Hi guys,
I know this section is for post-op emotional issues, but I wasn't sure where else to post this. Please feel free to move to a more appropriate area :)
This could be long winded, so please bear with me...
I've been in pain for a little over 2 years. At first the pain was bearable... pop a couple of painkillers and i'd be fine to get on with my activities. However since recieving 2 lots of pain injections and an arthroscopy in my left hip, there are days where I can barely move without breaking down in sobs because of the stabbing, catching pain in my groin.
I used to be a very active, sociable young woman in her late twenties. I ballroom danced 3 times a week, swam and attended the gym regularly, was learning to drive, went dancing with my friends etc... I've had to stop all of it due to the constant pain.
I've become somewhat of a hermit in my home through no fault of my own. I literally go to work and come home to lay on my bed as that's all I can manage. Even bending down to put on my socks and shoes is so painful. So hard to believe that I was dancing the Jive about 18 months ago :(
As you can manage i've sunk into depression. Crying myself to sleep most nights as I can't believe i'm living like this. I've been passed on by 2 surgeons already saying i'm a lost cause and none of their words did much to help reassure my mental state.
My final hope is seeing Mr Treacy on 19th October. I'm really hoping he can help where others have failed.
I'm not sure why i'm writing this. I guess it just helps getting it out there, rather than having it in my head!
Thanks for reading.
Hi Ruby,
I'm so sorry to hear that you are having such a tough time. Sure hope the Mr. Treacy can help fix the hip so that your pain goes away and you can get back to an active life. Nothing more depressing that not being able to do the things that you love and want to do.
Do you have a group of people nearby or family who can provide emotional support? I was very upset when my hip feel completely apart on me and went to a person who was skilled at counseling and helping me cope and getting ready for surgery. My friends were good too but they didn't understand as they are all fit and able to do whatever they please.
There are a lot of supportive people on this site. Please keep posting.
Luanna
Ruby
You have come to the right place for some moral support and understanding. We all know the pain of hip problems and how it stops our active lives. It is easy to become depressed when we can't be the people we want to be. When you can only sit instead of dancing, walking, riding a bike, skiing, skating, playing tennis, golf, etc etc. It is tough.
No one is beyond help for their hips. The problem as you found out is to get one of the best surgeons in the UK to help you. Reguardless of the solution being a resurfacing, a THR or even a hip fusion - a top surgeon can help you. Mr. Treacy is one of them. Hopefully, it will happen soon. Mr. McMinn is also one of the top surgeons in the UK. You can also turn to him. Dr. De Smet of Belgium will give you a free email consultation if you write to him with your story and a copy of your x-rays in a digital format.
I had to use my credit cards to go to Dr. De Smet in Belgium in 2006 for my resurfacing. I could have received an old fashioned THR here free, but knew I wanted to be active again without restrictions. So I spent $18,000 to get to Belgium. Since then I have learned what miracles these top surgeons can perform. There will be a solution.
Pleae continue to post and keep in touch. We all look forward to the time you tell us what can be done for you. We will read your posts and keep our fingers crossed for you. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Pat
Ruby,
If you really are suffering from depression, make an appointment with a mental health care professional. The folks on this website can give you lots of information, personal stories and emotional support but that is no substitute for what a mental health care professional can do for you. Don't try to tough it out alone. You need your sleep and a normal life while you get through this process.
Boomer
Yes. I totally agree with Boomer. I was very distraught and getting help from professional counselors and even a psychiatrist really helped. It doesn't mean that you are weak or lacking in character if you seek professonial help during this difficult time.
Take care and keep posting.
Luanna
Thank you everyone. Your words are so kind :)
I actually start seeing a counsellor this Tuesday, so i'm hoping that the very least I can learn some coping techniques until the worst passes.
Ruby,
Things will change when you get that hip fixed, it's very disturbing to go from being very active to becoming a hermit. Nobody around you probably understands what you're going through, but most of us around this forum have a good idea.
What's positive is that you are talking about it, albeit on an Internet forum.
Chuck
Ruby, resurfacing is where you get your life back. You can think of it as an opportunity. A well placed resurfaced hip - especially if done by a renowned surgeon like Mr. Treacy - should feel better and more responsive than a natural hip. I am sure you will be ballroom dancing again, and would like to see pictures too.
D.
Hi Ruby,
Checking in to see how you are doing. How did your counseling session go? Hope today is a reasonably good day for you.
Luanna
Hi Luanna,
Thank you for asking :)
I've yet to go to my counselling. It's in an hour. I think it'll be good just to vent about things...
Pain wise today has been awful.... i've lost count at the amount of pain killers i've had to take, still I see Mr Treacy tomorrow morning ;D
Ruby,
Just seen that your appointment is tomorrow! Good luck for that! I'm sure it will end with a good out come for you.
I know how you feel I'm roughly the same age as your self and this has ruined my life.
How ever there's an end in sight for me.
If you want please feel free to Pm me I'm a good listener.
Atb Danny
Rube - I feel for you. I think I had been in a similar but not as extreme place as you and I think being the type to want to fix stuff, I focused on gettting a treatment. That kept me busy, which is a good thing your mental state. In a few months after being diagnosed with OA, I decided that HR was the remedy and spoke to a few surgeons and then finally set a surgery date after I had enough. It might be a faster process in the US with regards to insurance. So I'm probabaly not helping much, but I think if you can try remember that this is a holding pattern until you get surgery then maybe that will help you. I've read great things about Treacy, no doubt someday soon you'll be on the road to recovery. Actually, you already are, by seeing someone about you mental state, by posting here, and by seeing one of the best surgeons in the world. Hang in there.
Hi Ruby,
I sincerely hope you get some answers at your appointment and hopefully there will be an end to the pain for you.
((((((gentle hugs)))))))
Please keep us updated.
x
Ruby,
I hope your appointments went well. Sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. Glad to see you are getting some help for it.
Not sure if it helps but there are a lot of people like you on this site in very similar circumstances. Even better is that there are even more on this site that used to be where you are at and have since gotten a procedure that made their lives much, much better. Hang in there. There is hope, I promise.
Thank you all for the lovely, kind replies.
For those who haven't read my other post, details of what happened at my appointment are here...
http://surfacehippy.info/hiptalk/index.php?topic=2823.0
Hi Ruby,
Oh! You are so normal!!! You need to know many, if not all of us, went through this to some degree. I remember crying, not sleeping at night, extreme depression. I used to make my living as an athlete! Before my sx, I could barely walk more than 100 feet! I took 13 Advil a day "boosted" it with half a Vicoden per "serving"! It was scary. Now I don't even think about my hip anymore. I am loving life again! Your depression is only human. I am so glad you are getting help. Get the ball rolling with your HR or THR Dr and get your life and love of life back! Good Luck!!! Please continue to let us know how things are going! Lu
Thanks Lu :)
I've been in this pain for over 2 years, although it seems I still have a way to go to get pain free. So hard to keep upbeat.
Hi ruby, as everyone mentions, there is nothing wrong with being down because your life has become painful and limited. The good thing that you can take heart from is that you're taking positive steps, dealing with excellent doctors and are addressing your problem. You'll learn about what is causing your pain, then have a plan for dealing with it. It doesn't lessen the pain, but maybe if you have a strategy for it, it will help with the emotional pressure.
I think the part that we recognize, even though those around us may not, is how emotionally draining pain can be. Along with the pain is the perception of losing control over life; well, now you are taking steps to take that control back.
I was in pain for a good five years and I can tell you there were many times I felt hopeless, but a large part of that was that I could not for the life of me figure out what was wrong. The HR came as a relief, even before the procedure, since I felt there would be an end to this.
You're doing good things, be kind to yourself and let your you and your hip team figure out what's up.
Ruby,
As so many other posters have already said, we've all been in a similar state to where you are. We've all cried, begged for a miracle to make the pain go away, used pain killers to get through one day at a time. Eventually, we find someone (family, friends, psychiatrist) to help with the mental distress, and then we get someone to help with the physical problem. It just takes a long time to get everything in order.
I couldn't get up the stairs on Sunday, and told my wife I didn't think I could make it to my surgery date of Novermber 30th. Not a pretty sight. She talked me through it, as she has done so many times when I think I am losing my mind. Stay close to those who love you, and let them help you through. Stay posted and let us help you as well. We're all in this together. We share good and bad stories every day.
Feel better.
Boomer
Things have taken a slightly bad turn.
This past Friday, I fell down about 5 stairs, landing flat on my tail bone, aggrivating my already sore left hip.
After being taken to hospital, and re-xrayed, i've stretched a joint between the tailbone and hip :( Not much they can do for it, other than refer me for some physiotherapy which I start today.
These things are set to try us...
Hi Ruby, sorry to hear about the slip and fall. I know that must feel like a huge setback at this point. We all have low points that kinda show us we have to get things taken care of. You've been dealing with yours for two years. Use the opportunity for getting your hip fixed, and the steps that lie ahead to achieve that like a lighthouse. Urging you on, not in pain and frustration, but in the hope that things can and will be better once the right person is finally helping you. Keep the faith, and know that lots of desperate and hopeless hip cases are here and can keep you focused on the "prize" of putting all that pain behind you. Best of luck, I'm pullin' for ya. Curt
Ruby
I am so sorry to hear about your fall. I know you will get support and PT. Please try to think about how your life will be after getting over this fall and getting your hip taken care of. I understand how you feel. I fell and broke my foot 3 years ago. The pain was terrible and I had to keep in a cast boot for 12 weeks because I was older and the bones in your feet heal more slowly when you are older. I felt like I was in prison and unable to do anything. The doctors said it would heal and I would walk OK again, but it was hard to believe them - yet I did recover and never know I broke my foot.
A year after that recovery, I found out I had to have a new aortic valve by open heart surgery. It came on fast and if I did not have the surgery, I was given 6 months to several years to live. I once again, could not do anything. I could not even walk from my living room chair to the kitchen without being out of breath and tired. I faced open heart surgery alone since my ex of 34 years left me to marry my best friend. Life looked pretty bad at the point. My friends came thru for me and ONCE AGAIN, I had surgery with a very slow recovery. I could not even lift my hand to feed myself because I was so week for a couple weeks. I could hardly walk, but slowly, I recovered and have a great active life again. I tell you my story, not for pity, but to explain that somehow we all manage to get thru all these curves life throws us. The uphill climb to recovery looks very far away and impossible - but somehow, someway - we recover. The recovery makes you a stronger person and really makes you realize how important each and every day is.
I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. I know you too, will climb each mountain and eventually be back to a life without hip and back problems. Sometimes, we just have to be patient and be positive no matter what we face.
Pat
(http://www.apoetscorner.com/poems/spiritual/sometimeswefeelalone.jpg)
Ruby, I suffered some severe depression after my first HR. I got help and felt better within weeks. There are so many unknowns, talk to someone about it. Also see a psychiatrist. Thery might recommend some meds tp help. I had to try three before I found one that worked for me. I used to sit and stare at my computer or just lay in bed. I slept a lot. they were not concerned too much about the sleeping. they said that is a natural reaction to major surgery - your body wants to rest. My gloomy outlook and depression is what they helped me through. Everything is surely not coming up roses but I have a different way of dealing with the setback from surgery, the pain from my un-operated hip and the loss of running.
I got help and it made all the difference.
Hip
Quote from: hipnhop on December 18, 2011, 11:27:40 AM
Ruby, I suffered some severe depression after my first HR. I got help and felt better within weeks. There are so many unknowns, talk to someone about it. Also see a psychiatrist. Thery might recommend some meds tp help. I had to try three before I found one that worked for me. I used to sit and stare at my computer or just lay in bed. I slept a lot. they were not concerned too much about the sleeping. they said that is a natural reaction to major surgery - your body wants to rest. My gloomy outlook and depression is what they helped me through. Everything is surely not coming up roses but I have a different way of dealing with the setback from surgery, the pain from my un-operated hip and the loss of running.
I got help and it made all the difference.
Hip
Hi Hip,
I have good days and bad days. On my days it effects everything... how I percieve myself mainly. I feel half a woman, not desireable etc. It effects my relationship with my partner who I seem to whinge and moan on to about how unattractive I feel when he has his own set of problems.
It's fast becomming more than just a hip issue now.
Hi Ruby,
Good to see you posting. I am a firm believer in not letting the moods take over if you can muster it. I see a psychiatrist right now who is a huge help. He deals with people recovering and going through major health events. I started heading into the dolrums and took action. Luckily my insurance covers most of it.
Is there a professional in your area who can help you deal with and manage the stress of what you are going through?
Best wishes,
Luanna
I've not posted in here for awhile.
I consider myself to be worse mentally than I was when I last posted. My relationship ended back in January, and he told me that whenever I talk about my hip it makes him feel guilty :(
I lost, what I thought, was a good friend due to my sadness about it all. He said my misery makes him sad and he just cannot cope with it or me. I feel like i'm losing everything that is important to me... all because of a hip.
Hi ruby, sorry you're having to deal with this, you are right to feel badly that all of that happened.
It is hard to find that someone you care about can't go the full distance with you, but your pain is real and undeniable. I was also depressed when dealing with the untreated hip pain. I have read your posts, and know that you're in a kind of limbo right now, since you are not quite there for an HR and you've had an arthroscopy that didn't help.
People who have not had serious hip pain have NO idea of what it's like. No matter your intent to not let it rule you, your hip will make you pay attention. I have a hard time seeing how talking about your hip makes someone else feel guilty - in a relationship, you need to share the downs as well as the ups. I think the truth is what he mentioned - he just can't cope with your needs when you are in pain. That's truth, not the other things he mentioned. Sorry that turned out to be the case.
Is the next step for you an MRI? Hope you're still talking to a counselor about all of this.
Chin up Ruby. Things will get better. I have hip Dysplasia too .... If you want to chat then feel free to PM me x
Thank you Anna - I often go through really bad patches like this. I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes it doesn't give me a choice.
And thank you too, Hern. With regards to the relationship, he has a lot of emotional, difficult issues himself and I think my problems just added on to what already was a full plate. My next step with the hip plan is a CT scan to assess my cartilage damage, i'm just awaiting an appointment for that now. I was seeing a counsellor, but it just got too expensive :( £35 a week on top of paying for chiropratic treatment was just too much....
Oh Ruby I wish I could help you! Did Mr Treacy say that if in the future your joint space deteriorated anymore that he could do you a hr?
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on June 01, 2012, 06:01:35 PM
Oh Ruby I wish I could help you! Did Mr Treacy say that if in the future your joint space deteriorated anymore that he could do you a hr?
Mr Bache told me my hips future is a replacement no matter what they do, my joint space will deteriorate without question. I asked Mr Treacy the same question and he said if a patient comes to him in THAT much pain and everything else had been tried and failed, it leaves him no option but to perform surgery, but in someone as young as me (31) and with not enough OA yet he wouldn't want to do that on me at this stage. It's all about preserving my natural hip for as long as physically possible.
I just can't imagine being stuck with this sort of life for years until the OA warrants surgery. I barely have a life now. I feel the next stage is a wheelchair :( I know that sounds dramatic, but I need help getting dressed, climbing and descending stairs, getting in and out of a car.. I just about get in and out of the bath but that's only because i'm way too stubborn to let that bit of my dignity go.
Oh ruby I really wish I could help you!
Oh Ruby, I'm so sorry. I'm with you every step right now, my MRI said the same thing, not enough for surgical intervention. Perhaps if you get the CT and then go back to Mr Treacy and tell him what you have posted here? Surely humanity will prevail. Xxxx
I have told them what my quality of life is like now. I think that could be why they're looking at other alternatives rather than just sending me on my way, but if the CT scan doesn't show anything, i'm not opposed to begging for help lol. ;D
I've sat in front of Mr Treacy, sobbing because i'd just had enough of the pain. Bless him, he didn't bat an eyelid, just listened, asked loads of questions and said he'd try to think of another option for me.
I would think that an X-ray could miss a few things. It would show spacing, but may not identify other issues. Did the Doctor discuss the differences between using a CT scan versus an MRI for diagnosis? I don't know much about the imaging technologies, just wondering whether that question came up.
All Mr Bache had to go on was my current set of xrays and an MRI report (no images, as my old hospital forget to send them ::)) I now have copies of those on disc ready to give to Mr Bache on my next appointment with him where hopefully with my CT results and these MRI images he can have a better idea of what he is dealing with.
Hopefully with your new hip portfolio you'll get some help Ruby! ;) you never know with all the imaging they might be able to see more. Have my fingers crossed for you. Xxx
Yeah, agreed. New Hip Portfolio, maybe there'll be a nugget of info for the doc and you'll be on your way. Wishing the best for you.
Thanks everyone for their support! It really helps knowing there are people who can truly understand the pain that goes with hip problems. My family and friends try their best, but I think they really struggle to fully grasp just how desperate you can feel at times.
I read something today that baffled me. I work for an NHS hospital dealing with Orthopaedic patients so I read a lot about the different conditions people go through. There was a gentleman today, in his 60's who's been diagnosed with severe OA, and yet he says he has virtually no pain - in fact he's just come back from a walking holiday through the Pyramids in Egypt!! Yet, here's me... with next to no OA and I can barely put one foot infront of the other on a good day! Good on the guy to be honest, but I couldn't help but feel ever so slightly envious.
Ruby its amazing what the human body can grow used to. I had pretty bad OA i was bone on bone but i had virtually no pain or so i though. It was only when i was reasonably well recovered that i realised how much pain i had been in but had just subconsiously blocked out.
When is it you see your Consultant again?
Danny
You must be right Danny. I often wondered just how that must feel to be 'bone on bone' I'll find out one day if I don't get fixed now, but i'd rather not get to that stage if I can possibly help it.
I don't have a date set to see Mr Bache, I haven't even got my CT scan date through. The ROH are pretty quick with appointments I've found though so hopefully shouldn't be waiting too long.
Something Mr Bache said that's been playing on my mind. The surgery that's open to me, cartilage depending, is the periacetabular osteotomy and he said he's performed over 100 of these. Mr Treacy mentioned a Mr O'Hara in my last appointment with him, and upon doing some research it appears he's a bit of a master in this surgery and in Dysplasia. I'm not doubting Mr Bache's credentials, but i'm wondering if Mr O'Hara would be a better judge of my cartilage and whether or not i'd be a candidate - especially since Mr Treacy mentioned him specifically for me. I was only meant to be seeing Mr Bache to find out the possibility for a arthroscopy.
I must admit when i was researching surgeons in the UK i didnt come accross Mr Bache. I did come accross Mr O'Hara but then i was looking specifically for HR surgeons. The NHS can be problematic at the best of times from my experience The ROH is a centre of excellence tho so im sure you are in good hands.
Danny
It was Mr Treacy to referred me to Mr Bache for a possible arthroscopy, and whom am I to doubt Mr Treacy! It's just so confusing and ultimately you want the best for yourself.
Im sure Mr Treacy wouldnt reffer you to someone who was not an excellent surgeon. I know what you mean. We all want to be seen by the best in the world.
Maybe this will help you
From hip universe
Hip U.: “Can you give us some guidelines about what size caseload would constitute solid experience in PAO--that is, how many cases per year?â€
Dr. Ganz: “Solid experience in indicating [identifying] and executing PAO needs about 25 cases per year.â€
Sincerely,
R.Ganz
7 Feb 2006
So with over 100 he should be pretty proficient at it then.
Thank you all!
I got my CT scan tomorrow! What a quick turnaround. I cannot fault the ROH for their waiting times, they have been exceptional.
I explained to Mr Bache's secretary that I'm travelling from Essex and wondered if Mr Bache was in clinic tomorrow, perhaps I could see him with the result to save me travelling up again in a week or so. He's not in apparently, so he will write to me with the results and I guess go from there.
Good luck im thinking about you! ;)
Great luck, ruby - things will shake out well.
Good luck Michelle,
I hope everything goes well. Please let us know the outcome. Maybe we can book into the ROH at the same time for our PAO'S and have a party in the ward ;D
x x x
Well that wasn't the most pleasant experience I've ever had!
The actual CT scan was a breeze, however having the dye injected into my joint space wasn't!! It's all over with, but i'm not off work with pain, pins and needles and loosing feeling in my left leg!!
Oh the joys of dysplasia.
Ruby I know what you mean about the intra articular injection! I had to have and adthrogram before my scope and having 25ml of dye injected into my hip was not just uncomfortable it was horrific!!! Glad that's I've for you now though!
Danny
Quote from: rubyred on June 14, 2012, 06:45:45 AM
Well that wasn't the most pleasant experience I've ever had!
The actual CT scan was a breeze, however having the dye injected into my joint space wasn't!! It's all over with, but i'm not off work with pain, pins and needles and loosing feeling in my left leg!!
Oh the joys of dysplasia.
Oh, you poor thing. I had a 'contrast dye' MRI done well before my surgery. The Dr injecting it started out very confident then starts complaining that I have no joint space to insert the needle to my hip joint (no kidding!). I was literally laying on the table screaming f'bombs at him and the nurse.
Weird thing was that there was some sort of pain killer in the injection that took effect after the dye went in. I was hip pain free for 12 hours. It was really weird at the time.
Take care Ruby... :) you have a lot of support here!
-Bernie
It was completely horrific!
He kept fiddling with the needle, moving it around and kept apologising... all the while I'm laying there praying for the local anaesthetic to kick in!
I didn't think my hip could feel any worse. Back on the crutches today :(
Yes hopefully non of us will ever have to go through that again! Fingers crossed for you ruby xx
Thanks guys. Some would say the hard part is now.... waiting for the results x
Hey ruby... sorry you had to go through that. My daughter had several of those injections for a benign brain tumor when she was young, so I empathize.
Waiting for any results is difficult, I guess my take on this is that this will give you more direction than you have now, and the ability to call the shots better. Sounds like a really good forward step, despite the pain you had to go through.
Quote from: hernanu on June 14, 2012, 01:21:15 PM
Hey ruby... sorry you had to go through that. My daughter had several of those injections for a benign brain tumor when she was young, so I empathize.
Waiting for any results is difficult, I guess my take on this is that this will give you more direction than you have now, and the ability to call the shots better. Sounds like a really good forward step, despite the pain you had to go through.
Hi Hern,
So sorry to hear of what your daughter had to endure. Hope she's well now.
I think you're right. Knowledge is power so they say, and we'll all have a better idea of what we're dealing with when the results come in. Hopefully it shouldn't be too long. Like Anna said, lets book in at the ROH together and have a PAO party on the ward ;D
Oh my god. This sounds horiffic!! I want to cry! It scares me to think I may have to have this done too as I always seem one step behind you :'(
Hope you are feeling better now though! Cant wait for the party. The ROH wont know whats hit it ;D
You might not need to, Anna. You're under a different surgeon to me and Mr O'Hara might be able to see all he needs to on your xrays/MRI scans. My local hospital ballsed up but not sending the ROH the full MRI (only the report, not the images) so Mr Bache only had an Xray and a note stating what the Radiologist saw to go on - no actual shots of the cartilage.
The NHS has a funny tendency for screwing up! They totally lost my origional x rays from when i first had symptoms with my hip
Oh Ruby, torture by barbaric NHS. Feel for you. Hope the pain is subsiding xxxx
Ruby,
I know what you went through with the dye injection. The dr kept trying to get the fluid into the joint space and the pressure was horrid. I thought I would jump off the table. he finally stopped before he could inject the whole amount and said he "got enough " in to proceed to MRI. I had to walk down the hall in all that pain. Then the stupid MRI tech said I did not need to remove my pants, just let them bunch at my feet for the whole time I was in the machine. It was degrading and so uncomfortable.
I did not get any pain relief from the injection. In fact my pain went up, my hip started popping( never did that before) and my rom went down after the arthrogram injection.
The good news was the MRI finally proved the damage to my hip that some of my ortho doctors would not acknowledge from just X-rays. I had a large labral tear, cysts and cartilage damage. I had proof that my hip was damaged and my Local ortho still did not want to talk surgery.
Thank God for my PT. She new about dr. Gross and referred me to him. He saw mild dysplasia, severe oa and recommended HR just from the X-rays. It is so good to have an experienced dr. and the information on this site to help. Have you visited hipchicks online? Many of them have had poa's for dysplasia.
Praying that you get answers and relief soon.
_________________________________
Right HR with Dr. Gross. 5-23-12
Quote from: Dee Dee on June 15, 2012, 10:06:41 AM
Ruby,
I know what you went through with the dye injection. The dr kept trying to get the fluid into the joint space and the pressure was horrid. I thought I would jump off the table. he finally stopped before he could inject the whole amount and said he "got enough " in to proceed to MRI. I had to walk down the hall in all that pain. Then the stupid MRI tech said I did not need to remove my pants, just let them bunch at my feet for the whole time I was in the machine. It was degrading and so uncomfortable.
I did not get any pain relief from the injection. In fact my pain went up, my hip started popping( never did that before) and my rom went down after the arthrogram injection.
The good news was the MRI finally proved the damage to my hip that some of my ortho doctors would not acknowledge from just X-rays. I had a large labral tear, cysts and cartilage damage. I had proof that my hip was damaged and my Local ortho still did not want to talk surgery.
Thank God for my PT. She new about dr. Gross and referred me to him. He saw mild dysplasia, severe oa and recommended HR just from the X-rays. It is so good to have an experienced dr. and the information on this site to help. Have you visited hipchicks online? Many of them have had poa's for dysplasia.
Praying that you get answers and relief soon.
_________________________________
Right HR with Dr. Gross. 5-23-12
My hip has always 'clicked' for as long as I can remember, but now it 'pops' too and following the pop I get a surge of pain radiating from my groin down my thigh. Horrendous. I too had to hobble from one room to another, but the worst bit was trying to get off the bed to begin with! Thank the lord for the nurse that was there to hold me up.
I know for sure I have cysts, damaged cartilage and perhaps another tear, Mr Treacy diagnosed that, but my OA is just not severe enough yet :(
Having a rough few days. Emotionally and physically.
My GP put me on Zopiclone sleeping pills about 6 weeks ago as I've been unable to sleep naturally due to hip pain. I literally was only getting 2-4 hrs a night if I was fortunate. The Zopiclone have been wonderful for night rest... but it's come at a price :( Anxiety, paranoia, restlessness during the day and sometimes I feel 'hung over' during the day also.
Anyway, all the extra anxiety and paranoia has ruined the nice friendship I had going with my ex. He has his own stresses too and simply cannot handle mine. I have been over texting, analysing him etc :( Trouble was I was never like that before.... the pills have sent me crazy. Now, he won't talk to me and has no knowledge that it wasn't technically 'me' doing these things.
And now, my hip has just given way on the stairs... I fell down about 4 or 5 of them and just sobbed there, not bothering to get up.
Seriously, they wouldn't leave a dog in this much pain, let alone a human being.
am thinking of you Ruby, you are right, this is barbaric. Hang on to the certain knowledge that you will get treatment. You might just need to see a Dysplasia specialist. Johann Witt and Marcus Bankes both do NHS treatments in London. You cannot go on like this, so you need some help and your GP is the person to take this on. you can choose and book to see these guys - especially as you have a specialist condition. Even if it is just a second opinion. I know what you mean about the hangover, too many pills really do damage what is going on in our heads. Try and focus not on your relationship but on healing yourself, on being kind to yourself and getting you the right support and help. Has anyone sent you to a pain clinic? am sending you lots of love and hugs, hang in there poppet... it will will will get better. try and find something good to do for yourself every day. Have you tried wheat bags draped on your hips? the warmth can sometimes help me. Also, using a cushion at the back of a seat to increase the angle beyond 90* allows me extra time sitting. xxxx
Quote from: Spanielsal on June 17, 2012, 03:33:56 PM
am thinking of you Ruby, you are right, this is barbaric. Hang on to the certain knowledge that you will get treatment. You might just need to see a Dysplasia specialist. Johann Witt and Marcus Bankes both do NHS treatments in London. You cannot go on like this, so you need some help and your GP is the person to take this on. you can choose and book to see these guys - especially as you have a specialist condition. Even if it is just a second opinion. I know what you mean about the hangover, too many pills really do damage what is going on in our heads. Try and focus not on your relationship but on healing yourself, on being kind to yourself and getting you the right support and help. Has anyone sent you to a pain clinic? am sending you lots of love and hugs, hang in there poppet... it will will will get better. try and find something good to do for yourself every day. Have you tried wheat bags draped on your hips? the warmth can sometimes help me. Also, using a cushion at the back of a seat to increase the angle beyond 90* allows me extra time sitting. xxxx
Hi Sal,
I find that laying or sitting on my bed, with a pillow under my left buttock helps some whilst i'm watching TV or whatever, plus ice on my hip joint works for a time.
I'm going to wait until I have Mr Bache's opinion following the CT scan and see what he says. If he says no to a PAO then I have spoken with Mr O Hara's private secretary and she told me that if he cannot perform a PAO for whatever reason then he'll perform a HR or a THR. Maybe there's hope yet...
I'll keep it all crossed for you! x
“When the world says, “Give up,†Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.†â€" Anonymous
Ruby, here's hoping that one of these turns out well for you. If its an HR, I can vouch for its efficacy, so as many good wishes as possible from me to you. Keep at it, I feel things will come good for you.
I thought I'd add to my old thread here, rather than open a new one.
I know what i'm about to say will sound awful. I really do not mean it to, but I cannot help how i'm feeling either. My mood has been incredibly low for about 3 weeks now. I was feeling so positive for about a week before and after surgery, so happy and excited for my new life that was about to start, but as I began to realise just how long of a journey this was going to be and as good as BHR's are, they are not an instant fix. The pain of my recovery so far has been up there, on a few occasions, with how I was pre-op... sometimes surpassing it.
There has been a few times where I will just sit in my shower and sob because of the lack of independence and dignity. Having to have my mother help me in and out of the shower tub, help me in and out of bed, putting my underwear on :'( This may sound all so trivial, and perhaps it is in the grand scheme of things, but for me this is how I was before I had surgery and I was naive to think it would be different straight away.
I long to have my life back. I'm dying to get back to work. To see people and be sociable. Most of my family haven't bothered to come and see me and that has really upset me. I know there are many people who haven't even had surgery and are in pain and I know how lucky I am, that's why I feel bad for feeling as blue as I am :(
Hi Ruby
I'm sorry you feel so low. Nothing that you've said is trivial though, they are real issues because they are affecting you and bringing you down.
If I had gone through my early recovery without the help of my wife and son, I'm certain I'd feel the same.
Having someone to lean on is a great thing.
I've only had odd days of pain that were anything like pre-op pain so to have the level of pain you describe would get to anyone, Ruby.
Are you still on the codeine painkillers? If not, can you get another weeks supply and see how that goes?
If you think the pain is too much, get back in touch with Mr T's team and see what they say about it, I would.
Also, not long to the 6 week follow up so you'll be x-rayed and can talk to the main man.
Stay positive Ruby-you've been resurfaced by one of the best surgeons in the world.
Hi Ruby
Post surgery is an emotional time generally. You've been through a lot. I think that we probably make allowances for ourself in the first few weeks but expect to see wonders by about this point post op. I get a bit frustrated as well when I have a setback or experience pain that was not there yesterday. Being at home and recovering means that the world has shrunk a bit so problems can appear magnified beause there is less there to distract you.
Don't feel bad about still needing help - it is early days -better to have the help and recover properly in the long run. Not long until your post op appointment and I'm sure that the re-assurance you get there will lift you as well as the support you get from your friends here.
Ka
Hey Ruby
I'm so sorry you are feeling so blue. You need to get your dignity back for sure, that will help. Practially, i hope this mad description will hlp: Dressing is still tricky for me but I've found that I can get a sock on by resting my op side foot behind me (bent at the knee and I'm facing away from the bed) with the foot resting on the bed, I can get the sock over my toes. Then I can twist the other way with the foot still bent up towards my bum, and pull it up. I do the same sort of manoeuvre for underwear doing the operated side first, hanging the loop of the first leg hole behind me then sitting to get the other side on. Initially I used the grabber to put 'em on but have found bent leg behind easier.
From your post on the other thread you are way ahead of me, walking upstairs like a normal person! I still do the one stair shuffle.
It's a slow process and I was trying to explain it to someone else, to me it's kind of like climbing a really big hill. You have to stop every so often and see how far you've come. I guess I'm blessed with lower expectations. My new hips are great fr pain relief but I never expected them to deliver me back to the same abilities as others with healthy hips so each time ive achieved something new I've had a moment of joy as I hadn't expected to do that.
It's not easy to accept the limitations particularly after such a swift deterioration, but you will get back to it, you got a Birmingham hip, the very best invention in hip terms, you have the best chance of the fullest recovery possible.
Take heart from your little steps and don't beat yourself up. We are all with you all the way. Try my top tips, hope they work for you.
Sal
I must sound so ungrateful. I don't mean to be.... and I'm truly not. I realise how close I was to having nothing done to me and just how close Mr T was to saying no to a BHR. It's just..... I don't know.... inpatience perhaps?
Ka's so right about how the world seems smaller than before so all the 'little' things are magnified 100%. I feel like i'm in my own little bubble and I'm unable to see the bigger picture clearly at the moment. It's a weird feeling and a little surreal.
I've even started to worry that when I do return to work that I won't have my old job to return to. That my replacement will be doing a better job and they will find me something else to do as they will prefer her. Crazy huh??? I swear having cabin fever drives you a bit nuts!!
To answer Mike's question, I came off all of the medication maybe a week or so ago. I was still on the paracetamol and Dihydracodeine 4 times a day up till then. I stopped because I wanted to see how my body would cope without - I guess not very well is the answer! I've started to re-take them again, but I hate being reliant on pills. I was popping them like Smarties pre-op!
Aw Ruby, I didn't mean to make you feel bad, you are going through and have been through a very traumatic experience. Hardly anyone in your normal world will understand but we are here, all of us all the time. Let it out Ruby red, that's what it's for. All the pills make our minds spin, don't forget that lots of very sane very normal hippies ave experiences whopping depressions post op. it's not abnormal! Kindness and gentleness to yourself are so important.
Also, boots the chemist are selling metatone vitamin tonic 3for 2, that will help enormously to boost your healing. Vitamin and mineral deficiency affects your brian as well as your body.
Take care
Sal xx
Thanks Sal, I will look into getting some of that from Boots. I'll try anything :) x
Hi Ruby
I am sorry you are having a diffiucult time. Many people do after surgery, it is not unusual. That however, doesn't make it any easier. If would be nice if you could get some meds from your family doctor, but I don't think that is easy for you to do in the UK.
Know you have support here. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Things will get better, just try to hang in there and try to think positive.
(http://www.apoetscorner.com/poems/spiritual/sometimeswefeelalone.jpg)
Thank you Pat. Everyone here has been so kind. Truly warms my heart :)
My family doctor has been wonderful up to the point of surgery. They have been careful not to just give me any medication, but they tried different combinations of drugs to help the pain. I'm not sure what they will do now i'm post-op... I actually have an appointment to see my family doc the day before my 6 week follow up with Mr Treacy so we'll see.
I guess I'm just needing some reassurance that all that i'm going through post-op, pain and depression wise, is all normal and will fade with time.
Sorry to any Brian's out there ...... I meant Brain...... Clearly mine is on holiday! ;D
Hey Ruby, sorry you're going through this, but know that it's standard for a lot of hippies.
It certainly was for me, especially at this point in your recovery. I had the benefit of a counselor to talk to once a week, and my GP prescribed anti depressants due to a divorce that I was going through concurrent with my HRs. Both really helped to deal with the post surgery funk; the thing is that it made it smaller, but the depression was still there.
It is hard to keep the faith when you are still recuperating, feel the pain from the surgery and are confined. The situation doesn't last long in perspective, but when you are in it, those trees are huge and the forest is not visible.
Patience is mentioned a lot here, and it sounds easy to do but here is one of many times where it is very hard. You are experiencing miracles, but the daily ritual is hard.
This time will pass and you'll get your independence back quickly. The job issues, etc. are things I feared as well and you know what? things worked out. A few weeks does not wipe out years of committed good work.
This is all part of the whirlpool that you can get into when you get depressed. Exercise helped me, calling and talking to friends and family who have kept in touch is important, just to talk. Those who haven't will be in touch later, but you need to lean on those who are there for you now.
Keep your chin up, Ruby - it's fine to b!tch and moan here, we've all done it when we were feeling down and discouraged. Then give yourself a gift and see the good things that are happening.
The pain I experienced after the op was different to the pain before, didn't have that constant toothache type pain so although it was there I knew what it was and that it would fade in time where the pre op pain only ever got worse and worse. My depression hit big time when I buggered it up by overdoing it and tripping. Then felt better when I found out there was hope. Then got depressed again because three months non weight bearing on my op leg caused a lot of pain and discomfort in the other. But where is the pain and depression now? What pain and depression? Not me, in the imortal words of Tony the Tiger from the Frosties adds " I Feeeeel Grrrrreat" and so will you. It is all a matter of time which will make the bad times a faded memory. In the big scheme of things your recovery will seem like a small insignificant time of your life.
Keep focussed on what you can do, not what you can't. Time will heal body and mind.
Jas
I cant really add anything more to the wise words from everyone else Ruby!
Times may be difficult now but the future is looking good so just keep looking to the future x
Quote from: Anna on September 09, 2012, 12:33:15 PM
I cant really add anything more to the wise words from everyone else Ruby!
Times may be difficult now but the future is looking good so just keep looking to the future x
I feel particularly bad moaning and complaining when I know what struggles you're going through Anna :( We've spoken a lot via text lately and I never like saying i'm having a rough day with the depression as I know that technically I'm fixed, and I know you're still waiting and would love to be in my postition :( I truly hope your solution, whatever it ends up being, comes soon. Very soon!
Thank you all for your kind words. Reassurance is what I needed I think. My parents have been been very supportive, but it's hard for them to truly grasp what we go through as hippies. For my friends in real life, I feel like I have to put on a front for them.... almost like I moaned and moped around before the surgery so now I feel like I need to be happy.
It's hard to explain, but i'm not happy. Not yet.
You've been in that waiting stage for a long time and sometimes the expectation of what the world will be like post op is hard to live up to. I know what you mean about putting on a brave face when you're not having a good day. Family and friends so want you to recover, you sometimes don't want to disappoint them or admit that you are having a setback.
Stick with it, you will get back to where you want to be.
Ka
Thanks Ka. It definately it a long, hard road to recovery, but like I just said to Mike... we need to encourage and praise the small victories - they all add up :)
I got rid of a bit of bitterness from the past today. I wrote a letter to my previous hip surgeon here in Essex about his flippant treatment of my dysplasia, his refusal to operate and his callous words of 'No surgeon will ever go near you'. I was of course, courteous, however points were made and I got a lot off my chest. I informed him that since his above statement I have had a successful resurfacing from one of the best hip surgeons in the world and he forsees a full recovery. Oh! it felt so good to finally get rid of all the resentment and anger I had been harbouring towards him and his refusal to help a patient who was in a great deal of pain.
I really hope he doesn't write off other patients he has so quickly.
Nice one Ruby-you did right.
You never know, he may even have a little think about what you said and take it on board.
You might make him realise he doesn't know as much as he thinks. Well done.
You could even call to see him in a few months time when you're walking straight and tall just to see his face!
Something to be proud of ruby. Not only did it right your own wrong, it may sway him towards a better response to future rubys.
I hope so guys. I was truly disgusted by his words :( I probably won't get a response from him, but at least I've got it all off my chest and can move on.
That is good therapy Ruby, even if you don't get a reply. You are perfectly entitled to give him some feedback, hope he takes it on board.
How are you feeling now Ruby. Hope you are feeling a bit better especially after your letter that took guts to write. Do your excercises and keep the faith patience is the greatest virtue when recovering from this I know because I had none and F*****D it right up. Now I have learned the hard way I am on the mend. Everyone heals at different rates so don't look at others and think you should be doing better. Look back at how you were just before the op and just after the op and measure your progress on you.
I would love to write to my family Doctor who, when I was 4 years old told my parents there was nothing wrong with me and that I ought to pull my backside in before someone kicks it in for me. Think it would be wasted now as the doddery old git probably wouldn't remember. But thats where second opinions come in. The next GP recognised my symptoms as Perthes instantly and put me on to a specialist.
I think that was a great thing to do Ruby! Some surgeons and GP's need to change their attitude and I think its good you spoke out. Like you said, you may not get a reply but it made you feel better and he may take it on board and think twice next time.
Jason, I went to the GP so many times when I was younger with hip pain. I was always told to take Ibuprofen and sent on my way. It wasnt till the age of 23 that I was diagnosed with dysplasia. If it was caught sooned they they would have been able to do something. Also, when I went at 23 they told me there were no other options other than a THR. PAO's wernt even mentioned to me and now my hip is too bad or one. Im angry at the way in which I have been fobbed off my whole life and not given the facts but ....cest la vie. Its too late for us too turn back time, but its not too late to ry make a difference for others and to make people more aware :)
Well said, Anna.
Interesting that you said Jason, that your bum stuck out and it was a symptom of perthes, I had no idea. Ive got a ducks bum, always walked with it stuck out a bit, perhaps they're all related. Have to confess I don't know anything about perthes. Off to google!
Info about Perthes disease, I wonder if it is related to the dysplasia in some way. I have "small mishapen femoral heads with shallow laterally facing acetabulum" according to my initial diagnostic X-ray. I also had chronic knee pain which used to stop me sleeping properly for years...
Anyway, more correctly, I HAD these issues... Am incredibly fortunate to have fixed them.
Perthes' Disease
Perthes' disease is a condition where the top of the thigh bone (the femoral head) softens and breaks down. It occurs in some children and causes a limp and other symptoms. The bone gradually heals and reforms as the child grows. The aim of treatment is to ensure that the femoral head reforms back into its normal shape so that the hip joint can work well.
What is Perthes' disease?
Perthes' disease is a condition of the hip which occurs in some children. It was first described in 1910 by three separate doctors and so it is sometimes called Calvé-Legg-Perthes disease after each of these doctors.
What happens in Perthes' disease?
Perthes' disease occurs in a part of the hip joint called the femoral head. This is the rounded top of the femur (the thigh bone) which sits inside the acetabulum (the hip socket). Something happens to the small blood vessels which supply the femoral head with blood. So, parts of the femoral head lose their blood supply. As a result, the bone cells in the affected area die, the bone softens, and the bone can fracture or become distorted. The severity of the condition can vary.
Over several months the blood vessels regrow, and the blood supply returns to the bone tissue. New bone tissue is laid down, and so the femoral head reforms and regrows. This is similar to how bone reforms and regrows after any normal fracture or break to a bone. But, with Perthes' disease, it takes longer (up to several years). The main concern with regrowth of the femoral head is to ensure that it forms a good spherical (rounded) shape. This helps it to fit well into the hip joint socket. If the femoral head is less rounded, hip movements may be affected and there may be more wear and tear on the hip joint.
The exact cause of the blood vessel problem that occurs in the first place is not known. A child with Perthes' disease is usually otherwise well.
Perthes' disease usually only affects one hip, but in about 1 in 6 cases it affects both hips (usually at separate times).
Who gets Perthes' disease?
In the UK, about 1 in 1,000 children will get Perthes' disease. It occurs most commonly between the ages of 4 and 8 years. About four boys are affected for every one girl.
What are the symptoms of Perthes' disease?
Symptoms tend to develop gradually and can include:
A limp. This may gradually become worse over a few weeks.
Pain in the hip and groin area. Sometimes pain is felt just in the knee or the thigh instead of in the hip - this is called referred pain.
Stiffness and a reduced range of movement of the affected hip.
In time, the affected leg may become slightly thinner (wasted) because the thigh muscles become thinner as they are not used so much as those in the other leg.
The affected leg may look shorter than the good leg.
How is Perthes' disease diagnosed?
The diagnosis can usually be made by a doctor's examination of the hip, plus an X-ray (this is usually an X-ray of both hips so that the two sides can be compared). Sometimes other tests may be suggested if the diagnosis is not clear or if a more detailed picture of the hip joint is needed. Possible tests may include: an MRI scan, a bone scan or an arthrogram (an X-ray where dye is injected into the space within a joint). Also, blood tests, or a sample of fluid from the hip joint, may be needed to rule out other problems such as infection.
What is the treatment for Perthes' disease?
The aim of treatment is to promote the healing process and to ensure that the femoral head remains well seated in the hip socket as it heals and regrows. Which is the best treatment can depend on the age of the child and the severity of the condition. Treatments may include observation, bed rest and/or crutches, a plaster cast or special leg brace, or surgery. Your doctor will advise on the best treatment for your child.
Observation and physiotherapy
In younger children (under 5 years old), and those with mild disease, Perthes' disease will usually heal well without any specific treatment. These children are treated by observation, often with physiotherapy or home exercises. The home exercises help to keep the hip joint mobile and in a good position in the hip socket. Advice may also include to encourage swimming (to keep the hip joint active in the full range of movements) but to avoid activities that can lead to heavy impact on the hip joint, such as those involving trampolines and bouncy castles. However, any advice will be tailored to your child's needs. Your child will also need regular follow-up with their specialist to check how their femoral head is healing. Regular X-rays of their hips are usually suggested.
Painkillers may also be useful to help relieve pain. Common painkillers suggested are ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Bed rest and/or crutches
This may be needed by some children for a short time if their symptoms are bad.
Plaster casts or a special brace
These may be considered in some cases. The aim is to keep the femoral head well positioned in the hip socket. The cast or brace usually helps to keep the leg slightly abducted (slightly pointing outwards). The special braces are also called orthotic devices. With many of these, the child is able to walk and weight bear, but the braces usually need to be worn for many months. The success of brace treatment is not entirely clear, and many doctors are increasingly advising surgery.
Surgery
An operation may be considered in some cases, particularly in older children or those more severely affected. Surgery can help to keep the femoral head well positioned whilst it heals, or can improve the shape and function of the femoral head if it has not healed well. There are various options, depending on each child's individual situation. If surgery is being considered, you should discuss the options fully with your child's surgeon.
What is the outcome (prognosis)?
In many cases, the femoral head regrows and remodels back to normal, or near-normal. The hip joint then returns to normal and is able to work as usual. However, it can take two or more years after the condition first starts.
The main concern is that the femoral head does not reform properly. Flattening of the femoral head can occur in some cases and this can lead to a permanent change in the hip joint. This may cause stiffness of the hip joint. It can also cause arthritis of the hip joint at an earlier age than usual - for example, at around age 40. Sometimes, a hip replacement is needed as treatment for arthritis.
Things which may affect outcome include:
Age. The younger the child is when Perthes' disease develops, the better the chance of a good outcome. This is because there is longer time for the hip to remodel before the child finishes growing. Children who develop Perthes' disease after about the age of 8-9 have the highest risk of permanent hip joint problems, such as stiffness and arthritis; there is less time for the hip to remodel before they finish growing.
Gender. For any given age when the condition develops, boys have a better chance of a good outcome than girls. This may be because girls tend to finish growing a bit earlier than boys.
Severity. The more severe the condition (which can be judged by the X-ray pictures of the hip), the greater the risk of permanent problems with the hip joint.
I got it in my left and right and had all the treatments listed including Double Osteotomy. I never suffered from Dysplasia.
Ouch, Jason, double osteotomy sounds painful.
I just wondered if they were related in some way. I guess they are as in they are hip problems but probably no more than that.
I was headed for a triple osteotomy at one stage - thank God the BHR was allowed in the end!
Are you a Triped? :-\
I don't think i've ever been this desperate. Even before the surgery. I'm seriously worse off, pain wise, then before the BHR :(
Laying in bed, sobbing, too scared to move my leg due to pain. This is no life for anyone. This was meant to be the start of a new life, rejoining my dance classes, getting social and maybe, if i'm lucky, start dating again.... who is going to want someone who has a permanant limp, who's god knows how many stones over weight and who's self esteem is at rock bottom.
I hate my hip. I hate what it's done to me and I hate how i've let myself get this low.
Ruby get yourself back to Mr T!
Quote from: Dannywayoflife on October 12, 2012, 10:55:44 AM
Ruby get yourself back to Mr T!
I've been unable to get ahold of Laura all day, think she may be off. Will be trying again on Monday.
Ruby
I am so sorry to hear things are bad physically and emotionally. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Sounds like you need to get back to Tracey and if he can't help, try McMinn or even an email to Dr. De Smet in Belgium. They might have some suggestions for you.
You just should not be in such pain, but I don't know what to tell you since I am not a doctor.
Just know, we are there for you as much as we can be on the internet.
Pat
Danny's right, ruby - you need to get his take on this.
Hi Ruby
I really feel for you and echo what the others have said about getting help. I can't imagine what you are going through as we are all different. I do know that personally I had just a couple of really dark days at the beginning of my third post op week when the groin pain was unbearable at times and I wondered if it had been a mistake. I re-read so many of the old posts on here and realised that everyone seemed to go through really low points and it wasn't something specific about my recovery. Having read all the old posts I reconciled my self to the fact that the pain was just about angry muscles fighting back against the new positions and roles they were being forced into. I concentrated for a whole day on simple groin and hamstring stretching whilst laying on the bed. I followed that up with static bike sessions which stretched those angry groin muscles, encouraging them to extend into their new roles. Within a few days the clouds were lifting and I could see progress. I know that your situation is much worse than mine but I suspect that it is just angry muscles and tendons and is not insurmountable, if somewhat painful. Stay strong, keep exercising and get that advice from your physio and surgeon.
You are not alone