arpao

Well well... It has really been a long time since I posted. Which should only mean a good thing - I am consumed by my life and not my hip pain. But since this blog a hip one, that's what I am going to write about.

My last appointment went rather well. It turned out that my stress fracture was indeed healing. Although they didn't know if it was because of the bone stimulator or just my body. They suggested continue wearing it, but honestly I am not compliant... It has just been SOOOO hot that I can't bear 3 layers of clothing to hide it, and honestly it just doesn't stick to me, falls off, starts beeping and all the fun stuff. So ever since the heat started (about a month ago), I have been only wearing the stimulator at night.

I have been less active when the fracture started to bother me, and gained some unnecessary inches that I am not yet trying to lose as actively as I usually do, but I definitely will work on it. I just haven't been bothered with myself to that extend - I am what I am, and I can handle it OK at the moment.

I also went to the gym. I was of course expecting to feel how badly out of shape I was. Everything except for my abs was embarrassingly weak. I did one full-blown workout with a trainer and the next day it hurt. Since then I just do group classes, including step, yoga, sculpt and flex. I try to avoid free squats and jumps. Can do everything else, including balancing asanas in yoga, and I can balance on the operated leg just fine! There are some twists that I can't do, but mostly I'm fine, and whatever stiffness I feel in the operated hip is the one that feels like a weak muscle after a workout - not painful.

I also enrolled into a dance school for next year. I know I might need a left PAO some time next year, but I really don't want to be stuck in the "waiting place" as Dr. Seuss calls it - and I will deal with my left hip when it gets to it.

When I had the fracture just happen, the lefty was hurting and I did mention it to the doctor, and they said they were surprised it didn't bother me sooner. But now it stopped bothering, no matter what I do with it, even if I jump hop scotch.

My scar at this point can be barely seen - if you don't know it's there, you probably wouldn't notice. It is a pity that it has to be opened up again, but I do really want those screws out, I just hope that for the second time it will heal just as nicely as this time.

So that's it for now. All in all I don't feel sorry for a second that I had my PAO done. I am back to doing all I want to do, and I keep my fingers crossed that fracture heals and lefty will calm down and somehow fix itself. I know that the likelihood of the latter is very low, but hey, hoping never hurt, right?

1. Yesterday I slipped in my daughter's school and almost fell... Of course the leg I slipped with was my operated one and it was hurting :(
2. Like it wasn't enough, today I slipped again - wet floor in the supermarket this time - same leg, and it now hurts even more.
3. Left hip is starting to hurt... it wasn't like with the right, or maybe now I'm just listening to it differntly - it's definitely more subtle with the left. But I don't want the left PAO... Just want to be normal again.
4. Bought myself an exercise bar and there was a complimentary 4 week pass to a gym in the box that it came in. Decided that I don't care what the doc says, I'm going to the gym in July and going to use this pass to a maximum. 4 weeks of intense workouts to not think of anything else, that's what I need.
5. Still pretty blue and blah and nothing makes me happy. Bought myself a zen garden and zen music and loving it.

Everything will be allright, dammit.

I posted it on hipwomen but will post here as well since many of you don't have time to catch up with the group...
So, I received a letter of denial from my insurance company for the bone stimulator. Insurance, apparently, only covers fractures in long bones, and the one I have is in the short bone... Oops. Wrong bone! Why didn't they warn me? If they did, maybe I would have tried to get my fracture in a different one.

Stupid...
Now just waiting to see what happens - hoping the bone stimulator company + my doc would fight the insurance... Or I will get a huge unmanageable bill... and then will go from there.

I am sorry everyone who I didn't reply to - whether over email or on hipwomen or even here. I know I have to catch up with a lot. I'm just still trying to set my mind to it, tune into that mode of being caught up with my life - before I do that I have to want it, and I don't think I'm there yet.
Just thought I'd post a couple quick updates:

1. I am wearing a bone growth stimulator every day, 24 hours a day. Blah! Take it off only in the shower. It is pretty small, fits in my pocket or under my shirt/dress, so it's not really visible, which is good. I guess it's also good that I don't have personal life of any kind, otherwise it could have been embarrasing :) That's me trying to be positive. What else is left to do! Although I'm still not fully there, and avoiding communication is part of how I handle it - so sorry again for being out of touch.

2. I went hiking last Sunday! Was about a 2.5 hour hike, went up the 2,278 ft. North Pack Monadnock Mountain (almost to the top) and back, not much, maybe about 3+ miles, but felt great! The joint didn't hurt a bit - neigher during nor after the hike, which is really good.

3. I don't work out anymore :( I just have a feeling that I caused the fracture because I was working out so much, and I don't want to do anything until it heals.

4. Finally, I received statement from my insurance - the surgery cost was some 16,000 +. They covered every penny of it. Yay! However, this does not include anastesia, blood donations, PT, etc. etc. So still waiting for those to come. Another good thing is that I received a check from the hospital reimbursing 2 of my PT copays for this year. I called them and they said that for some reason insurance went ahead and covered the whole thing of my PT. So yay again and thank you Blue Cross.

That's about it - please don't be mad at me people, I'm still me and I'll be back to even better and improved me hopefully very soon!

AB

So I met with the bone stimulator company person today. She was very very nice, showed me how to use it, talked through everything and was very thorough. The one I got is called OrthoPak 2. It is a small, pager-looking thingy, with 2 electrodes attached to it. The electrodes get applied to both sides of the fracture to the skin. It is very light and I don't feel it, pretty much. BUT there are a few things that are a bummer to me... First, I have to wear it 24 hours a day - which means all the time. During the day I will have to put it in my pocket or wear on my waist. At night, I will just sleep next to it - it will beep if I turn in a way that would make it disconnect.

Another bummer is that I have to wear it for 2 months at least, which covers the majority of the warmest season I've been waiting for since the last summer was over :(

Also, because of the place where my fracture is, it gets a bit uncomfy since the wires get bothered every time I have to go to the bathroom (sorry if TMI, but thought it might be helpful for those who would need it in the future (hopefully nobody!)).

Finally, apparently I was warned that it might get denied by my insurance, because insurance covers those things only for long bones, and our hip/pelvic area is not something that they would take seriously. But I don't want to think about it until I get the actual denial.

Pretty much down to write more but I'll try to keep this blog updated when there is stuff to update it with.

OK, so today was my 17 weeks update, and it didn't go as well as I thought it would.

Overall I was feeling pretty well, strong, wearing heels, doing all the exercises, losing weight and stuff (lost 6 lbs which is not as big, but equals to 2 sizes, which is just what my goals was). My only complaint was some pain in the butt which I've heard happens a lot and was normal.

Anyway.
I saw Dr. Millis and Jaimee (PT), and had some X-Rays done. Apparently out of 4 cuts 3 healed and I don't need the screws anymore. However, the 4th cut wasn't healing, and went further and my bone ended up cracking, that explains the butt pain. It actually happened pretty recently (my last update 6 weeks ago everything was fine), and the butt pain started about 2 weeks ago so I guess that's when it happened.

The next steps would be to watch it. It might just heal on its own. If it doesn't and continues to bother me, another surgery on the right side would be required. But no big deal and everything can be fixed. Dr. Millis suggested getting a bone stimulator, which is some device that I'll have to wear when I sleep that is supposed to help the healing. So I'm going to get a call from the company that would give me the device. Fun stuff.

Dr. Millis said out of all the PAOs he'd done (hundreds???), he only saw it happen in 12 people (feels great to be the lucky 13). And out of those 12 only 4 needed that other surgery, others healed. So I just keep my fingers crossed, what else left?

Then I saw Jamiee, and she was impressed with my condition. Said I was very very strong, for my stage my abilities were very impressive. I wanted to make my exercises more challenging but Jamiee said there is really not much I can add to it, just continue building power and doing the normal stuff.

I have no restrictions and should let pain be my guide. Jamiee didn't want to call my butt thing a "crack", instead she called it a "stress fracture", and didn't look as concerned, just said I should take it as a normal thing, be happy with my success, take it a bit easy on the exercises and didn't recommend me to wear heels.

So that's my update. Really don't feel like rambling on it, just take it as is, keep my fingers crossed and hoping that it would heal and another surgery would not be needed. Blah.

Oh and the left side is fine so far, Dr. Millis said I shouldn't think about it until the right side is all fixed. And after it's fixed we might need an MRI just to see what the deal is. It is borderline - so not really dysplastic but not really perfect either.

And the screws will probably come out within the next 2 months.

OK, I was really bad and didn't update. Honestly, I just didn't have time!!! With all the exercises that I had to do every day (about 1.5 hours of my life), and work and stuff, no time for updating. So if anyone is reading me - SORRY!

So quick run-through:
- At 9.5 weeks I had another appointment with PT. She gave me a green light to no crutches, and so I ditched them pretty much right away.

- At 11 weeks (last week) I saw dr. Millis and he said everything was going fine, well, good. The bones are healing, healing slowly (which is how they are supposed to heal), no surprises. The screws will stay for another 6-8 months, he said. The left hip is still fine, so no rush there to do a LPAO. (Thankfully! Cause I don't want another PAO)!!!

- Exercise-wise I do 40 minutes of PT (pretty boring) and 30 minutes on the bike, resistance 4. I was doing speed intervals, when 1 minute is on high speed (high for me is 20 mph), and then 3 minutes on about 15 mph, and then again high, etc. Gets me pretty sweaty, but at this point I'm a little desperate because I don't feel like anything is happening. Don't feel like I'm getting stronger (as I used to feel with the first set of exercises), and don't feel like my sizes are going away. Grrrr. But don't want to give up. Yet. So doing it all on my autopilot.

- I was told no restrictions at this point, except for running and other high-impact things. So when I feel happy I dance at home :)

- I still walk like a duck. A more mature duck than I was 3 weeks ago, but still a duck.

- Was wearing heels at home and it felt OK. Like I was a duck on heels, pretty much. Maybe will practice a little more at home, and when I get less ducky will start wearing it out.

- Today went shopping. Mall first, then Trader Joe's, then Toys R Us, then Whole Foods, then Shaw's.... About 3 hours of walking and feel fine.

- Pretty much no pain, just little random things which might be simply getting older :) A little bit on the left, too, but I assume it's because there was too much pressure on it while the right was resting and recovering. The right only hurts after driving for a while, that's about it.

- Can't hug my right knee. That bothers me. OS said that the flexibility will be about 10 degrees less than it was before, and I'm not OK with that, but not sure what to do to get it back without breaking it. :(

- Everything's pretty much like I have to let go and deal with it, and I'm trying to hold on to the past which passed... That happened to me before. What can I do? That's just the way I am, may be.

I think that's about it for the update. Sorry again for being inconsistent...

I have completely missed the 6 week follow-up and I'm terribly sorry! Just don't have enough hours in a day.
This past week has been huge! I felt like I've made so much progress with everything!
Well, first of all, I almost feel no pain. Sometimes I feel pain when I turn in bed too fast. Other than that, I keep forgetting about my surgery... To the point that I once came into my daughter's room and she said: "Mommy, why are you without crutches?" Seriously, why? - thought I...

I can't do sports of course, but I can do all other things that normal person would do when hands and walking are not engaged simultaneously. I take a shower when standing up. I lift my legs up if I need to, say, wash them :) I can sleep in any position I want - side, belly, operated side, and my favorite - on the side with the top leg bent... you name it :) Operated side doesn't really hurt any more when I sleep on it.

Exercise-wise I was given a bunch of exercises that I was trying to do twice a day. I did knee extentions and as they were not challenging enough for me I put 2.5 lbs ancle weight on the leg. Bridges - lifting up with the cotton roll between the knees. Thigh stretch when laying on my belly. Flexing the hip when laying on my back. I added crunches since I wanted to work on my abs. The hardest one for me was putting leg to the side when laying on my back.

I also went on my bike and now I can do for 20 minutes with 1 resistance.

That was for the missed update.

Now, today :)
I had a PT appointment and was really hoping to get rid of one (or both) crutches.
Well, the first thing that PT said is that I have to stay on both crutches... I got really upset :( But she was saying that I have to stay on both crutches until I see dr. Millis again.

Then she checked my flexibility and how I do some of the exercises and said everything was going fine. I kept expressing how sorry I was to stay on the crutches and that I am not seeing dr. Millis for another month and it's really a long time to stay on 2 crutches for me... so she asked me to walk on both. Then she said I wasn't really putting much weight on them, asked to walk with one crutch and said it was the same story. So...
she let me use one crutch!!! I'm so excited! Yay!!!

Of course she said that I have to be careful and still use two crutches when the weather is bad or when I go long distance, but still! At least I can walk from room to room on one crutch and don't feel guilty about that!! And make myself coffee at work :)

And also today I gave myself a pedicure - and felt even more normal :)

I'll try to write about my new exercises next time - my next PT appointment is in 2 weeks, and I see dr. Millis in 2 weeks after that.

2 days ago was my follow-up appointment with Dr. Millis, and also my daughter's appointment with him.
First I want to say that thankfully, Angel is fine. Her dysplasia was treated when she was a baby, and for now Dr. Millis said she is fine. He suggested for her to do another X-ray in 3 years. I am really glad that he is now going to take her as a patient. Phew!

Now me.
Well, I had lots and lots of questions of course.
The first thing Dr. Millis said when he saw me was: "You can put more weight on your leg now". Then he brought me into a room and left me their with my family. Of course the first thing I did was to walk without crutches :) Well it didn't really work out, I was moving, but the operated leg was rather dragging than walking. But walking with one crutch was worse - I couldn't figure out which crutch I was supposed to use so I gave up and just waited.
Dr. Millis checked my strength, incision, X-rays - said that the healing was going well, my strength was fine, everything was basically fine... Yay! I was allowed to put 40% of body weight on the operated leg, and... NO RESTRICTIONS!! So I felt like a person right away :)

Here's the list of all the questions I had and Dr. Millis' answers to them (and also some comments from me):

- My right (operated) leg feels longer than the left one...
- It always does. It will go away. It might be a little longer, but only a little so you shouldn't feel it.

- What's that weird bumpy-looking thingy at the top of my incision?
- That's a stitch that dissolving. It will disappear.

- I had burning in my stomach - could it be from drugs.
- Yes - more likely it's just acid.

- What's the joint pain I've been feeling, similar to pre-op pain?
Dr. Millis asked me to describe the pain, then said that more likely it's normal but I should pay attention to it and update him if it changes or gets worse.

- Back pain...
- Happens, should mention it to PT and exercise back, too.

- Should I do PT?
- No, home exercises only.

- I gained weight...
- Well, I guess you didn't lose your appetite after surgery...
I've actually only gained 4 lbs after PAO, and 5 lbs pre-PAO, I thought I gained more (at least it feels it since I can't put my clothes on anymore). So I'm hoping I'll lose it eventually (I could lose weight lbs after child birth, I think I can handle this).

Then I went to see PT and got a list of hope exercises which I thought were decent. Now I'm looking to buy a stationary bike. Craigslist is silent :( Well, I'll keep looking...

A few more updates.
I was allowed to drive. So of course the first thing I did when I came back from the appointment was driving. Apparently, the hip is not involved in driving (what else new), so I didn't feel any difference from what it was before the op. The next day after my appointment I went to work at the office! And it feels great to be closer to a normal human being!!

I was told NO restrictions in bending and sleeping positions. The restrictions were mostly for my comfort. So I tried sleeping on my belly and it felt great! The left side still pulls - dr. Millis suggested putting more pillows between my legs, this somewhat helps, but still not to the extent of feeling completely fine. I also tried the right (operated) side... And it felt like... well, like I was laying on a bunch of metal screws. Here's a surprise! :)
I also ditched the toilet seat.

I'm getting dressed by myself.

The toughest exercise for me is bringing my operated leg to the side when laying down, and bringing it back (the latter is the harder).

Overall I feel much much better emotionally, I guess I needed that reassurance, and in the end it all is not as bad at all (so far, I know).

Dr. Millis also said that left PAO is "still a possibility", but he didn't talk much about it. Maybe he wants the right one to heal first?


Anyways, I will see PT in 2 weeks for possible evaluation to lose one crutch, and then in another 2 weeks I will see Dr. Millis again.
That's it for now! Good night! :)

And Happy New Year to all the hipsters who are reading my blog!!

So I'm almost at 5 weeks post-op. I can't wait until my appointment next week. I wish I had appointments more often as sometimes I need reassurance that everything is going well. 5 weeks seems so long - so many of hipsters I know had their post-ops earler... Oh well - I knew what I was up to with all the holidays and things like that.

Of course I want to drop the crutches (although I know I'm not ready for it, the gut feeling says I have to stay on them for some more time). I desperately want to drive again. I want to be allowed to bend so that I wouldn't feel guilty when I shave or put my socks on or sit or curl in bed. I want to be able to sleep on my belly. I still can't really sleep on my non-op side - the operated hip hurts. I keep trying and laying on the non-op side for a while, then turning back on my back (the turning itself is not fun). I think yesterday was the first time when I managed to fall asleep on my side and slept for a couple hours. Yay!

The incision heals up nicely, I put a cocoa butter + vitamin E scar serum on it and massage it. Although I know it will get opened again for screw removal, I still want it to disappear.

I am still not using any pain meds, any meds at all in fact. My stomach doesn't like the meds, and I'm not a big med fan anyway. So the med verdict is:
I never filled the prescription for Valium = only took it once while at the hospital.
I was taking Oxicontent in the morning and before bedtime for 5 days after I came back from the hospital.
Oxycodone 5 mg - when I came back from the hospital I was taking 2 pills before bedtime, one every 4 hours during the day. After 2 weeks went back to 3 times a day and one pill at night.
At 3 weeks I stopped them, and stopped Aspirin as well.
So now I am only taking some food supplement with iron and basic vitamin-like stuff :)

I don't like the screws, they are sticking out and bothersome. However, there are times when I forget about my hip issue. One of these times I was so into it that I forgot about the crutches and stepped right on my op leg. Hmmm... The leg is obviously not strong because I went right down and almost fell but kept the balance in the end. I want to be stronger!
I can now do all the home exercises that I was given without help. The exercises are - putting my leg up while bent to 80 degrees; rolling leg 10 degrees in and out and bringing let out to the side and in 10 degrees (this last one is the harderst). I have been also doing abs work since I got... erm... quite a belly.

Which brings me to my next and biggest issue - I am about to remove all the mirrors in the house - I got so big! Gained a couple inches in my waist and hips. I think I was that big last time 6 years ago, right after giving birth to Angel. Needless to say none of my jeans and pants fit. Well, almost none, I had a few pairs that were loose, and now they are tight. Althought they fit, I can't wear them since they bother the screws. Ouch. This is really terrible. How will I lose this if in the prespective (no movement and my mom's cooking) it looks like I will be gaining more. :( Bad, bad.

My biggest wishes now are:
- A power workout. Or a class of step, zumba, dance, or gentle yoga.
- A nice spa pedicure. My toes and feet look like they need some TLC.
- A hot tub with bubbles.

Dreams, dreams...