RE: Re: Moving slowly/ TO ELEANOR, PAULINE, SUNITA

[Guest guest]

Dear Sunita and Lari,

Well—this is Eleanor in a more up-beat mood than yesterday. Instead of

swimming yesterday on my day off (like Sunita, I am wondering if daily

swimming at this point is ‘too much’ exercise), I was able to get a

cancellation with my Technique teacher. Hadn’t seen him for

3 weeks because couldn’t drive to him. The stretching out seemed to

help, and probably the rest of not going into work.

Lari---I also have trouble standing straight with 2 feet together at

this point, although, again, sometimes this is easier, sometimes worse.

My cranial osteopath always starts me out this way, and usually, after a

session, I do this better. Like Sunita, so far my operated leg is still

about ½ inch longer, although I do know that this will probably adjust

with time as it ‘beds in’. Took ’s and my PT’s advice and have a

small wedge in my shoe.

Pre-op, I managed to walk properly by regular (which does help

with a sort of ‘gait training’ and osteopathy --- always used 2 sticks,

as Glenn mentions, to keep straight. For a long time I could hike about

an hour with two sticks and an ibruprofen without pain. Latterly, this

shortened to 15 minutes before pain set in.

I do feel that my current problems are back/whole body/ posture/ muscle

related. I think that continuing with , osteopathy, stretches,

gentle exercise will help. I think some of our bodies just find it much

harder to adjust to operations and new ways of being.

Sunita---I am sorry my last posting was so discouraging. It is

difficult, isn’t it, deciding whether or not to post our struggles.

Tom’s dilemma, I think. And yet, I do think these struggles are

important to share and work through. It will be interesting to hear

what Dr. de Smet says about your difficulties, as I guess he will have

encountered these before in his wide experience.

Eleanor

Re: Re: Moving slowly/ TO ELEANOR, PAULINE,

SUNITA

Hi Lari

I am glad your Xrays are fine and water exercises help.

I am not in good mood these days: after 7 weeks I have more (than last

week) pain in the groin and hip flexors day and also at night; I am not

sure I am doing too much. It seems I have even slowed down in the last

few days. I also do exercises in a pool with a post op group; I wonder

if this is too much for my hip: I get sometimes sharp pain in groin

muscles while doing some of the exercises especially the abduction ones.

I try to stop right away when I feel that but maybe I " re-injure " the

muscle.? the physio there does not seem to know why I have that and here

in Vancouver Canada I cannot get an apointment with a OS before April! I

will email De Smet in Belgium but it is hard to describe the situation.

I feel a bit at a loss. I was hoping that at 7 weeks I would be in much

better shape.

Hearing Eleanor is not encouraging either...!! it is really moving

slowly for us!

About standing straight with my 2 feet together: I can with effort in

lower abdomen muscles to keep me straight but I am slightly lopsided

cause my operated leg is still slightly longer so it does not feel

comfortable at all; I cannot stay there more than a few seconds.

I hope there will be improvements soon for all of us!

Sunita

Re: Moving slowly/ TO ELEANOR, PAULINE, SUNITA

Dear Eleanor, ine and Sunita,

Yesterday, while at physical therapy, I think I triggered worry in

the therapist, and she in turn called my surgeon. It's because I

look horribly exhausted and when I put my feet together, I sway a

bit to the right. I've been so nervous about this myself. So my

surgeon's secretary called today and summoned me in for an

unscheduled visit and an exray. I thank the therapist for following

up so aggressively.

The exray looked perfectly fine. But he, too, seemed worried when

he examined me. I know I'm not healing the way anyone hoped, but he

assures me it will get better. My gait was so " off " for so many

years. That, coupled with the surgical assault on my muscles, and

I'm all off kilter.

I think I'd asked you, Eleanor, in our chat, whether you could

manage to put your feet together. Maybe not. Well, I'll ask all of

you that question: Can you put your feet together and keep your

upper body very forward and straight? Just curious.

The nighttime pain situation was better last night. I think my

husband's pre-bedtime leg massage helped immeasurably. I was only

up about three times instead of five or six.

How I want to move along with the program! I'll go back into the

pool on Friday, and thank Claire for her observations to the doc.

In the meantime, I'm searching out a dive shop so that I can buy a

neoprene top to protect me from the cold in my healthclub pool.

That water therapy is the best!

What's happening with you?

Best,

Lari

> > > > > > > Hello, Everyone,

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > I've been a bit hesitant to write, but now feel a huge

> > need

> > > as

> > > > I

> > > > > am

> > > > > > > seeking someone out there (anyone!) who is feeling

> > similarly

> > > to

> > > > > > me.

> > > > > > > On Jan. 29 I underwent a left-hip resurfacing in

London

> > for

> > > a

> > > > > long-

> > > > > > > standing AVN (we're American expats living in the UK).

I

> > am

> > > 46,

> > > > > a

> > > > > > > mother of three, and in very good physical shape

> overall.

> > I

> > > > > went

> > > > > > > into the surgery strong, and have come out far behind

> what

> > > > > everyone

> > > > > > > had hoped. My doctor, who is very experienced in this

> > > > operation,

> > > > > > > says that I'm a " puzzle. " It's been three weeks since

> the

> > > > > surgery,

> > > > > > > and I have huge pain in the hip joint. The swelling

and

> > > > bruising

> > > > > in

> > > > > > > my knee has come down, but only just recently. For a

> > while

> > > I

> > > > > felt

> > > > > > > like I'd had knee surgery! I cannot bear full weight

on

> my

> > > left

> > > > > leg

> > > > > > > whatsover without the aid of a crutch. I'm doing all

the

> > > > > required

> > > > > > > exercises, but have so much pain day and night and,

> > frankly,

> > > > > deeply

> > > > > > > worry that I'll never regain any mobility-- never mind

> > > full.

> > > > Is

> > > > > > > there anyone out there who has not come through this

as

> > > > > expected?

> > > > > > > Can you share with me your experience(s)? Have you

come

> > > > through

> > > > > it

> > > > > > > successfully--albeit more slowly than expected? Any

tips

> > for

> > > > > > coping?

> > > > > > > I am in serious need of positive reinforcement!

> > > > > > >

> > > > > > > Many thanks!

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >