Hamstring Avulsion (complete tear from pelvis)

[carolg]

Dave,
It's good to get an update from you. I've been thinking about you. I'm glad to hear that PT is going so well. That's got to be motivating. Soon you'll have your tumor surgery behind you, so that's good. I love the idea of putting up a picture of what you want to do when you get better! I 'm going to do that. When I injured my back, I had to give up some things I used to do. There is no way I will ever be able to do a chop kick, but I'm not sure I could have done one before. Lol. After my back, I can still do the things most important to me. I've had 5 herniated discs, so I feel good about being able to do all the things I can, and not have pain. I have learned what to avoid doing, and what my limitations are, which makes a huge difference. I'm guessing the hamstring will be similar. I ' m hoping I can eventually wear heels again, because I love dressing up, but if not that'll be O.K. As long as I can dance! and ride my bike! and go out and have fun!
Carol

[alpinebunny]

Hi All

Thanks for your thoughts Dave. I too have been thinking about your situation - you are so positive and upbeat, you are an inspiration! It makes me feel a bit pathetic!

Good news that you physio thinks its only one thats gone. I think that I originally only had one that had gone but because I didn't know I snapped another on the leg press - I am very wary of that machine now it can do all sorts of damage if there is a weakness there because all your other leg muscles are so strong you can push through without realising the damage you are doing.

I am feeling alot more positive today, I got the job I wanted and the managers were totally cool about my time off for my operation, I am very excited I have been planning this career change for nearly 3 years now and its all coming together. And I won the lottery at work £800!! What a result, at least I have some funds to pay for my physio now.

I am starting to feel more positive about the surgery, its got to work. I am going to try not to think about the unlikely negative outcome till I get to it.

Carol - you really are in the wars! And what a great spirit you have, you too are an inspiration, keep active and keep upbeat thats the key - you are right. It seems like my new job which is with my current company British Airways - will be able to accommodate any chairs or desk changes needed to let me do my job properly so that is also a relief.

And yes Dave I am going to look for some photos of me skiing and put them up somewhere to remind me of the goal.

Mobley I will be thinking of you on Sunday night and Monday, I will try to get on here as soon as I am able to update. Perhaps we can catch up on here on Tuesday or Wednesday and compare tales!

Thanks for all of your support, its really appreciated.

My plans for recovery time - I have ordered two books on positive thinking to read (I think I could improve in this area!!), plus some books on how to make an impact in a new job and I have my disseration to start so that should keep me busy. In fact I am already thinking perhaps I won't get all that done! Roll on Monday and finding out it the surgery has worked.

I hope you are all having a good day whatever you are doing and you are all feeling positive.

Tania

[carolg]

I'm teaching 2 hours today. Trying to figure out what to slouch on inbetween standing. I tried putting pillows on a queen anne's chair, but it's not working too well. I love the leaning stools, but I don't want to spend the money, especially having lost 2 weeks pay. The only problem with being self employed. I may have to have my guys haul a recliner up from the basement. I was trying to avoid that. I did make homemade spagetti sauce today. It felt good to cook again. Well, I'll keep trying until I find what works for teaching.

[carolg]

Most people thought I should take more time off before teaching. Last Thursday was day 15. I just feel better when i teach. The only problem is my leg hurts. I will be so glad when another couple of weeks go by. I wonder how long it will be before they O.K. sitting? Even being able to put my other leg on the floor would help. My dressing stick broke, so I'm back to not being able to put my sock on. I have discovered that women's "boy shorts" are easy underwear to get on, and they don't irritate the incision site.
Carol

[khaugrud]

Hi all! I have now joined the club. I was roller skating with my church group kids Jan. 14th, locked my skates together somehow, ( I'm not known for my grace), landed on my left knee and my right leg just kept going. Basically did the John Travolta right there at skateland. Had surgery on February 3. I have no idea how much my retraction was. I live in Minnesota so had to search around for a surgeon. Found the doctor who was the team doc for the Vikings. (Wish he could help them with their game!) Had outpatient surgery and am in a brace from thigh to ankle. Stitches came out at two weeks (had my sister who is a doctor pull them out and gave her a bottle of good wine). Brace went from a 60 degree angle to a 30 degree angle at the same time
(two weeks post op). Still have a week and a half to go on the 30 degree angle. My question is:

After the brace comes off, how long on crutches and how long before I can go back to work? I am a 6th grade teacher at a middle school.

By the way, spent the entire day reading through this post. So good to get information from all of you!! I feel like I know some of you already. Thanks for any advice you can give.

[Mobley]

Hi gang,
Welcome Kaug (can we call you that it is easier to type). And hello to my other inspirational buddies. Darn, 9 more days til surgery...want it over with. Tired of being laid up.

Yesterday was chaos. Got a call from the caregiver of my 90 year old mother in law, who lives 70 miles away. My sister in law, who takes care of everything with her is on vacation in Hawaii. My mother in law woke up unable to move one leg, and at the time was on the floor. My husband was out running errands and did not answer his phone,I could not reach his sister on the cell, nor my daughter , nor my son, also on vacations out of town. I cannot reach anyone! As you all know I can barely walk, sit or stand for more than 5 minutes, let alone drive and handle the problem. Panic set in...I am helpless to help. Is she having a stroke?

Finally got ahold of kids and husband, a friend who is a Physicians assistant, and the caregiver. Anyway it was determined 911 was not necessary at that moment. at 90 years and dementia, there are a lot of things wrong. Anyway, my husband probably will have to get her to a doc tomorrow so I will be solo,for I don't know for how long.

I do not know about you guys, but helplessness was a reality I was not prepared for, since it will get worse for the next few weeks. Definitely was meltdown time yesterday.

Glad to hear you are back Dave, and of course love the hope and progress from Carol and Tania. THIS is such a LONG HAUL!!!!!!

[Mobley]

Hi fellow gimps,
Being in California I'm in a totally different time zone than most of you. So, most of you will not get the post til tomorrow. Now my last post got my "bitchies" off my chest. So we are moving on. So here goes.

Since my surgery is not until next Wednesday, the 29th (leap year, maybe my surgery will be one fourth cheaper?) I am having my 10th annual Oscar party. Why not go into surgery with a great celebration?! And you are are invited to join me and all my live friends here for the party through the forum. We all need a little fun!!!

We will be online with you. The pre shows start at 2 pm PST and Oscars at 4. I am sure my friends that will be here would all like to meet you all. So if it would not take up too much forum space would you like to come, of course watching it simultaneous on your own TVs?

This one is special. My son does lead digital special effects for major movies. One of his movies "Tranformers 3" is up for a special effects oscar, along with sound and sound mixing. Though he is not specifically named on the Oscar, he spents 9 months and was at the shoot in Chicago for the movie. I know this is not a serious part of our forum, but I think we all need need some partying.

Anyone of my favorite new friends want to come to our party?

[flerdle]

{snip} I was roller skating with my church group kids Jan. 14th, locked my skates together somehow, ( I'm not known for my grace), landed on my left knee and my right leg just kept going. Basically did the John Travolta right there at skateland.

Your description gave me the shivers. As you would have read, I did mine rollerskating too, same leg. I was doing a plough stop though...

Had surgery on February 3. I have no idea how much my retraction was.
{snip}
Had outpatient surgery and am in a brace from thigh to ankle. Stitches came out at two weeks (had my sister who is a doctor pull them out and gave her a bottle of good wine). Brace went from a 60 degree angle to a 30 degree angle at the same time
(two weeks post op). Still have a week and a half to go on the 30 degree angle. My question is:

After the brace comes off, how long on crutches and how long before I can go back to work? I am a 6th grade teacher at a middle school.

By the way, spent the entire day reading through this post. So good to get information from all of you!! I feel like I know some of you already. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Welcome.

It sounds like you might not have been as retracted as me, and/or your surgeon is being less conservative than mine. I was in an upper thigh to ankle brace at 60 degrees for 7 weeks, and I was four weeks on 2 crutches after that (gradually being used less and less about the house) then 1 week on 1 crutch then only used outside on hills for about a week after that. You'll probably find that you don't use them as much inside compared to when you're outside/travelling/commuting. I would recommend you do take them with you when out in public, at least for a while, for protection/consideration from others.

Hopefully because you won't be as immobilised for as long and you will have some muscle strength left you will get going more quickly than that.

My entire leg needed building up again from absolute zero and that's taken a couple of months of physio and 2xdaily exercises. Today was exactly 5 months since the Op, and for general living it copes with most things, though flexibility is still an issue (tying shoelaces for example) and it gets stiff if I sit for too long.

You'll find that your knee gives way if you try to hurry, and your quads and calf (and hamstrings!) won't have the strength to say take stairs normally for a while.

Work-wise it very much depends on the mix of standing walking and sitting that you have and how out of condition you are from all the rest. But at a guess you'll probably be at least somewhat crutch-dependant for two to three weeks after getting the brace off (minimum) and you might like to take that time to get generally back in condition. Going back to work is much more tiring than you think.

I could probably have been a bit quicker at getting moving but the tendon and nerve damage to my hands made me take a lot longer to get out and about. I tried to get out a bit a few weeks after the op but a short walk destroyed my hands for several days, so I just stayed at home.

[roedel]

5 Months post surgery
To Carolg and maug -
The going back to work thing is really variable. As a furniture maker mostly working alone, it was 7 solid weeks in the house, with very few trips out until the last week or two. Then a slow back to work building up to 8 hours over 2 weeks. But others have done it in much less time. I think the type of brace also has some effect on the mobility and the ability to be able to work. It seems the knee brace is more conducive to working than the hip brace. Not sitting is tough.

I just got back from PT (12th PT session) and had a solid eval - I feel and seem about 80% of the way back now after 5 months. I am still having trouble sitting in a car for more than an hour without discomfort, but breaking up a trip into one hour segments, and getting out to stretch is not a bad idea anyway. Progression was 7 weeks in brace, 10 days crutches, a couple of weeks on a cane (more to warn other people that I had an issue). And PT starting after week 13. Slow but steady - and it seems to be working.

It may also be that I am living in a 3 story brownstone and constantly doing stairs that the stair issue has not been major.

Good luck with the return to work. And the Oscar party!
Richard

[khaugrud]

Thank you for the welcome!
Flerdle: I don't even know what a plough stop is! LOL. I guess I did my own form of stopping. I'm thinking of calling it the haug stop. And yes, it is fine for all to call me that!

I am having a better day today than yesterday. For whatever reason, I was in more pain yesterday than at any other time. I stopped taking pain meds two days after the surgery and really haven't been all that uncomfortable pain wise but yesterday was just one of those "one step back" kind of days.

I would like to share a couple of tips that have helped me:

Tip1: I wear an apron with large pockets in the front. That way, especially if I am alone in the house, I can carry my book, a tablet and pen, my little book of sudokos, my ipod, a can of pop or small bag of snacks or whatever else I want to take from one place to the other.

Tip 2: Things to do while laid up:
Write thank-you notes
Angry Birds - although I am sick to death of them
Organize photos into albums
Pay bills online if that is available to you
plan your spring garden
READ< READ READ
Order new shoes
Order groceries online if that is available
Work on your family budget

Some of these things are just for fun and some help me feel like I am still contributing to the family in some way!