THR Hipmom is healing
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nanamac
big-cheese
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Yup, forget about it! Obviously if you start to limp or get tired, use it. Another Christmas present!
The Cappuccino Kid
graduate
Great stuff DW! Healing well! I still occasionally use my stick as my physio has warned against getting too tired. It's there for a reason so I keep telling myself
That's the way it happens! Suddenly you leave it behind. As Janet says, use the cane if you feel the slightest bit tired or notice you are limping. But well done on reaching this major milestone!
That's great!
OP
OP
hipmom
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I can walk without the cane - but I really shouldn't. I have a terrible limp because my legs (or should I say pelvis) is so off. But I find that I am sometimes carrying the cane around (not having it touch the floor) when I am in the house or carrying other things :rolleyespink: I look forward to leaving it behind - hopefully sometime in January after I get measured and get my shoe (build up) situation figured out. Not much longer now. And then they will finally let me go to physical therapy (I hope!)
OP
OP
hipmom
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Merry Christmas to all the hippies out there! I hope that you can spend your time with family and friends however you need to - in person, over the phone, or online!! I feel blessed to have met all of you!
OP
OP
hipmom
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I have been thinking about it for months and today I finally took the plunge - into the bathtub (and thankfully back out again :th_heehee
I have been petrified to even try it as my OS said that a lot of dislocations happen in the tub. I had my daughter watch TV in my room so that she would hear me if I got myself stuck trying to get in or out. But I never needed any help and enjoyed a nice hot soak! :yes 4:
I have been petrified to even try it as my OS said that a lot of dislocations happen in the tub. I had my daughter watch TV in my room so that she would hear me if I got myself stuck trying to get in or out. But I never needed any help and enjoyed a nice hot soak! :yes 4:
The Cappuccino Kid
graduate
Well Donna! Another box ticked.
Merry Christmas and very best wished for a continued recover in 2012.
Merry Christmas and very best wished for a continued recover in 2012.
Juliep
graduate
So glad to hear that you were able to take that wonderful bath. It's great when you can finally get down into that tub.
Have a wonderful New Year Donna and a very healthy happy 2012!
Have a wonderful New Year Donna and a very healthy happy 2012!
OP
OP
hipmom
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Tomorrow is the big day! I head off to the surgeon's office (thankfully there is no snow in the forecast!) to get my legs officially measured. I am excited and dreading it at the same time. :DOH: I'll let you know how it turns out - but I see a built up shoe in my future.:rolleyespink:
C Mac
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Hi Donna,
Good luck on the leg measurements tomorrow! Maybe you'll be able to experiment with some different in-shoe type of lifts first in case there is still some settling that will occur over the next few months.
Great news on the bath, how nice!
Take care,
Cardie
Good luck on the leg measurements tomorrow! Maybe you'll be able to experiment with some different in-shoe type of lifts first in case there is still some settling that will occur over the next few months.
Great news on the bath, how nice!
Take care,
Cardie
OP
OP
hipmom
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Excellent news at the surgeon's office today 
My appointment was with his physician's assistant and he was supposed to measure my legs. While I have been feeling that my legs are anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2" off, the PA agreed that it is about that much difference. However, according to X-ray measurements, my actual leg length difference is probably 3/8" or no more than 1/2". The rest of the difference is due to a very tilted and rotated pelvis (Kudos to Jo who has been saying this from the beginning - thanks, Jo! :biggrin
All the surgeon said to me in October was that I wouldn't be measured until now (January) and that things needed to settle some. So when it got to January and I still felt way off, I thought, well this is it. This is how I am going to be and it is way too much of a difference to handle with an in-shoe lift. I was not happy of the thought of getting a built up shoe, but after 4 months like this - even the idea of the built up shoe was looking good.
But today, the PA told me that physical therapy could even out my pelvis and then I would only be left with the 3/8" or so difference - which seems like nothing compared to currently. He told me not all physical therapists are good at evening out the pelvis, but he has experience with one in my area that he suggested I should go to. I have an appt. Monday morning!
I feel excited and renewed now since I have been feeling like this hip thing has been dragging on much longer than I expected it to - mainly because I wasn't allowed to go to PT before this so you feel like you aren't doing anything to help yourself or really move forward. :hissyfit: I am excited at this chance to actually do something now to help me get back to normal. Don't get me wrong, I have made lots of progress and I have NO pain, which is a VAST improvement from how I have lived my life since childhood! But I am anxious to move on from feeling like a patient to feeling like a person. Does that make sense?
The PA told me that it could take upto a year to straighten out my pelvis, but that I would probably see a lot of the improvement in the first 3 months. In the meantime, he told me not to limp. That translates into stopping my walking around the house without my cane
. This is not the time to reinforce my bad habits.
When I told him that I still had swelling and I would like to speed up getting rid of it, he recommended lymphatic massage. He said the fluid build up was generated by tissue trauma, but now that the tissues are healing, there is no need for the fluids. The fluids have to be reabsorbed into my body and they are getting hung up in the lymph system. Lymphatic massage pushes the fluid through lymph nodes and gets it circulating so that it can be reabsorbed. At least I think that's how he said it works.
So I have my work cut out for me, but it will be worth it. I'm excited for Monday and hope the PT feels that my situation can be fixed. The other PT I went to didn't see my X-rays and was just going by my telling her that the doc said things needed to "settle" some. She didn't think I would settle 2" worth. Probably not if it was just a length difference without the pelvis being involved. While I liked her and had gone to her years ago with good progress, I am banking on the PT that was recommended to me today who has a track record working with pelvic tilts.
:biggrin::yes 4:
My appointment was with his physician's assistant and he was supposed to measure my legs. While I have been feeling that my legs are anywhere from 1 1/2 to 2" off, the PA agreed that it is about that much difference. However, according to X-ray measurements, my actual leg length difference is probably 3/8" or no more than 1/2". The rest of the difference is due to a very tilted and rotated pelvis (Kudos to Jo who has been saying this from the beginning - thanks, Jo! :biggrin All the surgeon said to me in October was that I wouldn't be measured until now (January) and that things needed to settle some. So when it got to January and I still felt way off, I thought, well this is it. This is how I am going to be and it is way too much of a difference to handle with an in-shoe lift. I was not happy of the thought of getting a built up shoe, but after 4 months like this - even the idea of the built up shoe was looking good.
But today, the PA told me that physical therapy could even out my pelvis and then I would only be left with the 3/8" or so difference - which seems like nothing compared to currently. He told me not all physical therapists are good at evening out the pelvis, but he has experience with one in my area that he suggested I should go to. I have an appt. Monday morning!
I feel excited and renewed now since I have been feeling like this hip thing has been dragging on much longer than I expected it to - mainly because I wasn't allowed to go to PT before this so you feel like you aren't doing anything to help yourself or really move forward. :hissyfit: I am excited at this chance to actually do something now to help me get back to normal. Don't get me wrong, I have made lots of progress and I have NO pain, which is a VAST improvement from how I have lived my life since childhood! But I am anxious to move on from feeling like a patient to feeling like a person. Does that make sense?
The PA told me that it could take upto a year to straighten out my pelvis, but that I would probably see a lot of the improvement in the first 3 months. In the meantime, he told me not to limp. That translates into stopping my walking around the house without my cane
. This is not the time to reinforce my bad habits. When I told him that I still had swelling and I would like to speed up getting rid of it, he recommended lymphatic massage. He said the fluid build up was generated by tissue trauma, but now that the tissues are healing, there is no need for the fluids. The fluids have to be reabsorbed into my body and they are getting hung up in the lymph system. Lymphatic massage pushes the fluid through lymph nodes and gets it circulating so that it can be reabsorbed. At least I think that's how he said it works.
So I have my work cut out for me, but it will be worth it. I'm excited for Monday and hope the PT feels that my situation can be fixed. The other PT I went to didn't see my X-rays and was just going by my telling her that the doc said things needed to "settle" some. She didn't think I would settle 2" worth. Probably not if it was just a length difference without the pelvis being involved. While I liked her and had gone to her years ago with good progress, I am banking on the PT that was recommended to me today who has a track record working with pelvic tilts.
:biggrin::yes 4:
Good for you, Donna!!! It sounds like these folks have been reading BoneSmart! :th_heehee:
You're going to be amazed at the changes you can make in a year.
You're going to be amazed at the changes you can make in a year.
Poppet
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Well done Donna, that is great news. And even better that you feel as though you can do something to to help it along the way with PT. It might take a while, but remember, from your Aussie girl...... You just have to 'avago' xx
Well Donna your OS is just confirming what I went through. It does take quite awhile for things to even out and settle.
I will be interested in what PT has you doing to get things even. Please let us know.
Meanwhile, we always say don't get into the habit of limping. Just remember the cane is only temporary. You are really on your way now!
I will be interested in what PT has you doing to get things even. Please let us know.
Meanwhile, we always say don't get into the habit of limping. Just remember the cane is only temporary. You are really on your way now!
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