Wednesday August 5, 2009: Ortho visit for the hip

I had my follow up appointment with the ortho today for my hip shot. The hip is looking good. He was very happy the shot worked. No renewal of PT prescription=just finish one of the two more sessions scheduled as PT guy has to close out my case. He mentioned hip resurfacing if necessary, if it really starts bothering me but doesn't need a total hip replacement. It replaces part of the joint, not the full thing, He warned me the huge bruise could spread to my toes (it's almost there already). Now supposedly, I don't need to go back to the ortho office (except for the PT in the same building tomorrow) until January. I hope that actually happens!

As far as the hip resurfacing goes, it sounds good to me, although, obviously, I hope it doesn't become necessary. It can be done when your hip need something but it's not so bad that it needs a total replacement, and it leaves things in tact so that if you do need a hip replacement down the line, it can be done. Sort of like my partial knee replacement which can, when necessary, be made into a total knee replacement. It's also minimally invasive, like the PKR versus the TKR.

Friday July 31, 2009 Update on the shot and a calf issue

It's now been 9 days since the cortisone shot in my hip and I would say that it worked. There is still an occasional twinge but nothing like before. I am getting backaches if I lean over too much (it happened at work last Sunday and earlier this week when I washed the cars) but maybe it won't happen now that more time has passed. I am working tomorrow and Sunday and then won't be working for a couple of weeks since we're going away on vacation!

Meanwhile, however, during PT this Wednesday, my right calf has tightened up terribly. The PT guy rubbed it and massaged it while I was there which helped slightly. But yesterday it was REALLY tight all day, and occaisonally the small area on the lateral side of my right knee, on top, was tightening too and looked a little swollen. Last night I took a Flexeril and a bath before bed so my calf would loosen up. I woke up and it was slightly looser than it had been. Today, I didn't have usual PT guy but a PT woman instead who checked things out and had me stretch the calves (both) on an incline gadget. That really stretched it but it is still sore. There is a good size bruise there too from rubbing it so much! But at least the knee spot isn't so bad today. Hopefully I'll make it through the 4 hours of work tomorrow and the 4 hours of work Sunday.

Next week brings PT on Monday, a follow up on the shot with Dr. Rogell on Wednesday, and PT Thursday and Friday, which should be the end of it. I don’t think I’ll need any more as the hip feels much better----and if I continue to do more of the exercises!

Wednesday July 22, 2009: The Hip Cortisone Shot

It wasn't too bad, although not exactly pleasant. I was led into a room that reminded me of an operating room----and to think the last operating room I was in, I don't even remember---. The doctor, a Dr. Sherman, came in and introduced himself and briefly discussed the procedure as did an assistant. I did remember to ask about how long to wait for PT and the answer was 24 hours-and to take it easy for them. I didn't have to change---just had to move the sweat pants and undies (nothing like being discreet) down to my thighs once I was covered by a blanket. I could see my hip on a monitor. They put in some kind of dye to be able to see things clearly. Betadine was swabbed on the area too and then some numbing agent. The shot itself was very quick and not particularly painful at all. I didn't watch the monitor while the shot was being administered. So that's all done. Reports will be sent to Dr. Rogell, Dr. Miller, and Dr. Maki.
And I could take my Mobic again with dinner. Halleleujah!
Now I just have to wait for the cortisone to kick in and the Mobic (Meloxicam) to kick in.

Tueday July 21, 2009

Today would've been my father's 90th birthday. Hard to imagine him that old since he died shortly after his 73rd birthday.
Tomorrow is the xray guided cortisone shot. Since I can drive myself home, I guess it won’t be terrible! I had PT yesterday and today, today making up for the appointment I managed to miss on Friday. While getting the shot tomorrow, I have to find out how long I have to wait before having PT again. With this information, I'll call the PT place tomorrow afternoon and make more appointments. Next week I'm working SUnday and the following Saturday so they should be easy to schedule.

Tuesday July 14, 2009: Hip PT starts

Happy Bastille Day! I had my PT evaluation today, and it turns out it was with my previous PT guy, but that was only for today. Lots of muscle tightness, which the PT will loosen up and I will be doing some strengthening exercises too. I was also given a set of exercises to do 3 times a day (in addition to the 1X [at least] a day exercises I do for my new knee. Appointments have been made for Thursday and then Monday of next week. The cortisone shot at the hospital has now been scheduled for that Wednesday (no Mobic for at least 5 days prior!!!!) and will make more PT appointments once I find out from the doctor who does the shot how long I have to wait before starting PT again. When in the parking lot, I called Henry to say I was on my way home and he told me CFO called to say I needed a follow up appointment with Dr. Rogell so I went back into the building and made that appointment for August sometime (before our vacation). PT guy also said my new knee is looking good and acting well!