Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - Day I've stopped keeping track

Well...how many times can I say the same thing, really? I'm feel pretty great, I can't complain! The major annoying part is the lack of flexibility as well as muscle strength that's not coming back as I had hoped and this missing groin muscle.

On another note, Monday was my goal date to start Insanity! If anyone isn't familiar it's a workout regimen similar to P90X...instead of 90 days, they give you the results in 60 days. I was a little nervous to start because of all the jumping and pounding, but it really has been fine! Although...I'm only really on day 3! haha It is definitely an intense workout with jumping and moving very quickly. I don't try to keep up the pace as I just can't right now. But I am focusing on the quality of each move as opposed to the number of reps I can do. It consists of jumps, squats, lunges, pushups and everything in between. My ankles, feet/arches, and calves are in terrible pain - but good pain! The hips really aren't bothering me besides some muscle pain which is expected. One of the moves is like jogging but with high knees and I just do not have ANY strength down the front of my hip to do this move! The other one is something that I call a "squat thrust" that we used to do in crew, I think Shaun calls it Suicide somethings.. but you squat down, bend your knees, put your hands on the floor then kick your feet back so you're in a push-up position, then kick your feet back between your hands and stand up all in one motion. I used to be able to do these, but it literally is physically impossible for me to do this right now and that's kind of depressing, but oh well. Hopefully over time!

I should have posted this a while ago...but here is a Facebook link to the PAO page which I wish I had before all of this stuff...but I found it after BOTH pao's!
Facebook PAO Page

I guess we're due for some pictures, huh? Here goes...

Here is my most recent incision, screw removal was in November, but the bottom half is looking pretty swell.

Here is my first PAO and screw removal 8 months post. It looks awesome.

And here is a pic of both, but I think it's kind of impossible to see.

Wednesday, January 12, 2012 - ONE YEAR!

If you look back to my very first post, you'll see what a year this has been. Today marks my one year anniversary of my RPAO and a transformation of my body. It has been one of the longest (mentally), but quickest (physically) years of my life. The ups, the downs, and the real down downs...I wouldn't change a single thing that has happened. I'm not 100% on either hip and I have come to the realization that I probably will never be. My left is giving me some pain where the stress fracture is and my right (which has been good to me) is not giving me some aches and pains - and is 1/2" longer than my left. Flexibility is so-so...but that's what happens when I from not having a socket, to actually having one to keep my bones in the proper position.

About 2 weeks ago I started exercising again because I need to get back into shape and get muscle back into my hip joints. I'm starting with the Brazil Butt Lift that I saw on TV and decided it would be a good starting point. Trying to tone my butt in turn works on my legs/hips as well. I can say that my hips are SUPER weak. But the most troubling thing of all, is the lack of muscle in my left leg - my inner thigh. I'm not sure where that muscle went, but it's not where it's supposed to be and I have zero strength - like, when I lay on my left side and lift my left leg towards the sky, it doesn't budge, not even 1 inch. That is extremely frustrating. I try to stay positive and say that the muscle is just very weak....but at 6 months post, I should most certainly be able to lift my leg. I don't have another appointment with Dr M scheduled, but I have to get my final MRI done and get another check-up I'm sure. So that will be in the coming months.

Other than that, I can say that this was the best decision I have every made. Besides the aches and pains that come and go, I'm not in the excrutiating pain I was in a year ago. I can carry groceries, I can walk, run downstairs and stand (not for a crazy amount of time yet) without any, or very minimal discomfort. I hope to hike, jog, and experience life much more this summer than I ever have. I have not tried to jog or run as I want to make sure my fracture is healed before doing any of that...but it will happen soon enough. February 1, I am going to start exercising with Insanity (similar to P90X)...so we'll see how that goes.

My posts will get less and less now as things start to get back into shape and my issues will get less and less (hopefully). But, for anyone reading this and deciding whether or not the surgery is worth it, it is, 100%. It's not fun, and it's not easy, and it's emotionally draining, but in the end it is completely worth it. I thought I was going to have to put my life on hold, but in 1 year I've had 2 PAO's and both screw removals. To celebrate, I am in one of my friends weddings this weekend and my goal was to be able to dance the night away. I've made it!

Pictures coming soon.

Friday, December 2, 2011 - Day 2

So I'm on Day 2...err, not including the day of surgery. I'm feeling pretty good overall, but quite sore. The most pain I feel is when I'm sitting and go to stand up, the incision feels like it's stretching and that's not a great feeling. I fell asleep on the couch last night around 8:30pm and went up to bed about 9. I took a percocet (which I still don't think is doing anything for me) and I slept amazing until about 8:45 this morning! I needed that after not sleeping so great the night before.

So I lounged around today and just rested my body. I took the foam tape off of my incision last night so now I have gauze and the clear tape stuff (see pictures below).  I can sit indian style almost perfect which makes me SO happy. It's amazing how the screws really hindered things...but at the same time I didn't really know they were in there besides when I felt them through my skin. So, I basically feel pretty good although I keep elbowing my hip and then I keep hitting it on the counter and stuff, so that really feels terrible. haha

Tomorrow night is my company Holiday Party, I usually dance my ass off, but this year I don't think there will be any of that...oh well. I haven't been using my crutches, I just walk hunched over until the pain eases a bit. I took a shower today and it felt good to get all the iodine and stuff off of me. I have to keep the clear tape and gauze on for 10 days...I don't look forward to taking it off because it hurts like a B**** so bad! ugh. Then the steri-stripes underneath I leave on until they fall off.

So here are a few pictures...the screws range from 3/4" to 5" (far right screw). The left 5 are from my LPAO (most recent) and the 5 on the right are from my RPAO. This is the story of me year! haha

Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Day 1 (again)

Well, you'll be happy to know I'M DONE!

Yesterday was my screw removal and I couldn't be happier. I was scheduled at Beth Israel Deacones right across the street from CHB and the surgery was still performed by Dr. Millis and Erin. My surgery was scheduled for 9:30am but I had to get there at 8am. Upon check-in, I was given a sensor (think the kind you get at a restaurant and it vibrates when your table is ready). It went off shortly after along with 4 other people. We all went up to the 3rd floor and got in our johnny's and prepared for surgery!  Erin came up to talk to me and sign my hip, then she asked if I was getting put out, or if I wanted to stay awake. I said if I can stay awake, I'd prefer it. During this conversation, I was being stabbed numerous times as they were trying to insert my IV! ouch. Dr. Millis came in to make sure I was ready to go and soon Erin came to wheel me into the operating room. I was wide awake as they hadn't given me my medicinal cocktail yet. They injected some loopy meds into my IV and I started to feel good. They turned the radio on and began the surgery.

I didn't feel any of the initial cuts and I kept talking to them asking what they were doing. I soon realized that Erin was doing the whole procedure because I could hear Millis telling her what to do. I was OK with it since it was only the screw removal. Once they located all of the screws, they started to loosen them all. This was not as painfree...I certainly felt what she was doing and would clench my hands to ease the feeling. It was not unbearable by any means, it was more like the feeling of a needle being put into my hip. I asked them to turn on a video monitor so I could watch, but they didn't have one. They backed all of the screws out about halfway and then left me sit up a little to see them! SO cool. haha They pulled the blue sheet down from in front of my face and a nurse held my head up for me, it was a cool thing to see for sure. Then they took the rest of the screws out completely while I made "ooh, ouch, eee" noises. haha. They closed me up, backed down my meds and I moved onto my clean bed and wheeled me to recovery. I forgot to mention, I had to pee SO bad halfway through the surgery, the nurse was leaning across my body and I told him I was going to pee on him if he didn't get off my bladder!

Once I got into recovery, they got me up in a matter of seconds and I walked off to the bathroom with crutches, full weight-bearing. My brother was waiting for me and they brought him in soon after. I had graham crackers and cranberry juice to snack on and then I was ready to go!! Kevin took the bus from New Haven to Boston Wednesday morning as he had class late Tuesday night (I had an MRI on my right hip Tuesday afternoon so I drove up myself). So Kevin and my brother walked across the street to get my car, then we walked to Bertucci's for lunch (couple blocks away!) I felt great and my hip/leg was still numb! I inhaled all of my lunch and then we walked back, got in the car and drove to where we were staying.

I made a reservation at the Yawkey Family Inn through CHB which is for families that have appointments or surgery at the hospital and live more than 50 miles away. The cost is $30/night and they thrive off of donations. However, you can only make a reservation of 4 nights or more in advance. The place was great, with a common kitchen, bathrooms and TV area. There are places for you to bring your own food as well as areas of common food for everyone. I booked the Inn from Tues-Sat, but since I was feeling alright, we left 2 days early and we were only charged for the 2 nights.

So...I'm finally on the road to recovery. I am quite sore today and had difficulty sleeping last night. I have percocet and they aren't really doing too much for the pain. A couple days and I'll be healed. I am using crutches (full weight bearing) just for comfort. Here are some pictures of my adventure this time around!

Friday, November 4, 2011 -- 5 Months 1 Day

So I hit the 5 month mark! yay. I saw Dr. Mills on Tuesday for another follow-up since my last appointment in Sept when I was having all of that pain. I have been feeling a bit better, not great, but better than I was. Mom and I went up the night before and stayed in a hotel since my appointment was 10am. We got to the hospital just about 10 and went to get my xrays, then I went to request a cd/dvd of ALL my xrays, then back to Ortho waiting room. We waited there a few minutes then sat in the 'second' waiting room for about 10 minutes and Erin called me into a room. She asked how I was doing since my last appointment so I explained what was going on. She opened my xrays and said the bones were healing well. The spot where the screws are is completely healed, but there are other spots that have some more healing to do. She then pointed out my huge stress fracture that finally appeared!!! Which is good in a sense, and bad in a sense. So, just more rest and vitamins to help my bone heal. I can't start PT yet because the exercises they will give me will just hurt me more. Erin also checked my strength and it was terribly weak. I told her it was but she was surprised how weak I am. That's not good. But the bridging between the cut bones is getting better.

Dr. Millis came in shortly after and did range of motion also...things look good, except for the screws pinching me a bit. Screws can come out as the bone is healed in those areas. He also had a professor from Germany looking over his shoulder so he had him feel my screw heads through my skin and was telling him some of the procedure. Millis recommended some contraption to help my bone grow...it sends some kind of electric current into my bone to help it grow. I said no thanks...I'll stick to my calcium and vitamins. Other than that, I look good and my screw removal is booked!! November 30th with an MRI the day before...then rest a few days after and I'm good to go!! He suggested the MRI next year but I told him I'd like to get it done this year while I'm still in one deductible. Easy as pie!

Check out my newest xrays

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 4 months 6 days PICTURES

RPAO 9 months post - DONE

RPAO

Add caption

  LPAO - 4 months post. Awaiting hardware removal

Both

Both, hard to see

Sunday, October 9, 2011 - 4 months 6 days

Yeah...so I've been terrible updating this time around and I apologize to anyone that is actually still trying to follow my progress...or in this case, lack of progress.

So, lets see. My last post op was September 13. I was dying to go see Dr. Millis because I had a terrible pain that had started about two weeks earlier. It was my inner thigh/groin area and moving towards my butt, upper hamstring. My xray didn't show anything out of the blue, but that doesn't necessarily mean a stress fracture is out of the question. Dr. M is pretty sure that's what I had/have, along with much much more healing to do and my muscle rubbing over the unhealed area causing some pain/clicking. Here I am, almost a month passed that appointment and I don't feel as though anything has changed! I sleep terrible (basically only on my stomach since laying on either side are sore to my leg/hip). The most frustrating part of this is that it doesn't seem like there's any issue with my HIP! It feels like it's my butt/groin area. When I sit in a chair, I feel pain in my upperhamstring/lower butt if that makes any sense...and I still don't feel like I have an inner thigh muscle...I think he just completely removed that! haha. Apparently an MRI would be too difficult to read right now considering all of the poking and prodding that has been done in my joint he said it would look like a mess basically and not really show too much.

So...I've been using 1 crutch to help take some weight off of my hip and I'm drinking my milk in hopes to get this bone growing! My left hip had OA and he did a lot more construction in the joint, so the gap that needs to heal is MUCH MUCH larger than my RPAO...which is unfortunate, but if it's temporary pain for a pain free future....what's another few months. Ugh. I will say that 2011 can be completely whipped out of my life. It has been such a draining year...sure I've been in pretty good spirits, and I've done a lot of things considering...but it's just emotionally, mentally and physically draining, it's just horrible.

My next post-op is Oct 18, he said I could probably schedule my screw removal at this appointment - HOLLA! This made me really happy. Maybe the screws are causing an issue too. There are 5 this time. yuck..and not a little tiny one, all 5-6" ones. I want to get this done before the end of the year so 1) I'm DONE and 2) I won't have to hit another deductible! Let's hope my bones are healed much more this time!

That's about all really. I basically do everything (even if I shouldn't). My left leg feels MUCH weaker than I think it should at this point. I 'ran' across a parking lot the other day and my leg almost gave out because there's not strength to push myself off with. I'm not happy about this. That and the flexibility issue...indian style is non-existent on the left side which is SOO annoying. I love sitting like that and it just doesn't work! I hope after the screws come out I can move a little more..otherwise I'm going to force M to go back in there and re-do it! :-)

I'll be posting some incision pics soo...they are looking pretty great...considering!