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In pain, confusion and uncertainty after 4 months

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Sandy, Thanks for the encouragement. -sorry for the BIG delay in responding. I have working and scrambling to get some help with all this. I turned from the sketchy arrangements in Lubbock and got an appointment through my primary with a local pain specialist on Wednesday (08/04). I'll spend the afternoon with him.
Pete :dogkiss:is taking all this rather well (as long as I toss a ball for him and give him his after dinner treats). He's about 50 or so now (7 human years) and lounges quite a bit. When I come through on the walker/crutches he looks at me like, "I see you're lame, and I don't care for your stumbling over with those things, so I'll get out of the way".
We had a birthday party here for grandmother last weekend, and the five kids in town decorated five little cakes we baked (they turned into about one part cake and seven parts frosting).
I'll be glad when I can walk normally into these effervescent events.
Jim
 
Janet, -sorry for the great delay in response time. I see you have a little grandbaby, I assume? We hosted five of them last weekend for a party for grandmother.
I scrambled around and got an appointment with a local pain specialist on Wednesdy. I hope he can do something although steroid shots and such didn't last very long in the past (but they didn't put them directly in the hip). I'm limited as to how much I can do/take because I take a blood thinner.
At least SOMETHING is going to happen:jump:. I have been sitting in the wings a couple of months now:sigh:. Maybe I ought to decorate the crutches before I go on stage:wahey:.
Thanks for your prayers, Jim
 
Hey, Jim! Oh, it's good to see you, my friend. But wish, oh I wish things would take a turn for the better for you.

Back to the prayer stool .....
 
Josephine, Yeah, I'm ready for some relief. I had a painful weekend and Monday for reasons unknown (I know I didn't overdo it this time).
Over the weekend I lay out and watched a segment of the Buddy Holly Story-the early part where he (Gary Bussey) can't find anyone to accept and record his music. -kind of like trying to find the right doctor.:hissy: These days it's hard not to assoiciate everything with the frustration of getting help/relief. Even the grandkid's cartoons are painful to watch.:sigh:
But I am eager for tomorrow and the pain specialist. :jump:I have been working on my presentation-updating my medication list and medical journal. Do you have any ideas about wardrobe or opening remarks?:wink:
Thanks for your prayers. I'll try to keep you all posted more frequently.
Jim
 
Josephine, Jamie and all,
I went to the pain specialist yesterday and got a shot in the low back so to effect the nerves effecting the muscles in the rear. He also put me on Neurotin at night. I do feel less pain, but I can't throw down the crutches and run off. I would like to proceed with some exercises-even the ones I was doing coming out of the hospital, but some of them (leg lifting and such) are still difficult. Should I do as much as I can and hope for more strength and ability to put weight on the operated leg? Or should I wait for the diagnostic process to unfold (I have another treatment scheduled in two weeks)? I should have pressed more about this with the doctor. In attitude I am more stirred up and uncertain than relieved, although it's nice to have less of the acute pain with movement.
It rained here on the Great American Desert last night-I hope it's an omen that things will "wash out". Jim
 
Hi Jim -
I always look forward to reading your posts - you are so insightful.
I hope with the reduction in pain you can move some more .... it sounds as if your reality is having another shift with the new meds, and hopefully that will give you a boost, both emotionally and physically!
 
I believe it would be okay to begin some GENTLE exercises as you can tolerate them. Don't do any marathons!! The idea is to give you some pain relief so that you can go about your normal activity more and to also reduce the inflammation that has been present....when you don't hurt as much your body will calm down some.

I hope this helps start a new cycle of less pain for you!!
 
Jamie, Thanks for the warning or the call to gentle exercise. I have "calmed down" already with the shot, but I seem to be a way off from walking (weight bearing). I want to strengthen the weight bearing muscles whatever and wherever they are.
Certainly my marathon days are over. In fact, my jog-to-the-corner-for-a-quart-of-milk days are over. I'll settle for a gentle stroll from now on.:thmb:
Thanks again for your input, Jim
 
Songlady, Yeah, I'm already able to move more. I just just have talk or retrain my brain into moving. With some relief today I got a sense of how much I have been holding on anticipating pain. And now, as Jamie advises, I need to work gently on walking.
If there's a "shiift" with the new meds I hope its into a higher gear.
Thanks for your well wishes, Jim
 
Well, what can I say - it's not a lot, but it's something!
 
Joesephine, Jamie and all,
It's been a week since I got the shot in my low back I keep waiting for it to wear off), and my acute pain has dissipated (like I've gone from a general 7-8 to about a 4). I have another shot scheduled a week from now, and this diagnostic process goes on.
I'm trying to slowly work back into rehabing my self. I have REALLY lost a lot in 9+ months time:shk:. I still have to use the crutches/walker. I can walk around slowly with two canes. It's going to be a REAL battle to improve.
But I WILL take it REAL slow and measure what I can do. I still have the name and number of a surgeon #3 in my back pocket.
I "ran" more errands last weekend, and I do feel more relaxed. I think Pete :dogkiss:
senses my mood change and has been a little more demanding (for activity and such). I need to get him in a Big Brother program.
I wish I had more time to participate on the site. I really have appreciated everyone's input, and I like to be supportive in return (I don't have much anotomical advice, such is my "bone density", but we all need cheerleaders.
Jim
 
Jim, I'm glad things are still on a fairly even keel for you right now. Tell Pete to "chill."
 
Hi Jim. I can't remember, have you had a CAT scan during any of this?

I've finally become credible I guess as my OS is now listening to me and has scheduled one for August 25th.

I've know all along that something didn't feel right and "NOW" he's wondering if the femur never healed :doh:!

So, after all this time of being told that everything I was feeling was "normal" I know I haven't been imagining things...

What lies ahead is not very encouraging for me. I don't think I could have this hip done again at this point.

I'm so glad you are getting some relief. Are those shots facet joint injections? I had seven total of them...They do three injections in 2 weeks to see the results at one pain clinic I have gone to.

I had two series of these injections done there and then another single at the hospital where I had my THR.
 
Hi, Janet! They did do a catscan on me, but no one saw anything to be concerned about-nothing definitive. And it think you're right that I'm getting joint facet injections-the second one is scheduled for next week. What did they do for you in the long run? Were they just way points in the search for relief? Did you get much benifit from them?
I think I'm sleeping better withthe neurotin-haven't felt as tired this week.
I do hope that there is something definitive for you out there and that some real hope lies ahead for you.
Jim
 
Jim, unfortunately I had the facet joint injections before anyone could decide what was causing my pain. At that point I was having pretty bad pain in my SI joint ( sacro illiac) which is pretty much where the dimples are in your backside. I still don't know if my hip was causing this or what because everything in that area is kind of connected. I had it done in an OR under sedation. They do it under some sort of x-ray machine and can see exactly where they are injecting into the joint. I think it's called an arthrogram but not sure. I did get relief but the hip did decide to get worse in the meantime...
 
Janet, Yes I was under the x-ray machine too. They are putting shots into my low back with sedatlion at this point, hoping to effect everything in the rear.
Help me here...I have been trying to piece your threads together. Did you have a broken femur after revision surgery? If that's the case, you can write the book on contending with pain and uncertainty. I do hope you are finding some diagnostic clarity, some direction, some hope in this process of recovery.
Jim
 
Hi again. I feel the femur must have "cracked" during the first surgery but was never apparent on x-ray. It took 3 x-rays before it was visible.

I went to a rehab after the first surgery and was basically manhandled, very rough treatment. When I was rolled to my op side in order for the CNA to push a bed pan under me I felt such excruciating pain that you probably heard my scream in Texas!

So after 2 weeks it finally showed up on x-ray and THEN I had a revision. But now it looks like it may not have healed again after having the revision.

I just know somethings not right. If you could see the way my leg/foot swing out to the right when I sit you'd think I was making it happen when in fact the op leg won't even hit the floor, just out to the side but 2-3 inches off the ground!

Now the OS is finally listening to me. But he said we may have to consult with a more experienced OS! Why the heck did he do the surgery if he doesn't have enough experience? Was I a practice case???

I hope the treatments do bring relief for you. They did help my back but unfortunately the hip itself was another story. At this point I don't think I'm ever going to be right :cry:.
 
Janet, My experience in rehab was similar though probably not as "excrutiating" as yours. I just got hurt with some of the things they wanted me to do (like put a lot of weight on the affected leg). But I hear the familiar cry in myself- "Can't anyone see what's going on, and can't someone step up to the plate and fix it!"
So...does your OS have any experienced contacts/referrals for you? Your right in asking, "Why didn't they send you to the big leagues to begin with?!". I've got the name of a superstar revision OS (endorsed by a participant here) in Houston, TX, but of course you would have to pack your self in ice and be very gently transported from MA to TX. And again you would likely run into inexperienced transporters.
I do hope you find direction from the pain and uncertainty you are experiencing:cnsl:.
I woke to stiffness and pain this morning:skp:. I don't know if the shot is wearing off or the discomfort has resulted from doing some rehab exercises (I'm trying to carefully do what I can) It's so easy to slip into fear that I can't make any progress.
So again it's wait, be careful and as everyone is saying here- "Listen to the pain":sct:.
Yours, in frequent uncertainty, Jim
 
Good, no GREAT :wink: people belong to this club!:catkiss: I'm happy to still be on this side of the grass so long as I'm pain free. I don't do much else than cook (my passion!) and sit and a little this and that in between sitting. Life goes on but I'm certainly too young for this. With the meds I won't drive so I look for ward to vists from friends/family.

I'm happy though, so I don't want or need a lot, just to be pain free. If I can eventually get there then my life will be very differnt. For now I settle for contentment!:D
 
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