Well, here we are; April 17th. The day I've been watching on my calendar for the past 5 weeks. I met with Dr. Olson this morning. It was the first time I had seen him since he tore open my leg, sawed my bones apart, and stuck 3 gigantic screws inside my pelvis.
Honestly, every time I saw him in the hospital, I cried. He came in my room almost daily and each time, as soon as I saw him, the tears flowed. Yes, I was highly medicated, but I think I cried because I knew that it was him who had done this to me. I was perfectly (not really) normal before this: exercising, playing with my kids, being a typical woman, mom, wife, and daughter. But it was him, Dr Olson, who had put me here. I wasn't angry, I was just saddened, knowing the struggles that lay ahead.
So today when I saw him, I wondered what my response would be. Would I cry at the site of him?
After 3 x-rays, I sat in the room waiting to see him. Janice, his NP came in and put the images up on the screen. We chatted for a few minutes, then she left, and Ben and I sat there staring at them. I've seen the x-rays from my 3 week appointment, and wasn't too shocked, but the differences between the right and left hip at this point are extreme. We tried analyzing, but neither of us really knew what we were looking at.
In came Dr. Olson, and no, I didn't cry. Instead, he shook my hand and said things were looking great. It was the first time I wanted to smile at him and thank him for giving my hip another chance at an active life. I may be tired, stiff, and sick of getting around with a walker, but my hip is free of the pain I experienced long before my PAO. I can sense the possibilities and know that in a few months, I will not look back and regret this surgery one bit.
I didn't get a print out of my x-ray from today. Somehow I forgot to ask. Basically, my pelvis is still broken, although there is some bone growth. This was expected, as my physical therapist explained to me Wolff's Law, which states that bones adapt to the pressure under which they are placed. I have been non- weight bearing for the past 8 weeks (30lbs if you count my leg). My hip bone hasn't been under much pressure, so has not been doing much growing. Bones do the most growing when weight is added. Now that I am stronger and used to my "new" hip, I can add weight, and get ready for bone growth!
I did not get the go ahead to drop the crutches, but I did get the okay to work toward that goal. For the next week I can add 50 lbs, then 50 more the following week. After that, I will be able to fully bear weight. I am not to drop the crutches until my limp is completely gone, which means I may be stuck with those for another month.
Dr. Olson read my PT report and also evaluated my internal and external rotation. Internal is great, external needs help. My psoas tendon is very tight and is the only thing causing me pain at the moment (see below image). I will need to continue stretching and working with PT to improve this. The psoas major is the biggest and strongest muscle in a group of muscles called the hip flexors: together they contract to pull the thigh and the torso toward each other. My hip flexors have become short and tight from all of the non-use over the past 8 weeks. It will take time and patience to get my range of motion back, but it will get better.
Honestly, every time I saw him in the hospital, I cried. He came in my room almost daily and each time, as soon as I saw him, the tears flowed. Yes, I was highly medicated, but I think I cried because I knew that it was him who had done this to me. I was perfectly (not really) normal before this: exercising, playing with my kids, being a typical woman, mom, wife, and daughter. But it was him, Dr Olson, who had put me here. I wasn't angry, I was just saddened, knowing the struggles that lay ahead.
So today when I saw him, I wondered what my response would be. Would I cry at the site of him?
After 3 x-rays, I sat in the room waiting to see him. Janice, his NP came in and put the images up on the screen. We chatted for a few minutes, then she left, and Ben and I sat there staring at them. I've seen the x-rays from my 3 week appointment, and wasn't too shocked, but the differences between the right and left hip at this point are extreme. We tried analyzing, but neither of us really knew what we were looking at.
In came Dr. Olson, and no, I didn't cry. Instead, he shook my hand and said things were looking great. It was the first time I wanted to smile at him and thank him for giving my hip another chance at an active life. I may be tired, stiff, and sick of getting around with a walker, but my hip is free of the pain I experienced long before my PAO. I can sense the possibilities and know that in a few months, I will not look back and regret this surgery one bit.
I didn't get a print out of my x-ray from today. Somehow I forgot to ask. Basically, my pelvis is still broken, although there is some bone growth. This was expected, as my physical therapist explained to me Wolff's Law, which states that bones adapt to the pressure under which they are placed. I have been non- weight bearing for the past 8 weeks (30lbs if you count my leg). My hip bone hasn't been under much pressure, so has not been doing much growing. Bones do the most growing when weight is added. Now that I am stronger and used to my "new" hip, I can add weight, and get ready for bone growth!
I did not get the go ahead to drop the crutches, but I did get the okay to work toward that goal. For the next week I can add 50 lbs, then 50 more the following week. After that, I will be able to fully bear weight. I am not to drop the crutches until my limp is completely gone, which means I may be stuck with those for another month.
Dr. Olson read my PT report and also evaluated my internal and external rotation. Internal is great, external needs help. My psoas tendon is very tight and is the only thing causing me pain at the moment (see below image). I will need to continue stretching and working with PT to improve this. The psoas major is the biggest and strongest muscle in a group of muscles called the hip flexors: together they contract to pull the thigh and the torso toward each other. My hip flexors have become short and tight from all of the non-use over the past 8 weeks. It will take time and patience to get my range of motion back, but it will get better.
Here are a few of my questions for Dr. Olson, along with his answers:
1. What are your expectations for my future mobility (internal/external rotation)?
Looks good now. Psoas is tight, but will get better over time.
2. Exercise expectations? Now and in the future?
For now, upper body exercising is fine. Can increase weights as comfortable. Biking is fine (stationary for now). In the future, whatever I am comfortable doing, I should be able to do. This means running! \
3. What are my chances of needing a hip replacement in the future?
2/3 people who have PAO's maintain their own hip.
4. Anything I can do to increase my bone growth?
Take a multivitamin or vitamin D supplement (I am already taking calcium supplements daily).
So although I didn't get the green light to start walking like I had hoped, I got the news that it really isn't that far away. What's another 2 weeks, when I've already been through 8? I've got this. As long as I'm
1. What are your expectations for my future mobility (internal/external rotation)?
Looks good now. Psoas is tight, but will get better over time.
2. Exercise expectations? Now and in the future?
For now, upper body exercising is fine. Can increase weights as comfortable. Biking is fine (stationary for now). In the future, whatever I am comfortable doing, I should be able to do. This means running! \
3. What are my chances of needing a hip replacement in the future?
2/3 people who have PAO's maintain their own hip.
4. Anything I can do to increase my bone growth?
Take a multivitamin or vitamin D supplement (I am already taking calcium supplements daily).
So although I didn't get the green light to start walking like I had hoped, I got the news that it really isn't that far away. What's another 2 weeks, when I've already been through 8? I've got this. As long as I'm