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THR 1st April Surgery and doing well

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Well I had my knee appt. I had a very nice young Doctor. I had an x-ray and he was able to show me the arthritis in both knees and spoke of the gap of my patellar was a lot less hence causing my crepitus. That explains how even when doing non-weighbearing exercises my knee can hurt alot. He said my right knee had moderate arthritis and my left knee was mild. It is all to do with my hips which has caused this.

So he has said I need Physio, which I questioned as I already do my own workouts, but he told me to try and then said I need an MRI so am waiting for that appt. He spoke of steriod injections and then if needed an arthroscopy. So will wait to see what happens. My next appt is in Feb 2013.

If it's not one thing it has to be another but expected the knee to have arthritis. Hoping, as my gait improves this will decrease the arthritis progressing.

Here's hoping :flwrysmile:

Jyoti
 
Hi Jyoti,

Well, I guess there wasn't anything that was really unexpected from the appointment - right? Have you lined up your MRI appointment yet? That will give a deeper look at all those other things besides the bones. Probably good to make sure that you don't have any meniscus damage before you start physio, if you plan on going that route. I hope that you don't have to have an arthroscopic surgery! I refused that recommendation back in the spring.

I remember many years ago reading about knee problems and it seemed at the time that so much of what I saw recommended strengthening and working on the hamstrings and quadricep muscles in order to better support and keep space for the knees and avoid the bone on bone issues. I'm sure if you have some physio appointments they'll explain it all and maybe you can find out more about the Q angle and if there are things that can be done through exercise that will help with that and in turn help your knees.

Still working on my gait too & hoping right along with you!!:)
Take care,
Cardie
 
Hi Cardie,
Thanks for the advice. Can I ask why you said no to the arthroscopy? The issue I have is I have been exercising 'forever', however, I still have my left leg having more muscle mass and being stronger so I am a bit cynical about the physio. I totally understand the concepts but it doesn't seem to work that great for me. Was thinking that if I do have a steroid injection, that may reduce/stop the pain which will result in me being able to do more exercises hence strengthen the right knee and hip. The issue is clearly my LLD and even with a raise my left leg works harder for me.

I had my second session of Rolfing and it was interesting. Need to consider whether it's worth to do both Feldenkrais and Rolfing. No one can tell me what will work as no one really knows as we are all unique but I am sure it all helps.

I've never walked properly in all my life so to be honest my aim is to walk for longer distances without a walking aid and any other benefits will be a bonus. I have to say I am getting stronger in the short walking without the crutch, so that's good. :)

Hope you are also well.
Jyoti
 
Hi Jyoti,

My meniscus issue was a bit different in that mine got torn during the THR surgery and then was aggravated when I began PT at 10 weeks and was tasked with exercises that required me to stand on my operated leg alone as the balance leg for strengthening. When I finally decided to go to the knee OS for a definitive diagnosis and MRI it was 9 months after surgery. My THR OS had already x-rayed my knees and I knew that I didn't have any arthritis in them -- he had no explanation for the knee troubles I was experiencing. The knee OS also did initial x-rays and all looked good on them as well. My MRI revealed that my tear was on the lateral meniscus on the inside in the back and was a horizontal tear -- much like when one slices a bagel. He assured me that it would not heal on it's own and I assured him that if I continued to be bothered by inactivity due to pain I'd contemplate a scope.

I tend to be a minimalist (read: chicken) when it comes to surgical procedures -- I don't have a lot of trust in the docs. My concern was that I'd have no control over how much of my meniscus this OS would removed during the scope procedure and that losing the cartilage in one's knee is a set up for osteoarthritis in that joint which in time may lead to a TKR surgery -- just read the sig lines in some of the people in the knee threads sometime, they often start with this type of procedure.

That was probably way more detail than you wanted. The reality is that your situation will depend upon what kind of tear you have if that's what the MRI reveals. You will have a way better idea of what steps to take next once you have a clear look at the soft tissue structures of your knee joint. I also had to ask my OS to show me on the 3 dimensional model in office exactly where my tear was because I couldn't mentally envision it based on the report or his description -- not a knee person...

You know, as a member of the CDH club, we never walked properly -- and we will never walk "normally" now after THR either. We have muscles in our bodies that are different tone/length & strength and we have to learn to do things in our own way. We are looking for the ability to move comfortably and that takes experimentation and creativity. My legs are different sizes, so are the muscles in my glutes and so is the strength and capacity to exercise, different, on each side. When I was in PT I used to have to tell the guy that in most of the exercises on machines that he was having me do my "normal" leg was cheating to pick up the slack from the THR leg -- that was always the way my body worked it. We need exercises and machines that can isolate each leg separately at times -- or you have to have the awareness to adjust the amount of effort you allow your "normal" leg to exert in order to make your THR leg work differently. I know that you know all this, you've been working out for quite some time and dealing with your CDH issues for forever too...

Yes, the LLD is certainly a factor and so is just the habit that our bodies have engrained in the way we move through space even with our new hip joint. I'm glad that you have tried a couple rolfing sessions and I'm sure you'll craft a plan for that and Feldenkrais as well as your PT work. Or maybe it's just time for you to take some time off and have another exotic vacation :) someplace throw your cares to the wind and enjoy yourself for a bit. Come back and your entourage of helpful professionals will be here waiting for you!

When will you have the MRI?

Hang in there and congrats on getting stronger at the short walks with no cane, that is wonderful!! :yay:
Take care,
Cardie
 
HI Cardie,
Thanks for the quick response. Much appreciated. Thanks also for the detail it all helps. It's nice to know there are others who have similar issues and understand the frustration of 'getting better' after a THR. I wish I was more of a 'typical' THR patient who has now gone back to doing whatever they want.

Interesting that you said you never had arthritis in your knees despite having CDH. My Doc said that it is all to do with the hip which has caused my arthritis. Since my last childhood surgery, my knees began to dislocate on both sides. It's only been the last 8 years that they haven't come out. However, sometimes it does feel that it may slip out but very rarely. It's to do with all the exercise which has made the knees stronger.

Sorry, my MRI is for 29th Dec so a few weeks to go. Seeing my Doc in Feb 2013 so a few months after to get info on what the MRI will actually show.

And you are right. I'm due an exotic holiday or any holiday for that matter. Hopefully soon, I will have sorted one out :)
Take care
Jyoti
 
Hi Jyoti,

Well, I'm sorry that your knees have been troublesome for a while. I don't know enough about arthritis to know how or why some of us experience it in certain joints and some do not with our dysplasia issues. I was always told that I'd experience back problems and arthritis in my back because of my hip -- and I do have some of that; rotation of my spine because of the tilt of my pelvis from the LLD. None of that has improved from my surgery, even with the addition of some length to my femur.

It sounds like your body did a lot of compensation for your hips at the knee and the change in the angle of that joint must have given it the ability to wear away at the cartilage. Have any of your professionals told you that you have hypermobility in your joints? Maybe that has been part of the issue with your knees and the strengthening that you've done over the years with weight lifting has helped to prevent further dislocations -- as you mention!!:)

Some people also talk about having injections of synvisc or hyaluronic acid into their knees to help when cartilage is wearing away - maybe that would be an option for you.

When you are able to do your walks without the crutch where to you feel the pain or fatigue that sends you back to the crutch? Is it your knees or someplace else? Are you doing pool work still? I never did get myself in to that and now it's too cold for me again

Take care,
Cardie
 
Hi Jyoti,

Here's a little video that I'd heard about from my Feldenkrais gal. Cute little Feldenkrais baby and much of the text is what I hear each week during the Awareness Through Movement class.

Hope all is going well,
Cardie
 
Hi Cardie,
Thanks for the video and response above. Feldenkrais is all about movement as a baby/child and then all the bad habits start. Sorry I have been so bad in getting back.

Just to answer your questions, when I walk without the crutch my gait is not good, so I feel my abductors, lower back and knee take the strain. The righ Hip is still not strong enough causing the bad limp. I still can't stand on that leg without support.

No hypermobility as never been mentioned. Still poor ROM. The only pool work I do is Deep Water running which does help the knees.

It's interesting how Dysplasia effects us all differently.

Hope all is going well with you and everyone else and have a great Christmas :flwrysmile:
Jyoti
 
Happy New Year, Jyoti

I hope all went well in the MRI machine and maybe you can get a copy of your report from someone before your appointment, since February is so far off in the future... I think I got mine from my GP before my OS appointment.

Yes, I guess all these congenital issues effect us differently. I'm always so interested in reading about the other hippies stories of dysplasia that wasn't diagnosed until adulthood, shortly before the need for surgery... amazing, but I guess there are also different degrees of dysplasia.

I'm glad that you still find the deep water running helpful. I still haven't managed to get myself into the pool and now it's chilly weather here again.

Doing any more rolfing or Feldenkrais work? Booked the next vacation yet??? :)
Take care,
Cardie
 
Happy New Year!!
Thanks for the response Cardie. Survived the MRI - it does make a racket!! Started back at the gym but the more I do the more my knees get effected even if non or little weight bearing.

Yes, still doing the Feldenkrais but not really doing the exercises that I've been told to do. I'm wasting time and money. Seeing him next week so will have a chat about how things are and whether I need a break. It's getting the motivation to do things.

I agree, it is interesting about the differences in dysplasic hips. Also, how some are found in adulthood. I was dignosed at age 3, which I thought was late and that was only because my Mum kept going back to the Dr's. They would not listen to her saying she was worrying unnecessarily and I was her 5th child, so crazy!!

Also seeing a Physio for my knees. Same old exercises which I gave up on as when you keep doing them and see little or no difference it gets frustrating, but as it is 20113 I need to get back it again.

You're right I need a vacation so have taken 4 weeks off work and will be gong to New Zealand!! I'm going on my own so will be an adventure and am nervous and excited as never travelled for so long alone. The good thing is that I have a friend there who I will visit and who can help me on my way. Still to book, but watch this space:).

Hope all is well and will update soon.
Take care
Jyoti
 
Hi Jyoti Our stories are pretty similar, except that I was just a left CDH. This is my fifth surgery. I read through your discussion with C Mac and I must say it was educational, if a bit depressing! I am about 8 weeks out and now struggling with physio, gait and an arthritic right knee that until now has held things together. Lucky for me my right hip is in great shape. I have always had a T-gait but worked hard to make it mostly undetectable unless I was tired. My ROM in the left hip has always been poor since a second osteotomy but now I am beginning to think that my history, plus the complexity of my THR (as Cardie knows I experienced a fractured trochanter so was late weight-bearing) is conspiring to leave me listing. My OS projected I would have a limp of some sort but I was determined to work through that. I might have to rethink this over confidence because this last week I have been struggling with basic hip flexor exercises, which I couldn't even do pre-surgery and I will need for gait improvement. Plus a slew of new aches and pains, which means I will have to reduce the PT. So, all in all, I am beginning to lose a wee bit of faith. I assumed my LLD sensation would abate eventually as my legs measure exactly the same but my pelvis is obviously struggling to regain its previous pre-eminent position. And it seemed to be doing better until this latest setback. I have upped the percocet to earlier levels, to see if that helps, and am sticking with the cane, even around the house as I'm afraid I'm getting into bad habits. Will be watching both your recoveries, which are way more challenging than mine and I wish you both health and happiness in 2013.
 
Hi Vida,
Thanks for your story. Another CDH gal :yay: . It also looks like you have had a difficult history and recovery but we are all here to support each-other. Hope things are improving for you and I'll have to read your thread to get a sense of the journey you've been through.
Best wishes
Jyoti
 
Wow Jyoti, how brave are you going to New Zealand, I bet you have a fantastic holiday. When are you planning on going?

I agree the motivation wanes somewhat when the same exercises don't seem to be doing much good, how long are we supposed to keep trying for that is the question? You and Cardie have been so good trying many different things and practitioners, I just stick to doing the recommended PT and we all are still not as good as we would like to be. I suppose we just have to keep plugging away the best we can, I'm not really liking the thought of having to regularly exercise for the rest of my life though..(apart from walking the dogs which I enjoy and is necessary) lol...have I ever told you I am typically not the exercising type hehe.

As always I have everything crossed that things do improve for you.

Take care

Ann.x.
 
Thanks Annie. Finally booked my trip. Off in Mid Feb for 4 weeks. It will be good break from everything. Only worry I have is my knees and hips being able to deal with it all as I will be out and about and there will be walking. Last year, when I went on holiday my knees did suffer aswell as my feet. But I'm nearly 2 years out now so hoping all that exercising will pay off.

Walking the dog is great :)
Jyoti
 
Ooo not long to wait at all Jyoti. As long as you have plenty of pain relief you should be good I'm sure. You will hopefully be doing a fair bit of relaxing too, gotta have a bit of relaxing time on ya hollies.

Have a brilliant time

Ann.x.
 
Hi Jyoti,

Almost time for the New Zealand trip?!?!?! I hope it goes well and you enjoy yourself and time with your friend there.

You mentioned about a month ago, that you are still doing Feldenkrais but not really doing the exercises at home. I had the same issue, even with doing the class on a weekly basis. The only time I might try a little movement at home was if something was sore. I decided in December to try an adaptive yoga class as my next step towards doing something, but keeping it low keyed enough to be successful. It has gone well and is not like the traditional yoga classes where you do the big poses -- everything is very modified. Maybe you are ready to graduate from Feldenkrais to a tiny step up to something different...

Did you get word on your MRI results?

I had a little gasp when you told the story of being the 5th child in your family -- yet the only one with dysplasia. I had always thought it was a condition that occurred in first born girls -- of course I didn't know anyone else with CDH until getting on the forum here!! Well, I was the first born in my family -- and the last, because of my hip issues, my parents were afraid they were genetically incompatible!! I envy all you other CDH folks that got siblings either before or after your birth. Of course, I also feel for all of our parents in dealing with the uncertainties of our hip issues before they were conclusively diagnosed and thru all those surgeries and procedures.

Take care,
Cardie
 
Hi Cardie,
Good to hear from you :). Yes, only 2 weeks till my holiday of a lifetime. Not looking forward to the flight as over 27 hours. Crazy! Will have to walk up and down the aisles to loosen me off. Have a Feldenkrais appt in 2 weeks time prior to my trip. I am doing some of the exercises but not as regular as I should. To be honest they are so small in movement and I find it boring. I would love to move up a step, but need to find something I can do. My ROM is just the same as before surgery. Yes, there have been improvements but not so great that I can do the things that I couldn't do before, ie tie shoelaces, put socks on and cut toe nails. To be honest, they are more harder as I was told to not internally rotate my hips which I used to do before to be able to put socks on etc. Haven't tied my shoelaces for nearly 20 years now. I have improved in other depts ie back, posture etc.

I did speak to the Feldenkrais guy to say I was finding the motivation difficult and really want to walk unaided. He said he felt I could do it but mentioned at least 2 years more. But to be honest no one really knows, it's just trial and error and to keep going. That's why I said while I'm young and fit enough, I need to go to NZ as who knows what the future will hold. Initially I had hoped to be off the crutch before I went but realised that was just an excuse and I would never go.

Seeing the OS on 6th Feb re: MRI scan for the knee. Have decided to not have a cortisone injection as my knees not that bad. Have read the more you have the more chance of causing arthritis to get worse quicker. I do not want a knee replacement and if I have to, I want to wait 20 years at least. Fingers crossed. I'll wait till the pain gets worse. Also, when you read info on the net, you tend to read more about things going wrong then right. So I thought that as I'm off on holiday I don't want any difficulties and can decide when I get home. We'll see what he says first.

I know it says that it's usually 1st born girls that get CDH, but I only fit in the 'norm' by being female. It also says that it tends to be the left. Even though I have bilateral CDH, it's the right causing all the grief.

Anyway, hope you are doing well and happy to see you are progressing. I know you have had your difficulties and hope through sheer hard work you'll get there.
Take care and talk soon
Jyoti:flwrysmile:
 
Jyoti, I admire your philosophy! We all have to make the best with what we've got, and your NZ trip sounds like a fabulous way to do just that. You go girl. Looking forward to a full report. :)

Sharon
 
Hi Jyoti,

Pleased you popped on before your holiday :) I know you are going to have the best time. I'm sure if you go for regular tootles along the plane you will manage the flight just fine. Make sure you request an aisle seat so you can jump up anytime you need to without feeling like you are disburbing another passenger all the time, some people can be so grumpy when you want to get past them......I know.lol

I am very exited for you, this is going to be a trip of a lifetime and you are right to just go for it.

Take care and have a brilliant time

Ann.x.
 
Just a quick question. I had a mri on my right knee which showed a medial meniscus tear. I was told to have a knee arthroscopy but unsure whether to have it done. Does it cause further problems in my knee ie arthritis getting worse? On reading about it, it does say you can continue without the arthroscopy and as usual dependent on the effects it causes. To be honest I do get some pain but my left knee hurts more as it does more work and is longer so naturally works harder. If I have the arthroscopy will it reduce the amount of work my left leg does? Any geedback from anyone who has had this procedure and what happened will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Jyoti
 
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