Monthly Archives: April 2013

Here we go again

Leave a reply

Nuts. I’m anxious. I’m also 9 days away from surgery which makes sense that I would be anxious but last time, I was utterly zen. Totally calm. You’d have thought I didn’t care that I was about to be broken and put back together. Admittedly, before my last surgery I only became zen in the final 2 weeks leading up to my surgery — prior to which time I was a paniced freak. This time, though, I have totally ignored the impending surgery so I never had a chance to panic. Apparently now’s the time.

As I type, I am at HSS in the midst of my surgical pre-clearance, including a physical exam, blood work, EKG, chest x-ray, and a meeting with the hospital GP that is assigned to me for the surgery. The day started at 9am and should be done by 2pm. I’ve been through this before so unlike last time, I knew what to expect (and to bring something to read – there’s a decent amount of down time between appointments).

Most importantly, I already had my appointment with my surgeon. We briefly discussed my impending surgery (the Open SDD) but the majority of the appointment focused on my (still crabby) right hip. I still have pain in the joint and around the greater trochanter but the majority of the pinchy pain is in the area between the hip and my groin – likely caused by the psoas tendon and break in the pubis. So, I am scheduled for an MRI tomorrow, an Active Release Therapy session on my tendon on Thursday, and a follow-up with my surgeon next Monday to see if the pain is caused by a torn labrum, nonunion or seething else. My surgeon has never had to go back in to repair a torn labrum after a PAO so, lucky me, i’d be the first. As of today, we are still moving forward with the left hip but the final decision will be made next Monday – 2 days before my surgery on my left. Apparently it is gonna be a busy week.

Photos from pre-surgical screening – I like to get dressed up for my HSS appointments!

20130430-111101.jpg

20130430-111116.jpg

Hey May, whatduyasay?

Leave a reply

I canNOT believe that it’s almost May! OK, it’s 9 days until May, but those 9 days plus the following 7 days and suddenly it’s May 8th and my next surgery! Even before we get to May, I have my last sinus surgery follow-up on May 1st (10 days away), surgical pre-clearance day on April 30th (9 days away), and two medical massages.  Add that to all of the fun things that are upcoming — three (3!) Broadway opening nights; pre-surgery highlights + spa necessities; my dad coming to do the 5-Boro Bike Tour; last minute “see you after your surgery” lunches and dinners; bowling (hopefully); and, if the weather is accommodating, bike rides.

20130421-143008.jpg

20130421-143109.jpgIncredibly, bike riding is one of the few physical activities that I can do that doesn’t hurt my hip so last week I was able to go to two FANTASTIC 4-year-olds’ birthday party and a brunch (and wear as many patterns as I could find) — all on my coaster bike.

I am pleased to report that the cortisone injection into the psoas and rectus femoris tendons definitely helped a lot, and for the most part, the pain is significantly decreased.  However, it’s not gone.  I still have pain whenever I go up stairs, I cannot lift my right leg more than about 30 degrees without noticing pain in my joint, and the more I walk the more I hurt.  On Friday, I visited fellow Hip Chick Lauren (who just had a total knee replacement at HSS) and decided to really see what my hip could do.  I walked (with a cane) about the distance I used to walk before the surgeries — and since HSS is about a million blocks from the subway, it meant a lot of walking.  Anyway, I was a bit disappointed to realize that by the end of the night, the pain in my right hip (the hip that had the PAO) was definitely worse than the left, yet untreated hip.  I am positive that my right hip will need another surgery but for now, with rest and intensive massages, I am confident that I will make it through the May 8th surgery.

Not much else to report but here are a few cute photos I thought I’d share.  Hope all are well!

20130421-142943.jpg

Guy (my husband) and I, post Easter brunch.

20130421-143213.jpg

Bagels at the playground — Boris REALLY wants a bite

Thrill Rides

2 Replies

Spring is officially sprung and in the spirit of renewed activity, my hips have been busy little bees the last week!

As I previously noted, I had been having an increased amount of pain in my right hip (really, the space between my right hip and groin) in the last few weeks. I was able to walk short distances but longer walks and lifting my leg definitely made things worse. Climbing stairs was mildly painful and I had been using my cane everyday for support but in general, the pain never exceeded a loud grumble…until this past Tuesday.

I felt fine at lunch but as I walked up several flights of stairs and out of the subway the pain in m right hip (the hip that had the PAO surgery) became utterly excruciating, like the most awful ache with moments of stabbing pain like mini ice picks! I only had my cane with me and nearly sat down on the sidewalk since I could barely drag myself the 1 block down the street to my office. I leaned on my cane, pain shooting into my hip with every step, and dragged myself back. By the time I made it I was in tears (this is only the third time I have cried since the PAO in December). I frantically called and e-mailed Dr. Sink who was able to get me in the next day (which I was so incredibly thankful for – he fit be in between surgeries). Luckily the pain mostly went away when I sat so I either sat or reclined the rest of the day. I started using crutches again that night, for the first time in 6 weeks. I started to worry that I would never actually get better, that I would always be in pain, that my next surgery would have to be postponed indefinitely.

At my appointment the following day, they took 4 x-rays and determined I did not have an new stress fractures. They also determined that the non-union of the pubis bone had not repaired itself (although a tiny bridge of bone, maybe 1/8th the width of the break, appeared to be growing). The pain was thought to be caused by one of the tendons (the rectus femoris or iliopsoas) — either that it was aggravated or that it had become stuck in the osteotomy site (basically, that the tendon rolled into the space where the bone was supposed to have grown and got stuck there). I was prescribed anti-inflammatories + the anti-inflammatory patch I have been wearing on my hip. I was sent for an ultrasound (with contrast) and injection of lidocaine and cortisone (into the sheath of both tendons). The ultrasound showed that although the tendons were not in the break that moment, they were each sitting right on either side of the break (and the pain could have been caused by the tendons rubbing on the edge of the break or they could have been stuck for a bit of time).

The cortisone injection took several hours to kick-in but by 10pm I noticed that my hip was feeling better. The next morning it was WAY better — honestly, it hadn’t felt so good since my surgery. For the first time in months I could put on my socks without pain. And walk? Back to normal – if not better! The pain had decreased about 90% and has since settled to a decrease of about 80%. I slept a ton and took it very easy the rest of the weekend – even let my sweet husband GK push me around in a wheelchair at the auto show. I was feeling so ‘normal’ today, though, that I let myself take a short bike ride today (bike riding is one of the few activities that doesn’t hurt if you have hip problems).

I have to be evaluated by Physical Therapy at HSS before I can get back to working with my physical therapist again. I may also need another cortisone injection before or after the surgery. It’s also possible/likely I will need another surgery on the right hip to fix the torn labrum (another pain) and non-union but not until the Open SDD is healed.

Oh! And on that note – the Open SDD is set for May 8th (1 month from today). My sinuses are healing wonderfully (follow-up with ENT this Wednesday) and my BIRTHDAY (my 36th) is this Thursday, April 11! Time to start revving up — it’s gonna be a busy busy spring!