Date has been set for PAO!

[grenny]

I finally saw the surgeon again today and he has given me the date of 8 April for my RPAO. I am glad that I don't have to wait too long - I am ready to get it over and done now!

I am feeling really comfortable with the whole thing - but I am sure things will change as I get closer to the date! So I'll need all the reassurance you guys can give me!

Chrissie

[Spam1]

Hi Chrissie,

Thats great, and not too long to wait either. I'm sure you will get nervous as it gets closer, but thats completely normal. In fact, quite a few of us were excited to be having surgery and have an end in sight to the pain - so you might get that feeling too! Do you have any questions about the PAO surgery and recovery? If so, feel free to ask away.

Best of luck, Sam x

[SirenMoonBee]

I had mine last Nov and although i've had a few hicups in recovery, i can honestly say my hip has never moved as free as it does now, my range of motion is better than i've ever had it in my life!! My major worries have been from a DVT so don't except a few injections and no other preventative treatment like i did (thought they knew better than me, now this dvt has damaged my leg veins for life and i'm gutted i wasn't told about taking asprin or given any stockings to wear for 6 weeks, so double check their protocal on dvt prevention so you don't end up like me) Other than that my recovery is great, the dvt hinders the bone growth, but i'm in a lot less pain and i'm happier because of that. I would have the surgery again in a shot, just would insist on the 6 weeks of injections (thats the only thing i would do different) I was proper excited about having mine done, and people who don't understand thought i was well weird.

[Janet]

Excellent news! It's great when they can give you your date, even if it is a couple of months off.

As Sam says, any questions, ask away. I had a PAO almost 3 months ago, and my actual joint feels fantastic - so stable and I have a good range of movement that is improving all the time. It is a long, slow recovery though. ANd it can't be too bad, becasue my next one is booked for June, providing I can get over a little hiccup that I've had.

Where is your surgery and who with?

[oscarsmum]

Chrissie,

Glad you have a date to work to, it always seems so much better when you know whats happening. I was so excited when I had my PAO, walked to theatre with the biggest grin on my face at the thought of finally being pain free and able to get on with my life. That was over 9 months ago and whilst its been a long road to recovery I can finally say things are feeling great and it has been worth all the ups and downs.
As others have said, ask anything you want,
Kate x

[grenny]

It's taken me awhile, but thanks for all of your replies and well wishes!

I am having my surgery done by Dr Michael Solomon at Prince of Wales, Randwick. So far on a couple of forums I haven't managed to find anyone else who has had a PAO done by him, but I have contacted his rooms and asked them to forward my details on to a few post-op patients to see if they would be interested in getting in contact with me.

I am interested to hear how quickly you've gotten back into things work wise? I work from home so hopefully I won't be too set back to work here and there after a couple of weeks?

I have started making a list of things to take to the hospital and to have ready at home so suggestions on what you had organised would be great please! I've had a few people offer to make meals to freeze etc, which has been lovely. Luckily I have good support from my hubby, and he is taking four weeks off work to help out.

For those of you experiencing pain in both hips - how did you cope putting extra weight on the non operated hip after the operation? My left hip seems to be getting worse - hopefully it holds out well enough until I'm ready for a PAO on that side.

My surgeon said that I could be driving after four weeks - does that timeframe seem reasonable for a RPAO in an auto?

Is this too many questions in one go? :-)

More than anything, I can't wait to sleep on my sides again! It's amazing how little things like that mean so much when you've missed out for so long.

Thanks again!
Chrissie

[oscarsmum]

Hi Chrissie,
My OS told me 6 weeks post RPAO to drive, as my leg needed to be strong enough to do an emergency stop,. I felt confident enough to try at 7 weeks, just around the village and was driving everywhere by 8 weeks post-op.
My other leg also needs a PAO, and is protesting more and more now I can do more, and for the first time my operated leg is starting to feel like the stronger one. I was also worried about how it would cope taking all the weight whilst I was on crutches, I actually found it was fine during this time. I don't know if that was down to all the pain meds, or the fact that I was spending lots of time resting anyway so wasn't on it as much as I thought I would be, maybe a combination of the two. I am sure you will manage fine with your hubby being off so long. Mine had 3 weeks off and that was more than enough, by the time he went back I was able to vaccuum (albeit on one leg, lol and it took an age), iron, showerand dress myself, prepare light meals, drink etc and even do the laundry-its amazing how you can adjust to being on crutches with a bit of determination and imagination-throwing washing around with the tips of the crutches gets easy with some practise,lol. I could do pretty much everything by 3 weeks post-op, the worst was that things took so long, and you still get tired so need to make time to rest too.
Hope this helps,
Kate

[Janet]

Hi Chrissie

I was worried about how my other hip would cope when having to take all the load when I had the first PAO, but I found exactly the same as Kate. Because I was resting more (you get very tired), and because of the strong painkillers, it hardly bothered me at all. Although strangely, the worst pain in the other hip was when I was still in hospital, just lying there. I'd just had a steroid injection though, so it was probably the initial 'flare' you can get with the injections. I'm now trying to walk with one crutch, and my other hip is bothering me quite a lot, but I'm hoping to stick to my planned date of June for the PAO on that one, so I can manage for a bit longer.

In theory, you should be able to drive as soon as the bones are healed enough, and once the muscles are strong enough. I've only just started to drive short distances, at just over 3 months post-op, but that's because my leg was very weak, having been on crutches for almost 18 months now ( I also had open dislocation FAI surgery on the same hip). I also injured the back of my pelvis and couldn't drive due to that for a while. However, you should be OK to drive as soon as your OS clears it, and your muscles can cope.

Any other questions, ask away. Hope you're not getting too nervous!

[grenny]

Thanks Kate & Janet. I can't believe that the countdown is on - four weeks on Thursday!

I have somebody lending me a grabber and an electronic recliner, and I am going to get some quotes to hire a raised toilet seat. Did anybody bother hiring a wheelchair? I am not sure on that one - I don't plan on going anywhere too far, but also don't want to be restricted if I do.

I have filled out the application form for a disabled car park, again not sure if I'll need it, but better to be prepared!

I am sure there are other things I need to do to get organised - it is going to come around very quickly.

Chrissie

[oscarsmum]

Hi,

In the UK we don't qualify for a temporary disabled car parking ticket but if it is possible I would think it would be a big help because it is hard getting in and out of the car in a normal space whilst on crutches.

I did have a wheelchair but only really used it for the train journey back from the hospital, and an odd trip out, but I could have managed ok without it.I used it more to wheel stuff around the house (lunch on trays etc) that I couldn't carry on crutches, not what its meant for, but came in handy lol.

The raised toilet seat was handy for the first couple of weeks, it certainly made things easier, but I could also have managed without it.

Stock up on loads of pillows/cushions to help you get comfy,heat pads are good once you get home, have a rucksack/long handled bag to carry stuff around in (especially in hosptial), and prepare and freeze as many meals as you can fit in the freezer to make life easy when you get home, would be my main tips, and have a binliner to sit on and swivel around on when getting in/out of the car. Baby wipes are handy to refresh you in hopsital, grabber was good whilst in hospital as it helped if things were out of reach etc. I took nighties instead of PJs because I found them easier,but also bought loads of stuff I didn't need (long handled sponge, extra large knickers, books for hospital, far too many pjs etc) .
Hope this helps a bit. The time will soon pass and you will be on your way to a pain free future.
Kate x