My hip hates me ..

[Spam1]

Rayray, you sound so much happier, its so so fab to hear. I'm sure just getting out of the house has made you feel ten times better, even if it was tesco's! I am not brave enough to use one of the trolleys with the wheelchair attachment, I think I would just hurt people's ankles - really wanted to try out the motorised scooter things ... but my driving isn't what it could be, so that could prove interesting!

I am doing my elective in Canada in July - September, 4 weeks Emergency Medicine and 4 weeks Paediatric Orthopaedics - irony I know. During my gapyear I worked in a special needs school and loved the kids there. I hate neurology, and general paeds is a bit too broad, plus most of the kids with cerebral palsy really benefitted from ortho surgery to help them move and walk more easily, so I am looking into that as a possible career, but I would ahve to go through adult ortho first then sub specialise, and after all my own experience, just not sure I can!

I know I definitely don't want to be a GP - I think I would get bored.

Yes the Blu Bar is fantastic, gorgeous food, gorgeous location and just a really relaxed atmosphere - will be a wonderful place to celebrate your 6 weeks TWB finishing. I always go as my "last meal" before major surgery, though last time my parents and boyfriend all had amazing mussels in whtie wine and garlic but I was afraid I would get food poisoning the ngiht before surgery so had to settle for a boring lentil curry instead!

xxxx

[Hekate01]

My knee hates me! It's always feeling so weak and twisted whenever i go on the trainer at home, i'm hoping once i have surgery this will go? Does anyone else have sore knees because of their hips??

[ACofSydney]

My knee hates me! It's always feeling so weak and twisted whenever i go on the trainer at home, i'm hoping once i have surgery this will go? Does anyone else have sore knees because of their hips??

I have had a sore knee on the right side (same side as hip injury) for the past 18 months & I think this is also from my hip injury. As I have had the injury for over 3 years the muscles around my hip have re-aligned and my osteo & sports doctor think this has also pulled the knee out aswell. I have tried orthotics to help the knee pain, but that just caused more pain to the hip, so I stopped wearing them after two months.

I am also hoping that once the hip has been fixed the knee will get better also. Have you tried one of the elastic knee guards from the pharmacy for when you are exercising? That may help to hold it in a bit? It does help mine.

Good luck.
AC

[Spam1]

Lol Debbie! Yes I have had a lot of knee problems, and after a tibial osteotomy and two arthroscopies we came to the conclusion that a lot of the knee pain was referred from the hip .. but I had a wonky lower leg also contributing! I do know that it is pretty common for hip patients to present with knee pain
that is referred.

So fingers crossed that your hip op will sort out your knee too. It's also quite likel that your quads are weak and therefore your kneecap isn't tracking quite as it should when you exercise - again, once you are doing the physio and strengthen them up that usually improves. Have you been given any quad exercises by the physios yet? If not, try leaning on a wall with your feet about 2ft out from the wall shoulder width apart, then slide down the wall until your knees are bent slightly (but not enough that you get knee pain), hold for ten seconds, then come back to standing. Repeat as much as humanly possible and you will build up your quads. If you can do it, it will be worth it as you lose the muscle mass so quickly post op and it takes ages to build them up, so the stronger they are now, hopefully the easier it will be later.

Have you managed to get a date or even an earlier appointment yet?? Hope you get one soon. Have a lovely holiday,
xxx

[ACofSydney]

I have also got knee pain on the side of my hip injury. I was given shoe orthotics from my sports dr to combat the knee pain but after using them for two months, I took them out as they made my hip hurt more... I was told by both my sports dr & osteo that the knee pain is from the hip as the muscles have re-aligned themselves and are "pulling" the knee into the wrong position.

I too am hoping that after the hip surgery the knee pain will go. Have you tried to use a knee support that you get from the pharmacy? I have an elastic it has helped my knee be less painful when exercising and walking.

Cheers,
AC

[Janet]

Debbie - I have sore knees too sometimes, although nothing compared to the hips. Sam - how are your knees wonky? My patella sits too medial ie. if my foot is straight, my patella is pointing inwards and is right on the inside, and I have to turn my foot right out for my patella to be central. An orthopod years ago told me that this was because my femur didn't turn out properly when I was a toddler. Does this make sense? I have wondered if the knee and hip problems are related, and always mean to ask the surgeon, but there is never enough time.

[Janet]

Hi Sam

Glad your arm is getting better - must have been a sight! Hope your hip continues to improve too. It must feel nice not to have the screws in there. Hopefully, the pain on sitting will decrease too. I liked your description that your hip felt like glue - I think I might borrow that one if I may, to describe what it feels like to the surgeon!

I have indeed got an appointment at long last, but not through the secretary. A work colleague of mine who used to work in orthopeadics gave me a phone number to ring to make an appointment, and the clerical officer was lovely, and made an appointment right away. Now, why couldn't the secretary have given me that number back in April?? I kept on asking her how I could make an appointment, and she sounded like she was going to do it, but never did! Anyway, I was offered 15th July, but my boss is being a bit of an arse (long, long story) and said I couldn't go that day, so I managed to get 22nd July. However, tomorrow, I may go to my line manager, and have words, as I keep on having to do manual handling as my boss doesn't account for the fact that I'm supposed to be supernumary, and am not supposed to do any manual handling. I may have to go off sick if my boss doesn't understand, as I'm not putting my hips under any more pressure - I think I need to give then a rest before the next surgery (which I've now been told will be July). My hip keeps on locking painfully, and I got a new pain yesterday too. I've gone back to the crutches to see if this helps. I really want a steroid injection!! My hubby is a vet - maybe he can get some, and poke it in there!!

Anyway, enough moaning! Hope everyone has had a good weekend.
Janet x

[Rayray]

I?m glad you have that appointment Janet. I really hope that you can have a constructive discussion about both hips. Does your unoperated hip limit your movements and if so could this have an affect on your operated hip? I know I had the most vital surgery done first especially as he also released the trapped sciatic nerve but I have already explained to the Physios at the Duchy that I can?t swing my left leg back more than a few inches. They kept telling me to take bigger steps and I had to explain that I can?t because of the left hip. I know this would affect my recovery on the right if I don?t get it operated on because the balance when walking is affected hugely and also my back is so stiff I can?t stand upright (certainly can?t now but couldn?t before surgery).

I am so glad you had a good holiday. It is so good to have a break and I am sure that a bit of warmth does help the soft tissues. You did so well to be able to participate ? good on you!

I hope your boss doesn?t continue to be such an arse ? sounds like they are a bit short sited. Perhaps they should get together with Kate?s boss, they would make a lovely couple!

[Rayray]

Sam,

Really interested to hear what you might specialise in Sam. It is funny where life takes us isn?t it. I too worked in a Special Needs School ? for a few years I used to help to run a summer day school across the school holidays and my career choice was to be a Special Needs teacher. For that you needed to do a three year honours degree, teach in a standard school and then retrain for a year. Finances stopped me from doing this so I just got a job while I decided what next. Fortunately after a few years I landed in a retail head office and was promoted rapidly, qualified as an accountant and became a Finance Director for a large company ? how different is that! Would still have loved to do the teaching thing though ? bit late now. I am determined to do something though. After our sadness of not having children we decided to foster and then the hip thing got dramatically worse ? life is cruel sometimes. We just hope that in 2010 we will be clear of surgeries and hospitals and we can provide respite care for Children. So there you have my life history!! Well a bit of it anyway.

Back to hips ? after your open debridement when did the swelling in your knee and foot go or do you still have it? Mine goes up and down like a yoyo plus my Hubbie cannot believe how cold my operated leg gets ? it was like this in hospital and I constantly had socks on!

[Rayray]

Good Luck this week Sam!