My PAO story

[oscarsmum]

Thanks -gonna be on that phone if I haven't heard anything by the end of next week.

I have heard about Stafford Hospital , but didn't connect it with your Anti-coag clinic, ( duh! ) no wonder you cringe. You will have to get super fast on those crutches so you can wizz in and out-stopping only long enough to use the hand gel!!

Stay healthy-you don't want Noro on top of everything else,
Kate xxx

[SirenMoonBee]

I know i have to be a speed demon, sometimes Rich wheelie's me in with a chair. We take our own hand gel in as well, although we do find it there in every place imaginable. The main problem with Stafford Hospital is the nursing is outdated by 20 yrs and there is no investment in the nurses or doctors, who deserve to be treated to updated education as everyone else is. They treat you lovely there (only in my experience though in ortho and anti-coag sides of the hospital) and are little diamongs in the rough, if only they had the money put back into the hospital. Too many fat cats at the top in admin.

Good luck with pushing forwards and recvoering sweetie xx

[Dee34]

Kate

just wanted to say (now that I can post again !) that I totally agree with your decision. I think you've gone through an incredible amount in the last couple of years and it's such a major op to have when you're not suffering massively from pain in the left hip. Although Mr Witt has said I will need a PAO on the right, it would have to be very bad before I contemplate it. Re the physio is it possible to ring this guy up and explain that you thought you would get to see someone quicker and can he do something ? I'm sure he wouldn't mind especially as he's seen you in person and knows how the situation is.

Dee x

[Janet]

Hi Kate - any joy with the appointment yet?

[oscarsmum]

Nothing!

I want to book some accomodation in London tho so I am hoping now that that appointment hasn't been changed and we can stay a few days as planned. March doesn't seem so long away now that we are well into January. After this week I have 2.5 weeks off work as I have some leave to use up so will be able to take things easy then anyway. We are going for a weekend to centre parcs at the end of Jan so instead of doing all the usual sports, I think I will just chill out in the spa and have some facials etc. I am looking forward to it, but know I will miss the bowling, badminton etc too.

I have become a lot more resigned now that I might not end up with pain free hips, and have started to accept that maybe my pre surgery expectations were too high and that although I still hope to have improvements maybe this will be as good as it gets? It is 8 months tomorrow since my surgery. Once we are home from centre parcs I am going to come off all the meds , and try and see just where things are at. I am managing ok with the fentanyl , diclo and paras but feel that I need all three to be at a level where I can function as I want to. As I don't want to stay on all these permanently I want to see how it feels without anything before I see Witt again.
I have started on the exercise bike, just 5 mins twice a day and doing some strengthening from physio also trying to do the exercise that the physio tried last week and I couldn't do -have got up to three but it hurts like hell! I am so scared that I will go back to London and they will tell me that I haven't done enough PT and the joint is still weak. I don't limp anymore unless really sore or tired so I don't think thats the case tho, but I do wonder whether I shold push through the pain and try and walk more? I still am not up to walking my dog as the back of the hip in particular hurts when I walk more than about 10mins, then I seem to pay for it for days,-what do you guys think, is it worth trying to do more?

[Spam1]

Kate, why don't you ring Witt secretary and ask if she has received the GP's letters, and how are the appointment times looking as you will need to book accommodation etc? At least then you may have a better idea. Don't give up hope yet, it sounds like this is more of a soft tissue problem with tendonitis and bursitis than anything in the hip joint itself, so you may well still have a pain free hip this year, it might just take a little while longer than expected at first. Why don't you keep going with the physio exercises and take it slow and steady, don't be tempted to suddenly start doing loads as that will aggravate everything. you shouldn't push through too much pain really, but gently increasing your walking probably will help get the muscles firing again. hugs xx

[Janet]

That's a tricky one Kate. I suppose you could try to do a little more each day, or few days, but if it really is painful, don't push it. I think when you've got tendonitis, any activity seems to flare it up, and it's so hard to get it to settle down again. I think you're also brave to cut out all pain meds when you come back from Centreparcs. It will be very useful to see exactly waht it feels like before you see Mr Witt, but I'd only do it if you know you can get on top of the pain fairly quickly, should you need to. If you're still in a bit of pain whilst you're taking the diclo, paras and patch, then it must hurt A LOT without them. As you say though, you need to be able to tell Mr Witt exactly where it hurts and what triggers it (or that it hurts all the time!).

That's great that you've got some time off though, and I hope that you can try to forget about horrible hips when you go away. Relaxing spa time sounds just what you need.

Hope you can establish when your appointment will be too, so that you can book the accomodation.
Hugs
Janet x

[oscarsmum]

Got appoinment through today to see Mr Witt,in three weeks on the 5th Feb. I am looking forward to hearing what he has to say, unfortunately it has put a damper on our few days in London because my eldest is in New York then so we will have to be home to see to my youngerst daughter so have to do it there and back in a day again, but never mind hoping to something instead when we are off in March.

Planning to try and cut down on the meds about two weeks before, so hopefully that should get everything out of my system before I see him although I won't have been at work much due to the leave I have booked.Every single time I have ever been for an appointment it has followed a week or two off work and it always seems as if my hips are better than normal-sods law but its so annoying,I wish they could see them at their worst!
Unfortunately Physio doesn't seem as if its going to happen before I see him, oh well so much for the best laid plans, lol.

Kate x

[SirenMoonBee]

I hope it all goes well for you then sweetie, it's a shame you can't have a few days there. But maybe it will be better in March to actually have a few days away and not have to think of hips at the same time though?? I have my appointment a few days after you, so i hope we both have good news chick xx
I hope this isn't it for you and there is a way you can progress and not get so spanked for it, as that is so frustrating. We are sold pain free living, is that so much to ask for? I don't think so at our age.

[Janet]

Hi Kate

I'm pleased you got your appointment through. I know it means that your plans have changed, but at least you know where you are now, instead of wondering. As Debbie says, you can make the most of your few days in March by doing something else instead, and hopefully, you'll be able to enjoy it because Mr Witt will be able to reassure you. It will be cold in New York for your daughter, but I bet she won't mind - very exciting!

Don't worry about not being at work just before you see him, as it sounds like it will be painful enough when you cut out your pain meds. Prehaps try to go walking and do the things you would normally do if you could eg. some shopping, walking etc. to show how sore you are. That sounds horrible, like I'm trying to inflict pain on you! But you know what I mean - if you're worried that your hip won't be at it's worst because you're not on your feet at work, you could try some other activity. But not too much - don't be in agony.
x