THR Marvellous Marvin's New Home

[Jamie]

Jo is the TENS expert, Carol....so let me tag her. @Josephine:

Since she is away from the fourm for a few days, it might Sunday or Monday before she can respond. In the meantime maybe someone else can address this for you. I'm sorry, but I really have very little knowledge of TENS machines.

 

[debkakes]

Wow, Carol, I'm a soon-to-be hippie, and your tales of aggressive PT are a little alarming! At my pre-op yesterday, the nurse told me they do not prescribe ANY post-hospital PT except to transition to and from walking aids, check gait, etc. She said, all the ROM you need from your hip, you can get from walking. Aqua exercise is fine as well at around 4 weeks. The six weeks after surgery is for healing and resting more than anything. I like this conservative approach, and figure there is all kinds of time for me to get back to my former level of fitness: I don't have to do it all right away. Your tale is a good cautionary one, although I'm so sorry you had to go through it all.

 

[Mad Rocker]

9:12 am <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Day 96 POP Day 52 PIN<o:p></o:p>
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Today is not a good day at least this morning isn’t. I saw my GP yesterday for more drugs. I am so tired of this; I see him more often than I see my kids. But drugs are the required food group so why question it.<o:p></o:p>
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He is very concerned about my recovery and the fact that I have as much pain now as I did POP and its 14 weeks since surgery.<o:p></o:p>
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He said that in the beginning (before my injury) I was above average in my recovery almost off my drugs and physically doing well, now below normal recovery. I knew that. He also indicated that some recoveries can take 18-24 months. I am not ready for that one at all. But one way or the other nothing is known until I see my OS 15 June then that app’t is probably just the beginning of the diagnoses. This sucks big time!<o:p></o:p>
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Take care everyone and be comfortable :ATT637464:<o:p></o:p>

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Carol! To answer your question about TENs - I used mine post op. Seems to me it would be a great way for you to get through the issues you are having. There is a good thread in the Library about Using TENS machines. The trick is to get the electrodes correctly placed. Jo has some links to sites that explain this. Please let us know how you get on.

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi Carol,
I use TENS for my knee, be sure to read Jaycey's link. You need relief, and hopefully TENS will help you.
Who does your husband like New Jersey or LA, we don't care much for either?
Take care,

 

[Poppet]

Hi Carol honey, I also have a TENS machine, it is a godsend at certain times, something to definitely think about.

p.s. I have not forgotten the MSM scientific literature regarding MSM for you ... been just a tad busy with John this weekend.

Chin up gorgeous, you have certainly had a rough trot and it has to get better soon xoxoxoxo

 

[Mad Rocker]

Thanks Sandy
@Smja:
So Sorry that John is having a rough go right now. I'm sending white light for his quick recovery. Take good care of him....I heard through the grapevine that he is a terrific guy.

Love
Carol

 

[Poppet]

Oh thanks Carol, you are such a good friend

Yes, he is special, but very, very stubborn where his health is concerned. I will email you privately sometime...

How are you today / tonight ?

 

[Mad Rocker]

625 pm<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Day 98 POP Day 54 PIN<o:p></o:p>
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Hello Everyone<o:p></o:p>
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What a bee-uu-tee-ful day we had here on the west coast of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region>. We have had a few days like this---Omigoodness Saturday was the best hot and sunny and no wind and about the closest you can get to paradise.<o:p></o:p>
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Good thing about this as it has surely improved my outlook on life. I read some of my pre-surgery posts and I cannot believe what a dull , complaining person I have become. I know that I have days that are a pain in the patootee but there is always something to be grateful for and I just need to kick myself in the butt and see these things again. BTW if anyone can let me know how I can kick myself in the butt and still be mindful of the hip precautions I would certainly appreciate it. :th_heehee:
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I had a Nordic Walking lesson on Wed. Tora is a very smart and understanding lady who, once I explained I had a THR, was just full of encouragement and tips on how I can walk with the poles and get some cardio with my walking. I have also found that I limp less with one pole than I do with a cane so I am trying that test out for a bit.<o:p></o:p>
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I have been sleeping better for the last 4 nights. I still wake up exhausted but I have a feeling that has more to do with my low thyroid than anything else.<o:p></o:p>
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I went to the new place for an exercise lesson that was strictly upper body. I thought I might have pain issues but I was OK. The girl who taught me what to do was very observant and vigilant that I would not overdo things or to strain the muscles that have not been working properly since 2007 (when my arthritis made itself be known.) It is unfortunately quite expensive and I am having thoughts that I may not be able to get everything out of their program before I run out of budget space. Always something… I see her again Thursday and I am going to be up front with her and maybe there will be an option. <o:p></o:p>
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On Wed I am going to see an osteopath. I am hoping that perhaps he will have alternatives for me and if nothing else perhaps he can inform me about what is going on with my recovery so that when I see the OS I will be somewhat smarter than I have been in the past. Hopefully I will know the right questions to ask. I mean my GP is concerned that after 13 weeks POP I am still having so much pain and difficulty with my walking. Is that from the THR or my injury? <o:p></o:p>
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I have been enjoying doing some gardening and luck has it I have been having no pain just a little stiffness and that is normal even with regular folks after a winter hiatus.<o:p></o:p>
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I have some stuff to deal with this week that I do not want to deal with but it is a needful thing. So stiff upper lip and get a backbone and deal with it. Keeping in mind that I am a crisis creator/perpetual pessimist, I am probably making a mountain of a molehill but time will tell.<o:p></o:p>
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Take care Everyone and be comfortable :ATT637464:
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[dianemarie]

Carol,

So good to hear you with your sense of humor back. And some good news, like better sleep and gardening with no major pain...yeah!
I can't sleep tonight and was so happy to read your post. Hope all goes well at the osteopath and that you can continue the exercise place. nitey-nite.

 

[tashia]

Carol, Did I read that you have a low throiad? sp sorry. did you know that if you are not taking enough for that problem you can go into depression" get that check out. Please. Also you can put on weight or have a hard time losing. Hang in there, It will work out. Keep me posted how you are doing. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Carol, don't worry about complaining here. That's what BoneSmart is for! But you are right, it does help to read back at the start of your journey to see how far you have come.

Good luck with the osteo! It does take more than one visit so please don't get discouraged. Please let us know how it goes!

 

[Josephine]

Well someone told me that TENS should not be used anywhere near my new hip joint as it could cause heat issues from the electrical current. Now it sounds ridiculous :hysterical: but I'm needing reassurance that it is ridiculous as I want to get a TENS for over my hp joint and other Owie spots on my bodee.

Those "somebodies" are mixing up TENS with old style MRI scanners which did used to heat up metal appliances due to the intensity of the magnetic fields. I have a friend who has spinal rods put in about 60 years ago and 40 or 50 years ago they put her in a scanner and the rods heated up. They stopped the scan immediately (so sorry, Mrs Jones, we never realised it would effect your rods! :DOH but they kept on heating up for about 6 hours after and she was in agony! But thankfully scanners are much more sophisticated now as are the implants, and implants can be happily scanned as a result.

But TENS machines won't do any such thing! I've used mine on my knees a number of times. Besides which the term is "transdermal" meaning it doesn't go very deep and certainly not deep enough to get to the implants! Not that it would matter if it did!

Daft people! They do love to scaremonger!

 

[Anniepops]

Hey Carol, it's great to hear you sounding much brighter, have tried kicking myself in the butt in order to give you some tips but unfortunately even my good leg can't get up there so nohelp here :th_heehee:

Hope the visit with the osteopath goes well

Take care

Ann.x.

 

[Mad Rocker]

Jo

Welcome Back. I love ,daft ----the word is perfect. I do believe that daft is my new word of the year. It simply says so much.

Thanks Jo for the info. I will now proceed to get myself a TENS machine:hapydancsmil:.

 

[Mad Rocker]

6:14 pm Day 101 Week 14 POP <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Hello Everyone<o:p></o:p>
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I had an agreement with myself before surgery that on day 100 I would be lots better and obviously on the road to being all well. <o:p></o:p>
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Yesterday was Day 100. Not so close on the being all well. I found it a bit of a downer so I have decided that rather than dwell on the days POP or even days post injury (PIN) I will now use Week 14 +2.<o:p></o:p>
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Looking at 100 days post surgery seems like a lot until I take out the calculator (I never did learn the times table. :rolleyespink: I don’t think I was at school that day.) So now I take 100 and divide by 7 and I get 14 weeks plus 2 days. Then I take the 14 and divide by 4 and I get 3 months plus 2 weeks. When you look at that figure it’s really not that long ago that I had surgery. It’s only 3+ months. That’s not 7 months which 100 days could be if you didn’t know that there were 7 days in a week. 100 just sounds like so much. So now that I have passed my 100<SUP>th</SUP> day and I have not accomplished what I hoped would be accomplished I am going to use weeks instead. It will help with the blue days which I have been having for a few days now. :frown:<o:p></o:p>
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I think I have found the rehab/fitness place to go. They are very cautious and deliberate with the things that I do. It is for fitness, injury and joint replacement in seniors. Kelly is a Medical Fitness Specialist (background in kinesiology.) I like her a lot. Their treatments are rather $$$ but it is for an hour. So I will stretch my budget as far as I can for the sessions. I feel cared for and listened to here and that is important.<o:p></o:p>
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I went to the osteopath. Very weird. I was impressed with the medical history he took and how he explained things, but still a very weird treatment. My sister would call it woo-hoo, mystical. I feel better I think. Not so clumsy, but maybe that is all in my brain. One thing is I have been exhausted since my treatment. Just whole body pooped. Sleeping is OK but I could just sleep the clock around. Rest is OK so maybe this is just a good result of the Osteopath treatment and I need to heal from it. Who knows?<o:p></o:p>
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Take care Everyone :ATT637464:

 

[dianemarie]

Carol,

Yeah! So glad you found a good PT place. It is so important that they listen to you and you feel like they hear you. I would go with the sleep as your body is trying to tell you something. I am very interested in the osteopath...what kind of treatment did they do? When I had my "setback" injury I slept round the clock for days...only waking to eat and go to bathroom. It was what I needed. You and I are in the slow healers club...glad we're in it together. Take care, hon.

 

[Poppet]

Hi there Carol, I have been a tad busy the past week, so am just catching up.... boy am I glad you have found a good PT situation, finally honey, and being the Naturopath, I love the kinesiology aspect.

Sleep, sleep, sleep (eat chocolate in between of course), don't you worry about your recovery taking a little longer. I am sure when your body decides to your recovery will just take off.. then watch out world... here comes Carol

I think you may have read my personal timeframe I parked in my head way before surgery... like a year before.. I decided that if I could achieve 90% recovery in 12 months and 100% in 18 months I would work to that and try to remind myself when I have the blue days.. and trust me I still have them (lots, now I come to think about it!)..

At six months, I am no where near where I thought I would be physically or emotionally, but I just keep that long term timeframe in my head and keep plodding towards it..

Stay with the positive honey, you will get there.. and I have forgotten your MSM request - promise... just had a hectic personal and work week.

Sending much love and big hugs xxx

 

[Jaycey]

What kind of treatment did your osteo do Carol? I do remember feeling exhausted the first few treatments. It was like chiro but not as aggressive. Did they do any acupuncture?

 

[Mad Rocker]

12:46 am Week 14+ POP<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Hello Everyone<o:p></o:p>
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Sleepless….<o:p></o:p>
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My osteo treatment was strictly a laying on of hands. That is the only way I can describe it. I have had chiropractic treatments and it was no way the same. I felt like I was in a movie in a large tent where the star used healing hands. It was weird. I felt nothing during the treatment but immediately afterwards my balance was stronger and then much later the exhaustion and nausea hit. Weird…and definitely no acupuncture. I think my pain was reduced but I just don’t get a real sense of a result from the treatment. <o:p></o:p>
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I still want to get a TENS machine but I suppose I should check with Howard (the osteopath) if it will interfere with the treatments. Howard is DO originally trained in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">UK</st1:place></st1:country-region> and really sounds like he knows his business and I will just have to rely on faith and see how it goes. I certainly don’t hurt more so what do I have to lose?<o:p></o:p>
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All I am going on is this following:<o:p></o:p>
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D.O. is Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a graduate of a different medical training program with licensure as a different type of medical professional than an M.D., or Medical Doctor. However, for most purposes the training and licensure are equal to one another. A difference in practice is that a DO (aka Doctor of Osteopathy) is also trained in osteopathic medicine which includes theories and procedures of musculoskeletal manipulation in which Medical Doctors are not specifically trained. The basic medical training and practice is comparable, however. (from WIKI) <o:p></o:p>
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I figure since he really is a medical doctor I don’t have to explain everything that is going on. One thing that he did bring up is the injury. His feeling is that it was a grade 3 tear and possible a partial tear from the thigh bone. He called it Iliopsoas syndrome which apparently is from a sudden flexing of the muscle to the point that the muscle fibers tear. There is also the possibility of bursitis. This all explains, he said, the long recovery time and lack of change in the condition as it is a muscle that we can’t give total rest to as it has responsibility in walking, posture and balance. I trust he knows his business. Its just faith on my part. (But I have been wrong before. :DOH:Keep your fingers and whatever other extremities you can cross for me.)

BTW Diane

It is reassuring to be a member of your club because it gets so depressing when people are having success (Boo-Hiss :th_heehee: ) and I am not doing as well . We can't all be fast in our recoveries and at least I can put on my own socks and tie my shoes so na-na-na-nana.:hysterical:

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Take care and be comfortable… :ATT637464: Glad we are in this all together<o:p></o:p>