Hips

Your hips are made for function, and to support the weight of the body in static and dynamic postures.

I didn’t get that memo.

I’ve been struggling for a few years now with pain that appeared to be my lower back but wasn’t all along. The pain gradually but consistently kept increasing. It decreased my ability to walk for miles. Then as I hit the mile mark, I couldn’t push on and would have to turn back, go home, and rest. Eventually the pain spread to my groin. It made no sense. What was wrong with me? Why couldn’t I walk far and not have pain?

I went from doctor to doctor (back Orthopedist) and they kept turning me away. It’s not your back! Finally, one doctor said let’s run an MRI of your back and your right hip. The results came back showing issues with both but again, the back not the culprit. This doctor said you have lumbar disc herniations but your right hip is in bad shape. He referred me to see a hip specialist in his office and wouldn’t comment further on it. He quickly disclosed before letting me leave the room that this doctor was CONSERVATIVE.

Ok – conservative. I didn’t think much about that at first. That comment would weigh heavy on my mind later.

I met this specialist and was told my right hip was in bad shape. Cartilage worn down. Labrum tear. Glute tear. Arthritis. I would need a hip replacement eventually. I was given a cortisone injection and sent on my way. I returned a couple of weeks later because I still suffered pain and wanted to know what could be done. Plus my other hip was hurting me as well. I was told that hip had a bunch of calcium growths and it would become a problem at some point. He refused to give me any other injections except some natural injection. That didn’t work! He agreed to order an MRI of my other hip and have the office follow-up with me. Nothing happened. I was forgotten. I reached out and was ignored. I moved on.

Eventually I landed on the doorstep of a hip surgeon that took into account the diagnosis of the hip, the fact I had extreme pain (he couldn’t touch my hip without me hitting the ceiling), I was in PT for a very long time. Each doctor kept sending me back to PT. I wasn’t responding to this treatment, yet was sent back. Finally, he said he’d operate on my right hip. He’d do an arthroscopy and see what’s going on. During surgery he removed 20% of my labrum, cleaned it up and smoothed it out, notated moderate arthritis and said he doesn’t believe I’ll need a hip replacement in the future.

Six weeks post-op my left hip gave out. It slowly gave way. The pain and burning was so intense. I couldn’t swallow enough Advil or Motrin to alleviate the pain. I went back to the operating doctor and he gave me a cortisone injection. It helped slightly. He recommended I see a back doctor. So I was sent off again to another back doctor.

This back doctor said “No way will I operate. It’s dangerous. You have herniated discs but there is enough space in between each of them. I’m not operating.” I was lost. Confused. I asked some more questions which prompted him to say “has someone looked at your other hip?” NO. He recommended me to see the hip doctor in his office. I did.

I saw the hip doctor in this office. He ordered an MRI which showed nothing. Before deciding to operate, he wanted to try two different types of injections to see how I would do. The first one was in the hip joint. I felt great but still complained of the pain in the groin, hip, and along the greater trochanter. The next injection was in my lumbar spine. It was weird. It felt weird. I didn’t like it and it hurt bad to be done! The decision was made to operate out of suspect that the left labrum was torn. If the right labrum was torn prior, the probability of the left labrum being torn as well was high. Surgery proved the labrum was torn – BAD! The doctor stitched my labrum shut and said the recovery would be rather difficult. He also felt my back was still suspect in my pain issues.

He was right. Recovery was hard!! I didn’t know how to bear weight on my left hip nor walk. It was very emotional for me. How could I not know how to walk? I was operated; not in a major accident. I slowly learned how to walk over 8 weeks. At my 8 week post-op I told my surgeon I felt great. I believe this is the best I’ve ever felt in all my life; at least since having my son in 1997. I was happy with the surgery and recovery. He was very surprised and still stayed neutral with his emotions toward my recovery.

I was standing. I was walking (with the assistance of my son). I was setting bars and building up walking day by day, block by block so I could eventually return to work. I was able to move around my home and cook for the Christmas holiday. It was lovely.

I was making plans, setting dates and looking forward to the new year.

I couldn’t wait to throw out my crutches and put 2019 behind me.

The crutches were left near my door because I was going to throw them out on New Years Eve as I kicked off a new year.

Before and After – right hip / left hip – crutches too long – suffering – that left leg looks weird

Because it’s not right!

The scars I bear…