So sorry I haven't posted in awhile, but I have been recovering from my THR (total hip replacement). It's been a rough road but I'm starting to see progress every day now. I had no weight bearing for 2 whole weeks then for 6 wks partial so now I'm down to using one crutch again.

I decided to go with the home health service instead of going to rehab for another week. I had a nurse come in twice a week to draw blood bcz they've had me on coumadin (blood thinner) since I left the hospital. I also had a physical therapist come in twice a week to help with exercises to build my muscles in my legs back up. I've been on two crutches for over a year now and it shows bcz my muscles in my leg have atrophied.

I see everyone is still here. That's good.

I've been trying to catch up on some of the posts, but stopped bcz I just don't have the energy and it hurts my hip if I sit too long. Hope everyone's summer was good.

I still have to have the left side done (the mri shows the left side is worse than the right-wierd bcz I didn't have as much pain in left leg as I did the right-that's why doc decided to do right leg for now and we'll wait til the left leg hurts to the point I can't put weight on it before talking surgery). Doc said it could be a month or a year-I'm hoping for the latter.

This disease is so bad and so painful I will take the surgical pain over the presurgical pain any day. It's called AVN or ON (avascular necrosis) and it's where the blood supply to your hips is cut off and the bone starts to die off and eventually collapses like mine did). In most cases like mine, the cause is idiopathic (cause unknown) but usually is caused by taking steroids or drinking too much (alcoholic) which neither I do. Prednisone on long term basis is the major culprit. So if anyone out there is taking prednisone or steroids might want to discuss long term dosaging and make sure you are taking the lowest dosage necessary for your condition. I would hate to see anyone get this.

I'm having alot of problems with my ankle-hurts to put pressure on it so doc is getting mri ordered to see if the AVN is in my right ankle. It can appear in your shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. I pray mine hadn't spread b4 I had the surgery.

Anyways, looking to brighter days when I can walk on my own without devices and play with my grandchildren again-they do grow up so fast.

Take care everyone and god bless.

donnaC

Yi yi yi kiddo .... tis a rough road for you ... I feel your pain my friend ..
We walk like we are old ladies ... I'm good for about ten to twenty minutes .. anything after that Im toast there on ...
walking sitting or laying ...standing in one spot kills me.

To toss around like the good ole days .. I wish the best for you ...
" The physio is a must to help strengthen your muscles .. to have gone so long without,
take it slow Donna .... and a positive recovery will bring your wish true .

Keep on Trucking !

One day at a time


Wishing you a god speed recovery my friend .

P.S.

Tid bit
When standing in line ups ...


You will find me standing like a stork in line
ups ( grocery store ie ei ie ei )
Shifting from foot to foot ...
takes pressure off my back and neck !

Take care Donna .. it's really nice to see you back

Always check in girlfriend .

You have been missed !


Can you imagine what people are thinking ....
As I shift from foot to foot ...


I must look very impatient or nutsy to those who have no clue .. LOL


smile s

You are so right about the PT. Got to do it otherwise my legs won't be able to hold my weight. It's not so bad; my home nurse told me to take a pain pill about an hour b4 PT and it will go much smoother. So that's my hint for the day.

Love your hint, lol. If we were standing in the grocery line, we'd look like 2 storks standing in line cuz I do that all the time, lol.

BTW how are things going with you? You mentioned your back and neck. Are you getting any treatment for it? If not, don't blame you-I told my pain mgt doc no more steroids-I told him they were poison to me since I have AVN. I don't think he liked what I said but hey last time I looked, it's my body.

Take care and god bless.

Hey ... I'm in therapy , I'm not coping to well .
Mentally not coping well , Physically exhausted
Pain is exhausting !
and I'm not able to do it all alone and I needed help .

I sent a longggggggggggggg letter off to my family doctor and in return
he found me a therapist .

Who do we trust ?
MY BIGGEST FEAR today .

I am hoping .... once I return.... from a long rested
period away , I will return to therapy and hopefully
with a clearer mind , allow and trust a new lawyer to
take over my case.

Going home for a few weeks .. its been six years ...

Looking forward to the down time !

Thank gawddddddddd for Ontario OHIP ( Medical )
Therapist is paid for through this plan .

Had I continued to wait for help through my insurance comp.
I would have been in the nut house by now.

Donna ... take it easy , take it slow ... one day at a time .. and you will get to where you want to be. ........ Someday ,somehow, someway, !

Any more storks ?

lol


Hey .. I recall taking meds before the pool exercises at pain management clinic
Though I moved around like a snail in the pool ..... and I felt good
The warmth of the pool was the best medicine for a body of pain !

Though I thought I moved around like a snail ... The following day I could barely get out of bed.
I mentioned this to the instructor at the pool and she said to us all ..... and pointed out to the group what I had said to her .

Instructor says

Those of you who take meds before you come to the pool , must move slower than your average pace ... or you will dearly pay for it later ...

If you are able to do water exercises with out meds .. you will know your limits in the water ...much quicker !
Mind you she went on to say that she was no doctor and I dont want to tell you how to take your meds ... I would like for you to be aware of the consequences when you do take your meds ,

Pros and cons of taking meds before exercising ..... !

Good Tid Bit Donna .... !

My thought at first was to take my pain meds before the pool exercises !
and I changed that the next few visits at the pool and found a great difference in what my LIMITS REALLY WERE WITH OUT THE MEDS !

I tired much quicker with out pain medications , I went back to taking meds before the pool .
At least I was able to do the whole entire hour in pool .
Of course
All at our own pace of course !

I had much more umph with pain meds !
Mind you when they wore off .. .yi yi yi yi yi
I COULD TELL YOU EVERYTHING I DID in the pool that day


Steroids .. I've never tried ... !
Though some get relief and some dont
It all depends on the person Donna ,
the physio will keep you moving
if not .. the old man has some car oil

I'm joking

take care =^..^=
I'm leaving on Friday !
Hope to peekin . .while I'm gone


@(**)@

Oh my Donna, I knew you were having issues with your hip and needed to have it taken care of but I think my mind just went blank on all of it until I just read your post.

Gosh I'm hoping your feeling lots better!!!

Good to see your posting again, Donna. I'm trying to type with my grandson on my lap. Anyway, your post notes are very enjoyable to read. Two weeks ago yesterday (Friday) I had another set of facet injections (throasic area). That would be the third time for that area and I'm being scheduled for another cervical facet injection treatment. I must say this third set feels better. There's a couple spots that send sharp burning pain but I think it is more in the cervical area. So, with the pain getting better with the facet injections that would mean I will get another rhizotomy, right? Too bad the nerves that are the problem, don't turn red so they can inject once.
My insurance company keeps having me sign up for disability and I get denied. I just got my second one denied.
My aunt had a hip replacement last Oct. When she was 2 wks. into recovery she said she would not have this done again, but she is scheduling for the other. I told her that she sounded like someone that had just had a baby.
Need to get food for the grandkids. This is the week with Nanny before school starts. Two of them go to school and the youngest is 2yrs. old.
Take care DonnaC.

I just responsed in the message you sent me couple days ago and now I read your latest. I will keep you in my prayers.

Oh Donna!

My Aunt had a partial one I guess as she was up in a few days. She got amazing results but it sounds a lot less intense than what you had. It is a wonderful thing that it can be done though, just thing what it would have been like just a generation before!

I hope you are getting stronger everyday and soon will be dancing around

Sky

Donna,
Have not seen you post in a few days. I hope that you are still mending ok and have not had a set back.