Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Deja Vu

Third time's a charm? I haven't posted for awhile because it's same thing over and over again. Lower back pain, adductor pain, IT band pain and a seriously tight psoas. It has become a management process to relieve the tightness and pain in one and observe as it simply transfers to another spot. I have tried PT, deep tissue massage, isolated stretching, myofascial release, pilates, yoga and doing nothing. Everything works for about 3 hours and then I am right back where I started. I am tired! I am tired of saying no to everyone who asks me to do something fun that might involve too much walking or bending or sitting or whatever. I am living my life on eggshells and I hate it! If I dare over do anything, I am likely to pay with crippling back spasms or pain shooting down my inner thigh that makes me unable to walk.

Dr. Philippon had suggested that I come back for another shot into my hip. I politely declined this particular brand of torture :-) since I had no measurable results from the last one. I am working on scheduling a date for surgery. Psoas release, cleaning out of scar tissue and a clean up of a cyst that has formed in my hip bone. Ugh!!!

Sometimes I feel like the movie - Groundhog Day - where I am doomed to live each day over and over again until I get it right. Will try to schedule surgery for next April after ski season so I can find a place to stay but have already decided that I am not staying away from home for 6 weeks again.

I am following the recovery of a fellow hip patient who just had a similar surgery with Dr Philippon and am hoping for great success for both him and me! HA!

Let the countdown begin . . . 8 months and counting. I know it sounds like a long time right now but I know it will be here before I know it.

5 comments:

Nancy said...

Hi April,
I was glad to see an update from you but am sorry to hear you're still in pain. I was hoping that no postings meant you were out enjoying life and not thinking about your hip! I came across your blog a few months ago while researching Dr. Philippon. I just got my surgery scheduled with him for Feb. 2012. I wish I had known about him before I had my first (unsuccessful) surgery in Jan. 2010. I have been worse off since that surgery. Now I may be a candidate for a labrum reconstruction with Dr. P because it appears I may not have enough labrum left to repair. I also need to have a pincer impingement corrected (the first surgeon only addressed the CAM impingement and apparently didn't completely fix that!).

I too have major issues with tight psoas and piriformis and a painful knot in my lower left back. I went to a new massage therapist this week who says the knot is in my quadratus lumborum. Like you, it doesn't seem to matter what I do or don't do, these muscles are constantly tight and painful, keeping me awake at night and making it difficult to be my best during the day. I assume this is happening in response to years of moving and carrying myself in strange ways to compensate for a painful hip. So I can definitely understand what you have been going through.

Stay in touch through your blog and let us know how you are progressing. I'll be thinking of you and hoping you find relief soon.

Nancy

Nancy said...

Hi April,

I have tried to post comments to you a couple of times in the past but for some reason they have not posted. So I'm trying one more time! I'm so sorry to hear of your continued problems. I hope you find resolution soon, even if it means another surgery. I just scheduled surgery with Philippon for next February for my right hip. I had a failed arthroscopic surgery in Jan. 2010 and have been trying to get answers for the past year. I finally sent my records to Philippon in April of this year and just got the call that he will take me as a patient.

Having made a few trips to Vail, I'm sure you're aware that Feb is not the cheapest time of year to go. But it was either Feb or wait until May. I'm wondering if you can recommend any lodging options that I can look into. I want to stay for at least a couple of weeks post surgery to take advantage of PT and am hoping to find a condo so that I have a kitchen. I would appreciate any recommendations on lodging and info on what to expect that you can provide.

Thanks in advance and again, I wish you the best in your journey.

Nancy

ragdoll said...

I am so sorry that you are still having trouble with your hip. I just found your blog and read all your posts in one sitting!

I too am having problems with my spine, hips and neck. I'm a 52-year-old woman with two children ages 11 and 13. During the last two years I have had to put my life on hold and give up any activity that involves movement. I dream of walking my dogs again or taking my girls to Disney.

My most pressing problem is my right hip which has a significant labral tear, acetubullum delamination and tendonitis. I have severe pain in my lower back, buttocks, piriformis muscles, legs and knees. I have an appointment with my hip doctor, Warren Kramer from Newport Beach, CA, to go over my arthrogram to determine what course of action needs to be taken.

Your blog has been a God-send for me both psychologically and spirutually, and has helped me to understand what I should expect if I go the surgery route.

April,please don't give up hope...YOU WILL FIND THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT! Just don't give up.

Thank you so much for sharing your journey. I look forward to receiving future posts.

Marlene

kathl said...

Ok, very interested in your blog. I have bilateral torn labrums and a cyst in my right hip. I had an extreme inflammation in my right hip. I had been walking 3-6 miles a day, sometimes doing intervals on treadmill, hiking in mountains. I am devestated. I have been doing this "REST" for months now and it is ruining my life. Tell me, Is it worth goign to CO to see Dr. Philippon. I have a friend that swears by him but she complains every day. That is not encouraging. Let me know what your thoughts are.

kathl said...

I was very interested in reading your blog. I have a friend that swears by Dr. Philippon but yet she is in pain every day. What is your perspective. I have bilateral torn hip labrums and a cyst in my right hip. The right hip was extremely inflammed. It was so bad that 3 different groups of radiologists came up with 3 different diagnosis: Tumor, stress fracture, cyst with extreme inflammation. I am tired of rest. I was walking 3-6 miles a day, running intervals, and hiking up mountains. Now I sit and walk with a crutch. I am having problem because I travel in my job and my Doctor is saying no driving past one hour. HELP. Is it worth it to go to CO. I live in SC.