais would be of benefit for this. She also said as I could not lock my right knee out so i'm losing 1/2 cm in length so having an orthotic now would just hitch up my pelvis and not serve a purpose. She believed that with the Feldengrais and me doing the exercises then hopefully I will retrain my gait and then she can look at an orthotic.

Fingers crossed
Jyoti

 

[C Mac]

Hi Jyoti,

Fascinating that your podiatrist suggested Feldenkrais!! I'll be interested to hear what you think after your appointment. I'll also be interested to hear if the Feldendrais practitioner thinks that you need some sort of fascia related work first or concurrently. It seems like you need changes in "structure" in addition to help with the movement mechanics. Your podiatrist is correct in that you will need to see someone regularly for the fascia related work -- I see the rolfer every 3 or 4 weeks and I see the chiropractor once a week. I DO feel like it helps me though....

That's fantastic that she could tell the difference in your hip since the last time she'd seen you. Interesting what she also says about your knee and the orthotic too....

Is it that you cannot extend, or lock, your knee fully or that you just don't tend to do it when you are upright (standing or walking)? For example, when you are sitting or lying down are you able to extend/lock it?

I, also, do a lot of compensating with my left leg still & keep a bit of a bend in my right knee. It's a big adjustment getting length added after so many years of walking the way our body had adapted!!! It does take some time.

Keep us posted,
Cardie

 

[lisanewmc]

just dropping in on the 'dysplasia gang'.........not been around much lately to keep up with what's been going on with everyone but wanted to say hi

 

[C Mac]

Well, it seems that I've been recommended to go to Feldenkrais, now, as well. I have one more rolfing appointment in a few weeks and am going to see about Feldenkrais next week.

Let me know what you think about it @Jyoti:
Our work continues...
Take care,
Cardie

 

[Jyoti]

Hi Cardie, that's interesting. who recommended it and why now? My appt is on Thursday so
Will definately feedback.

Hi Lisa, good to hear from you. Us dysplasia gang are still here, not going anywhere soon ;-)

 

[C Mac]

Hi Jyoti,

The rolfer recommended it, much to my surprise as I'm only half way thru the 10 sessions. She recognizes that I have some maladaptive habits when it comes to walking and also mentioned that it's as if I don't "trust" my new hip.

Good luck on Thursday!!!!
Take care,
Cardie

 

[Jyoti]

To Feldengrais or not to Feldengrais :th_heehee:

Well, I had my session on Thursday and it was very interesting. He spoke of the brain having to re-teach the body how to move and hence change certain habits.

He first made me walk so he could see, and of course I was walking better then normal as the limp wasn't as bad but it was still there. He then made me lie on a couch and he touched my feet at certain points softly and then rolled my legs to see how they moved. He said that from touching my feet and toes he could see the hip move. In my left this worked but in my right it didn't. So he said that I could do loads of squats/lunges etc but see no real increase in strength as it all has to connect up and then it will work. ( hope that makes sense). Also my foot position of my right foot was totally different on my right side so he said it would hurt.

This all relates to my knee and foot pain. It was very interesting listening to him but to be honest some of it went straight through me as it is very different from seeing a physio who will give various exercises to help strengthen.

He gave me some exercises to do which all relates to my pelvis, hip joints and foot position. He could see I was using my back, mainly on my right.

I have to do it daily and I have to do it slowly and think of what I am doing. It does take about 45 mins to do. He was happy for me to do other activities, ie pool, gym etc but need to do his exercises first. Then I can see how it helps.

From my 1 hour with him and him making me do the exercise and gently help me through some of the movements he could see a benefit of 20%. When I stood after, my right foot position felt better and the leg felt longer. So I was happy. Did notice my walking after a bit more fluid and easier.

One thing he strongly recommended was deep water running. He said it takes about 45 mins for the hip to 'drop' but to start doing 20 mins and build up. He spoke of it not being weight bearing and beneficial for the hip and also about the resistance of the water helping in strength.

So all in all a good session and will be seeing him in 3 weeks.
Watch this space!!
Jyoti

 

[CURBS]

Hi!

Best wishes to you in recuperating. I had LTHR 3/20 and going for RTHR 5/10 so I will see you on the other side!

Take care!

 

[C Mac]

One thing he strongly recommended was deep water running.

Ok, yesterday after I read your message I went to the rec center and there were 3 girls in a lane in the pool doing this exact exercise -- I chuckled to myself and thought of you, me and @lisanewmc: working our CDH hips!!

Your session sounds interesting! Do keep us posted on how the exercises seem over time in addition to all the other work you are doing. I'm going on Wednesday so I'll see how my appointment compares... I do hope it's a once a month thing for me, I can' t afford anything more frequent... Oh and I sometimes have trouble processing a lot of info at once from a provider and will often ask in a follow-up email for a little summary of their impressions of the session. This helps me understand a little better and process at my own pace and ask follow-up questions too.

Take care,
Cardie

 

[Jyoti]

Thanks for that Cardie.
I now have to buy my floatation belt so I can get started. I've never seen anyone do that in the pools I've been to. Hoping I won't look silly and as I try to run in the water, hopefully i'll actually move as when I try to swim with a float in front I just stay still. Look very silly and embarassed:hysterical:

Good luck with your appt and looking forward to comparing notes. Yes, I will ask him questions as it goes along. He said the frequency can be shorter for the final result to be quicker so I think 4 weekly should be fine. As long as you do as they say
Jyoti

 

[Poppet]

Hi Jyoti

Pool work is fantastic, I did quite a few months of it quite early.. but it was an open pool and now it is too cold where I am. I have an excellent book (downloaded it from eBooks Amazon) called 'Heal your Hips' it is written by a Doctor - Robert Klapper M.D. and Lynda Huey (who specialises in rehabilitation via pool work).

I showed it to my PT and OS at the hospital and they agreed that it had very relevant content for water exercises. It has pictures of how to do all sorts of gentle pool work.... just a thought

 

[C Mac]

Hi Jyoti,

I wonder when your Feldenkrais guy mentions your using your back, if he's referring to the quadratus lumborum muscle in particular? This is the muscle that is low in your back and connects with the illum (pelvis) which then connects up with the gluteus medius.



My chiropractor often works on this muscle with his elbow. The other day he did a little test as I lay on the table on my stomach. He put his thumbs on the bottom of this muscle, right at the illium and I lifted my leg off the table as best I could. On my THR side I use the QL more than I use the glute medius -- in spite of all the clamshells, side leg lifts, abduction machine work, etc. In this article it talks about how stretching this QL muscle will make the gluteus medius stronger.

broken link removed: https://holistichealthgurus.com/blog/body/low-back-pain-due-to-tight-quadratus-lumborum-ql/

Maybe you already knew all this since you have been working with a physio and personal trainer in recent months...

Take care,
Cardie

 

[Jyoti]

I have a new issue now unfortunately. I have spoken of my right foot and knee pain alot. Since I returned form holiday in early April where I walked a great deal I felt my left knee taking some of the strain but still felt ok. However, as the weeks passed i went to the gym did some squats and lunges, few and no added weight and then my left knee ache began and has been here ever since.

So I haven't been able to do alot of leg exercises. But today I woke up and my left knee was in a lot of pain. I hadn't really done anything. The pain is just below the knee cap at the front of the knee and when I walk I cannot straighten it so I walk with an even more exaggerated limp and am not bending my knee properly. this is also my longer leg. So all day it has hurt, but once home and sitting around more it aches continuously. I cannot even walk properly. Few steps at he most. Bending and weight bearing hurts more.

Unsure what will happen tomorrow at work. The good thing is at least I drive to work so limited walking but still doing anything pains me.

I really don't understand why this has continued to worsen?? Nothing makes sense to me anymore and this is not even the leg that was operated on. It is my 'better', 'longer' and 'stronger' leg.

Any advice greatly received as I don't know what to do.:hissyfit:
Thanks
Jyoti

 

[dianemarie]

Jyoti,

Can't give any advice but guess what? I have the exact same issue today. It is my surgery side but knee hurts so bad, can't walk hardly at all and can't bend my knee straight...so I will look for any advice you get. I just took a pain pill (1st one in ages and have ice on and will take anti-inflammatory later) Oh, if it's not one thing it's another...hang in there.