Massaging the Scar Tissue

OMG, can I just say "OUCH!" I had my scar worked on today by a massage therapist, and boy does that hurt. The skin literally had adhered to the bone, and it hurts like a banshee to have someone apply pressure to it, let alone force. She told me to keep working it. Problem is that the most I can stomach from myself is just applying some oil and lightly rubbing it in. It's hard to inflict pain on one's self. I can feel the heat coming off of it right now, and it's been 5 hours.

No so fast . . .

I'm suppose to be merrily going about my business at this stage of the game, but for the past 4 days my hip is constantly on my mind and has me wondering 'What is going on?!' Out of the blue I've been having pain in the groin area, the same general area where the cartilage was originally torn. It started when I knelt down to kiss my son one day, and is now most prevalent when I pivot. I've also had the sharp electric like shocks pinging me along my outer hip, so maybe the nerves are still trying to reconnect? I can only hope. In spite of this, I did manage to play some golf over the weekend, I figured if it's gonna tear, then it's gonna tear. But of course, that is the worst thing that could happen. Hopefully I'm worried about nothing and the hip calms down--the sooner the better!

1 Year Post Op Appt

It's been 1 year and 1 month to the date since my RPAO, and today I had my 1 year follow up appointment. 2 days ago I had a very unusual pain in my outer hip while teaching a class. It felt as it something had chipped off, hurting so badly that I couldn't put pressure on my leg for a few minutes. My doc thinks it was just a muscle spasm and nothing related to the joint. Thank goodness for that! And I was so please that this spasm decided to happen prior to my appointment rather than after!!

I was also told that if I want more kids to go for it and that no special considerations need to be done for my hip. So that was also good news. I sometimes worry as the hips really change during pregnancy with the joints loosening up and such.

And I told him that my good hip is calming down from all the extra work I put it through last year, but I'm mindful of the activities I do being careful not to irritate it. I pray I never have to go through this again!

So that's it! I go back in a year. What a difference a year makes.

One Year Out!

Has it only been one year since my RPAO? It feels like an eternity! That was one long year with all the rehabbing and getting back on my feet, but it also seems so long ago since I've been in pain--thank GOD! The weekend before my surgery last July I went out and enjoyed an evening of dinner & the casino with friends. By the end of the night I could hardly walk, even the really old people with their walkers and oxygen tanks at the casino were passing me as I tried to walk. I'm not making that up, it's all true and it reconfirmed how badly I needed my hip fixed.

Fast forward a year. Last night I headed out once again to take in the casino & the Kid Rock show. My hip didn't even cross my mind, and it didn't dawn on me until today that my 1 year hip anniversary is here. What a difference a year makes. I am so thankful to have found my awesome surgeon, and so glad that my hip was salvageable! What an experience this has all been, and I'm so lucky that things have worked out as well as they have.

Pain Killer Over Kill!

Having screws removed is a 15 minute procedure, so why all the heavy prescribed drugs?! I was given Fentanyl in the hospital and then sent home with a script for Percocet. Yes I realize that I was cut open a couple of inches and had three screws removed, but I think all these drugs are overkill and have left me with a 6 day headache (not to mention being sick to my stomach from the one Percocet I took for the car ride home.) Looking back at my first scope with 2 tears repaired, I only ever took 2 Vicodin and then resorted to Advil. What I found weird is that when the resident came in to write the script I told him I'd be fine with some strong Motrin, and he still wrote the script for Percocet. Just another situation that proves you know yourself best and to listen to your instincts.

I always thought I had 4 screws, turned out it was only 3.

Screw-less!

I am officially screw-less at last! It's so nice to have those pesky little suckers out, as they always rubbed along the waist band of my pants. After examining the screws myself, I now understand why they did that as they have a rounded head, not flat like a drywall screw. I'll have to post some pics.

Yesterday marked the third time I was put under for my hip since Feb 08. The good news was there was no anxiety on my part going into surgery; knowing it would be a quick, harmless procedure, and I had been through MUCH worse put my mind at ease. It did end up being a longer day then I expected, as I was there for 6 hours. The doc was running behind schedule, but my motto is "if you want the best, then it's worth waiting for', plus my dad & I got to catch the replay of Game 7 Red Wings vs. Ducks which we were planning on re-watching that night at home. So everything worked out for the best.

The procedure was quick, only 15 minutes or so. But I still needed a good hour+ in recovery. When I came to, I know I was still out of it but for some reason felt I had to prove to myself that I was coherent enough to have a conversation and proceeded to talk the ear off of the poor guy that was watching over me. It was kind of like one of those drunken situations where the drunk thinks he's fine as he's slurring all over the place (especially after I was given a dose of Fentanyl.) Reminds me of that Joe Namath interview:




Anyways, the procedure was a piece of cake. What did surprise me is how sick I was on the painkiller Percocet, to the point of being physically sick (which is a first in this whole ordeal.) But after a rough night I realize that I do not need any strong painkillers. I'm getting around on my own, although a little slow. I expect to be feeling much better in a couple of days. Doc said to take it easy for 2 weeks, and that the holes in my bones will heal in 4 weeks.