I'll be 6 months post-op in about 12 days! I want to be as dilligent as possible to continue to update everyone on the progress as I promised. The farther this is behind me, the busier I get returning to a normal life, at least one that doesn't involve hip pain!
People ask me all the time if I am completely healed. I guess my answer is yes AND no. I am very thankful to have had a successful surgery and I feel great. I do feel I have my "life back" and that was the goal, to be mostly pain free. I took the kids to the zoo this week, did a good bit of gardening and the only aches and pains I had were the ones that are not hip related, but I do have at least 2 or 3 days out of each month with pretty severe hip pain. I assume this has something to do with either the arthritis in the joint that is irreversible. Typically these "flare-ups" last no more than 48 hours.
I also still have post-op tightness in the joint, but this has slowly faded. When I try to sit with my legs crossed on the floor I still feel it, but now it's just slightly uncomfortable, whereas three months ago it was impossible. These moments are reminders to me that my life has been affected by FAI and it's bittersweet to be thankful to return to normal activities but to also to think of how much it affected me, my family and our finances. All the office visits, pt, and sunny days I could've spent with the kids but sat depressed on the couch. I'm thankful it's over, but the scars are still there, literally and figuratively.
And then of course, there's the thing I try not to focus on or ever give into; the fear that it will return or the surgery will not prove successful, or I'll tear my labrum again. I would LOVE to cartwheel down a grassy hill with my four year old daughter but I can't now. So...short answer is yes I am better, but the truth is it will always stay with me. It's also a great motivator though, when I need to pull from somewhere deep for a little extra strength I know now that I've been tested and I came out ok...I know how to appreciate things we take for granted like walking without pain.
Most of all, I'm thankful and wishing and hoping your day has or will come very soon!!!
love,
Vanessa:)
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14 comments:
Very nice Vanessa. Well said. I am sure you healing will only continue and your life will become even more "yours"... cartwheels and al!
beautiful!
I agree - very well written. I always look forward to your updates, but it's so great that you are now at the point where FAI is not consuming your life anymore, and you're able to get out into the world and experience it again. My recovery has been rough. I had a setback last week, and I'm definitely worse than I was before surgery. I hope I can get to the point where I'm feeling the way you are right now.
Congrats to you Vanessa! I hope you continue to have such great success.
Good for you! That is fantastic. I have read that hip pain can become worse around your cycle. Maybe that is when you have your couple of bad days per month. Hope they subside for you!
L.
hey venessa very well written and I am so glad to hear that you are getting your life back and yes you definately learn to take the pain free moments and go with them until you can go no more. I miss being able to walk without pain. I just had an mRi done thursday because my orthopedic does not seem to think the impingement is causeing all the pain hoping it will reveal news of some sort. I look forward to your next post
I'm due to go into surgery for a labral tear and left hip impingement - I'm really nervous- I've been trying to catch up with all the ghngs around the house that will be difficult to do afterwards - I would like to ask though,hos ling was everyone else on crutches and not able to weight bear, how long before they were able to drive or if there are any runners out there- how long before you were able to run again?
I'm dreading the boredom that awaits me.
Amanda
hi,
my name is Assi and Im 35 years old, just had my surgery done by Dr byrd (Friday March 26th). I had same issues as u and I decided to do the surgery only after I read your lovely blog.
good luck and I hope to see u in vail next year (I dont suggest we meet just trying to make sure we both make it next year.
Thnaks
Assi G
In response to your post Amanda Taberner,:
I had FIA both pincer and cam surgery on my right hip, along with some arthritis removal 27 Feb 2010, I am 35 and a mother of a 2 and a 4 year old (sound familiar). I started running 5 weeks after the surgery and was walking only two days after the surgery, I was cleaning the house within five days, and working on my wood working projects through the night when I couldn't sleep. I didn't drive for the first 11 days but only because I was taking pain killers.
You have little to worry about if your recovery is even half as wonderful as mine. Good luck.
Did you ever use a CPM Machine during your recovery?
Hi Vanessa,
Just wanted to say thank you for putting that blog up online.
I'm 21 at the moment, and I have had bad hips since I was 8. Back then it was only sporadic, but in the last couple of years my hip pain has been getting progressively worse. A few months ago I was, finally, diagnosed with FAI. I am now waiting for a date for an op (it's looking like late July/August time).
It has been great reading your blog (I only stumbled across it today), and I have found it very uplifting and quite heartwarming, to see you get through it all. It really has helped relieve some of the fear that I have had. It is a tough, lonely road to go through. Especially at uni - it's hard for non-family members to understand and appreciate what I have been going through, as they cannot physically see anything wrong with me.
So, yes, thank you very much for your blog.
Kindest Regards,
Nick
I am in Massachusetts and am looking for physicians for left hip FAI and torn labrum. Need help asap!
Hi every one,
Just here to share my story.
The pain is everywhere: Lower back (sacro iliac), groin, all around the hips, buttocks, knees, heels and mid back.
2 years of doctors not knowing what I had and prescribing NSAID with little effect until one asked for simple X-Rays of both hips: Diagnosis: FAI on both hips, CAM effect (most common in men I think).
First Arthro MRI on the left Hip: labrum tear of more than 1 inch and cartilage damages. I should have an MRI on the right hip soon.
Then it is surgery.
It was a long emotional journey of not knowing why the pain was there with most exams (numerous MRI, pelvis scan, scintillation camera...) not showing anything wrong.
I wish all of you good luck.
Vanessa, thanks for your very informative blog.
slimcosi@hotmail.com
Cindy,
There are a number of good surgeons at Children's Hospital in Boston who are experienced in FAI surgeries. Also at Newton-Wellsley and Mass General is Dr. McCarthy. He has a personal website and speaks often on hip scopes. I've heard mixed reviews about his temperament but I've never met him so I don't know.
Good luck with your search.
I wanted to take the time to thank you for this blog. I am scheduled to have my third scope done on my hip, and needless to say I am @ the end of my rope. I have had my labrum tear three times, it wasn't until recently that it was discovered I had an impingement. The pain has been awful, I can't walk, I can't sit for too long, I can not do the excercises I used to do.
I felt that it was over, that my is life the way it is and that's it, I will walk like this forever or at least until I am old enough for a replacement. I am glad that so many people have had success and I am praying that I become one of them.
Thanks again for the blog, please keep it going!
Martina
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