Muscle Repair - My Perspective

10.5 months since I had my abductors re-attached to my leg.  I'd like to say that I had wild dreams of strutting down the street in high heels by now, but I think we all knew that wasn't going to happen!  My more modest dream of just walking without my stick is yet to materialise too.  I'm still hopeful though.

I think the recovery from the muscle repair took much longer than any of us thought.  Six weeks on two crutches and then a further few weeks on one crutch did nothing for my residual muscle tone (and metabolism!).  If possible, I seem to have lost a little more function as my quadriceps muscle has taken to doing EVERYTHING and now I can't stop it from taking over.  After 10.5 months I cannot lift my operated leg from a lying position and I was just able to do so prior to the muscle repair.  So.... I don't know what happened there?

The way I see it, right now, I am no better or worse than I was prior to the muscle repair surgery.  I'm hoping that in time, with continuous exercise, something might improve.  I've already accepted my stick as one cool accessory (I can get the last packet of pasta from the back of the massive supermarket shelves with that bad boy lol!).  My funky walk is something else - I'm disappointed that it doesn't seem to be evening out, but as long as I don't catch my reflection in a window or mirror, I'm mainly okay with it.

Anyways, as is becoming my mantra - I am still in NO PAIN.  That I am so so thankful for!

I have heard that some muscle repair surgeries can actually induce pain in the muscle due to scar tissue formation.  I either have massive nerve damage and just can't feel it (possible considering my (in)ability to notice how far advanced my osteoarthritis was?) or the repair did go well and scarring was minimal.  I'm going to go with the latter, psychologically more optimistic... ;o)

Related posts of interest:

• Ultrasound Results
• Injection fun
• 6 weeks, now walk

6 weeks, now walk

At last, 6 weeks is up!! WOO HOO

Let's dance! Let's not.

Right, now what? 6 weeks feels so long when you're on two elbow crutches. But I can now drop to one according to the letter I received from Mr. O a week out of hospital. I've been wandering around the house on one crutch and instantly I feel so liberated! With one arm free to carry something, anything, is heaven. I've not had two arms free since before my resurfacing and that's the goal... to ditch the walking stick too and walk unaided.

So I can't start physiotherapy again until after I see Mr. O next week to see what's next really. I had a wee cheeky abduction of my leg earlier 'just to see' what would happen! Er.....my leg moved outwards lol, but more importantly, I felt it in my butt where you should be feeling it. That was new!

I desperately want this to be it, the repair that gets me back on my feet properly. But without re-injury and I don't care how long it takes in physio, I'll do it. I'm still getting the odd painful twinges over the incision site and the side of my butt where I imagine most of the suturing etc has been done to reattach the muscle to the bone. The twinges are fleeting, not requiring pain relief and they usually come at the end of the day (using leg all day?).

I feel happy now 6 weeks has past, like some sort of danger point. My thigh muscles have wasted considerably in that time so I know I have a lot of work to do in the next few months. Once again, and I've lost track of the times I've said this.... BRING IT ON! Let's get walking :o)

Like curled ribbon

Mr. O told me to stay off my right leg for 6 weeks. His senior registrar told me to stay off my leg for 6 weeks. The physio's told me to stay off my right leg for 6 weeks. 6 weeks!!! Minimum....

Just let it go stiff, then we'll work on stretching and then strengthening.

Until yesterday, perhaps due to swelling, I had not noticed that the muscles have gone as stiff as a board! Just standing there (on crutches) I had the insane sensation that my left leg was longer, loose and floppy compared to my right. Then it twigged! The reattached muscles have stiffened up and when compared with my left leg, it feels like I'm curling up like christmas ribbon. I'm distinctly being pulled over to my right....in my mind, at least.

Here's hoping that this will be the ticket to shifting my hippy limp. It's a very odd sensation....

Have crutches, will travel

....or not, as the case may be.

I had the surgery to reattached my abductors muscles about 12 days ago (29th June). Both gluteus minimus and medius had completely detached themselves from the bone. When they went in to repair the muscles they were met with a completely naked femur bone over the greater trochanter (upper thigh) area as the ligaments tend to retract back when not holding onto muscles. How this didn't cause me any pain I do not know! I'm beginning to think I have abnormal pain recognition in my right leg??

The surgery went very well, apparently. However, it was more complex than originally thought, took about 2hrs and has landed me with more mobility restrictions than either of my last two surgeries combined! I found out after the surgery that they roughened up the femur bone at the reattachment site to help the muscles stay put. They also took out the screws holding the cup in place in my hip socket and mechanically tested the cup to check that it was secure (i.e. checking that a loose cup was not responsible for causing my muscles to detach ??). The screws did not go back in. I assume they were removed with an aim to stop the muscles rubbing over them (sawing through them) and that I don't need those screws anymore as the cup has knitted itself in with the bone of my pelvis. I sincerely hope so, as I'll be honest and say that I wasn't very happy when I was told they took the screws out. It wasn't consented for. But I do acknowledge that they had to investigate why the muscles detached in the first place. They also wouldn't remove them if they thought it would ultimately cause a cup failure - would they? I'm choosing not to dwell on this and just trust them. My leg's not fallen off yet lol

So originally I was told that I'd be in hospital for one night, two crutches at first and then down to one in a few days for 6wks, driving after a few days, back to work after a week off. Reality: two crutches at all times for 6wks then down to one, NO driving for the first 2wks and only when I feel confident I can move my lower right leg appropriately, no bending down to pick things up off the floor, no side-stepping to the right, and signed off work for a MONTH.

Bit of a shock to the system those restrictions. I'm basically not allowed to abduct to allow the muscles to fully heal. They said just let the muscle go stiff over the 6wks and then we will begin a stretching programme followed by strengthening. I'm not attending physio until after my 6wk appointment at the hospital - so no physio until after the 17th August. That seems ages away! It's not just the physical restrictions of remembering not to actively move my right leg sideways, it's all the little things that come with being on two crutches - carrying stuff around easily, no real cooking, showering....

Thankfully, between my mum and my partner the whole house is organised so when I'm in alone I can get to pre-made meals, clothes (top drawers etc), phone.... the list is long! My back pack is now my best friend and I've dug out my sock putter-onner that I needed last year (glad I never gave that away!). I can't sit on the sofa with a hot drink, but I can get to the kitchen table to sit down. Mmmm....thermos comes to mind :o)

I had the staples taken out last friday and everything already feels a million times better. They didn't go in through the full length of the resurfacing scar - about 2/3rds of it. So I think there were about 20ish staples, but I lost count again when the nurse took them out as I was too busy chatting trying to ignore the tugging sensations. Only the top half the staples felt sore coming out and I definitely believe I have lost sensation in patches over that thigh from previous surgeries. Double-edged sword there: probably prevented me feeling pain when the muscles detached, but pain is the body's warning system telling me something was wrong and I probably didn't get the message until much later (i.e. all that gym going to strengthen the abductors and no improvement, lets check out those muscles on US scan).

Despite the fact I know the frustration level will be high, I'm playing by the rules and parking my backside, doing nothing, letting everything heal. I do not want to have to go back in and have those pesky muscles put back on again!

One year

Today, exactly one year ago I had my hip resurfaced!

Today I was back at the Royal Ortho for my first yearly check-up.

Thankfully I can say that it is unremarkable news, the implant is EXACTLY where it was put one year ago. I have no pain or issues in my everyday life....in fact, life is very very good! Which is one of the reasons I haven't blogged in a couple of months.

I do still have unresolved muscle weakness in my abductors. I have been working hard in the gym and in physio to try and get my abductors to kick-in and start working properly. Without them, I'm stuck with this hippy-limp.

Last week at physio was a bit of a turning point in my treatment. My physio, who is a MSK (musculo-skeletal) physio, took me to meet some neuro physios (i.e. those that deal with people who've suffered neurological injuries or diseases that affect their muscles). The idea was to check I haven't suffered some nerve injury during the surgery that might be causing this muscle weakness and to see if they had any other exercise ideas that might trick my muscles into working correctly.

Four physios manipulating your body at once is both confusing and tiring I can tell you! For an hour and a half!!!! The short story is that everything is 'firing' correctly and as it should. But that my body has effectively forgotten how to co-ordinate it all properly. Chances are, I'm probably a long way off getting them to behave, but it should happen in time, with hard work and patience *sigh*. Somehow we're going to try and incorporate the exercises the neuro-physios did with me, which is no small feat considering it involved two other people! My physio said he's going to sort something out but to keep up my other exercises the now for the next couple of weeks. I'm curious as to how I'm going to do this.....

This was discussed today in the orthopod's office. The surgical team would like for me to have an ultrasound scan done on my leg to check that the muscle hasn't actually detached itself from the bone. Recall the nasty staples holding the abductors to the bone in the x-ray?! Yeah, ouch. Wouldn't that hurt though???? I can't say I'm in hideous discomfort any more than the average person after a session in the gym. I would have thought you'd feel something if a muscle had detached itself - that being said, I didn't feel the full whack pain of osteoarthritis at the moment of diagnosis. Mmmmm. Let's just say, I'm hoping it's not detached itself, because that would mean reattaching said muscle.....and as much as I like anaesthesia.....

Anyhoo, it's all good! Life is good! NO pain = good :o))))))

I love my hip. Can't believe that one year has gone by already!

Memorable day

This is the date 5yrs ago I had my triple pelvic osteotomy.

This is the date 1yr ago I had my x-ray/CT scan that announced my osteotomy had failed.

If you asked me then if I'd be sat here 5yrs later with a bionic hip, I'd have said you better be kidding me cos I'm not going through THAT again! But here I am, 7mths on with a new hip and better than I ever was after the osteotomy.

If I knew this was going to happen would I have still had the osteotomy? Yes. The joint needed to be put in a better position and it did give me 3ish years pain relief, better than nothing and having an artificial hip at 27 right? Yes.

Having two major hip surgeries before the age of 32, not ideal. But better than living with osteoarthritis at age 32 (or indeed, 22 when I first noticed something was amiss).

Feeling very reflective this evening, but not in a bad way :o)

6 mths post-op

Oh my goodness, 6 mths since I had resurfacing surgery! I went to Birmingham last tuesday for a check up with Mr. O'Hara, my implant has not moved one iota and there's nothing on x-ray to cause any concern whatsoever - very happy days!

I've officially been free of osteoarthritis pain for 6mths and that has changed my life beyond words. Osteoarthritis steals people's lives....it won't kill you, but it'll wreak your life and you as a person. I've been given my life back twice now and hopefully this will be the last time before the age of 50 that I'll have to resort to surgical intervention to beat the bugger! No way this is stopping me doing what I want to do.... I might walk a little funky right now, but walk I can..... and I'm not sitting down or staying in anymore!!

The last month hasn't been the greatest psychologically on the recovery front, but I've come to the realisation that there's nothing I can do but keep moving forward with everything. It's done now and I'm pain-free, something that millions are not. I'm in this for the long-haul, so I'd better get comfortable...

Walking at 6mths post-op

If you're looking for the videos, well they've gone cos I can't stand seeing them! If you never saw them, let's just say that I walk like a heavily pregnant lady waddling at high speed, but without the bump..... It's going I tell you, that limp is bloody well going!!

Let's talk about Sox....

We're doing it everyday! ;o)

Well, everyday since about 3.5-4mths post-op. Minus putter-onner you understand. But today, nearly 6mths post-op I put on my socks the way I used to, knee up to chest rather than ankle over other knee. I have been trying to do it for about a month now and not quite able to hook sock over foot with my knee up to chest. It means my ROM is increasing, yey!

It's the little achievements.... Today, putting socks on normally, tomorrow hiking up Kilimanjaro!! No, seriously....

Major Frustrations

I was going to write last week, that's how frustrated I felt about it all!

It's taken me nearly a week to shake myself out of a major hippy frustration. Even my lovely physio couldn't say anything to help! I wasn't being mardy, just fed-up-cannot-be-arsed-when-am-I-gonna-walk-properly bleurgh. If there was a pram, the dummy would have been chucked.

I've obviously reached that point. You know 'that point', where you're training for a marathon, writing a thesis, or re-learning to walk (as you do; 3 times over in my case to date) .... and you hit that brick wall, or worse, you think you're going backwards! As Homer Simpson said "Everytime I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain" and it appears to be the same with my ass!! The more I work on it, the less it functions lol

All my muscles ached with the exercise and I think I irritated a tendon which was making the scar tender. All in all, I was officially frustrated. My physio was really nice and he was trying to tell me that I'd improved, I was hearing the words and smiling, but not feeling it. He's given me some new exercises to do and I'm a little happier about that - bit more variety.

This week has been much better, I can actually feel the muscles getting stronger. I still limp. I am not in pain, which honestly, I'd rather limp than be in pain anyday. I think it would be really hard for anyone to expect me to be 100% frustration-free with this situation.

I'll be seeing Mr.O next week too, hopefully it'll be just as unremarkable as last time! :o)))

Linoleum diving

So I fell today for the first time since the resurfacing, or nearly fell....

Pootling down the corridor at work, sole of my left foot just sorta caught the linoleum at a funny angle propelling me face first towards the floor at high speed - and out of instinct I put out my right leg in a lunge to catch me! Then I panicked, sorta twirled and ended up with my back against the wall, standing up. Quick anatomical sweep of what's still in place and in pain - NOTHING!! Thank goodness....

If I did that pre-op, well I'd probably have face dived the floor because my right leg would not have responded at all. If I had lunged to keep my balance, I'd have been paying for it instantly and for days.

I just stood there waiting for something to happen (other than my heart rate to go down!), like my hip spontaneously dislocating, or sharp pains attacking my knee. One, I was amazed that I effectively corrected myself (then let myself go!), and two, nothing happened, AT ALL to the joint. Mr. O has a point there about me doing whatever I like physically huh?

I'm so chuffed my muscles are getting so much stronger and they are responding correctly. They are still weak but I'm working on those physio exercises and by the end of any one week I can tell a difference (it's small, but that's just the way it's going to be!). Slowly slowly catchy monkey.....

3 months post-op

.....and it's my birthday!

Okay, I'm back online at home finally. I have since moved, started my new job and have a new car!! Exciting times :o)

Three months post-op, wow, I cannot believe how time flies. I am still using that pesky crutch on a daily basis, but not necessarily all day. I just move faster with it, so the crutch is officially becoming a psychological 'crutch' too. Interestly, a week or so ago on a couple of occaisions I walked out of the house, locked the front door and only once I got out into the fresh air did I realise that I'd forgotten the crutch! That's got to be a good sign right? The muscles just seem to be getting stronger every day, but unfortunately, I'm at a standstill in the battle against the limp *sigh*.

Tomorrow though I'm going to the QMC in Nottingham to meet with my physiotherapist for the first time. He is very used to handling hip resurfacing patients and I was referred to him by Mr. O directly. You often find that hip resurfacing patients get lumped in with hip replacement patients, which is bad, because there are restrictions with most replacements, and none on resurfacings, and most physios treat you as the former!! I had the same problem after my PAO, the physio had never had a PAO patient, so she treated me like a hip replacement too - so frustrating! Mr. O told me that he gets well annoyed about this and that's why he chose this physio for me. So the really specific work will begin from tomorrow. Meanwhile, I've been swimming and gymming as per doc's orders. There's a great swimming pool and gym at the local hotel here in Kegworth, right on my doorstep, fabulous!

The other major event for me in the last couple of weeks has been driving. I have been so worried about getting into a car and being able to drive safely due to the surgery (on my right leg!). Bear in mind that I also hadn't driven for about 5-6yrs prior to the surgery due to pain. Mr. O told me at 5 weeks that I was cleared for driving based on my progress and movements, but I've just been too nervous about it all. I decided to have a refresher lesson before I picked the car up, just for peace of mind - plus I wouldn't be in the car alone, there would be dual brakes, and .... it wouldn't be my car if I wrote it off!! No, seriously.... I just needed to boost my confidence. The driving instructor was so curious as to why I'd pay for a lesson when I could just go out with a friend or relative. Well, family would be nervous for me and I'd never relax, and friends....well, they'd be miles away right now as I've moved to a new area and currently know no-one! Anyways, I went out in the driving instructor's car for a full hour driving around the place and it was fab....I had no real problem with controlling my leg movements within the car, no muscle spasms and no muscle aches during or after the ride. So I was pleasantly pleased and more confident about picking up my new car! Oh my new car, I love it! VW Polo, so nice to drive and it just feels safe too. It's a good choice for me.

If it wasn't for the crutch, I could honestly forget I had this surgery or that I'm now part bionic (Oh, the brand of machines in the gym are called Cybex - har de har har! Cyborg-Bex!). I still have a lot of work to do in eliminating the limp, but honestly, my life is a million times better already! I can even get my socks on now, sort of..... lol

Offline for a bit...

Okay so we've finished phase 2 and into the week of the move. I'm not sure when I'll get connected online at my new place so I thought I'd give a brief update before I go. I don't want this to turn into a blog about packing!! Because that's all I can think of right now....

I don't seem to have made any significant progress in eliminating the limp in the last two weeks. I haven't been in the pool as much as I'd like due to the aforementioned packing and socialising (goodbyes!). I've probably been 4 times in 10 days which isn't very good at all. Although I've done a LOT of walking recently and heavy-ish lifting!! It'll be fine, once I move I'm going to get sorted exercise-wise and I'll be getting my appointment for the physio too as promised.

My mother stayed with me last week and she said she'd noticed a big difference in the limp so maybe to me on a day-to-day basis its not noticable but it is slowly getting better. I'm not in pain and can get around at a fair pace with the crutch/cane anyways. I am noticing a significant ache in the muscles under the incision when I climb the stairs or squat. I wonder if its the scar tissue contracting? It can be painful if I try to lift my bodyweight from a squatting position through that leg only, but only in the muscle, not the joint. And the pain subsides very quickly once that movement is stopped, so... This is why I need to see the physio the sooner the better as I'm a little scared at how far I can push myself in this respect.

Oh oh......I managed to get my sock on without the putter-onner!!! It wasn't the most elegant of movements and involved hooking the big toe with the sock and wiggling it on. I've only managed it about 3 times as I only seem to be able to do it at the end of the day, when my muscles are warmed up and stretched out - so the putter-onner is still a must in the mornings for speed! But its getting there then. I can also sleep on my op side now with absolutely no ache at all now, its fab! This is week 9 post-op so that's great.

Right, time to put those last things in the boxes and try to get some sleep. Last day at work tomorrow and I'm already feeling sad about it. I will miss my colleagues terribly, they've become quite good friends. But I'll not be too far from Leeds to visit. That's the life of a scientist eh?

Whoever said...

"Sometimes these things happen for a reason".....

....needs a good talking to before being drop-kicked out the nearest window. You know who you are.

Major surgery is stressful. Needing to get a new job before your contract runs out is stressful. Moving is stressful. All these things are MAJOR life experiences. DO NOT do them all in the space of 2.5 months or you risk a brain hemorrhage!

All I can say is thank goodness for family and good friends. I am fiercely independent, but I've had to learn to ask for help due to the mobility issues. Yes, it can make you feel down sometimes. Useless, dependent, helpless, child-like....all these feelings spring to mind. I have had moments recently when I just want to give up, almost wishing I never got my new job because it might have been 'easier' to be unemployed for a while. But, I think I'd have hated that more - just a different type of stress. At least I know that I'll be continuing in the job I love and, of course, continuing to pay the bills!!

Today has been frantic. Stage one of the move. Up early to continue the organisation of the flat - stuff to charity, stuff to bin. Heavy bags too! Running errands around town as I have very little time to do that before the moving day. By mid-afternoon I was pretty exhausted from humping bags about and running around town, and knowing that I needed to get to the gym/pool as part of my rehab I decided to leave some of my to-do list and head straight to the health club. When I got back from there it was early evening and I'll admit that I got little else done on the list! Meh! Oh I might be tired, but I wouldn't have been able to do a fraction of it if I had to do it within the 3 months pre-op. No way. I'm tired, and maybe more so than someone who hadn't been through major surgery recently, but I'm not in pain and that IS something to be thankful for right there.

Stage two of the move begins tomorrow. My mother is arriving to stay til friday to help me pack everything as I have no time off work. I cannot express how much I appreciate this help! I cannot get certain things down from my cupboards without standing on a chair - er, NO! Not risking falling off a chair and causing a femur neck fracture at this stage.

Time for some rest I think, the next few weeks are going to be chaotic and full. I will survive....with or without my sanity intact!

....."happens for a reason".....*smack*

Even my eyebrows hurt!

Okay. Swimming and gymming. I have been 7 times in the 10 days since I joined up and its been great! Even though parts of my body are reminding me of their existence! My hip on the other hand is getting stronger and stronger, and its the one body part that doesn't ache.

I'm doing about half an hour on the gym bike and an hour in the pool, including hydrotherapy exercises in the pool. Mr. O's letter (for me to give to the gym is they're worried about my using the machines in recovery) does sorta say I could be doing a lot more, but honestly, I don't think I'd be able to move the next day if I did all that!! I mean, I have the physiotherapy exercises to do at home too! I figure if I include one more machine each week then I might actually be able to function. I went to work last monday and couldn't use my upper arms and shoulders after all of the swimming last weekend!! My hips were fine! I don't know if I can keep up with this bionic hip...

A couple of other completely fantastic side effects from these workouts - I have a lot more energy and I'm sleeping very well. I'm sleeping more and more on my op side now, not for long periods but I find I'm just rolling over onto that side naturally in the night.

My ROM is still increasing. I still can't get my sock on my right foot yet without my putter-onner but I can get my knee almost to my chest so I can reach to the underneath of my foot....but its still not quite enough to put a sock on or clip my toenails yet. It's getting there. It'll be 7 weeks post-op on monday so all of this is remarkable.

I am, of course, still using one crutch for walking any distance. The limp is still prominent but I can tell its beginning to get better. I've started to use a cane indoors, I haven't quite transitioned to using it outside yet as I've never had to use one before and it takes some getting used to! It was a suggestion by Mr.O to get myself a collapsible cane so as I get stronger I can walk for longer periods of time unaided and I can just take the cane out my handbag to use when I get tired. So I got myself a funky purple spotty one from http://www.switchsticks.com/ , if you've gotta use one, make it stylish!

Anyhoo, I've just come back from the health club and I need to scrape myself up off this sofa (again) so I can go make some dinner ..... ;o)

Let battle commence

So, after seeing Mr.O last week and being told to get my limpy-ass into a gym and pool I took action! I've never been one for joining gyms etc and the local pool is a bit of a bus ride away (which isn't a motivation for going either before or after work). But, I have decided that it'll probably be in my best health interests to now join a health club that will give me access to nice facillites and a large pool. In the short term that causes a bit of a problem as you know how these places work - you sign up for a minimum of 12 months. I'm moving away from Leeds in about 4 weeks time! But I need in the pool now!

After phoning a couple of places the Livingwell Health group (Hilton hotels) said they would do me one months membership only. I would cost me £55 for one month, £10 more a month than it would if I joined up - but hey, if it means I get to crack on with my physio in the pool its worth it. It's a really nice place too, only 5mins walk from my place, tv's on the machines, big pool, jacuzzi, steam room/sauna, the works!! :o)

The battle against the limp has begun! Since thursday I've been in the pool 3 times, for over an hour each time. It's amazing, I can actually move the joint so well in water, no pain or stiffness, it's like it's back to normal! Doing the breast-stroke means I work all the muscles of the hip at once so swimming really is an excellent exercise for me. I also took time to do physio exercises in the water - abduction/adduction, quads etc. During that time in the water I feel normal again, then I get out and rediscover the limp! It will take time. I haven't been into the gym yet, I wanted to just swim for a few days first. Tuesday is the day I get into the gym followed by a swim. Mr.O sent me a letter stating that I'm fit for gym exercise (for the gym, insurance I think) - in that letter I realised exactly what he expects of me in the next few weeks too. He's stated that he expects me to use almost all the machines including rowing machine (eek!)....but only slow on treadmill and light weights on abduction. It's a full time job this exercise!

I am actually exhausted today. Yesterday I got up early for my swim and then headed off for a massive furniture reconnoiter (renting unfurnished in my new place). 4hrs of walking around the big retail shops! No pain in my hip! My back muscles from crutch usage however..... I can't remember the last time I was walking for 4hrs without any hip pain (I may have been a teenager!). So tonight will be an early night otherwise I'll not function at work tomorrow.

It's all I do now - work, exercise, eat, sleep, repeat! Done it before, it will get easier. Zzzzzzzz...

I climbed a mountain today

....or rather, the stairs!

No great feat huh? Only one flight of stairs you say? But not one step at a time... I was walking the stairs normally, with NO CRUTCHES and NO PAIN!! Woo hoo! I don't care that it was slow, I climbed UP the stairs today using two legs, go me! :op

It's a good end to a stressful week. Walking unaided is getting easier too, but I still have a major limp. I'm seeing Mr. O on tuesday so I'll be able to have a good chat about exercises then. I really want to get back to doing pilates but I've just wanted to take it slowly. What's the point in rushing the recovery and undoing all Mr. O's good work. I have plenty of time to get back into various things. I've just been concentrating on walking, walking, walking just like he told me to! I've been pretty pleased with the results of just walking so far!!

4.5wks - Back to work

Ok, I'm a bit of an emotional basketcase right now. This last week has been quite stressful, hence the lack of posting.

My grandmother died last tuesday. Whilst it wasn't completely unexpected, it still shocks. As my mother had already travelled ahead of us to be with her mum, me and my dad travelled back to Leeds to get me and my stuff back to my apartment and settled back in. My mum joined us in Leeds at the weekend and both my parents have been amazing in helping me settle back in! Especially under the circumstances. I suppose being busy is good too. The funeral isn't until this coming friday, quite a wait really.

As I have a new job we all thought we'd take a day trip to Nottinghamshire to scout out areas to live. I'm going to be working in the countryside and it's throwing up all sorts of stressful new things for me to think about! I don't have a car, never needed one living in the city centre! I can drive and it seems I will have to get a car. No problemo, right? Just the small matter that I cannot lift my leg off the floor in a sitting position - let alone move my right foot from accelerator to brake safely (or at all!). Seems I'll be relying on countryside public transport to get to work for a while!! Seems I have a new incentive to up the exercises. I'm still using one crutch, but I do wander around the apartment unaided - and it is getting less jerky, more limpy!

So yeah, I feel stressed with everything I need to organise in the next month and with everything that has happened in the last month. I am also going back to work tomorrow and I've just realised how much I have to finish up before starting my new job in addition to the move across country, again! I am exhausted. My body is sooooo tired after everything that has happened this last week and with all the travelling. A lot of people have said that I shouldn't bother going back to work tomorrow, but honestly, I just want to get back to a routine, a sense of normality. I'll only be in tomorrow as the funeral is on friday. Then I work monday and on tuesday I'm off to Birmingham for my check-up with Mr. Orthopod. Mmmm.....where's that routine fitting into this exactly (lol). Give me until the end of next week and it'll be back to normal.

Think it might be time for a long nap!

Transitions

3 weeks post-op

...and we're doing the 'jerky-turkey'!!

Meaning, I seemed to have reached a plateau with the mobility. I went from two crutches to one in under two weeks post-op and walking a fair distance from one week post-op. This last week I've realised that I can walk for miles (well, 2) on one crutch with no pain or ache - which in itself is amazing considering! But I haven't felt any significant progression this past week which would enable me to walk unaided for any length of time. I can potter about the room without any crutches but I'm very much the 'jerky-turkey' as my leg sort of jerks at the knee to put the leg into its most stable position (straight leg, knee locked). I know, I know, its only been 3 weeks post-op!! My leg is still healing from the incision.

Yesterday I started to walk where there's more of an incline to work the quads and glutes harder. That definitely seems to get the muscles aching by the end of the walk. Unfortunately, it's started to snow tonight so going out for a walk tomorrow might be out! Urgh, there's only so many butt-clenches you can do at home before you get bored!! On the plus side, I can now get onto the floor again (without wondering how on earth I'll get up again unassisted!) which means I can do gentle pilates exercises. This has helped with stretching everything out - I can now reach to my ankles. Hopefully I will get to my feet before long so I can get my socks on myself - thank goodness for those fabulous sock putter-onners!! Nothing worse than not being able to put your socks on yourself, lol.

I'm on schedule to go back to work next week which will be good actually. I have done some work on my laptop this past week, not completely up to full speed, but at least it'll be a transition into the office next week. I'm also eager to get back as I have lots of loose ends on the project to finish up before starting my new job! Yes, I knew it'd work out - I was offered a position in Nottingham last week and I've accepted it. I will now be working on a project funded by Arthritis Research Campaign (UK) to study the mechanisms of pain caused by osteoarthritis in the knee. I'm very excited to be part of such a project as obviously osteoarthritis has plagued me for many years and it's nice to think I can perhaps help make a difference.

Right, now, where's that ice!

The week that was

Well it's good to be back home and online after my resurfacing surgery. What a week eh? I actually can't believe I was discharged in time for the weekend. If you asked me on wednesday if I would be, my answer would have been a definite NO!

Sunday 7th March:
A little late getting to the ROHB due to roadworks, but after calling them to let them know they were only concerned about whether I was having a safe journey to the hospital rather than being late for my 'check-in'. They are so nice there. Once there I was placed on Ward 3, the hip and knee ward, and subjected to a ton of paperwork. I had to have blood taken too - cue the on-call weekend lacky, er junior doctor! I hate the doctors taking blood and no-one had informed this 'trainee orthopaedic oncologist' that taking blood with a regular 20ml syringe and needle had been banned a while back (they use those vacuum syringes now). Couple the giant syringe with the fact he didn't release the tourniquet to draw blood and it wasn't the best experience. Don't worry, I told him so in no uncertain terms! Anyways, apart from that and a giant arrow drawn onto my leg, sunday was relatively unremarkable.

Monday 8th March - the day of surgery:
7am: Woken up and sent for a shower.
7.30am: Visit from the anaesthetist - we briefly discuss anaesthesia and what I'd like. I ask for a general anaesthesia with a single spinal shot (lasts 7-8hrs as opposed to the 24-48hrs of an epidural).
8.30am: Taken down to pre-op theatre, shoogled onto the operating table, stuck with a cannula in my hand, hooked up to monitors and plastered in electrodes!
8.58am: I was given 5 bottles of wine, sorry, the anaesthesia.....then.......
10.30am: Awoke in recovery seeing the clock on the wall, oxygen mask on my face, IV fluids into another cannula in my wrist and the noise of the hot air filling the heated blanket over me. I ask if the surgery was successful, the resurfacing, yes it was. Relief. Then I feel the ache. Morphine given. Ache still there half and hour later - more morphine. Better :o)
12 noon: Was about to be moved to the ward but started to feel sick due to the morphine. Blood pressure also low so they kept me in recovery.
1.15pm: Back on ward 3 fairly awake and very comfortable. Parents came in to visit me not long after that.

Spent most of the day napping and feeling sick due to the morphine. Was sick a few times and decided that I wouldn't take morphine that night, just the NSAIDS and paracetamol. I was not allowed out of bed either - like I could, my leg felt welded to the bed!!

Tuesday 9th March - day 2 post surgery:
Mmmm.....perhaps not taking the morphine wasn't such a good idea! It was at this point that I remembered all the times that I'd forgotten to take the diclofenac and how crap it was to play catch up with the pain. So most of day 2 was spent wrestling with the breakthrough pain and the sickness of the remnants of the morphine, joy! During this time the super-smiley physiotherapists turned up to get me out of bed!!

This was the moment I was dreading and it was just as joyous as the last surgery. Well, as the spinal had worn off it didn't feel as traumatising turning straight-legged using the monkey bar to get your legs over the side of the bed. Bending the legs at the knees over the bed however felt so tight and heavy I thought my feet would never get to the floor. The incision site felt like it was going to burst - they assured me the staples would hold, don't panic (they did!). So, feet finally on the floor, a zimmer frame gets plonked in front of me. Now, as a 31 yr old spring chicken one might think that the site of such a contraption would just induce a depression, but honestly it was a god send - when your leg feels welded to the floor and someone is asking you to do something impossible like 'walk' you take anything you can hang on to with welcoming arms. This is always the point where you think "what the f*** have I just done to myself! I can't walk, I can't remember what it's like to walk, will I walk again?". The latter question was a good one as I did manage to move the leg forward, although there was little control over it and I could hear myself shouting in my head at my leg "MOVE damn it, MOVE!"....it's like the first scene in Kill Bill when she wills her big toe to move after waking up from a long coma - yes, its THAT hard to do! However, 3 steps on and I'm hit with a massive wave of nausea and several bright white spots cloud my vision. Couldn't open eyes due to feeling blinded by said bright spots and the physio's manhandled me back into bed asap. My blood pressure had plummeted to 93/51. No more getting out of bed for me til the next day. As I was still in pain, the nurses decided that sickness wasn't a good enough reason not to take the morphine, I gave in. The rest of the day was spent vomit-worthy but pain free. I was also getting told off by my parents for being too hard on myself as I just wanted to get up and walk - I'm thinking the morphine and anaesthesia affected me in more ways than one mentally.

Wednesday 10th March - day 3 post surgery:
Woke up still vomit-worthy so the on-call doctor gave me IV anti-sickness drugs which actually worked! Hurrah! By this point the diclofenac with paracetamol was working so no more morphine. I still couldn't stomach much food though which was making me feel crappy as I had no energy. I could barely stay awake on day 3 due to this. The porter kept coming to take me to x-ray but the Sister kept shooing him away as I couldn't be mobilised until the physio's came back again, and until I stopped throwing up! Apparently Mr. O was desperate to see his handy-work!

The physio's came back again with military precision to get me out of bed for round 2! Urgh. This time I made it across the room to the bathroom - HUGE achievement this, a glimmer of independence was emerging with the sight of the bathroom door. Washing in bed is bloody impossible and horrid I can tell you. The physio's also told me that there would be no restrictions on my movements either during recovery. This is the big difference between resurfacing and replacement - there's a list of restrictions with replacement so you don't dislocate the joint in the early stages of recovery when the muscles are at their weakest. I don't have to worry, just to use common sense. Obviously I cannot touch my toes just yet because my muscles just won't let me, far too tight! But they will stretch out soon.

Thursday 11th March - day 4 post surgery:
Today was a good day! Despite having had zero sleep (despite my fabulous foresight to bring an eyemask and ear plugs - trust me, worth it when in a ward bay of 4 people!) I was so alert thursday. I got a shower!! Oh I cannot express how fabulous it was to sit under the hot water and wash away that hospital smell....bliss *sigh*. The X-ray dude then carted me off which cheered me up no end as it was my first trip out of the ward bay in 4 days! Then when I got back to the ward the physio's turned up again with 2 shiny new crutches for me. We did the full length of the corridor and then the stairs. With that it meant the physio's signed me off for discharge! HIP HIP HOORAY! Just need to get the occupational therapist and ward Sister to sign me off for discharge and FREEDOM! The OT had to witness me getting in and out of bed safely and unaided - check. They also made me show them that I could sit on a toilet safely without the use of a raised toilet seat and hold rails - just using my crutches and reaching out for guidance. That's easier said than done and not something I could have done post-PAO. But 2 tries and the OT was happy to sign me off for discharge too! The ward Sister was happy with my progress and was happy to discharge me with one exception - I was not allowed to travel back to Scotland in the car! The ROHB do not like their hip patients to travel in cars. So an ambulance was booked, but it meant getting away thursday was impossible - 8am friday morning and I would be free!

Friday 12th March - day 5 post surgery:
6.30am: Woken up to get ready to leave. Wound checked - holy crap, 30-35 staples! Given painkillers to take home and a supply of clexane injections for 1 month (to prevent DVT's, rather than the sexy TED stockings!).
8am: No ambulance yet.
8.30am: Done 4 laps of the corridor and collared Mr. O's registrar to show me my x-rays (wow!). Still no ambulance.
9am: Ambulance!!! Hurrah! Bundled onto the stretcher into the ambulance, en route to Scotland.
3.20pm: Home sweet home baby yey! Very stiff as we only stopped once. Walked about the house lots to relieve it.
11pm: Asleep in my own bed!