Not what I thought - 88 days post-op

I saw Simon Ellis at Lake Physio today to get my ‘final’ rehab program. I was really hoping for a plan that Amir Takla assured me would be coming my way. Something I could get stuck into for the next 6 months or something like that. I didn't get that.

My 'plan' for the next 3 weeks.

After asking me a series of questions regarding my surgery and history Simon got me to show him what I'd been instructed to do by Amir. I showed him a couple of the 'QF' exercises I'd been doing and explained I'd been riding the stationary bike and doing a little pool work. We chatted for a while while he rubbed away at my left quad/groin.

He did seem surprised when I explained that Amir had asked me to back off a bit. I was quite self conscious of the fact I've just floated along for the past 4-5 weeks in regard to rehab.

I was hoping for a definitive long term strategy that I could adhere to. It didn't come. He wants to see me again in 3 weeks and get some massage in the meantime. I found myself quite frustrated that Amir had led me down the garden path regarding what I could expect. To be honest, I just want someone to cut through the crap and tell me what I need to do long term.

Anyway, I'll get stuck into the stuff he has given me. Hell of a nice bloke, Simon, and it's not his fault but I'll go back to Clarkey and try to get some information/instructions directly from Amir. Too far to travel from Buninyong over to Wendouree.

If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.

We was hitchhikin' down a long and lonesome road.....

All of a sudden, there shined a shiny demon... in the middle... of the road.
 

And he said.....

It is difficult for many people to look at you after a hip op and see that there is much wrong with you, especially if you don't have a limp. And if you aren't much of a whinger they'll never know about the aches, pains and burning going on inside your groins, hips, pelvis, lower back and legs along with the poor sleeping and inability to get comfortable in bed or sitting or standing for any length of time.

If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.

Where I am is where I was - 49 days post-op

It's been 7 weeks since my second surgery and I can honestly say I am running out of patience. I have all of the symptoms I had prior to the ops along with a few new ones.

The nerve pain down the left leg persists, the groins are as temperamental as before, sitting gives me pain at the top of the outer hip/pelvis and I have welcomed back the pain in the upper hip/pelvis on both sides that wakes me at around 4am every night and keeps me awake tossing and turning from side to side. This is identical to how I felt prior to surgery however at that stage I was putting up with the pain and enjoying an active lifestyle.

Now, any cycling on the stationary bike gives me tightness and pain in the right groin, walking across a muddy footy field at AusKick makes the groins ache, being on my feet all day at work leaves me very sore and sitting for any length of time causes a deep ache in the right arse cheek. Even night time "activities" cause pain in the hips. As I sit here now on the couch I feel a dull burning ache in the outer left buttock and upper right hip/pelvis.

Next week I see the Melbourne physio at 8 weeks post-op. I really hope this is par for the course but I am certain it won't be. I am almost convinced that FAI surgery has been a waste of time and money.

While it has been a cathartic experience to write down how I am travelling in this blog, as I look at my comments now there is nothing positive coming and that's depressing.

All I want to do is kick the footy and jump on the trampoline with my kids.


If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.

Bloody groins!! - 37 days post-op

As instructed by the Melbourne physio, I've been the doing the simple quadratus muscle exercises each day but I admit I have only been doing them once or twice a day instead of the four he recommended. I am busy like anyone else and once the kids are in bed I just want to sit and relax. I really should be doing more of them.

I've continued to see my local physio each Tuesday too. This week he worked on my groins after I mentioned I'd been sore after riding the stationary bike that morning. I admit I really don't have a handle on the genuine benefits of physiotherapy. I have always had the belief that they are important in the recovery of soft tissue injuries, such as hammies and calves, but I am really unsure about how what is essentially massage can help me overcome structural damage, such as my hips. In the past I've been treated for bad ankle sprains and shoulder problems, but I reckon rest and taking it easy has sorted them out.

Anyway, I know Matt reads this and should he still be speaking to me next Tuesday I'm sure he'll be able to extol the benefits of his craft to me.

I've been on the stationary bike 3 times a week for 15 minutes with the high seat and minimal resistance as advised but, just like yesterday, I was bloody sore in the groins during and after tonight's session. It is bloody annoying. Disheartening really. The feeling in the groins/hips is unnatural. It is not a real sharp pain but a dull ache that bites every now and then. I can't tell if it is the joint itself or the associated muscles. Either way I haven't really felt this sort of discomfort before the surgeries. I get a sharp reminder of my hips whenever I turn laterally to walk or to step over something like the rim of the bath or my trailer's tow bar.

Bloody bike!! It mocks me with its f**king ridiculously uncomfortable seat.

I know I should be more patient but I only seem to have the same discomfort, aches and pains that I have carried for as long as I can remember prior to the surgeries with a few brand new ones thrown in.  For every one good day I'd have three uncomfortable ones. I've put all my eggs in one basket here with going ahead with specialists and the x-rays, ultrasounds, CT and MRI scans and the expense of comprehensive insurance and taking time off work and two surgeries in 8 days and the out-of-pocket expenses and the many long drives to Melbourne and Geelong and the rehabilitation and the associated mental and emotional hoo-haa.

I've been determined to not whinge as it's unfair on the people around me. My wife and kids don't need this shit but I don't know how I'll keep the Black Dog at bay if it doesn't work out for the best. Might need to just take a mouthful of concrete and harden the f**k up.