Ahhhh! First shower since Wednesday...felt SO good! Had to put a waterproof bandage over my stitches to avoid them getting wet/infected. Today is my first post-op day without physical therapy...so I'm working on getting everything done at our apartment. It's pretty crazy how time consuming it is all. On my own (twice a day) Quads/Glutes/TA isometrics: 20 x 5s Quadruped rocking 20x Quadruped pelvic tilt 20x With Oli's assistance (twice a day) Circumduction in both directions Circumduction with 70 degree hip flexion in both directions 20-30 degree hip abduction Log roll I need to spend 4 hours per day on the CPM machine to avoid adhesions. Another 2-3 hours laying on my stomach. And spend as much time possible with the ice machine. This is a full time job! Luckily I'm here for the next two and a half weeks, which allows me to be 100% invested in my recovery. I'm slowly weaning off Norco and I'm hoping to be completely off it soon. It's making me so sleepy and dizzy. ZzzzZzzzz.
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Ahhhh! Was able to sleep much better last night. Woke up at 1am, super uncomfortable (trapped in the dreaded booties) so I decided to put my brace on and go sleep in the recliner instead. Woke up at 7am, felt so nice! You know what else felt nice? REMOVING THE GINORMOUS BANDAGE! Ahhh, what a relief. Freeeedommmm. I wasn't expecting a bruise, since I didn't have any at my last surgery... Hmm, guess I was wrong on that one. It's super swollen too...you can even see the brace's bar imprinted in my thigh! Ouch. If there's that much inflammation on the outside, I can't imagine how it must be in the joint! I had another PT session today, and it went much better than yesterday! The soft tissue gentle massage felt nice. Lindsay added two new exercises to the isometrics I already had: - quadruped rocking - quaduped pelvic tilts I felt good enough to hop onto the bike again...and guess what! I doubled my time. Did 15 minutes no resistance without too much difficulty. It's cool because the girl next to me had the exact same surgery on the exact same date! It was nice talking to someone going through the same thing. We both complained about how scratchy our throats feel because of the breathing tube during surgery...and we're both coughing because of it too! After biking, my hip felt a sore and tight, which is completely normal at this point. We ended the session with some Game Ready compression/ice...my goodness I LOVE that machine! Unfortunately I have a cheaper version at our appartement. The compression is definitely not as strong, and the cooling part doesn't wrap all around. But hey, it's still better than nothing.
I'm really happy that I'm working with Lindsay. She's super gentle, explains everything very clearly (she showed Oli how to do at-home physiotherapy) and is really friendly too. Today she told us she used to work in Colorado with Dr.Philippon, so it's great to know she has a lot of experience with FAI patients. And I mean...who wouldn't want to work with Elsa from Frozen? Oh what a terrible night that was! First of all, I never sleep on my back. So to be forced into sleeping on my back is a lost battle from the start. Add an ice machine strapped to my hip and the booties from hell to keep my feet from rotating externally...a combination that's sure to keep me awake! I'm hoping tonight will be better.
Had my first PT appointment at noon. I can't believe that I started so early! Not even 24 hours after surgery. I met Lindsay, who will be my PT for the next two weeks and a half. We started with gentle soft tissue manipulations (quads, IT band, glutes) and then passive extended+flexed circumduction. It wasn't painful, but I must admit that I was hesitant and protective of my hip. I then re-learned how to use crutches the right way. It's so hard for me right now...I have to always step the op-leg first with the crutches, followed by the good leg. But bringing the op-leg forward first is so tough...my hip flexors are really not liking it...so I always have to take mini steps to keep pain at a minimum. My first exercises are quad, glute and transverse isometrics. 20x 5 seconds. She asked me if I felt good enough to give the bike a try. Simply getting on the bike was a challenge! But I'm happy I was able to do an impressive 7 minutes lol. Tomorrow we have another session. Well I'm exhausted, I'll post some more tomorrow. Now I'm going to go sleep in the booties from hell. Please save me!!! Yesterday was surgery day! I barely got any sleep the night before because I was so nervous/eager/excited. We arrived at the Gold Coast Surgicenter located in the Water Tower Building on Michigan Ave. Checked in, did my pee/pregnancy test then was changed into a hospital gown. Surgery was scheduled for 11 but in the end I passed at 1pm. I was STARVING!!!! Dr.Nho and Sara (one of his PAs) both came to see me before surgery to go over things and check if I had questions one last time. It was really nice of them. Once the anesthesiologist came, everything moved quickly. I was wheeled into the freezing OR, transferred to the table, oxygen mask on and boom, injection that put me to sleep. My awakening from anesthesia wasn't as smooth as the first time. My hip was really painful (from what I remember) and I kept crying/shaking uncontrollably. The nurse kept telling me to calm down, and that everything was ok. I told her pain was a 9/10 and I was given a truckload of pain meds. Dr.Nho came to see me after surgery and even asked her to give me more pain meds. She had already maxed out on OxyContin and Fentanyl. Boourns. He said that he was pleased of the surgery - that my initial surgeon had barely done anything (😠) so it was almost like a regular scope and not a revision. He showed me photos of the surgery - the joint was bright red and inflamed. I also had a large labral tear which luckily he was able to repair instead of doing reconstruction. My lip was swollen because of the breathing tube, and I kept saying "someone punched me in the face!!! Sara, did you punch me in the face???" Oh boy. How embarassing Haha. Anyway, basically yesterday was cam shaving, labral repair (3 or 4 anchors I don't remember) and capsular plication. He also sew the hole in my capsule from my first surgery. I can't even start to think about my first surgeon being all "not much I can do for you anymore...take Tylenol and someday you will need a hip replacement" So frustrating. BUT NOW!!! Now I'm on the right track to getting back at 100%! This is so exciting. I'm even looking forward to having normal ROM!! Haven't had that in a while. First night was super crappy. Had my hip wrapped in the ice machine (felt nice) and the little booties to keep my foot from rotating externally. THE BOOTIES FROM HELL. I'm hoping tonight will be better. I'm currently in my CPM machine and it feels good to have the joint moving. I have PT at noon, so I'll keep you posted! Had my appointment with Dr.Nho today! Just like all the good things I've heard about him on the support groups, I was in such great hands!
He explained everything so clearly. He went over my XRs and MRAs, measured my alpha angle and it's 62 degrees, which confirms cam impingement (normal is 40). Cam shaving is planned as well as closing of the capsule hole from my initial surgery (graft if needed). He will also evaluate my labrum and see if he has enough healthy tissue to do a repair. If not, they will have a cadaver graft ready. My initial surgeon only did debridement and did not address the actual cause of the tear...which basically was asking for failure right from the start. It's pretty disappointing to know all those months recovering and in pain were "for nothing". But it was really nice to hear Dr.Nho say it's better to have a patient who's surgeon didn't do enough - as this gives him more to work with than the opposite. Hurray for positivity! I asked him to have a look at my left hip MRA, which was considered normal in Montreal. He pointed out a small labral tear...but I will try to avoid surgery as long as it's not too painful. Damn you bilateral impingement! I also had the chance to finally meet Sara and Leah, both of Dr.Nho's PAs. They were so incredibly nice! So was Joely, one of the administrative assistants.They suggested getting the post-op meds on location today, this way we wouldn't have to run to a pharmacy afterwards. Got my brace measurements done, ice machine will be delivered tomorrow and CPM is all set and ready to go. I had last minute questions that I sent by email and they already got back to me. Such amazing service. I'm so happy I chose Dr.Nho and his team for this. Even though it's going to cost a lot of money, it's worth every penny. So yeah...I'm getting surgery...11am tomorrow! So today was the day I was so looking for. Of was afraid of. This appointment was the official one that would say if I could or could not have surgery with Dr.Nho. I walked into the department in awe: large open space, huge windows with a beautiful view (as pictured above) of the river...definitely not what I'm used to in Quebec.
I was first greeted by his nurse, then his PA. Wow, both were super nice! We went over my history and then Dr.Stover came in. He was calm, friendly and very thorough. He asked me to walk in front of him, tested my joint laxity and did a physical/radiological exam: Internal rotation 5 degrees Hip flexion of 95 degrees Positive trendelenburg sign CE angle about 24 degrees. Tonnis angle about 12 degrees I don't remember the other info...but hopefully I'll be able to get his full report before I leave Chicago. Anyway, all that to say, he believes that my symptoms + physical exam seem to point more towards impingement and that hip arthroscopy would be a good action plan. No femoral version issues. Mainly the socket being shallower than usual for the size of my femoral head. My dysplasia is so mild that he has no problem sending me to Dr.Nho and said he does so with patients who have worse dysplasia than mine. It was reassuring to hear. He said that if ever there's a re-tear or if the symptoms persist, we could blame instability from dysplasia and talk about PAO. I'm happy that I have Dr.Belzile back home as he does hip preservation surgery. All this to say, the appointment went exactly like I I wanted it to! I recommend Dr.Stover to anyone who has doubts about dysplasia. He took the time to answer all my questions, was very approachable and professional. SO THAT'S IT KIDS, NOW ALL IS A GO FOR REVISION ARTHROSCOPY IN TWO DAYS!!! AHHHHH!!! Ended the day beautifully and hung out with Suzie - who drove all the way from Milwaukee to come see us! How amazing is that? I met Suzie two years ago when I photographed her beautiful wedding in France. So happy we were able to keep in touch and be friends even though we don't have the chance to see each other very often! We got popcorn at Garrett's, candy at Dylan's Candy Bar and then headed for an amazing dinner at Longman & Eagle. HOLY was the food good. One of the best beef tartare's I've ever had. Anyway, my hip is hurting so I should probably go to bed. Will keep you posted on my appointment with Dr.Nho! Day one done! It was nice being able to enjoy the warm fall weather. We went at the Art Institute (pictured above), Millenium Park, The Giant Bean, Lou Malnati's and even managed to squeeze in some NYC by having lunch at Shake Shack. Feels good to be a tourist! Only thing is I clearly tell the difference between now and a few years ago. I need to take breaks, climbing up stairs is a hassle and I end the day with a stiff and painful hip. Pretty annoying when you love traveling and exploring a city on foot. This morning Ann delivered the CPM machine and explained how it worked. Suddenly it all felt so real. I'm not just a tourist in a beautiful city. I'm a patient awaiting for surgery. I'm also very stunned when she says the machine will take me up to 120 degree flexion in two weeks...unbelievable since I haven't had so much ROM since who knows when. Also a big surprise this morning: Dr.Millis called me. Since there was so much back and forth with his assistant Cynthia and the fact I never got the dictated note, he decided to go over things by phone, which I really appreciated. He told me that based on my tests, I do have dysplasia but that it's mild. He strongly recommended Dr.Belzile in Quebec City, which I'm on the waiting list for and will hopefully see in about 6 months. He said he's an amazing surgeon and that I couldn't be in better hands. Reassuring coming from such a reputed doctor. So from what I understand, hip arthroscopy isn't contraindicated since my case is mild and that I could benefit from reconstruction of my debrided labrum. So it seems that I'm getting surgery in two days! I'm still seeing Dr.Stover this afternoon, just to get another opinion to make sure, but I honestly feel confident with Dr.Belzile and Dr.Millis' plan of action. After the appointment, I'm meeting up with a friend from MKE and we're going to eat CHI dogs, popcorn and later dine at Longman & Eagle. This trip is going to make me obese. Will keep you updated! Well this trip started nicely: Oli and I were both upgraded to business class! Must say it felt nice to wait on the tarmac with a glass of wine in hand! Flight was little over two hours. We arrived in Chicago around 5pm. I didn't feel like taking the train/bus and walk around with our suitcases to find the guesthouse, so we took a taxi. I'm so grateful to stay at the IMD Guesthouse...kitchen, living room, bathroom (walk in shower with no ledge and high toilet) and bedroom at a low cost...so practical!
By 7pm we were starving, so we decided to go grab supper. My hip felt tighter than usual due to the prolonged plane sitting, but I felt I could walk a few blocks to find some food. Approximately 15-20 minutes later, we found a cute little Mexican joint and had ginormous burrito bowls. When I got up from the hard chair, my hip was even stiffer and that deep, dull pain came with a vengeance. I slowly walked back, limping, trying to avoid long srtides as it would cause my hip to catch. It's now pretty painful :( Hopefully tomorrow it'll be all OK so we can visit the city a bit. DEEP DISH PIZZA HERE I COME!!!! Olivier and I are now waiting to board our plane to Chicago. I usually feel super excited to be at the airport...Spain, Iceland, France, Italy, etc...each visit to the airport rhymes with fun adventures to be had.
As I ate my overpriced club sandwich, I gazed out the window with a feeling of worry, incertitude. Some would say that having surgery is a stressful event, but for me, it's the uncertainty of not even knowing if I will have surgery that's worse than anything. I'm flying to Chicago and I have to wait until Monday (appointment with Dr.Stover) to really know what's the plan. I walked the long hallways carrying my crutches not knowing if I'm even going to use them on my way back. So yeah, it's hard to be excited about the trip. It sucks because without the diagnosis of dysplasia, I would be ecstatic about this departure. Anyways, we have a few days before the planner surgery (Wednesday) so I will try to enjoy the city as much as possible. Deep dish pizzas and other delicious food. Relax and re-energize after a very busy summer shooting weddings. I need to take it one day at a time...Monday can't come soon enough. xox Last day before I fly out to Chicago. I would be lying if I said I wasn't nervous. To be honest, I would of been excited if it wasn't for this week's news of hip dysplasia. Now I'm on the edge...impatiently waiting for my appointment with Dr.Stover on Monday.
So far I have: Dr.Millis in Boston & Dr.Belzile in Quebec City who confirm dysplasia (and the surgeon who did my first scope) and cam impingement Dr.Sink at HSS who's uncertain about dysplasia, he feels my femoral head is large compared to my acetabulum Clearly my case isn't black or white. I wish it was...but since I can't change anything I'm going to cross my fingers that everything goes well. I'm afraid they will tell me to cancel surgery with Dr.Nho. I've been looking forward to this for so long. But if ever revision arthroscopy is not the way to go, I won't have a choice but to accept it. I know if that's what they suggest, it's the best thing for me. I just really hope I won't have to go through PAO. Especially that I would have to wait up to 16 months before having surgery thanks to the Canadian public health system. I can't handle more time enduring the pain and limitations. But I won't get ahead of myself...I'll wait to see what Dr.Stover says on Monday. Yesterday was my last day at the office, and my colleagues surprised me with a beautiful card wishing me a speedy recovery. It was so nice of them...I cried as I read it, sitting at my desk. I took a photo of it so that I can read it once I'll be in Chicago :) |
AuthorMy name is Marie-Christine. I'm 34 years old and live in Montreal, QC, Canada. I have had two failed hip scopes on my right hip to do undiagnosed hip dysplasia. My amazing surgeon, who is in Quebec City, performed periacetabular osteotomy in November 2017. He also did one left hip scope (non dysplastic) in February 2017. Archives
May 2018
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