I spent the long weekend watching my nephew and that did my hip in. Well, my left hip. The right one held up for the most part, but I did have to ice is every now and then. The left one however was completely miserable. I'm sure it had to do with running after Jack and picking him up.
I told my PT guy on Monday and he agreed. I still did the round of leg lifts w/o weights, and then the 3 lb on left side and 6 lb on right side with the stim and bolsters. I was so sore on Tuesday and very stiff on Wednesday. I am not happy about this as when I get like that I feel like I start to actually compensate with my right and then that starts to hurt. As I was meant to go to the theatre last night I hadn't booked my 2nd appointment for the week, so will have to work it out at home until next week. I don't have another appointment until Wednesday as I have company in town.
Last night I received a letter from the genetic doctor. I have already made an appointment with her (January was the earliest) to review and discuss what I should be doing to prevent more injuries. The letter basically summed up the biopsy results and what they meant. I will copy the relevant bits below. None of this was a surprise as she had explained that these tests do not really work for the type of disorder she believes I have, but it's good to rule out the ones it does work for.
"The results of your collagen study revealed no abnormalities. This is good news as this test excludes most forms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) type IV. This is a type of EDS that is associated with cardiovascular problems. The test you had also excludes some forms of EDS type VII another type of EDS which does not affect the cardiovascular system.
Unfortunately, the other major genes that affect collagen synthesis cannot be tested by means of this assay. No existing assay can help us better define your situation at this time.
I believe that your clinical situation is fibromyalgia plus hypermobile joints. Hypermobile joint disorder is a type of underlying connective tissue disorder that is in the EDS family.
Unfortunately, I do not have a specific test for this form of EDS at this point in time.
Many investigators are working on the various forms of connective tissue disorders in an effort to better understand them. I have no doubt that within a few years' time better testing will be available. It is also hoped that such testing could be performed on samples of venous blood."
So, nothing new or surprising, but in some ways it feels good to at least have a diagnosis that covers the multitude of issues I have had.
29 November, 2007
21 November, 2007
9 week post-op
I cannot believe it's been just over nine weeks since surgery, and six weeks since I've been back at work. Where does the time go?
I am learning that slow and steady does seem to be the key for me, though my patience level is barely existent. On Monday I told the PT dude that after last weeks workout with the (only 1 lb!) weight on my left leg, my left hip hurt for days. I said I thought it was the isometric side and back leg lifts and he agreed. This time I did those leg lifts sans weight and it seemed ok, so I'm thinking it was exactly that. My right side we did 1 lb weight for the leg lifts and it seems ok. For the leg lifts with the stim (on the right side) we are still using the bolster and did 3 lbs on the left and 6 lbs on the right. Slow and shaky at first but eventually it got smoother.
The good news is I was told I can start walking short distances sans crutches. He suggested that I can try to go to the corner store, but if I'm running around to bring it with me in case I get tired or sore. The main thing is to not irritate and cause inflammation in the joint. I was hoping to be off the crutches by yesterday, that was my goal, but I supposed this is a compromise I can (or rather will have to) live with. My new goal is to be completely off them by 28th of December, when I leave for London. I really do not want to have to bring this blasted thing with me. I will try to be better about PT as well, as with all the other insanity going on like my nightmare root canal, I became quite lax about it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am learning that slow and steady does seem to be the key for me, though my patience level is barely existent. On Monday I told the PT dude that after last weeks workout with the (only 1 lb!) weight on my left leg, my left hip hurt for days. I said I thought it was the isometric side and back leg lifts and he agreed. This time I did those leg lifts sans weight and it seemed ok, so I'm thinking it was exactly that. My right side we did 1 lb weight for the leg lifts and it seems ok. For the leg lifts with the stim (on the right side) we are still using the bolster and did 3 lbs on the left and 6 lbs on the right. Slow and shaky at first but eventually it got smoother.
The good news is I was told I can start walking short distances sans crutches. He suggested that I can try to go to the corner store, but if I'm running around to bring it with me in case I get tired or sore. The main thing is to not irritate and cause inflammation in the joint. I was hoping to be off the crutches by yesterday, that was my goal, but I supposed this is a compromise I can (or rather will have to) live with. My new goal is to be completely off them by 28th of December, when I leave for London. I really do not want to have to bring this blasted thing with me. I will try to be better about PT as well, as with all the other insanity going on like my nightmare root canal, I became quite lax about it.
Happy Thanksgiving!
17 November, 2007
left hip not happy
This week in PT they worked my left leg as well as my right. The sad thing is my left leg is much weaker than the right. I had been trying to do exercises with it pre-surgery, but obviously the last couple of months have not been able to keep it up. On Wednesday when I was going to do the stim for the right leg we tried a 5 lb weight for the leg lifts on my left, and 7 lbs on my right. That was a bit over-estimating my strength. I was just able to do 6 lbs on my right, but my left we had to get down to 3 lbs. My knees have been very bad and they were hurting with all this lifting, though I know only strengthening my quads will help the knees. Yet another catch-22.
We also added 1 lb weights to all my isometric leg lifts; inside, outside and back; for both legs. I wish I knew what triggered the left hip so badly so I won't redo it. I was going to do some PT now, but my left hip and knee are killing me, so thinking I will ice them and hopefully in a few hours I will be able to do something.
We also added 1 lb weights to all my isometric leg lifts; inside, outside and back; for both legs. I wish I knew what triggered the left hip so badly so I won't redo it. I was going to do some PT now, but my left hip and knee are killing me, so thinking I will ice them and hopefully in a few hours I will be able to do something.
13 November, 2007
8 Weeks Post op
Sorry, these have become more like weekly updates.
Last Friday I went to see Dr. Kelly for a post op check up. He seemed happy with the way I am progressing, definitely a good thing. He said that I still should not try too much in PT, just focus on strengthening the muscles to help stabilise the joint. He thinks that around 4 or 5 months post op is when I can start pushing it up a notch.
I told him how my left hip has been bothering me a lot more. He still thinks part of it is compensatory, but I did remind him it was bad when I first came to see him about my right hip (just that the right was a hell of a lot worse at the time). He said to tell the PT guys to work on my left and stretch it out, as the IT band is popping a lot and it hurts on the outside of the joint.
Sunday I spent a long time on my feet shopping with my mum. I have not really tried that yet as Dr. Kelly kept saying to keep taking things very slowly. I was sore and achy and my left hip and left wrist (from the crutch) hurt like hell, but my right one held up pretty well. I iced as soon as I returned home and was just a bit stiff that night and yesterday. Not a bad test run at all I'd say. Once I get rid of this last crutch I hope it will be much better for my other body parts.
On the root canal front, I've just returned from the "final" visit with the endodontist. Fingers crossed that once the novocaine wears off I will be okay.
Last Friday I went to see Dr. Kelly for a post op check up. He seemed happy with the way I am progressing, definitely a good thing. He said that I still should not try too much in PT, just focus on strengthening the muscles to help stabilise the joint. He thinks that around 4 or 5 months post op is when I can start pushing it up a notch.
I told him how my left hip has been bothering me a lot more. He still thinks part of it is compensatory, but I did remind him it was bad when I first came to see him about my right hip (just that the right was a hell of a lot worse at the time). He said to tell the PT guys to work on my left and stretch it out, as the IT band is popping a lot and it hurts on the outside of the joint.
Sunday I spent a long time on my feet shopping with my mum. I have not really tried that yet as Dr. Kelly kept saying to keep taking things very slowly. I was sore and achy and my left hip and left wrist (from the crutch) hurt like hell, but my right one held up pretty well. I iced as soon as I returned home and was just a bit stiff that night and yesterday. Not a bad test run at all I'd say. Once I get rid of this last crutch I hope it will be much better for my other body parts.
On the root canal front, I've just returned from the "final" visit with the endodontist. Fingers crossed that once the novocaine wears off I will be okay.
07 November, 2007
Catch up
I will try to make this as quick and short as possible. Last time I wrote I was going to get antibiotics for my root canal that might have been infected. We're still not sure if it really was or not.
The meds did not work at all. By Friday I was still dying and my dentist asked me to come out to the island so he could take a look at the tooth. He took out the temp filling, upped the antibiotics even tho he didn't see any signs of an infection in there and left the hole open. I was to put cotton in it when I ate but other than that leave it out. My dentist also was going away. Never good when you may need him, and need him I did. Saturday I was in misery and there was nothing to be done - my dentist rang me from his trip and I tried the endodontist I had used last year in the city but he didn't get back to me, even when leaving a message on his emergency number - lovely! Sunday I spend the day trying to find someone to see me and even rang NY Hospital. Just for your fyi - they DO have a dentist on call, but on Sundays the dental clinic is closed, so all they can do is prescribe pain pills. How daft is that??? I wonder if you go needed emergency surgery they tell you all the rooms are closed and to come back on Monday???
Finally Monday I went to see a different endodontist in the city recommended by my parents neighbour - he cleaned out the canal again and said it all looked fine, was prob just some tissue in there that was hard to get out - supposedly this occurs plenty, and of course the tooth I had done is the most troublesome tooth in your mouth! I was numb for a few hours and fine, then when it wore off thought I was going to hit the roof. I had sharp nerve pain in the whole lower right jaw, stabbing away at my jaw. I was crying at my desk it hurt so much. I can handle pain, I mean, I live with it 24/7, but this was no ordinary run of the mill type of pain. When I rang the dentists office, his receptionist kept saying you're to expect pain and soreness after a procedure, blah blah blah. I kept trying to explain to her that I am not a person who just hurts a bit because they are uncomfortable. She finally started to understand what I was going through and had the doctor ring back. I went back to his office and he gave me marcane injections to numb it for long term, which only turned out to be about 5 hours but at least by then the anti-inflammatory meds had started to work.
I am still really really sore and can't open my mouth too much, and it's actually hurting more than yesterday so I'm a bit worried. I took another anti-inflammatory pill about an hour or so ago so hopefully that will help. Touch wood. A lot of wood!
To return to the point of this blog - my hip - all I can say is that with all the craziness going on I had to cancel my third PT appointment in 3 weeks so am v. v. far behind w/ that and not happy about it at all!!!
The meds did not work at all. By Friday I was still dying and my dentist asked me to come out to the island so he could take a look at the tooth. He took out the temp filling, upped the antibiotics even tho he didn't see any signs of an infection in there and left the hole open. I was to put cotton in it when I ate but other than that leave it out. My dentist also was going away. Never good when you may need him, and need him I did. Saturday I was in misery and there was nothing to be done - my dentist rang me from his trip and I tried the endodontist I had used last year in the city but he didn't get back to me, even when leaving a message on his emergency number - lovely! Sunday I spend the day trying to find someone to see me and even rang NY Hospital. Just for your fyi - they DO have a dentist on call, but on Sundays the dental clinic is closed, so all they can do is prescribe pain pills. How daft is that??? I wonder if you go needed emergency surgery they tell you all the rooms are closed and to come back on Monday???
Finally Monday I went to see a different endodontist in the city recommended by my parents neighbour - he cleaned out the canal again and said it all looked fine, was prob just some tissue in there that was hard to get out - supposedly this occurs plenty, and of course the tooth I had done is the most troublesome tooth in your mouth! I was numb for a few hours and fine, then when it wore off thought I was going to hit the roof. I had sharp nerve pain in the whole lower right jaw, stabbing away at my jaw. I was crying at my desk it hurt so much. I can handle pain, I mean, I live with it 24/7, but this was no ordinary run of the mill type of pain. When I rang the dentists office, his receptionist kept saying you're to expect pain and soreness after a procedure, blah blah blah. I kept trying to explain to her that I am not a person who just hurts a bit because they are uncomfortable. She finally started to understand what I was going through and had the doctor ring back. I went back to his office and he gave me marcane injections to numb it for long term, which only turned out to be about 5 hours but at least by then the anti-inflammatory meds had started to work.
I am still really really sore and can't open my mouth too much, and it's actually hurting more than yesterday so I'm a bit worried. I took another anti-inflammatory pill about an hour or so ago so hopefully that will help. Touch wood. A lot of wood!
To return to the point of this blog - my hip - all I can say is that with all the craziness going on I had to cancel my third PT appointment in 3 weeks so am v. v. far behind w/ that and not happy about it at all!!!
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