Core Decompression Post Op Core Decompression<

[danabanana]

Hi @newhip126. Thank you. Core Decompression involves drilling one larger hole or several smaller holes into the femoral head to relieve pressure in the bone and create channels for new blood vessels to nourish the affected areas of the hip. In my surgery, my OS drilled 6 areas into my femoral head.
It's been painful but I'm hanging in there.
The hope is this will save my hip, avoiding a THR or at least give me another couple years with my parts before having to swap them out.

 

[newhip126]

@danabanana That sounds painful!! I hope you have a great outcome. Good luck.

 

[Youch!]

@danabanana here is an interesting article about the mysteries of success for CD surgery.
https://www.jcdr.net/articles/PDF/6967/13995_CE[Ra1]_F(GH)_PF1(Vasu_OM)_PFA(AK)_PF2(PAG).pdf It did give me some hope.

 

[danabanana]

Thank you @newhip126

@Youch!.... great link! thanks so much!!!

 

[Irish Joe]

Hi @danabanana.
Hope you are improving after your CD and your pain has subsided somewhat. If it works great, if it doesn't then THR will. Take it from me.
Good luck on your journey.
Joe....
("no textbook timeline") I like that. Permission to plagiarise???

 

[Krista]

@danabanana, hello! I was reading a post of yours elsewhere, quoted here:

Last week I saw my surgeon for 4 week post op check. Nothing to report except my incision looks good...he didn't seem concerned with the muscle cramps/spasms I'm having in thigh nor the sharp pains and aches behind my hip bone. He said I'm doing the right stuff...ice and elevating. Too soon for xrays due to edema. So back end of January for xrays and an mri after that to see if my femoral head is behaving. Fingers crossed!

I sympathize with you about those muscle cramps/spasms in your thigh. Those can be really painful! This year I've had more than my share of muscle spasms and intense pain as a result, last summer in my back, and in my thigh post-surgery at the end of October. I was able to get a prescription for a muscle relaxant, which I use when I need them. Nowadays I only have spasms if I have really overdone things, and I find the muscle relaxant a big help when I need them. And you are still getting sharp pains. Are you still taking pain meds?

I also read about how you had to get a new furnace a few days ago, and I am sure that was really stressful! We got one last summer before my surgery, and we took our time making all the choices and getting several bids, and then dealing with the workers in the house, and it was hard then. I can't imaging doing it on an emergency basis during the holidays and hip surgery recovery. Take care and may your new year be a good one!

 

[danabanana]

Hi @danabanana.
Hope you are improving after your CD and your pain has subsided somewhat. If it works great, if it doesn't then THR will. Take it from me.
Good luck on your journey.
Joe....
("no textbook timeline") I like that. Permission to plagiarise???

Hi @Irish Joe

Thanks for the iquiry and well wishes....im hobbling along. Pain has lessened from where it was but is still present, nipping at me like cloud of mosquitos that won't leave me be. Trying to stay distracted with copious amounts of Netflix and knitting, but I'm more than done with this feeling like an invalid. I'm ornery and feel like a sloth.
Anyhow, enough of my whiny blatherings. In the famous words of Jon Bon Jovi (a middle aged famous person who 2016 hasn't killed yet) "woooooah I'm halfway there....woah ohhhhh livin' on a prayer" lol
Cheers
Dana

 

[danabanana]

Hi @Krista
Thank you for the lovely message and following me over here. The muscle relaxant for your spasms...what a great idea! I'm going to mention this to my Dr when I see him next. I still take a pain killer but just at night as I find that's when it's harder to deal with the nipping pain and aching. Daytime I'll take either Tylenol or ibuprofen. I'm still getting sharp pains so not sure what that's all about.

And yes, the furnace was a nightmare. Terrible timing but what can you do? It's a necessity. My other half was trying to juggle it all between working as I couldn't do much but hobble to unlock the door. Plus I had my post op surgical appt on the day the installers were coming, an appt I couldn't reschedule as it's booked in advance through the hospital, so I had to figure out not only how to get to the appt as I can't drive yet and my other half was already there working, and someone to be here for the furnace people. Ugh it was nuts! I was just so glad when it was all over and could curl up in my cozy bed. I do a lot of that haha

Wishing you a happy new years too.
Cheers,
Dana

 

[Krista]

I'm SO glad you are getting that cozy curling up in bed after all of that! Regarding the muscle relaxant, I was getting major spasms in my thigh after my second hip surgery, so I was prescribed the lowest dose, three times a day, and I continued that for two weeks. If it hadn't helped to prevent them (which it did), I would have asked to be able to take more. Now I take one sometimes if I have had a particularly active day and my thigh is feeling twitchy, but have only needed to do that a few times over the last 7 weeks. If I actually do have spasms, then I take one or two and rest and relax and let the muscle calm down. Lately my spasms are mostly at night, in response to me trying side-sleeping again, and doing too much during the day.

Now I am very curious to know what the solution was for having someone at your home for the furnace people!!!

 

[danabanana]

Now I am very curious to know what the solution was for having someone at your home for the furnace people!!!

Hehehe Well, my motherinlaw lives with us so she was home however, we couldn't have her just here by herself so thankfully my other half's best friend came over. He drank coffee all afternoon with her while the furnace people worked. I was so grateful.

 

[danabanana]

So, I'm 6 weeks post op and I'm in so much pain suddenly over the past 24hrs. Was waking me up all night. Perhaps I've overdone it with the bit of weight bearing because it feels terrible... I mean, crazy amount of pain. Deep sharp throbbing in the hip and down my thigh. I've been icing and elevating. I'm worried!

 

[Krista]

Oh, no! Yep, ice, elevate and rest, rest, rest. And medicate, perhaps. If it gets better soon, you'll know it's not too serious. If not, then the doc can help you figure it out. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[danabanana]

Thank you @Krista

I've run out of Tramacet, though I was only taking it at night or as needed, and extra strength Tylenol during the day. I have another script on the fridge so sending my other half to fill it tonight when he goes to pickup our son from work because I'm so miserable. Ugh!!!

 

[Jamie]

Sorry you are hurting. Definitely fill the prescription and get back on a pain med schedule. My guess is your weight bearing was a bit much for you at this point. Had you been released for that from your surgeon or were you just doing a test run? Use ice as much as possible along with some elevation. Hope it resolves soon.

 

[Youch!]

Dana,
I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who pushes it a bit. I'm in the same boat of overdoing it and was feeling very naughty indeed, but now that I know I have company it's somewhat easier to digest my remorse. I actually found that a moist heat heating pad is so deliciously soothing on what I'm imagining and hoping is as mild as muscle spasms radiating out from the channel the surgeon created. And pain meds.
I hope that your day today was easier and less painful.
Best,
Youch!

 

[danabanana]

Jamie, when I saw him Dec 21 he said to gradually begin to put weight on my leg, with crutches, at about a 25% of body weight and increase each week. I see him Jan 31 for next followup and he said I should be able to bear full weight by then. I don't know...I'm in so much pain I can't imagine.

 

[danabanana]

Youch!, I agree...I'm grateful to have the company while going through all this.

Maybe I will try some heat. Before the CD I would use a heated bean bag. Was very soothing. I've not used it since the CD because of inflammation.

 

[Youch!]

Darn, I need to study how to quote again, but you probably have the right instinct on heat, so do be careful. Oh gosh it is soothing right now, I will tell you!

 

[danabanana]

Right below the message is little words "quote this message". Click it and it will appear in your reply box.

My sister is a nurse and I just asked her about the heat...she said it's okay for the spasm part but not on the area of swelling. So I could put the heat on my thigh. I'm gonna try that now. Yay!

 

[Jaycey]

I agree with your sister - no heat on any incision area just yet. Hope you can get your pain meds sorted and get back on them ASAP. You need them to help you get more mobile including weight bearing.