Quote from: Mike D on September 20, 2012, 02:43:53 PM
Ruby-
Saw your post on the other thread about knee pain and wondered where you are with the flexibility?
I can't get my knee close to level from a standing position, how about you? I had that awful shin pain you mentioned for about seven days in a row but its eased now, I just get it occasionaly.
Can you tie shoelaces yet? I'm nowhere near, at least a month away, i think.
I think Mr Treacy enjoyed tackling us, I think we gave him something slightly different to fix!

Flexibility is slowly coming back, but VERY slowly. I'm nowhere near to touching my toes or doing my shoelaces. I was told to expect the groin pain for at least another month or so, yet it's all normal.

Haha, yeah Christine told me that I really challenged Mr T and he liked being kept on his toes! Two of us giving him a hard time in one week, he must have loved it!

How are you feeling, ka?

Great news Ruby. You are 1 week ahead of me and a great motivation for my own rehab.

Tying your shoe lace is the ultimate challenge. I have tried it with bending over but just cant reach, I have tried putting my foot on a stool but that is sore and I have tried lying on my stomach and bending my knee behind me which is too complicated. So at the moment still asking for help.  :)

Progress!

I went swimming for the first time this week :) It felt particularly weird how all my upper leg strength has gone, so it was a bit of a challenge, and I ended up just doing some exercises and bobbing around whilst my friend did her lengths :) Felt so nice to be active again!

Keep going Jono. This is certainly the toughest challenge I've had to get though, perhaps even worst than fighting to get the surgery to begin with, but I'm seeing some breaks in the clouds now at 6 weeks :)

That's excellent, ruby. Great to see your progress.

Thanks Hern, I think i'm finally getting somewhere but I do find it amazing how quickly we lose our fitness.

I went for a simple 10 minute walk to the post box this afternoon and by the time I was half way I was breathing heavy and my heart was racing!

How are you now RubyRed?

Quote from: Roberta on September 22, 2012, 02:19:39 PM
How are you now RubyRed?

Hi Roberta,

I'm completely exhausted now. I've just managed to have my first bath in over 6 weeks, I've only been able to have showers up till now, so a nice warm bath was just lovely.

I'm still battling with the groin pain, I wish it would go, I feel as if it's the only thing holding me back, that and being so sleepy all the time!

I'm actually thinking of returning to work soon if they can find me a job that doesn't involve heavy lifting. I was doing a desk job before surgery, but my manager wants me to return to a more active role, however that involves climbing ladders, lifting and emptying heavy boxes and crouching down to low shelving to file away stuff. I was told i'm unable to do that for at least 4 months! I think manager and I will need to have a chat about it.

Ouch. Oh my word. Ouch  :(

I 'swam', if you can actually call it that, about 3/4 of a length of the pool this evening and the hip is having none of it now. Sheer bloody agony. I feel like i'm going backwards! Groin pain is screaming, lower back is aching..... it's like I've never had the BHR at this point. What is going on?!

Hi Ruby

I feel for you and your groin pain.  I am sure that it is just the fact that you're muscles have got used to protecting your damaged joint and now have to start working properly.  I hope that you are doing all the simple physio exercises as they will help the muscles to fire in the right way. Eventually you'll get there but it must be hell at the moment.  I'm only 2 weeks post op and I thought I was doing so well with my walking (2 slow miles with crutches) etc so had slackened off on the routine physio exercises, but the last two days I've been in agony around my knee.  Today I've concentrated on the simple physio exercises such as sliding my heel to my bum on the bed etc and it is amazing what a difference it has made to my tight thigh muscles.

Stick at it and IT WILL GET EASIER - everyone says so!

Hi Ruby,

I found my muscles just need to be retrained.If you stick with the swimming it will get better each time. Avoid breaststroke my physio said and stick to front crawl. I always end with a couple of lengths of walking  as well and then to the steam room to let the muscles relax.

Best of luck

Jon

Hi Ruby - May be early days for 'swimming' the way you used to.  I've been in the pool this week but just doing arms and just having me legs bob around behind.  Am a bit nervous about doing the frogs legs to go with breast stroke.  This groin pain is a real 'pain' for you. 

Re your return to work, I'd push for a light role and leave the heavy lifting etc till much later.  Don't jeapordise your recovery, do as you suggested and chat with your manager. 

Ka

When I mentioned swimming on my 6 week appointment Ka, I was told that no swimming stroke is off limits and I can do whatever I pleased. I can't swim breast stroke anyway, never have, I just don't seem to move anywhere  ;D

But I'm doing what you're doing. Bobbing around, a few exercises and swimming very lightly. Man, do I ache following it though!

I'm almost at 8 weeks and I feel like i'm starting to go backwards a bit. My groin still feels like it's on fire all the time, i'm back on the Oxycodone at night as the hip is so uncomfortable.

The hip no longer hurts when I walk, but trying to climb stairs, enter or exit a car or just simply tossing and turning in bed is pure hell and it's all coming from the groin. I know Christine said this will pass by 3 months, but it feels like it's getting worse rather than decreasing.

She also said that there's no need for me to have a 4 month check up as they predicted all will be fine but that I could have one if I was worried at that point. If this continues I certainly will ask to see Mr T again!

Hi Ruby.

you sound to be going through a real tough patch.  Have you thought about ringing the physios you saw in Birmingham and having a chat with them about possible exercises you could do to help with the groin pain?  I was given a number for the physios at the Priory in Birmingham and they said just call if I wanted any advice.  I'm sure the ones at the ROH would be just as helpful to give some specific advice. It's worth a try.

I wasn't given any numbers for physios on my discharge sadly, just the phone number for the ward which I could use for general enquires for a little while when I got home.

I am going to see my GP next week, and will definately mention this to him and see what he says.

If it doesn't clear up Ruby, get on the horn and tell them you need to see Mr. T. The only way they can tell that you're concerned is if you make it an issue.

I did this up until nine months, when I had a groin / muscle issue. It went away three weeks after I reported it, but I had a scheduled visit and was in no mood to be denied about it. I cancelled it, but there was no question I was going if it had persisted.

You are really your own best advocate, no one else knows how you feel.

I'm trying not to panic just yet as i'm not sure whether this is just a normal part of recovery and i'm worrying for nothing, but at the same time, I know my surgery wasn't 'standard' and Mr Treacy had to angle the device quite close to my groin as my pelvis is tiny.

I think you're right not to panic, so many things pass as we get better. I certainly had many twinges, clunks and pain / soreness that came and went.

Truth is I never thought it a sign of panic to get in touch with the surgeon, just an extension of my treatment and healing.

Ruby if it's really painful then phone up and ask for another appointment. Mr T is the person to ask about these things.