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.

Be careful not to sit around after physio

Had an appointment with my physio today who worked on my back and upper gluteals while we chewed the fat about footy and the Adam Goodes racism issue. I enjoy my chats with Matt.

I was sitting and driving in the car for about an hour after the appointment and started to feel very sore with that old familiar burning pain in my right hip and groin. I did mention to Matt that I was feeling soreness in the hip/groin while he was working on my back but I didn't expect it to flare up so much.

Posture is everything but it can be difficult when you need to keep your hip angle greater than 90 degrees. I might get the ice onto it.

On an entirely different topic, I'm not a religious man and probably refer to myself as an agnostic atheist with a Catholic death bed Golden ticket. But as a father and a husband this got to me. Thanks for the heads up, Matt. I'm not sure if I look forward to continuing to read this or not.

http://howthelightgetsin.net/2011/11/06/in-defense-of-daddy/

Surgeon and specialist physio visit - 24 days post-op

Drove down to Melbourne with my son Tom for my post-op appointment with my surgeon, John O'Donnell. An hour each way in the car leaves me sore, especially in the left hip and groin. 

Fortunately, we were driving past the Collingwood footy club's training facility in Swan Street, Melbourne and got to stop in for 10 minutes to see them training.

Both the surgeon and physio were very happy with my hips. John believes I will make an excellent recovery while the physio, Amir Takla, is happy where I am at this stage. He checked my mobility and showed me some simple quadratus muscle isometric exercises.

Seems the surgery was well timed and got to me before arthritis took hold. I look like I'll be sore for 6-8 weeks post-op and John is optimistic of recovery in 3 months. However the physio is not so confident.

He said he didn't know how I played cricket with it for so long. The major concern is the micro fracture work done in the right hip where loose cartilage was removed and tiny fractures were made in the underlying bone. This causes new cartilage to develop from a so-called super-clot.

The physio urged me to not squat, pivot or lift from ground for 6 more weeks. He wants me to slow up as he thinks I am doing too much. He believes I am very sore in my left hip as I am unconsciously compensating for my right leg.

He asked me to continue my anti-inflammatories (Meloxicam) until the course is completed and to not miss any days. He also said to take Panadol Osteo (a larger dose paracetamol) every day and ice the hip. I had discontinued the pain relief and icing but will get back onto it now.

I’ll be doing 4 of the simple quadratus muscle exercises for a minute each day for the next 4 weeks, stationary bike riding 3 times a week for 15 minutes with a high seat and minimal resistance, and I’ll continue to get my back loosened up by my local physio.

I feel like I am in great hands. John O’Donnell is an internationally renowned guru and Amir Takla is very experienced with the management of arthroscopic hip surgery patients.

I am to see Amir in 4 weeks for a final check from him where he will give me a long-term program.

Here are the physio's notes.

Here are the surgery photos from my left hip.

And the surgery photos from my right hip.

On the way home I discovered that Tom likes Mudhoney and Metallica. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!

Physio appointment - 22 days post-op

I had treatment on my groins today. I discussed my concerns about my hip feeling like it “popped out” when I put my foot down last week. Clarky assured me that hips don't just dislocate. People do that sort of thing in car crashes. There was talk of “muscle flicking” to explain it.

Physio appointment - 15 days post-op

My physio, Matt, treated my lower back and pelvis today. I always wonder if it does much, in terms of doing me some good and aiding in my rehabilitation. I hope it does.

First physiotherapy appointment - 11 days post-op

Visited my old mate, Matt Clark, who is my physio in Ballarat. There was no treatment but we went through some exercises I can do and a more gentle alternative to the quadratus muscle exercise. I’ll be seeing him every Tuesday for the hips.

Post sports science doctor physio

Went along to see my local physio, Matt today. We discussed the sports science doctor's findings and recommendations and then went into the gym next door to go over a strengthening exercises regime.

After a 10 min warm-up of walking he wants me to stretch the hammys, quads, groin, lower back and gluteals.

Then strengthening exercises including bridging, Russian twist using the Swiss ball (SB), leg raises (SB), planking, dog leg lift, side planking, hammy curls (SB) and back curls (SB).

A 4 min warm-down walk to finish.

I have appointments each week from now until Christmas too. Let's see how we go.