Quote from: Jason0411 on December 04, 2012, 10:21:05 AM
Everyone keeps talking about this psoas and flexors???

I get discomfort at the front toppie bit of my leg when I do lots of stairs or too much fast walking and I get a bruised feeling down the outside bit near the top, sort of near the top of my trouser pocket line.

Whats that?? Or am I being too technical? ;D

The hip flexors are actually three muscles : the rector femoris, the psoas major and the illiacus (see attached picture)

As this site explains it: http://www.sports-injury-info.com/hip-flexor-injury.html

"The most common cause of hip flexor injury is acute trauma. You may experience one specific instance when you felt your hip flexor pull. This may have been when you broke into a sprint, made a cut, or kicked a ball.

Tight muscles and poor flexibility will contribute to hip flexor injury. When muscles are tight, there is an increased amount of tension on the tissues. When this increased tension is added to by an explosive movement, injury can occur.

Hip flexor strain can also be caused by compensation for other injuries, or weakness of other muscles. This is common if you have core weakness. When the lower abdominal muscles do not stabilize the pelvis, the hip flexor muscles will try to compensate for this weakness and become overworked.
Symptoms
The most common symptom of a hip flexor strain is pain. It occurs along the front of the hip and may radiate down the front of your thigh. Your pain will increase with movement, especially trying to lift your knee toward your chest.

Running, jumping, and even walking can be painful, and your sports performance may be limited.

You may have a small amount of swelling, but this is not very common. Muscle spasm and bruising may also occur, depending on how severe the injury is."


It's a critical group for us, since in our recovery, at first as the bone heals and the capsule heals, we have weakness that has to be compensated for. If the core muscles are not providing enough backup, the flexors have to take over stabilizing the hip, which may cause problems.

The outside of the thigh may be another set of muscles entirely, the IT band, which I find is addressed by using a foam roller to knead the IT band into place. I think (not a medical person here) that all of it comes from the challenges we have in stabilizing the hip as we heal. I've had IT band issues and flexor issues at different times, not bad, but bad enough to get what ruby's facing.

Very well put Hern, you said it much better than I could.

I had a 30 minute chiropratic session this morning. The good news is that although he worked me hard and I'm feeling awful now, on some points along the thigh it wasn't as painful as it was when he first started so I'm thinking that improvement is starting. And I can actually lift my leg 5cm off the floor now compared to 0cm when we first began.

Embrace the small victories I guess! Tonight though I feel like i've been beaten up  :o

Just like with any large overwhelming problem, ruby - the solution is always to chop it up and defeat it piecemeal.

If you contemplate the whole thing, despair looms, but when taking the little victories, eventually your momentum can't be overcome. Great news about the little victory, sometimes the beaten up is lightened by the progress.

Ruby go and see a really good myofacial release massage therapist. Get them to do a mix of ART and myofacial stuff on you and I'd wager that you'll improve.
Danny

Sounds like things are starting to happen Ruby little by little you will get there. Before you know it you will be able to bite your toenails.

Jas

I hope so Jas  :)

The lovely Anna sent me a gift before she flew off on holiday. She sent me a lovely lavender scented heat pack :) Bless her cottons!

Update

I'm now 4 weeks into my twice weekly Chiropractor treatment and I've gone from not being able to lift my leg off the floor at all, to being able to lift it 15cm. The treatment isn't always pleasant and my lower stomach is covered in bruises on the left side where he's working on my psoas, but I feel very positive on where we're going.

On the downside, I'm STILL waiting for my hydrotherapy. The hospital I work for truly is crap.

YIPPEEE! Thats great news that things are finally improving Ruby. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Rubbish on the hydrotherapy though, but thats the NHS for you. I will have been waiting for my THR now for a whole year in feb. Still havent got a clue whats going on. Its times ike these you wish you had taken out the private healthcare!!! Hope you et you therapy soon x x

Sounds like you're turning that corner, ruby - real progress. Excellent!

Thats good to read Ruby, you're well overdue some progress. I hope 2013 is a better year for you.

You too, Anna. Keep plugging away at the NHS until you get what you want.

Hows your hip Mike??

Quote from: Anna on December 14, 2012, 06:36:10 PM
YIPPEEE! Thats great news that things are finally improving Ruby. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

Rubbish on the hydrotherapy though, but thats the NHS for you. I will have been waiting for my THR now for a whole year in feb. Still havent got a clue whats going on. Its times ike these you wish you had taken out the private healthcare!!! Hope you et you therapy soon x x

Believe me that private healthcare isn't all it's cracked up to be either. It comes down the the particular surgeon - if he's crap then it will be a crap service whether it be funded or private.

I have days, like this weekend, where I feel like my lower body has been put back together wrong. The slightest step aches and getting out of a bed is a mission. I do wonder if there's ever an end to all of this. When I read stories of people being able to tie their shoes at 8 weeks - i'm at 20 weeks and still need help getting dressed.

I really hope no one goes through the amount of Psoas issues I have. This is most definately worse than any Dysplasia pain.

But you are on the way back Ruby so chin up girl and keep going. Trouble is as I know physical set backs can have a disproportionate effect on our mental state. But you are finally moving in the right direction. ;)

Quote from: Anna on December 15, 2012, 06:26:37 PM
Hows your hip Mike??

Its going great Anna, I'm doing some physio at York College and its making quite a difference.
I was using my cane up to two weeks ago for walking any distance but since the physio I don't need it.
I feel so grateful to Mr Treacy and very fortunate to have not had any setbacks.
Ruby has been through hell, Jas has had a real scare just to name two, so I'm happy.
Fingers crossed for some positive news for you.

Hi all,

It's been awhile since I've posted anywhere. There really hasn't been much improvement with my Psoas - it really hates me it seems.

My ROM has gotten slightly better. I'm up to lifting my leg 26cm off the floor but the pain is just as bad as it was 4 months ago. Slightly worrying.

I'm still awaiting my hydrotherapy, but that starts on the 7th. I'm hoping to get some relief soon. This is starting to really annoy me now. I definately didn't sign up to this post-op. There has even been talk at work of deploying me elsewhere if I can't resume my regular duties within a reasonable time frame. Great. Something else to stress over.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and I hope to bring some more positive news soon.

I hope for a great new year for you ruby - and that the therapy and work you're doing will pay off.

Hi Ruby, I can only imagine how miserable a time you're having-you've had so many setbacks on your recovery.
Lets hope the hydrotherapy works well for you.
Whatever occurs, I hope you can still find the will to post on here, even if there's little to tell.
When you finally get right, yours will be a great story for future hippies to read. I think a lot of people will find the strength to carry on if they are struggling when they read what you've been through.
Stay strong Ruby, Mike.

Keep ya chin up Ruby! ... and good luck for tomorrow  ;D

Quote from: Anna on January 08, 2013, 04:43:13 PM
Keep ya chin up Ruby! ... and good luck for tomorrow  ;D

Thanks Anna! I'm soooo scared about tonight!!!

And thanks to you all too. It's been a hard slog that's for sure, I hope that when I'm better I can do a post about my story from start to finish and all the highs and lows inbetween to help others who's recovery isn't as straight forward as we'd all like  :)

Hi everyone,

A very little update in my hip's status...

I'm about to do my 3rd hydrotherapy session tomorrow and since the first one, my hip has never felt worse. I only get 6 sessions on the NHS, which is probably just as well. I've also stopped seeing any improvement with the chiropractor. We've been battling at this psoas issue for over 2 months solid now and i'm still no where close to being able to get into the drivers side of my car, put my socks on or even shave my damn legs!

I've contacted Mr Treacy's office and requested an appointment in light of what's happening, or not happening in my case. He's back off holiday this week, so i'm hoping to get an appointment soon.

Ruby