THR Me2 and Recovery

[MajorHeidi]

That's great on the injection!

 

[Me2]

Wow! A year ago today . . . and I was just so so so euphorically ecstatically happy to have been able to walk into hospital and survive and then I even lived through the surgery! LTR has been such a wonderful get back to living! Except for little swath of numbness down front side and tiny shadow of incision scar, I could really say that side of my body is better than new -- its Bionic/Biomet!

Thank you BoneSmart buddies and moderators for all the support, friendship, love, wisdom and all. I know I would absolutely never have made it without you all. I found so much strength in me from you all.

​

 

[Great Aunt Janet]

Congratulations @Me2 - and thanks for the inspiration!!!

 

[MajorHeidi]

Way to go Sheryl! @Me2
I'm glad we have been able to walk this journey together.
forever!

 

[Me2]

@Great Aunt Janet so happy to pay it forward! Just four more sleeps for you!

Thanks Claire! You are definitely one person I could not have done it without. Thank you for being such a truly great friend. and a too.

 

[Me2]

This idea may be absolutely crazy - but you have accepted my craziness before - and I think this is a good crazy.

The idea for a one year celebration hatched way back last year on @Cantabrigian recovery thread . . . I guess its been in the back of my mind ever since. So . . . yesterday, I decided to call my hip surgeon to just see if I would just be too foolhardy to try it. His PA just called back to say it would be no problem. I have not had such a big grin on my face except when horseback riding.

I may not be going to sky dive in Paris but I am going to schedule a skydive in Pittsburgh!!!!!!
​

Anybody want to join me?

 

[Cantabrigian]

This idea may be absolutely crazy - but you have accepted my craziness before - and I think this is a good crazy.

The idea for a one year celebration hatched way back last year on @Cantabrigian recovery thread . . . I guess its been in the back of my mind ever since. So . . . yesterday, I decided to call my hip surgeon to just see if I would just be too foolhardy to try it. His PA just called back to say it would be no problem. I have not had such a big grin on my face except when horseback riding.

I may not be going to sky dive in Paris but I am going to schedule a skydive in Pittsburgh!!!!!!
​

Anybody want to join me?

Wahey !!!!
That's wonderful news Sheryl
I'm really pleased to hear about this! Please get some pics posted so that we can all see this wonderful achievement.

It's a year and a day since my THR also ... I was with my surgeon yesterday for a check-up, and he told me he wants to see me again .... in 4 years !! It goes without saying that he's happy with my progress lol

 

[Dieter]

Hey @Me2 , still not interested in jumping out of a perfectly good airplane...I celebrated my year anniversary by playing a couple of games of basketball, it felt great! I was very rusty, but moved well, (DW was non too pleased when she saw me take my BB shoes out of the gym bag...) the only time I have any discomfort is if I don't get any big movement in a day, even just brisk walking, it is a bit achey around the joint...I'll take that any day.
Hope all is well my Hippy friend!

 

[Me2]

Greetings all.

So, I didn't get to go on my skydive YET! I tried to schedule it for Mother's Day but they weren't scheduling yet so . Then, a little bit of trouble with business income and way too busy with trying to find solution for back and other life issues. SO BUSY in fact that I missed my six month anniversary of second hip and since today is May 16, I actually missed seven month anniversary of second hip surgery though I did celebrate amongst a very busy day getting my "baby" (fifth and youngest son) all ready for his prom. I'm actually chaperoning his prom trip at a wonderful mountain cabin in Deep Creek Maryland and thus have some BoneSmart surfing time.

First, my right hip is good I guess, still hard to separate from what's going on with my back. I really have no range of motion issues -- it is soooo wonderful being able to mount up and ride Storm with such ease. I can do so much with such ease that I have gotten quite accustomed to all and barely think about it. I even put my socks on and tie shoes with just a little celebratory wow I can do this! All would be wonderful with the world and Sheryl's hips, body, life EXCEPT for the stab in back with the constant knife stuck there and accompanying ache.

I think I've finally narrowed down what I hope will be a solution. With the success of the aforementioned SI injection --- total no pain in hip or back, absence of knife in SI joint area for about 3-7 days (with diminishing results), the pain doctor, Dr. Patterson, suggested a second diagnostic only injection. Also gave me "repair" options: (1) continue PT to stabilize with core muscles and osteopathic adjustments, (2) do RFA (radiofrequency ablation, or (3) surgery. He suggested I see Dr. Oh who does a SI fusion with a procedure called iFuse. I made appointment for second injection and an appointment with Dr. Oh, who is back guy and who happened to have a cancellation of an appointment that week. I have an appointment with another doctor on Friday who is actually a hip guy who does the iFuse as part of "hip" stuff.

I had an appointment with Dr. Oh who absolutely felt I would be helped with this SI procedure but suggested going ahead with confirming diagnostic injection. Injection had same wonderful pain relief results but only lasted for 2-4 hours (kind of like getting numbed up from dentist for a filling??) So, I was planning to get my normal 3 visits for all the options. BUT, I had found really good physical therapist (finally) but that usually helped feel better but sometimes even felt worse -- and only sometimes felt improved immediately after exercises. Twice when I did exercises, I was really frightened because the stabbing pain so bad and inability to stand up from floor and walk. The osteopathic adjustments would feel so good when done and for 1-3 days after. But, in between my "repair" visits, I am SO tired of thinking about pain, so tired of taking Tylenol, so tired of return to first waking thought being how bad does it hurt today and comparing with pain free hips, so tired of aching, hurting, not being able to do.

Well, then, Dr. Oh's surgery coordinator called on Monday to confirm my Wednesday appointment and said that they had a surgery cancellation for May 26 would I want to take it? Hm, sixteen days, recovery and possibility of getting on with my life relatively pain free? Dr. Oh has great reviews, I liked him (though not loved him and absolute knowing that I had with my hip doctor and hip approach), and both of his PA's were the big TeddyBear, comfy cozy, great bedside manner types. I've researched this iFuse procedure to death, and I want my life back! Those eight weeks after second hip were just too wonderful. I've rearranged life, met with surgeon and all on Wednesday, and scheduled iFuse surgery on my sacroiliac joint.

So, I'm scheduled for this repair work on May 26. Dr. Oh usually uses general anesthesia BUT agreed with only minor hesitation to do with only regional, no sedation. I have to go in to BIG hospital (not my wonderful private 24 bed hospital).

I'm ok with all of this, I think. I would appreciate any feedback or support or (and especially) alarm bells "No, don't do this" from my BoneSmart friends. What does this wonderful community know about SI joint, et al?

 

[Dieter]

Do it...just do it!

 

[Me2]

@Dieter - you are such a sweet heart. I didn't know whether to push "like" "friendly" "informative" "helpful" But, thank you for the big supportive hug. Now, look, you've made me cry.

 

[Dieter]

what else are random internet friends for? after stupidly putting off my hip for years, and how my life has improved...in so many ways...I pretty OK with encouraging folks not to live with pain if they don't have too...good luck and I'll swing back by the end of the month for an update on your fusion...

 

[Jaycey]

@Me2 as you can see in my signature I had spinal surgery several years ago. For me it was not successful and I still have daily pain.

Part of the reason for the failure was a total lack of information. My surgeon never talked about restrictions, recovery time or expected results. I took pages of questions but they were never really answered. Not the approach I would take today!

Your surgery sounds very high tech using state of the art. If you feel comfortable with your surgeon, what have you got to lose? Back pain is horrid. If there was any hope that I could get rid of mine I would be all over it. Just be sure and ask all the questions. Know exactly what recovery is like and what you should and shouldn't due while your back is healing. If you don't get an answer that you understand, ask again and keep asking until you do get the answers.

Please do keep us updated! I will be watching your progress with great interest!

 

[Me2]

@Jaycey, I do feel pretty comfortable with surgery and very comfortable with knowledge of procedure. I am really convinced it will help. The surgeon has answered the questions on restrictions (no forever ones, "just" temporary recovery ones) and on expected "at least 90%" pain relief and perfect results.

But, I can find nothing like the support and information given on this site for the recovery. He can tell me what he knows as a surgeon. He recommends "touch" weight bearing for 2-4 weeks after (walker recommended but crutch ok, not cane), limited motion, okay to hold my little ones while sitting in straight chair, no carrying babies for awhile, no horse back riding for SIX months (he admits that is conservative and depending on bone growth perhaps a little earlier-literature says sex okay and I personally find riding a horse easier so??? I know maybe its that distance to the ground thing?)

Oh, I so wish there was the wealth of recovery information that is here forTHR in this wonderful BoneSmart Land.

 

[Jaycey]

He recommends "touch" weight bearing for 2-4 weeks after

Is that touch weight bearing on both sides (i.e. limited moving around)?

The weight lifting, bending and twisting were firm restrictions after my spinal surgery. I imagine your spine will not be totally stable until you have that bone growth.

I so wish there was the wealth of recovery information that is here forTHR in this wonderful BoneSmart Land.

I never found a helpful site for my spinal surgery. We will support you here through the journey. Lots of Smarties go on to other ops. We might not have the expert advice as we do with THR/TKR - but we are with you through the surgical journey. Feel free to start a thread in the Social area. You will find several others there going through various surgical procedures.

 

[beachgal]

I have zero experience with SI stuff but can still swing a mean skillet. I vote "YES"!!!


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[Me2]

@Jaycey He didn't emphasize limited motion just the touch weight bearing on the right side; said sitting, lying down will be fine and normal. I am really worried about the 2-4 weeks and what then? I do so appreciate the support here.

Thanks JB@beachgal --I will keep that threat of skillet to get me through front doors of the "real" "huge" hospital. My hip hospital was so private and personal. I have to get from front door all the way to some third floor place. If I can live thru that, I am pretty comfortable with diagnosis and doing surgery. I just so wish I could find more info on recovery.

 

[craftdee]

Hi Sheryl @Me2 So nice you managed to get some time to come gossip with us Ta much for visiting my thread... I hardly post there now, other peeps stories are SO much more interesting than mine, which is pretty much "more of the same" these days I do try to visit pre ops and newbies as I know how much value the "Old Hands" were to me when I was at that stage, a godsend really!!

I do LOVE your description of the twins at this time

they even may begin to start going in the same direction at the same time rather than like little magnets repelling off of each other

They come through the front door together and then it's like putting a stick into a trail of ants... MAYHEM. I waited sooooo long for grandbabies (their parents were together for 12 years before they were born) so it's all good really


I am still on my journey of "what can I do for my back/butt pain"... still HOPING it's fixable without surgery - it really does depend who you talk to, doesn't it? I will read with interest your SI iFuse story - you can be my measuring stick as it were! First I'm going to exhaust all the alternatives, which I'm sure I haven't ... it's been "a bit of physio and quaff down some Mobic" better for a few days, not a hundred percent but pretty good, then off the Mobic back to the discomfort, rinse and repeat I have found a new style centre near here that has "multiple modalities" - usually PTs are allergic to Chiropractics and vice versa, hopefully these guys working out of the same practice along with some others such as Remedial Masseuse and Acupuncturist will mean they're all open to the idea that if THEY can't help me someone else in the building CAN... not been the experience so far, PT just gets "sniffy" if you know what I mean, like it's a personal insult that my bum isn't getting better at his behest!!

Anyway it's gone midnight on a school day time for nigh nighs. Hope your mountain trip was relaxing; kinda bittersweet when your youngest starts throwing off the family ties... but part of the process as you know. My youngest came over this evening and played Scrabble with us, aah, we're worthy again

Keep us posted, literally

Hugs, Donna

 

[Hoppy Nanny]

Hey Sheryl @Me2
Sorry your back pain bad......like every surgery people have good & bad experiences.....I had back surgery years ago...it was fabulous! From the moment I awoke from surgery I had NO pain at all. It was like a miracle. I had seven weeks where I could not sit down..only stand or lay down...no twisting either but be free of that pain was amazing. I went back to work full time after seven weeks and it has been great. Now I have some stiffness and lack of flexibility ( was told at the time I would as I got older) but I have never regretted it.
Do hope yours goes well....will keep everything crossed!
My hip is just AMAZING now....never have any pain from it at all....but it did take a year & my recovery was slow & steady. So glad yours are doing so well.
Keep us posted on your back..love Chrissie xx


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[Me2]

@craftdee To me, that these professionals don't want to work together is just sooo frustrating. You are right on the PT and chiropractors . . . they give you exercises or do an adjustment and then its your (your bodies) fault if it doesn't work!

My latest PT person was fairly good as in he kept finetuning his exercises and he did make my shoulder pain go away . . . I was so worried it was from cervical stuff -- well, the cervical stuff is still there but its been there since wayyy before hips and doesn't hurt just doesn't move as well as I'd like. He said was detached bicep muscle and probably little impingement of rotator cuff. A week or two of his exercises and a lot of pain, and it did go away.

BUT when I asked osteopath who was doing adjustments for me about it, he scoffed at it and seemed to feel it must have been his adjustments. I wish they'd fight over making my lower back better rather than just saying to get used to it. But they did all agree, at least, that the sacroiliac joint was moving much, much more than it should. But then when I told pain doctor that I had seen the surgeon he suggested he seemed to get miffed that I was not considering doing his RFA procedure -- when it has to be done with sedation, takes 3 weeks to work maybe, and maybe only works 3-12 months. I don't do sedation especially for a maybe.

That said, @Hoppy Nanny , I am HOPING that if they do this iFuse to this joint it will not be moving since its not suppose to anyway. I'm not really getting "back" surgery but that's what they call it and the kind of surgeon that is doing it. But he did say no sedation just for me!

From what I understand, this joint tends to become painful if moving too much. Some of the risk factors are

1. being woman - yep;
   
2. multiple pregnancies (I had 5 with very easy births);
3. trauma - no
4. other problems leading to limping -- like needing new hips? yep

Although arthritis and other "stuff" with this joint does not show up on MRI's or xrays, I do "pass" all the indicators when only 3 if the 5 point to positive SI joint problems. Also, all three injections (2 therapeutic and diagnostic and 1 just diagnostic) gave immediate and immense relief. So . . .