YAY!

I made it a whole work week without a crutch in sight. Quite an accomplishment. My left hip has started to really bother me again so I am glad that I've the injection for later today, though I must say I am not looking forward to the procedure itself. I believe I have the same doctor as last time though and he was very good. I so appreciated how he explained the procedure step by step and was constantly telling me everything about it and how it was going.

On a different note, I came across some interesting items on a message board I am on and thought I would post them. I did not write them. I will post each separately.

Also, check out this site: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

13 Week update

In honour of my thirteenth week of recovery, I decided to be brave and ditch the last crutch. Unlike most people I've had to use one for a much longer time. The idea was to keep down the inflammation in the surgical hip, and it did work. The main issue was it made my left hip very upset and inflamed.

Today is my third "official" day going sans crutch. It's been going pretty well. The main issues I've found are if I walk for a few blocks my hamstring starts to get tight and sore on the upper part, and the tendon under my right knee gets a bit irritated. My PT guys doesn't seem to concerned and I feel that the stronger I get it will work itself out. At least that's what I'm hoping. My psoas has been feeling a bit tight and we stretched it out at PT on Monday, and hopefully will do that again tonight. It's tricky for me as we don't want to overdue the stretching because of the EDS, but at the same time, it really needs to be done. I am going back to the genetic doctor in January so hopefully will get a better idea of what I should and should not be doing.

As for the left hip, it's not been too bad the last few days. Ironic as I'm getting an injection on Friday. I think it's very happy to be without the crutch and I am definitely more balanced so not putting most of my weight on it. It was pretty sore this am, but I also feel horrid and achy - it's my fibro kicking in. Sleep wasn't good for a few days and though I did fairly well the last two nights, the weather is a bit off where my body is concerned. I will have to make a concerted effort to get some good sleep in before I leave for London next week, as I don't want to start the trip off like this - the flight itself will be a challenge.

I am a bit nervous about the injection. I want it to make the pain go away, but at the same time, if it works, that means I will most likely need surgery. I am in no mental state to be able to handle that again, but at the same time I do want to get it over with so I can get on with my life. Ok, I'm not going to think about that now. As Scarlett says, tomorrow is another day...

sometimes you feel like a nut...

which has been a rare case around here lately. So...today being a day I needed to sort out my head, I put on my most favourite, the loveliest band in the whole universe. (Depeche for those of the unknowing ones). I didn't just put on their music, I really needed that extra umph to get me going, so I put on the dvd of their last tour, Touring the Angel (which I must say was one of their best ever!) So as I took a shower, made my matzoh brei and ate it, I slowly got into the music. After I dried my hair, some of their more rocking and dancing songs came on (for those of the disbelieving ones, trust me, Dave can really get down in concert) and I was just swept away. My left hip hadn't started hurting for the day, and my right was doing ok, and the next thing I realised was that I was dancing around the living room letting go of everything and just enjoying the moment. I actually felt normal, well, until after a couple of songs I could barely breathe - all that congestion is still there. But still, it was COMPLETELY BRILLIANT!!! I have not felt like a "normal" person in so long, and whilst I knew I was misbehaving incredibly and would pay for it later, I DID NOT CARE! (I will have to re-read this when I can barely walk because then I'll be thinking I should have really cared). Anyway, I can't really describe how this felt, (well I can, back hurts, hips are being iced, probably subluxated a shoulder) but it was just incredible. And it worked mentally because whatever was going on up there earlier is now gone.
Depeche Mode is officially my cure all. Oops, Martin is now singing Shake the Disease, my most favourite, so must run...

12 weeks post op

It's never a dull moment in Tricia's world, that's for sure. I came down with a lovely cold or something last week, and it has decided it is so fond of me it doesn't want to move on. We are now trying antibiotics as a form of eviction. I hope they work.

As for my hips. The right one is good, I haven't been moving around too much since I've not been feeling well so it's hard to tell. The left hip has been touch and go and last week we didn't do any leg lifts with it. I've started to do them the last couple of days at home and so far so good. But again, I've not been walking much so it's hard to suss out exactly what triggers what pain.

The good news is that Dr. Kelly said I can get an injection into my left hip! I am going on the 21st, with the hope (and a prayer) that it will work like last time and keep me pain free for at least 3-4 weeks so I can enjoy my trip to London. I'm not looking forward to the process again as it hurt a lot last time, but I've got to try something.

Fingers crossed it works!!!

11 week post op update

Yes I am late again, but that's because I didn't go to PT on Monday. To be honest, I did not go Wednesday last either. I was letting some semblance to a social life start to creep in again.

So, last week, after PT on Monday, where we did leg lifts with NO weights, I still ended up in agony for a few days after. This is really getting old. And boring.
For the most part when I walk around I am okay on my right side. The right can get a little unhappy if I do much walking, but I am starting to think that is because I am leaning on it more than my left because my left is hurting so much. I try to ice when this occurs.

Yesterday am I woke up with horrible pain in my left hip. I was so uncomfortable that I rang Dr. Kelly's office and left a message. I have been thinking that since PT is so difficult on that side, and my leg is clearly getting weaker (it's weaker than my right now), some sort of evasive action needs to be taken. Other than this inhibiting me from walking more and seeing how I do without the crutches, and making my right side get irritated, it's most importantly going to ruin my trip to London in a few weeks! I can't have that. I discussed with my PT guy all of this last night and he agreed with everything I was saying, and said that (the dreaded) injection may be a good idea. For those of you that do not know me well, I absolutely dread the thought of putting that poisonous rubbish in my body. But...(there's always a but) it did work from 3-4 weeks on my right hip over the summer, and if I can somehow be fortunate enough to have it done and it works whilst I'm in London, I'll be a much happier person. Also it will help me take the pressure on my not-to-be-abused right hip.
I heard back from Dr. Kelly's office today. Arianne went on holiday so it was some person I don't know which meant going through the whole song and dance about what has been going on. (It's been short of a few days from a year since I first saw Dr. Kelly). I filled her in on all of my left legs loveliness (ie my IT band pops constantly and pain is more so on the outside of the hip), and she said that she thinks an injection might be something Dr. Kelly would want to do, even though I've not had an MRI yet on the leg. She was going to speak to him and would ring me back either tonight or tomorrow.

So, there we are. Oh, and to add to the fun, I think I've caught either a very bad cold or the flu. Ain't life grand? Still, off to see Tom Stoppard's "Rock n Roll" tonight, so perhaps that will cure me???

Happy Hanukkah!!!