In pain, confusion and uncertainty after 4 months

[sweetcaroline]

Hello Jim!
I've been reading about what you've gone through in these past months and I'm so sorry. I had my LTHP in November (my RTHP was in April) and I'm still feeling twinges in the left one. It's easy to get discouraged when you don't feel like you're making progress. It looks like you've got a great attitude, though! I'll be thinking of you and your doggie buddy too!:dogkiss:
Take care, Caroline

 

[Josephine]

Jim, have you ever thought of visiting a chiropractor? If it really is sciatic, I'm sure it would help. You could also try a TENS machine. I swear by both these things. Nursing is renowned for causing chronic back problems but between these two, I am 90% healed!

Physio forum, chiropractic, TENS machines

 

[jimbo]

Yes, I have wondered about seeing a chiropractor. I used to see one occasionally in the past. Initially, I was thinking the THR might be just too...I guess, complex for chiropractic treatment. And again, I did not get anything definitive about the sciatic nerve. But I'm wondering now. I always have to ask if one can have treatment (TENS machine, etc.) with a pacemaker. But, like getting the second opinion, it might be worth it to consult a chiropractor.
Thanks for your attention and consideration, Jo. Jim :D
p.s. Have you ever advised anyone with as much uncertainty as I bring to this forum?

 

[Josephine]

Rats! I forgot your pacemaker - nix the TENS then.

And trust me, on the uncertainty states you rate no more than a 4 on a 10 point scale!

 

[pilot1]

Yep,
Jim, she rates me at a 10 on uncertainty...I am a big pain in the glut..
Pilot

Good luck Jim, you look like a tough guy, sure you will overcome.

 

[Josephine]

Oh, pilot! NO-one here is a pain in the gut to me. Love you all, each and every one! :gphg:

 

[jimbo]

-just an update about the weekend. I went to the pool on Saturday, walking around and doing some exercises. On Sunday my training buddy offered to go with me (I had initially planned to go every other day). I walked around some (despensing with a noodle) and actually swam about a half mile with a pull bouy between my legs. The twisting of my body with rolling caused a little pain in my new hip-but little as I relaxed and didn't roll as much. My shoulders initially hurt from pressing down on the walker for 5 months, but they eventually lossened up. I was only a little stiff today, but not hurting.
I have dispensed with doing one-legged stands on the new hip (accept in the pool), trying to build muscle and accept weight gradually. Does that seem like a good strategy?
I am heating and stretching the upper hamstring, trying to get it (at the ishial tuberosity) to calm down.
I am still pushing that blasted walker around-to work and right up to the edge of the pool.
But I'm trying to flow with a slower, gradual recovery-yet do what I can.
Thanks, Jim

 

[kjt]

OH ****!!! I can't do a one legged stand to save myself!

PT had me doing standing theraband exercises and my knee completely cratered near the IT band.

The thing that's helping me right now is anything that will get the middle of the glutes down to the hamstrings working - one of 2 things, and you can do both of them in the pool if the water is shallow enuf...

a) walk backwards with a good toe, heel, pick toe up motion,

b) do a 'monster' walk...crouch - do something like marching AND grab with your toes to pull the leg back.

You might be able to do b) w/ the walker, I'm not sure? :pzld:

 

[Buttercup]

Yes, I have wondered about seeing a chiropractor. I used to see one occasionally in the past. Initially, I was thinking the THR might be just too...I guess, complex for chiropractic treatment. And again, I did not get anything definitive about the sciatic nerve.

Hi Jimbo
Nice to see you can get in the pool and do some swimming.

Some time ago I found a short video on UTube about easing sciatic nerve pain. I had a quick look but can't see it right now. It showed a very simple movement steadying oneself by holding on to something such as the back of a chair and stepping forward with the painful side in what I can only describe as a gentle lunge, as fencers do. Go as low as you can while keeping the spine erect. I tried it when I had some sciatic pain and could not believe how effective it was. (Look, I'm demonstrating now!)

Try putting 'Relieving Sciatic Pain' into Google and see what you get. That's how I found the video originally. Good luck, Jenny

 

[jimbo]

Hey, Jenny! Thanks a bunch. I gave that a try (with some caution), and it's a pretty nice stretch:thmb:. I'll be able to tell in time.
I am googeling everything in my life just now...muscle pain, car problems, tax breaks, distubing thoughts-whatever. Jim :pzld:

 

[jimbo]

-glad I'm not the only one that can't do a one-legged stand. Well, actually I can do them, but I think I got set back doing them for the PT. And thanks for the pool tips. I have been walking backwards in the pool, but I need to focus more on your to-heel-toe motion. I have been doing somethng like your "monster walk" especially when I get into shallower water (trying to minimize the effect of gravity). It frightened all of the little kids around me. But hey!, we have to go to scary lengths to recover, right?
Thanks so much for your input, Jim :evil:

 

[jimbo]

Anyone,
-have been playing with the cane today a bit and notice I can take more steps with it on the operated side. Of course, I was told to use it on the opposite side. Am I doing a no-no? Jim :pzld:

 

[Pat29627]

With knee arthritis, I always used the cane on the same side as the bad knee. I knew it should be on the other side, but that just didn't help so much. After surgery, the PT told me to use it on the opposite side from the surgery knee. She said it can prevent falls better that way. I'm still working on that one in my mind, but do use it the correct way if I use it now.

 

[jimbo]

Thanks, Pat. I guess it's a matter of experimenting and being alert to the impact of experimenting. Jim :thmb:

 

[Josephine]

Go with what works, Jim. As long as it's giving you the appropriate support, go with what works!

 

[jimbo]

Josephine, Thanks for the input. I got a call from Lubbock yesterday (2nd doctor). His nurse said they "were talking about me" and wanted to arrange a white blood cell tagging procedure looking for inflamaton or infection in a local hospital (they lined it up for the 5th and 6h) and then consult with them there in Lubbock. I appreciated that they staffed my case and had some ideas.
I'm awake and posting because I woke up with my knees achng. It's still weird to me how the discomfort travels around. -got some pool exercise in yesterday.
-still hoping for something definitive, Jim

 

[Josephine]

Well, at least they haven't left you in the pending file! Praying it's good news when it comes.

 

[kjt]

Yeah...I really hope they find something other than 'give it time'..... :skp:

PS - I found that my knees ache because my ankles have gotten so weak that when I walk my whole foot collapses....(I have wonky ankles to start with, tho....).

 

[1jt@atime]

kjt, Do bad ankles cause knee pain? I hadn't heard that. I'm well on my way to an ankle replacement and my arches are falling. Maybe that's why my knees still hurt; or maybe it's just because I'm totally out of whack in many, many ways. I'll have to ask my ankle/foot doc about the ankle-knee connection.

Good luck with the blood work Jimbo!

 

[kjt]

You bet...wonky ankles can cause your foot to do some really strange things when you toe off.

In my case, I pronate so badly that I roll over the big toe and the knee falls to the inside. Which torques it pretty bad.

If your arches are falling, you are probably doing something similar.

If you stand with 'relaxed' ankles and bend your knees, and your knees start pointing 'in' instead of 'frontwards', you might very well be torquing your knee every time you take a step.