Yesterday marked 7 months since surgery. It's unbelievable how long ago this was and in some ways, how far I still have to go. This recovery truly is full of ups and downs.
The last blog post was written just after getting an injection in my psoas (see photo to right). I
still feel as though the injection was beneficial, but it was NOT the compete answer to may pain. Unfortunately, I am still in a good amount of pain and this has the surgeon scratching his head.
I saw Dr. Olson on Thursday. After evaluating my abilities and hearing about my continued pain, he is a little concerned. But fiirst, let's back up...
At this point, I am working out daily (I started T25 5 weeks ago and although I sometimes have to modify, I am keeping up for the most part... and am gaining muscles back in my legs and booty!) and am seeing a neuromuscular massage therapist once a week. After taking 5 weeks off of PT to focus on massage, I am scheduled to go back this week.
So, Dr. Olson was pleased to hear that the massage is seeming to help in little ways. My muscles are beginning to feel a little more pliable. That's a good sign. However, if my pain does not go away by December, I will need an MRI to see if there is more to my problem than just tight muscles. With all of the exercising and massage I am doing, it is a little concerning that my muscles have not stretched out at this point (if that's what it is).
So, here is a possibility at this point (see image below)...
During surgery, my hip was broken in 3 places, completely taking the acetabulum (hip socket) out, and moving it to create more coverage over the head of my femur. If you look at where the arrow is pointing in the "after PAO" image, you will see bone in my pelvic brim, where there was no bone previously. This is because in order to make that coverage, he had to rotate the bone at such an angle. Now, knowing where that psoas muscle is from the image at the top of the page, picture that muscle needing to be stretched to go around that extra bone. The psoas now comes from behind my back, down, around that bone, and connects to the lesser trochanter on this inside of my thigh. This could be causing the tightness. Extra bone + extra stretch= Ouch!! The pain I am having is occurring directly on my lesser trochanter.
The last blog post was written just after getting an injection in my psoas (see photo to right). I
still feel as though the injection was beneficial, but it was NOT the compete answer to may pain. Unfortunately, I am still in a good amount of pain and this has the surgeon scratching his head.
I saw Dr. Olson on Thursday. After evaluating my abilities and hearing about my continued pain, he is a little concerned. But fiirst, let's back up...
At this point, I am working out daily (I started T25 5 weeks ago and although I sometimes have to modify, I am keeping up for the most part... and am gaining muscles back in my legs and booty!) and am seeing a neuromuscular massage therapist once a week. After taking 5 weeks off of PT to focus on massage, I am scheduled to go back this week.
So, Dr. Olson was pleased to hear that the massage is seeming to help in little ways. My muscles are beginning to feel a little more pliable. That's a good sign. However, if my pain does not go away by December, I will need an MRI to see if there is more to my problem than just tight muscles. With all of the exercising and massage I am doing, it is a little concerning that my muscles have not stretched out at this point (if that's what it is).
So, here is a possibility at this point (see image below)...
During surgery, my hip was broken in 3 places, completely taking the acetabulum (hip socket) out, and moving it to create more coverage over the head of my femur. If you look at where the arrow is pointing in the "after PAO" image, you will see bone in my pelvic brim, where there was no bone previously. This is because in order to make that coverage, he had to rotate the bone at such an angle. Now, knowing where that psoas muscle is from the image at the top of the page, picture that muscle needing to be stretched to go around that extra bone. The psoas now comes from behind my back, down, around that bone, and connects to the lesser trochanter on this inside of my thigh. This could be causing the tightness. Extra bone + extra stretch= Ouch!! The pain I am having is occurring directly on my lesser trochanter.
At 7 months post op, I sill cannot do a single leg lift. I cannot lift my knee up toward my chest while standing on my good leg, and I cannot fully run. This is a little saddening, since I expected to be there at this point, but there are always options.
For now I will continue with T25, will add PT once weekly, as well as a weekly session of massage therapy. If the pain does not clear up, we will schedule an MRI. There is a good chance that other things are contributing to this pain -- (A PAO friend had this pain and ended up with a psoas calcification). One day at a time for now and we will hope the massage and continued exercise helps!!
For now I will continue with T25, will add PT once weekly, as well as a weekly session of massage therapy. If the pain does not clear up, we will schedule an MRI. There is a good chance that other things are contributing to this pain -- (A PAO friend had this pain and ended up with a psoas calcification). One day at a time for now and we will hope the massage and continued exercise helps!!