15 Months Post-op
My second hip had surgery when
my first hip was a little over a year post-op. So, I have never known what the
normal course of hip recovery is beyond a year. Well, my shoulder had surgery
when my second hip was a little over a year. Thus, I am not sure I will ever
know what normal progression is. Besides, my body has never liked to follow
normal patterns anyway. I had not really decided if I was going to keep
updating on hip recovery or not. Both hips are doing so well. However, a few
things are making me think it might be interesting to update. First, it is now
five years since my first hip became so severely painful I could barely limp
around. Yes, it took two more years to actually figure out it was my hip.
Secondly, the back pain is back to higher levels again after being somewhat better.
Old compensation patterns are not only resurfacing, but getting stronger again.
However, hips are still fine. No hip pain. No indication of giving way. None of
the other signs I later learned were blatant hip pain. What is going on now? No
one knows. EDS and MCAS both flaring.
Creativity ever to the
rescue--wearing both SI joint support belt and the waist strap to my hip brace
as a back brace. I have gotten far more use out of my hip brace as a back brace
than I ever did as a hip brace. Physical therapist was impressed with my
resourcefulness, suggested another option for back brace, but said what I was
doing worked well.
18 months post op right hip
(2.5 years post-op left hip)
I clearly never got the 15
months post-op post published. So I am just adding to it. 18 months post-op
left me rather behind. December had two major surgeries, a lengthy
hospitalization, and I ended up losing most of my strength, endurance, having
to start over with rehab. I had prepared for surgery as I always do--stayed on
top of exercise and rehab, went into surgery strong. However, unanticipated
issues arose and second emergency surgery became necessary and much longer
hospitalization than planned. Hence, global atrophy in spite of having worked
hard to go into surgery strong. (But, it could have been much worse if I had
not been strong for surgery.) Hips are still both fine, but lost their
supporting muscles, thus not able to do much. The back pain was horrible in the
hospital. I hardly needed pain medication for the surgeries, but my back was
awful. Physical therapy at the hospital was coming to take me for walks (I was
not allowed out of bed on my own because of fall risk, numerous IVs, lines,
tubes everywhere). At one point, I asked for tips to help with my back and they
were so nice to check postures, how I was getting in/out of bed, with me
explaining I was protecting abdominal incision, but also protecting left
shoulder. I was told I was moving well, doing all I should. However, I was
given tips to try to help lessen back pain. It still took trial and error, but
the final days were less miserable. Although, that may be also being less
limited, more able to move enough to shift position some on my own.
I am not able to wear most of
my compression clothing or braces because I am still swollen and healing from
the abdominal GI surgeries. However, a nurse gave me a binder that can be used
as an abdominal binder or a back brace, or both! I can also get the SI belt on
and it sits low enough not to bother too much, but is uncomfortable as some of
my scar goes that low. I also discovered that the elastic/Velcro straps for the
cooling pad for my cold therapy machine works well for back support! Because
they are narrower than most support belts/braces, I can better position the
straps in ways that are less pressure on still swollen abdomen, yet still get
some back support. Anyway, it is helpful to have some aid with back support. I
may need to try kinesiology tape again, too. I do have my TENS/NMES units back
out and using them. Also back to icing, heat for back. A physical therapist
helped explain something I have always wondered. This is that my body either
loves or hates compression. It either feels amazing, or I cannot stand it and
have to get it off. She said when it feels good, it is because my body needs
support. When it is uncomfortable, it is because of an inflammation issues. So,
my abdomen not liking pressure is because of ongoing inflammation from surgery
and infection even though healing. My back needs support.
Back to hips. My left hip is
fine, nothing seems to phase it. Right hip is tight and a bit sore at times. I
am doing tummy time again to gently stretch out hip flexors. I discovered I can
do TENS at the same time as tummy time so that gets both done without stressing
me any further over how much time goes into rehab and recovery.
All rehab is in the pool for
the most part. Physical therapist had me focus on pool work after the accident
last year when struggling, and he is having me focus on pool work now. The goal
is to get me strong enough to do more on land again. My body thrives in water.
The water feels good, supports me, lessens pain, gives positive feedback, gives
gentle resistance, works my whole body gently. My core is shot from surgeries, trauma.
It will not activate on command--isometrics, or trying to engage for abdominal
brace just do not happen. But, my core will engage and work in the pool. So we
are using swimming and pool walking to help with shoulders, hips, back, and
core! I can walk laps in a hallway at home and I have walked outside a couple
of times on unusually nice days. Walking distance is pretty normal, but pace is
not back to pre-op these last surgeries. Still, grateful for progress!
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