I’m 59, female, overweight and had smoked cigarettes for 40+ years. Quit smoking October 12th after my first appointment. Not going to lie - the pain was so extreme that I quit cold turkey after he informed me that the policy is all orthopedic patients are required to be nicotine free 30 days (and yes, they test multiple times).
So after multiple X-rays, bone density, and a couple MRI’s I’m sitting in front of him sobbing, begging him to just amputate my leg...by now i can no longer walk across the room, hadn’t slept in 8 weeks and this god awful pain never stops from my thigh to the ankle. I’m losing my mind.
Bottom line - femur is crushed, nearly gone, the nerve had been impacted, muscle torn, fractures down my leg to the ankle, oh and yes, I need a total hip replacement - all left. Now turns out that nerve was impacting my reflexes as well and neurology was brought in, MRI checked the spine. The team all agreed: my sjogrens and having gone years being deficient in vitamin D both hugely contributed. The extent of my damage became an emergency case and was immediately brought into the OR on November 18th.
I came home the 19th. Initially only being able to lift left leg a couple inches. Getting better daily. I’ve learned a couple things about myself - I am a control freak who absolutely struggles with having to ask for help. And I’m not a good patient. Pain has been minimal and I’m taking oxy 5mg about every 13/14 hours. I’m on warfarin (actually in a study). My concern is blood clot and/or infection. PT has been in 3 times and exercise along with blood check is done. I know it’s going to take time to heal and my OS has given me a second chance...I just need to stop the pity party and realize he’s correct when he said “your hip & leg were so severe that simply walking is huge progress.”
So after multiple X-rays, bone density, and a couple MRI’s I’m sitting in front of him sobbing, begging him to just amputate my leg...by now i can no longer walk across the room, hadn’t slept in 8 weeks and this god awful pain never stops from my thigh to the ankle. I’m losing my mind.
Bottom line - femur is crushed, nearly gone, the nerve had been impacted, muscle torn, fractures down my leg to the ankle, oh and yes, I need a total hip replacement - all left. Now turns out that nerve was impacting my reflexes as well and neurology was brought in, MRI checked the spine. The team all agreed: my sjogrens and having gone years being deficient in vitamin D both hugely contributed. The extent of my damage became an emergency case and was immediately brought into the OR on November 18th.
I came home the 19th. Initially only being able to lift left leg a couple inches. Getting better daily. I’ve learned a couple things about myself - I am a control freak who absolutely struggles with having to ask for help. And I’m not a good patient. Pain has been minimal and I’m taking oxy 5mg about every 13/14 hours. I’m on warfarin (actually in a study). My concern is blood clot and/or infection. PT has been in 3 times and exercise along with blood check is done. I know it’s going to take time to heal and my OS has given me a second chance...I just need to stop the pity party and realize he’s correct when he said “your hip & leg were so severe that simply walking is huge progress.”