Archive for Appointments
11 Weeks Post Op Check – No Pain, No Gain
Posted by: | Comments10 minutes and it was all over. Quickest consult ever and I got all my questions answered lol
Overall Mr. R. is pleased with my progress which made my day. I had been worried that it was going a bit slow but he assured me that it is still early days.
The swelling could hang around for another couple of months but he didn’t seem concerned about it. In the past week I’ve had a little snapping on the outside of my hip when i straighten up from bending over which I never had before. This apparently is due to the IT band. I guess while the swelling is still present this is a little irritated but he told me that as my gluts etc. get stronger this should improve. Come on buns of steel!
The residual pain and limited flexion is due to scar tissue from the capsulotomy. He wants me to push through this pain now, taking pain killers as needed (and assured me I won’t do any damage) to break down the scar tissue and prevent more forming. If this doesn’t get better he said he can do a steroid injection to help things along. I have a follow up appointment in six weeks time so it could be a long six weeks! Not at all keen on the injection though, remembering the flare it caused in my wrist.
I have the OK to get a pool/gym program so his secretary is going to send a letter of approval to ACC and they will fund it!
I have no limitations, just have to use common sense with lifting etc. and avoid twisting while lifting.
So I’m a happy chicky right now. Pleased I can push things a little without worrying it will be doing any damage. Mr R says that he can’t guarantee it will ever be 100% again, but it is already better than pre op and I am certainly heading that way 
Another Week Of Being A Bum
Posted by: | CommentsI actually went to a cricket game today…ME at CRICKET! haha usually I find it booooring, but I was asked to go by a friend and it was just a 20/20 game so not too long. To my surprise I actually enjoyed it too. There is something to be said for actually being there out in the sun and in the atmosphere of all the fans, though I did have great difficulty following the ball and couldn’t read the score board so maybe I need new contact lenses or take a mini TV with me next time lol. It was a tense ending to the game and had us on the edges of our seats…the last ball decided whether we won or lost…we lost.
I’ve had a nothing day today. I had another sore night last night, have been rather sore all day (not helped by sitting for three hours at the cricket and walking up and down the embankments) and haven’t done a single exercise since last night. The swelling is still present and fluctuates between 2-3.5cm, I don’t think it’s anything to be worried about, I have been doing quite a lot lately so it’s probably just telling me to ease off.
I bought some Bio-Oil to massage my scars with as these are still quite sensitive and an ugly purple colour. I love the Bio-Oil, it smells nice and it is really smooth to use. I have also been using it on my old scope scars as they are a bit ‘lumpy’ feeling so hopefully the massage will help break down the scar tissue.
I have another week off work. I wanted to go back doing short evening shifts (three hours) this week, which is only an hour longer than I’m currently doing unpaid but the boss wants to clear it with my physio first which is fair enough. The only thing I have struggled with so far was when I was stuck as the only nurse downstairs on Friday night and we had to sedate a dog to remove a grass-seed from its paw (the 4th for the week apparently)…being a Westie it wriggled and wriggled and I just didn’t have the strength to restrain the small dog on the high table and occlude the vein for the vet at the same time. Help had to be called down the stairs to hold doggy’s back end down while I dealt to the bitey end…I wanted to give it a go, but safety has to come first. So it looks like the extra week might be a good idea. Though I just realised today that my next physio assessment at work and another appointment are both booked for Friday morning so something will have to be rescheduled. Fingers crossed for a return to PAID work on Monday the 18th, I really need it as the reduced pay I’m getting from ACC is really hitting us in the pocket.
Hip Arthroscopy Recovery 2 Weeks
Posted by: | CommentsYayyy, had my post op today and finally got the sutures out. Still not allowed to swim for another week which is a bummer.
Mr R went over all my pictures with me and showed me why he had to do what he did, looks a mess compared to the last time. Can plainly see the CAM lesion, herniation pits and calcification. Thankfully my cartilage is great and I should have a full recovery, however he is unsure of how the labral resection will affect the hip in the long term as there is still debate as to its proper function.
Got the OK to start cycling on a stationary bike with high seat (to minimise flexion) and have made my first physio appointment for next Tuesday. I am allowed to start running when I can do a single leg squat, hopefully by January.
No flexion with abduction for a further four weeks due to the capsulotomy, I can handle that…dunno bout ‘H’ though 
1 = First view of the joint and inflammation.
4 & 5 = Calcified labrum.
6 = Image showing what is left of the anterior labrum and calcification.
7 = Knife cutting labrum from acetabulum to attempt repair.
8 = After anterior labrum removal (fell to bits upon detatchment).
10 = View across femoral neck showing no offset, it should have a dip in it. (Acetabulum on the left)
11 = Herniation pits and chondral damage to femoral head. (Acetabulum on the right)
12-14 = Removal of CAM/Ganz lesion with motorised burr. (Acetabulum on the right)
15 = Finished CAM removal. (Acetabulum on the right)
These are the images from my first scope two years ago. As you can see there has been a lot of degeneration since then.
Operation Report
Mr John Rietveld @ St Georges Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand.
Left Hip arthroscopy and debridement of labral rim which had some calcification within it, unfortuantely there was no repairable labrum here and resection of significant prominent head/neck junction.
The patient was anaesthetised and the left hip was prepped and draped in the usual manner to give a sterile field. The image intensifier was used and a 2 portal arthroscopy was undertaken. The findings showed that the labrum anterior was pretty much redundant and it was actually really just part of the acetabulum where the ossification within it, there was a small area of calcification in the anterior labrum and the labrum adjacent to this was lifted. I tried to take this down with the knife but unfortunately there was only a couple of millimetres thick and with the calcification it just fell apart, therefore I resected this with the wand. I then inspected the head and found that there was a significant area of chondral damage on the rim, then marked this area where there was a lack of head/neck offset with the wand and then used the burr to resect and recreate a head/neck offset. Following this I ran the hip through a full range of motion both with the image intensifier and direct visualisation and found that it was no longer impinging. I thoroughly washed out the joint, placed some Nylon sutures into the portals followed by dressing.
Post op instructions:
Pain relief as charted, neurovascular obs, see in clinic at 2 weeks for removal of sutures and wound check, patient may mobilise full weight bearing.
After seeing all this do I think I’ve done the right thing?? ABSOLUTELY!!! I (and my surgeon) feel I have made the right decision and because I got rid of the offending anatomy and the rest of my joint is good, I now shouldn’t need an early hip replacement.
I am able to sleep on my operated side for longer periods now and can get up the stairs without the sharp groin pain finally. I can put my shoes on and tie them, though this still remains a little difficult and have managed to shave my legs!
I am off to Auckland tomorrow to visit Mum and her partner for a few days. I will be taking my crutches as I am still needing them for longer walks and if I have any sort of flare up I need to be able to get around. At least if I don’t need them they fit in my suitcase
Oh, and drove for the first time today!
FEELING GREAT!
Hip Arthroscopy Recovery Day 11
Posted by: | CommentsI think things have plateaued a bit. I can manage around most of the house without crutches. I am still getting a sharp groin pain when pushing off on my op side going up stairs, so using one crutch for those but can manage coming down without. Trialled one crutch for walking a medium distance today (about 200m) and discovered that I am still relying on it quite a bit which makes my shoulder sore. I over-extended at one point which had me seeing stars and unable to flex hip for the walk back (felt like something was stuck in the joint), thankfully this settled by the time I got home, so back to two crutches for walking for now, boo. Good thing is, I have gotten a lot better at using them and it’s not quite so exhausting!
Good hip has been slightly troubled, and if I’ve taken any painkillers in the last couple of days it’s been because the good one is aching. Not that I’ve been out doing anything, I’ve gotten to know the couch very well! It must be all the sitting.
I had ‘the meeting’ with my case manager from ACC. It went well, just had to sign a mountain of paperwork and fill in a musculoskeletal pain questionnaire to keep them happy. (Orebro or OMPQ, for you physios out there). Not very exciting but she did mention that she’d read my op report and was surprised that I was able to get around as well as I am. She is going to post me a copy as I mentioned I hadn’t seen it yet!
I am dying to get the stitches out (3 days and counting) and start some form of rehab. There is a woman’s bike race at the end of February with a flat, short course (37km) available and I’d really like to be able to participate in it. My sights might be set too high but at least it is a goal for now to at least get back on my bike in the new year.
I forgot to send out a HUGE thank-you to Nicky for her amazing box of goodies that arrived for me on the morning of my surgery. What a lovely surprise, full of chocolate, things to do, hand cream, lip gloss, wet wipes, cat toys and treats, my goodness I was totally blown away. I have to say my favourite item has been the laser pointer, if ever I need a laugh and a cat is around, they go berserk! Thank you also to everybody else who has messaged, visited and sent well wishes, every single one of you have brightened my day!