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THR Butterfly Flutters Over

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@ Butterfly... Tango lessons??!!! LOL, surely you jest. Even with all those bells and whistles and robots and pain killer medicine injected directly into wound, who knows? I'm ''up there' age-wise and, as I've said, a mushy slug to boot. So it remains to be seen. My fervent wish is controllable pain, being allowed to go home instead of to a rehab, few if any bumps in the post-op road, no big, bad surprises during surgery (like undiagnosed tumors, bones breaking, breathing stopping, blood clotting -- you know, bad stuff!), AND not hobbling around like Quasimodo's twin sister anymore! Hopefully, all will go as expected and I will live to tell MY stories, which I hope are not TOO remarkable unless they're fantastically great.

Chocolate is the essence of life. Trust me. I don't/can't keep it in the house, either. And no freezer ever stopped ME! But I digress.

Regarding your fears and anxieties: I have told you that I do the same thing. In my business it's called "catastrophizing". I can only speak for myself, but maybe you can relate: I think that with me, it's a self-protection mechanism of some kind... call it a coping skill, even. I think it's our way of readying ourselves for the worst -- If we can think of or verbalize these worst-case scenarios, we are emotionally "preparing" ourselves for that eventuality. In some weird way, on a sub-conscious level, it serves to soften the blow. Obviously, this is self-defeating, unproductive behavior, yet we indulge in it. And, like any learned behavior, we do it because we get some kind of an emotional payoff, a secondary gain. I've told you what I think that is. Maybe it will resonate with you.

Well, that concludes tonight's lecture. Please pay at the door... It's tax deductible.

Hope you get some answers and better yet, relief on all fronts. You're a tough cookie... You've proven it. And don't you dare fold just when I'm gonna need you!!! Kidding, of course. Sleep tight. I'm thinking now of Dickinson, about to have her op in Jerusalem. Hope it goes well.
Love,
Ellen
 
Oh, I'm not going to fold -- after all, I've come this far. If I were going to fold I'd have done it about the time I was deciding whether or not I REALLY needed that surgery (of course I did, and I knew it, but had a very hard time accepting it). I'll be there in spirit to hold your hand.

I'm thinking about Dickinson, too, and hope she does well (I'm sure she will). Wonder what the weather is like in Jerusalem?? Is it winter there, too?

I'm sure you've hit the nail on the head again about the catastrophizing. I do it SO well. I think of it sort of like this -- if I've worried all my life about elephants in the front yard, and there haven't been any, then it must work, no? And if I quit worrying about elephants now, then maybe I"ll look out the window tomorrow morning and find a big fat one sitting on my car sunning himself.

Seriously, I think you're right about expecting the absolute worst and being pleasantly relieved when it doesn't happen, but is a lousy coping mechanism and I know it. All that time I spend needlessly torturing myself . . . .

I still have that SI pain -- a little better, maybe. It almost feels like muscle stuff in some ways. Can you sprain your butt? I mean that big gluteus maximus muscle? Maybe I'll get some answers this coming week. Mostly I'm just sort of scared of it, which turns it from a ho-hum kind of thing to a big deal. Besides which, it hurts.

I just read Jeffery Deaver's Cold Moon this week, and have launched into a new James Patterson one. What were those other authors' names you mentioned that you liked? I think there were two in particular. No spy stuff, don't like spy stuff.

Just think, soon you'll be over the hump and on your way to feeling better. How is your other hip doing?

Love,

Milli
 
@Butterfly I know you won't fold now, Milli. .. You're way too brave & strong AND have too much invested by now. You will get some answers, hopefully some resolution, & will pick up where you left off prior to the fall. What about seeing your OS? Or did you mention that?

Weather in Jerusalem: I have no idea!! Didn't it recently snow in that part of the world? I can say they have the highest per capita # of doctors there -- she's probably getting great care... Lot of innovative stuff there.

Loved your elephant-in-the-front-yard example. Sounds like what I said, no? And you're a master at it because it WORKS for you in a weirdly dysfunctional way. Me, too, and plenty of others. Ever hear the expression, "It hurts so good"? Well...?

My other hip is about the same, varying a bit from day to day. It's the longer leg. Still hoping that evening me out will somehow align me. You know, I really can't imagine walking upright, let alone unassisted! But if I had to use a cane for the rest of my life & be relatively pain-free, I'd grab it.

Sorry, I'm totally clueless about the gluteus maximus (sounds like the name of a Roman emperor). All hail...Gluteus! Being silly.

Books: hmmm, could I have actually missed Cold Moon?? Good? Which of Patterson's have you started? I've got one of his newest: Cross My Heart

Authors (no spy stuff): Lee Child, Greg Iles, Grisham, Harlan Coben, Ken Follett, Ñelson DeMille, Michael Connelly, David Baldacci, Lisa Gardner, Lisa Scottoline, Michael Palmer, Stephen White, Joseph Finder, Sandra Brown, Catherine Coulter. Enjoy.

Ellen
 
@shrinkette -- I was almost literally rollingoin the floor laughing (I really did laugh out loud and giggle for quiqte a while -- Harold now thinks I've finally lost my last few marbles) about the Gluteus Maximus -- if not an emperor, maybe a huge structure in the center of Rome where they housed wild animals as in "OK, Fred, let's load up those lions for the Christian-eating contest this afternoon at the Coliseum -- we gotta get 'em over there before 1:30." I'm still laughing and feeling silly about this. Good for the soul!

Cold Moon is a Lincoln Rhyme novel -- the bad guy is the Clockmaker. It was pretty good; I like all the Lincoln Rhyme novels -- I guess I like recurring characters. I don't think it is very new; I got it at the used book exchange I frequent. I think I've read up all the Grisham, Corben, Baldacci, and Connelly ones, and probably most of the Sandra Brown -- but I'll look for the others.

My OS has been off in Bora Bora or someplace for the holidays. I've got an appointment with him on the 21st. I see my chiro on Thursday and he'll probably be able to tell me what's wrong and whether it is something he can fix or not. He's the one who finally harangued me into going to the OS about my hips. I truly believe it is either that SI joint or some muscle stuff going on with the gluteus and a couple other muscles as my pelvis tries to adjust to even legs. I'm concerned that the chiro won't be able to do much about it now, because I still have to be careful of that right hip in particular, and that's the side it is on. Oh, well, I'll see, I guess.

I don't have any idea about weather in Jerusalem, either. My geography is abysmal, so I've no idea what their weather is like. Maybe I'll look it up on the internet.

The elephant thing is something my mother used to bring up when I'd get obsessed about something, to try to teach me about the uselessness of worry. The lesson didn't take, obviously. She'd say "You're worrying about elephants again."

Love,

Milli
 
@Butterfly Have you tried scaling way back on your activities? You may indeed be doing too much. Muscles and joints that haven't been used are now complaining. Try icing as well. And yes, use your walker if there is any discomfort. Are you taking anything for that pain?

I remember having major muscle spasms in my op leg. They were so bad I was literally screaming. If the chiro is not helping maybe changing your activity level for a bit might ease things. Please keep us updated.
 
@Butterfly Sorry you are having such a bad time at the moment. Sending lots of love and hugs and hoping the pain gets better for you soon . Thinking of you... Love Chrissie xxxx
 
@Jaycey Thanks for your response. I guess I may have been doing too much, though it really wasn't much at all.

Ii have a lot of pain -- I know the feeling about literally screaming --I've been doing a lot of loud moaning and scaring my poor doggies again. I've been taking tylenol and ibuprofen and just a little while ago I took a percocet, The pain I'm experiencing is just about as bad as before surgery but in a different place -- it is around that SI joint area and becomes intolerable when weightbearing. Big problem is I can't do any of the maneuvers I've always used to release that joint, because of my restrictions.

My chiro had a cancellation today, so I got in a day early. He is sure it's the same old SI joint stuff, though worse because of all t he adjustments my ligaments, muscles, etc. are having to make to correct the pelvic tilt, etc. Also worse because I can't do anything about it on my own now, and because I had to wait so long to get in to start treatment (his whole office closes for the holidays and this is their first week back).
 
My SI joint was locked. I worked with an osteopath just after my THR to get it moving again. Chiro was a bit too aggressive for me as I have lots of lower back issue. It takes awhile to ease. Many weeks of osteo and lots of heat on my lower back. Keep taking the percocet for a bit while you are being treated. It might help you get moving again. So sorry you are suffering. Back issues are really a chore! :console2:
 
@Poppet How long does it usually take for your SI joint flareups to get better? The one I am having right now is really bad and I can't seem to get relief. I've only been to the chiro twice, of course, but I'm just so tired of it being so painful and I' back to being a semi-cripple. I don't think this would have gotten so bad if my chiro's office hadn't been closed for the holidays. This is their first week back. Anyway, I"back using the walker and having a lot of pain walking.

Thanks for your help. I think this flareup is one of the worst I've ever had.

Love,

Milli
 
Hi Milli, @Butterfly I am so sorry you are in such pain... Back pain is horrible.

My back problem started in my early 20's, I slipped on a wet floor at work and the x-ray showed a hairline fracture. I was young and didn't pay any attention to it, however OA finally caught my attention...

Sadly, my L4, L5, S1 never truly settles down 100%, it can be ok one minute/hour and then flare up. My discs prolapse quite often, luckily though I don't have sciatica pain. My referred pain follows the nerve pathways on the unoperated side, around my lower tummy and down the front of my leg, and across the top of my foot and under my foot. I am ok walking most of the time. However, if I ever have to stand still in one spot, I pay for it..

Chiropractic treatment made mine worse, PT made it worse, Pilates made it worse, Tai Chi was a disaster, Yoga also..

The only product that gives me relief is a natural product that I wrote about in the social room and other members purchased and found it gave them relief.. I suggest you type in Elmore Oil in the search feature at the top of this page and it will display quite a few different threads where it was discussed.. You will also find lots of discussion about it on BS Twitter. I personally apply it every day after my morning shower and it keeps the pain flare ups to a minimum. I am not suggesting you purchase it, as it is different for everyone :)

I use a hot water bottle along with the oil and that is my cuddly now... Hubby bought me a bright pink cover for it and it goes every where with me, sometimes even to work!

I took up Nordic Walking (my article is in the Social Room) and found that excellent, but I went out too hard and ended up with Trochanter Bursitis, so I stopped for quite some months. However, along with the Elmore Oil (which I apply before going out walking) I am now able to walk each day for 30 minutes with my NW sticks.

Some days at home if it is really bad, I use my walker. I figure why mess up my gait. I will use whatever works for me :)

My first OS suggested that getting my other hip replaced would help my back problems... who knows.... hugs xx
 
@Jaycey During your post THR flareup, did the SI joint make it almst impossible to weight-bear on the bad side? I was doing very well and was even walking around in the house some without the cane. Now the pain in the SI area upon weight bearing makes it impossible for me to walk without the walker. How long did it take you to get relief? The pain is mostly in that SI joint area and radiates down a bit and outward. It is awful. And the tissues around it are sore.

I've gotten myself worked up into one of my well-known panic states over this, imagining all kinds of terrible things going on in there.

Can you tell me more about your experience with this?

Thank you so much for your time.

Love,

Milli
 
@Josephine Well, I broke one of my rules today and went on the internet about SI pain after THR, and as usual, found all kind of horrifying stuff.

My SI pain is still bad and I can't bear weight on that right side (replaced Oct. 28, 2013, posterio/lateral) where the problem is. I can't walk without a walker. I've gotten myself worked up into a panic again. Do you have any idea how long it takes the sciatic joint/nerve to settle down? Could that nerve have been damaged during surgery? Could one of my screws be poking it? I'm so scared this will never resolve. I do go back to OS on the 21st of January.

Do you have any ideas besides resting and VERY conservative chiro treatment? Can you give me any reassurance? I tried to upload my x-rays, but got a message saying the file was too large. I do not kow now to make it smaller.
 
@Butterfly , is the chiro making your SI joint worse? In my experience it did so I switched to an osteopath. Are you taking any anti-inflammatory medication? It's impossible to predict when things will settle. Rest, heat if it helps. I also had acupuncture. Please don't panic, this is not permanent. You just need to find get your core strength back and find the balance in your mobility. Have you talked to your OS at all?
 
@Jaycey Thanks for your response. I do have a call in to my OS office to see if I can get in earlier than my scheduled one on Jan 21st. They haven't called back yet.

It feels like something has a big grip on my butt muscles and won't let go. It hurts a lot. And weight bearing hurts so I've had to go back to the walker to get around. I've had success with acupuncture in the past for other issues so I think I'll try that, too. Right now I just feel so frustrated and alone -- I had come so far and now I've backslid.

I think the gentle chiro is helping some but hard to tell, and Josephine said it is to soon to do the regular chiro stuff.

I'm mostly just scared and frustrated and worried I've damaged the implant or something. I know I'm being a baby about this, but it is very hard.

Love,

Milli
 
No I don't think you have damaged your implant at all. Back issues tend to rear their ugly head after this surgery. It's all about getting control of them again. Are you taking anything for the pain?
 
Just ibuprofen (for inflammation) and tylenol. I do still have some stronger stuff around, but haven't taken it. Also taking Zyflamend. If I had damaged my implant or the cup had come loose or something, the pain would be excruciating, wouldn't it? The leg still moves freely. But when I step down the pain comes down the leg. Also I have a painful spot in about the sacroiliac area that hurts most all the time.

Thank you for your help.
 
Rest up until you get to see your Surgeon @Butterfly. You are most likely doing enough exercise with general living. Thinking of you x
 
I called OS office and they can't get me in until my scheduled appointment on the 21st. Fooey.
 
@Butterfly That's a shame Milli ...I know that you need your mind put at rest that the implant is OK. Do hope you manage to find some peace of mind. I can so understand that you are scared .....you are not a baby at all....you have been brave and positive and didn't need this set back. Since my THR I have worried about everything I think it's par for the course. Hoping the pain is not as bad for you. Love Chrissie x


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