In pain, confusion and uncertainty after 4 months

[kjt]

HEY! :thmb: Looking forward to hearing what the doc has to say!

Most of us who are talking deterioration are talking muscle deterioration - NOT bone deterioration....and are putting lotsa weight on the legs.

Good luck w/ the appt!

 

[jimbo]

To all, Well, I'm BACK! I drove to Lubbock on Thursday without difficulty and met with the new surgeon in the morning. I had no problem with the drive (4 hous). :thmb:
On the one hand, he echoed the first surgeon-that is, that the joint looks okay and that I shouldn't have more surgery without a defintive reason. He said to "give it year". :sct:
On the other hand, he said I might be having some difficulty near the sciatic nerve (I was whining about the pain in the ishial tuberosity,) and he encouraged me toward activity and wrote a script for an underwater treadmill only. As this fellow had been in the subermarine service and was a Naval surgeon for a good number of years, all I could envision was walking on a treadmill with scuba gear on my back. I was inclined to ask him what he recomended for Air Force personell (I was a fly boy for a while). Well there is no such facility where I live, but he did encourage me to do walking and exercises in the pool (I have a club/pool membership and was swimming laps prior to all this). He also suggested massage and stretching (I have heating up with the hot pad and stretching) in the pained areas (my PT"s here had put all that on hold.).
Sooooo, I still don't have anythng definitive as to why I can't bear much weight on the joint at this point, but I did get the green light to be as active as I can.
It's looking like it's going to be a long road toward recovery.
Now, we weren't so discuoraged that we didn't go by the Buddy Holly grave sight
just for Josephine https://jimspictures8.shutterfly.com
Thanks, all, for your concern and interest. Jim :D

 

[DavidinWisconsin]

Glad you got a second opinion. Even if it isn't different, at least it is someone else looking objectively at things and giving you an honest read. Thank goodness he didn't prescribe a flying treadmill ... that sounds dangerous! Keep your head up. Time heals, so praying for some extra patience to be added to your spirit.

 

[kjt]

Have a bud at the office...his leg came out longer from the tensioning thing that Jo mentioned in another post. He got bursitis from you-know-where.

Went to a revision guy @ 4 months and got the same 'give it a year'.

It's a year plus now, and he sez that he has no problems at all any more. Sounds like if something is kinda different that the body might freak some.

OTOH if your sciatic nerve is getting irritated, maybe that hurts every time you take a step? :sct:

If your pool is kind of the same depth all the way along you can walk in the water, it's actually MUCH harder than the underwater treadmill.

I also found the pool exercises in this book to be helpful - and they have some modifications for people w/ hip replacements (altho some of the medical info on replacements themselves is out of date - just bear that in mind).

Amazon.com: Heal Your Hips: How to Prevent Hip Surgery—and What to Do If You Need It (9780471249979): Robert Klapper, Lynda Huey: Books

 

[Josephine]

Jim, I'm sorry you never got anything more positive but happy that you haven't got anything serious either. Bless you, you have a hard road to tread.

And thank you, thank you, thank you for your lovely pictures! I shall treasure them hugely. You are so very kind to do that for me. :wub:

 

[Jamie]

Jim, so glad that you got the second opinion...if for no other reason than to reassure you that there is nothing wrong with the hip joint itself. I guess you're going to just need to keep working on it. The pool sounds like a good place to start.

Please let us know how you get along. Your friends here will always be around for support when you need it!

 

[Rohanknitter]

Well, darn , I was hoping the other dr would have some magic news for you to make everything better. I guess it was kind of a good news/bad news thing but I'm sure it is reassuring to know you talked to someone else and he's given you some suggestions.

 

[jimbo]

Thats just great! I'll check on the book. We got snowed in today, so I couldn't get out to the pool. I tried putting some weight on the new hip briefly while holding on to the walker. I stoped short of the point of great pain (just two sets, 10 seconds for 3 reps). I'll have to really ease my way through this. I really appreciate you comments. -sounds like you've been down much the same road. Jim

 

[jimbo]

Yeah, it kind of helped me to more so accept what the first surgeon said. I'm just going to have to work with where I am at, and try to make some progress. Jim :thmb:

 

[jimbo]

You betcha'!! I was wodering today if it would be okay to try to use two canes for a brief stint at walking. I was told by a PT not to do that (I walked into his center with two of them) as I might cause problems in the shoulders. Is that true? I just looking for any reason to put this walker aside for a bit :pzld:. Thanks, Jim

 

[jimbo]

David, Maybe I could use a weightless treadmill on the space shuttle (have they stopped flying them?). Of course I'd have to pass the physical to get on one-no way!, and Medicare would not likely pay for the trip. But thanks for your prayers and regards. Such concern and attention helps me to want to keep fighting with this and envisioning "experiments" to further my recovery. Jim :thmb:

 

[kjt]

I could never use 2 canes unless I could take most of my weight on the leg. No way I could STAND on the leg - but could roll most of the weight over it.

If you have a lot of upper body strength and want to ditch the walker for awhile I'd go to crutches w/ gel pads. DO NOT put your weight on you armpits, tho. You have to take the weight onto your hands and use your back for support.

I personally am not sure how anybody uses a walker - looks like they'd be hard on the back to me, but then I'm not put together quite right.

 

[jimbo]

Thanks! I'll give that a try. I have some crutches, and I think I'm stong enough to hold the weight. I'm tired of pushing that walker through doors ahead of me as I get around in public and the work place. :rant: I am greatful for all the dear people who see me coming and mercifully open the door(s) for me, but I'm really want to be able to conquer entrances myself. Jim :wahey:

 

[sunshine]

Oh man I was sure wishing you would get some good news that something could be fixed! But I guess really you got good news in that nothing is bad! Guess that is hard to swallow when your hurting but seems like your not alone here.
I think the pictures you got Jo were great! I bet she was estatic to get them.
I am visioning the underwater treadmill? and laughing about the flying......
I walk in our pool most of the time when it is nice. Much easier on my body. I hope I heal up as fast with second one so I can be in the water also.
I hope you continue to walk in your pool and hope the pain gets less for you.
Good luck with crutches, I use a walker with wheels now but know it' a no no after surgery. Back to the metal one:evil: Keep posting your improvements!!!!

 

[Jamie]

I personally am not sure how anybody uses a walker - looks like they'd be hard on the back to me, but then I'm not put together quite right.

I think a lot of people don't have their walker adjusted properly. It should never be hard on your back! You should have it set high enough that you don't lean over to walk with it. You should be standing upright with shoulders back.

When you go forward with it, it's better not to take too large a step if you are going slow and doing one step at a time. Eventually, people who use a walker for a time can get strong enough to slide it along smooth surfaces and walk in one continuous motion. But doing this does take more leg strength and at that point the walker is used more for balance than support for a weak or painful leg - like you have following surgery.

 

[jimbo]

Sunshine, Now, see? What do I know. I started with the wheeled walker. I didn't know it was a no-no. I did pretty good with balancing with it (I used to be a competitive skater), but it's sometimes the dickens to move it through doors ahead of me. I want to scout out the pool soon (It's a health club pool-not a rehab pool) and see if I can make use of it. Thanks for the input. Jim :thmb:

 

[philzoel]

jimbo, not much said about nerve damage. during surgery anterior there is a nerve nearby. I aasume posterior has some but not as dangerous.

Anyway if it is a nerve it would not show up on xray. Josaphines chart on healing is 3 to 13 months for nerves to heal. It almost has to be that if xray OK by 2 people.

My doc and pt people have had me 100% weight bearing from day one. Still am at 4weeks out. Walk without support and no pain. @ 3weeks and a day.

if it is nerve and it will heal no weight bearing exercise IE no pain exercise is very good while you wait for the nerve to heal.

Do MRI's show nerves??

 

[jimbo]

philzoel and all, Yes it could be nerves. The second surgeon suggested that I might have an aggravated sciatic nerve, but I have nothing definitive. I don't know if nerves show up on an MRI, but I can't get one because of my pacemaker.
I have been busy away from the home computer. Since opinions so far indicate that "all is well" with the joint, I have decided to do what I can using pain as my guide :thmb:. I went to the pool today and walked and exercised on my own. I have been doing heating of the hip and leg followed by some stretching. I have resumed massage (my wife is an excellent therapist, and last night she did some deep tissure work). I have been doing a few one legged stands supported by the walker or table. I'm going to look at any literature I can find including the book of exercises recomended bykjt (above).
I have trained and run marathons (one at 40 degrees below zero). I have trained for triathlons and century bike races. Surely, I can find my way through this. I just have pay attention and be very careful.
I really appreciate all of the input and support I have received at this sight.
Best wishes (for all of us) Jim :thmb:

 

[sunshine]

Sunshine, Now, see? What do I know. I started with the wheeled walker. I didn't know it was a no-no. I did pretty good with balancing with it (I used to be a competitive skater), but it's sometimes the dickens to move it through doors ahead of me. I want to scout out the pool soon (It's a health club pool-not a rehab pool) and see if I can make use of it. Thanks for the input. Jim :thmb:

Hey Jim,
Think I said the wrong thing to you. :pzld:I meant the walker that has three wheels and a little leather pouch in the center. That is a no no for hipsters because it slips out, not steady enough. :shk: The metal ones that have four legs and some have two wheels are ok or no wheels are fine. They are much more steady to put your weight on and don't slip.:D
Well we have a pool with our condo but I also have av-med and since I am old I get to join sneakers which is a free membership with the YMCA. I think there are about 4 insurances that offer that. They have programs in the water so I may go there this time, although it may get too crowded being summer is on the way.
My first venture will be to the beach when I am ready, and I am so looking forward to that salt water.:wahey::wahey: (just jumping ahead a few months.)

 

[jimbo]

Thanks, sunshine. It's good to know I'm wasn't too far off track. I managed to walk in the water yesterday without any traffic around me, but I got in during the slower, early afternoon.
Oh, I do miss the ocean (-grew up in norther California) I'm glad you are looking forward to getting out with anticipated pleasure to the beach. I't so important to hold onto our desires, I think, while we are going through recovery.
Best wishes, Jim :thmb: