6 month follow-up

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The good news from my six-month LPAO follow-up: the osteotomies are completely healed and the hip joint looks very good. Yay!

The bad news: Dr. Thomas has no idea why my tailbone is messed up and no idea why I have pain on the underside of my pelvis. The X-rays don't show any problem with the bone, so I guess that's good. There is some extra bone growing on the outside of the joint, but we didn't get around to addressing that.

The encouraging news: Dr. Thomas isn't my only hope. The X-rays are on their way to Dr. Mayo's office, and I'm crossing my fingers and toes that he has some magic up his sleeve to make my pain go away.

I try not to focus on these issues. I'm happy with the progress I've made and the wonderful new hip I've been given. But dang it, sometimes it just gets me down. Especially today, when there are no answers. When I'm physically tired because the pain wakes me up throughout the night and when I can't even sit on the couch as I write this because it hurts too much.

Am I stupid for choosing to go through this again with my right hip? Today, I seriously wonder.

Comments

Marina said…
YAY for the healing! I hope they figure out what it wrong. I cannot even think about the second one but highly doubt I will even consider it until the pain starts. Cannot believe I am so close...
October 15, 2008
Manda K said…
I still have problems with my tailbone two years later. After X-rays and MRIs, we've determined that the muscles on the left side were used to overcompensating for the weaker right side and they need more work.

That might be something to bring up with your doctor. Sometimes the answer sucks, but at least it is fixable without more surgery. Plus yoga feels so damn good!
October 16, 2008
MNav said…
I hope Dr. Mayo can help with your tailbone problem. I took preventative care based on your experience, and I sleep some nights with a pillow under my butt, some with an ice pack under my tailbone, and I do my glut squeezes often.

I had both a sore tailbone and heel as soon as I got home from the hospital. I'm sure part of the problem is that we have to spend so much time lying on our back in the first weeks after surgery!

Don't get yourself worried about your next surgery. You did so well in your first, and the nurses told me the second is easier. Just think of how great you'll feel next summer with two good hips!

Michelle
October 22, 2008
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