@octopus ... how's your back? I have not been on here for a while and just saw your report that the back is acting up again. Remind me how long since the surgery? I do hope the osteo can help. I believe it is Jaycey who has had success with an osteo. Of course not all back pain is alike.
Nice to see you, dear
@zauberflöte ... hope you are doing well. The "elephantine" part I can relate to. The bouncing, not so much. Again, I would see middle-aged or older women, not fit, not trim, wearing heels, and carrying things in both hands and doing stairs without holding on to rails! This is in old movies. So that convinced me that prior to the arthritis hell and surgery and recovery from surgery, the body must be able to do stairs like that. Having said that, I am glad to go back to holding on lightly to the rails again if it means decreasing the added pain I was getting. The lower-lower back pain I have from the degenerative spondylolisthesis is ENOUGh to deal with. I don't need added pain (which was what I THINk is the S.I. joint area, though I can't be sure).
Just yesterday I was walking more and more around the office, because I felt good and felt like it. And joking around with a colleague who challenged me to a mini foot race down the hallway. We were laughing and briefly race walking. I said, "You're letting me win." She's the fastest walker I've ever seen. There was a long pause, and then she said, "Yeah, I am." Very funny. Anyway, last night and this morning the S.I. joint (I think) area is sore! I have calmed it down a little with a heating pad and Advil. Bedrest helped, too. It wasn't too bad when I woke up at first. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that the race walking and bouncing didn't do me any favors.
I know I sound uber cautious, but I just can't stand aggravating things unnecessarily and I really dread and fear soft tissue setbacks. But we are all different, and what works for one might work for another even while it does not work for someone else. I guess that sounds very random, but I really have come to believe that anatomical, soft tissue, orthopedic, arthritic inflicted body parts--that trying to "fix" all this stuff via PT and exercise is really more of an ART than a SCIENCE. I don't know that this is true. This is just what rings loudly in my brain.
So I really enjoy your discussions, so many of the ideas and input and feedback here. What I've loved about Bonesmart is when people share what they've tried, what worked and didn't work.
@Hoppy Nanny ... hi there! I'm glad your new hip is working out well. I hear you about "no hijinks." I never was a hijnks-er in the first place. Other than a mini race walk competition at the workplace. Just a moment's silliness during the workday. Are you having problems with other areas like the dread K word (knee)? I hope not. Keep us posted. It's a long process, this surgery aftermath!
Hi,
@MajorHeidi ... how are you doing?? Have your PT sessions helped? The piriformis is such a mysterious little monster. I too have thought some pain I've had is that. But no, I don't think so. I have had the tugs in the groin that you refer to--but that has been on "the other hip" side and I do attribute that to "degenerative changes" in the other hip--meaning, that hip is going down someday probably. Groin pain really is the big indicator, I think, for me, that it's hip arthritis. In the op hip side, from the first year onward, I have started to get a tug in the adductor area. Not pain, but tug. OS said it's weak adductors. When I did stairs without holding on to the rails, the tugging went away. Now it's back sometimes. Of all the stuff I am concerned about, that tug is at the bottom of the list. I hope I'm not deluding myself.
I'm sorry you have DDD, but I'm glad at least you got a diagnosis based on X-rays and I will keep my fingers crossed for you that the PT works out for you. When I got back X-rays and an MRI of the back last year I was warned that for people in my age bracket (60s) and onward, any back MRI is going to show a lot of nasty, scary things going on--DDD, arthritis, lots of fun stuff. BUT that not all of that stuff gives you pain. That it's normal for an aging back to have all those "signs" of degeneration. So that's why they don't always like to do an MRI; too scary. However, I was really glad to get one. They pointed out the scary sounding stuff that's probably not a big deal, and pointed out the stuff to be concerned about. In my case, it's spondylolisthesis (degenerative) of the lower spine. This feels like a nearly constant pain in the center and very lower back, far below the waist. I never had this pain ever prior to my hip going bad, prior to surgery. Ever since surgery, that lower back pain has been persistent. It is relieved by sitting, lying down, by starting to walk when I've been standing too long; by sitting down when I've been walking too long.
The added pain I have, which I refer to as butt pain, is lower back but off to the side, but not near the crease where the butt meets the leg. I THINK it's in the S.I. joint area. It hurts when I aggravate it by overdoing it in some way. I need to get it checked out. Finding the time to take off work to do that is the problem.
Please keep us posted. I would say this--and take it with a grain of salt, as I am no expert--but I don't think all back pain is alike and that what works for some works for everyone. My back doc and his two PTs I worked with all concurred that for my specific condition, I should not be running off and trying a chiro, yoga, acupuncture, shots, TENS unit, etc., etc. (all of which the doc does use--for OTHER back conditions) without talking to them first. and some of that stuff they did not recommend for my back pain at all. They were horrified when I asked about a chiropractor. They said, "for SOME back conditions, but NOT for yours." So I'm very cautious about "trying things." The temptation is always there, and I will try things for some problems, but for the back, I'm pretty wary. The only thing that has "worked" for me is the combo of sitting, standing, and walking--rather than marathon-style walks and standing for long periods. And sitting for too long. Even at 1.5 years after the THR, I STILL get very very stiff when I first get up from sitting, even if it's only been about 20 minutes, when it's sitting in a certain type of chair (office chair). If I sit for an hour? I'm severely stiff when I get up. So that's why I frequently get up and walk a lot around the office. And on the weekends, if I try to walk too long without stopping? I pay for it. It's not worth it. It's an aggravation of the impinged nerve, rather than a strengthening of muscles. So it's short but frequent walks that I try. And I'm still not "all well" and able to "do anything."
Still have a lot to figure out!!!
Best to everyone ... please keep us posted when you can!
United Kingdom
