Hello Everyone,

I hope all of you are doing okay and hopefully getting the help you need to get your life back - pain free.

I saw my OS today, the fracture is completely healed; doesn't show up at all on x-ray.  That was such good news!  I did have to tell him I am having very bad pain on the lateral side of my knee when I rise from a chair or try to do stairs reciprocally. It's also tender and swollen. He said the pain is probably from the muscles and tissues getting use to the new position of the implant.  He gave me a script for Voltaren Gel and Lidoderm patches.  I asked about doing the PT exercises and he said I could resume but to use common sense.  If something causes pain in the knee, stop doing it.  I know that sounds simple but if we stopped doing a PT exercise because of pain; we'd never do any exercises. I'll work it out but geez couldn't it be simpler???

Best to all of you~~

Diana

Hi Linda,

Thank you for the good wishes!  I was born and raised in NY, my instinct is to walk very fast with long strides.  My husband keeps telling me to slow down!  However; I tend to "waddle" because, I believe, my SI joints/hips don't move correctly.  My lower back has arthritic changes that certainly don't help with my gait. I do go for chiropractic adjustments and it helps some but I know I need a back/hip work-up by a spine specialist.  In spite of all the other "structural issues" I am so happy with my revision...so nice to walk with one foot right in front of the other and pants don't pull in at the knees because of the excessive valgus!

Thank you again for your good wishes ~~

Diana

Diana- So sorry to hear about the road you've been down.  Happy it is getting better & I must say I agree with Andy that more rest = better recovery is crap.  Was just reading through & thought I would share something I have taken to heart from a rehab doc I saw over the summer (he used to be an OS).  He told me to avoid anything that caused pain that was consistent & lasted more than 1 hour.  Since I have taken that to heart it has helped me push through more exercises & gain more strength.

Oh -& I had to laugh about the being from NY & walking fast -I'm from upstate NY & before all this my husband was always asking me "where's the fire" as he tried to keep up with me.  Best of luck to you.  Cheers-A

Hello All!

It is so nice to hear from all of you with wonderful suggestions!

Seems there is another wrench in the bucket.  I've had a very hard, painful lump above my right hip and in the lower back area.  I asked my chiropractor about it and he said "it's an MD question", I asked my acupuncturist and she said "hum, that's interesting", so I got no where.   After doing some research, I found out that it is indeed "something".  It has many names but the one I find funny (have to find some humor in all this) is "back mouse".  It happens when there is a tear in the hip that never healed properly. A hole forms and fat tissue herniates and forms a hard lump.  They are never cancerous and don't cause problems in most people.  However; in some patients they cause referred pain to the hip, leg, knee and lower abdomen.  Treatment is multiple injections of lidocaine into the lump, if that doesn't work, surgery to remove the hardened fat and close the hole is done.  The one treatment that should NEVER be done is a hard massage to try and "loosen" it up..they don't loosen and the massage causes more pain.  I can attest to that!

So, here I go again.  I'll speak to my chiropractor, acupuncturist and PCP...let's see how far I get. Most MD's have heard of "back mouse" but it doesn't jump to the forefront when a patient presents with a hard lump at the hip/lower back. I'm sure I'll get scoffed at but that hasn't stopped me in the past and I won't let it stop me now...I've come too far!

Thank you again for your kindness and encouragement - it really means a great deal~~

Diana