6 months post op RPAO

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These past six months have gone by not quicker or slower than my first PAO, but definitely differently.

More inconspicuously, perhaps.

I've focused less on the little milestones and even the big ones. Without a second pending PAO, I've had my mind more free for other things.

Strange, though, that I've thought less about this recovery when it hasn't gone as well as the first. Unfortunately, I'm not as far as I was with my first PAO. This is where I'm at.

  • Zero pain when walking or having been on my feet all day.
  • Zero pain when jogging or jumping.
  • My "Captain Morgan" problem remains. While I can lift my leg on my own to get dressed, get into the car, it's painful. I still use my hands to help to avoid pain.
  • Still an uncomfortable feeling when lying on my right side. No pain, just weird.
  • My range of motion is not great. External rotation is especially hard. No sitting cross legged or the like.
  • Still get the deep itchy, shooting pains in the incision every now and again as the nerves come out of hiding.
  • Numb and tingly patches are smaller, but I still don't like touching the skin cause it feels so strange.
I fly back to Tacoma next week for my follow-up appointments with my surgeon. I'm anxious to hear if anything is going on with the right hip that I should be concerned with. Maybe it's just taking longer to heal ...

See where I was at 6 months post op LPAO.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Hey, could somebody out there tell me how you got to the decision to go ahead with what looks like a substantially invasive procedure. My son is scheduled for this after one visit to the specialist. I need to slow down. His history is of an avascular necrosis age 3-13 with anteversion and valgus deformity. Now at 21 starting to have pain.
New diagnosis is hip dysplasia.
Probably hypoplasia of the ant. inf. acetabular rim, with the transverse ligament located more superior and anterior than usual. There appears to be complex tearing of the adjacent ant inf labrum with contrast into the iliopsoas bursa. couldn't we wait till done with college as no arthritis evident. couldn't he fix the labral tear for now and wait on this? HELP
May 06, 2009
SHC said…
Just a thought...

Previously I was told that the lack of "touching" the area (due to the weird sensation, pain, or whatever) isn't good because it actually will maintain the sensitivity longer and not allow positive regrowth to occur.

To densensitize the area is what was recommended for me, which in turn will enable you to truly "FEEL" and help those nerve endings to reconnect correctly...and successfully.

You might want to discuss this with your doctor, too. There is also info online about it.
May 07, 2009
Cassie said…
To the mother who needs help,
I highly suggest you join the following groups:
http://hipuniversesupportgroup.yuku.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/hipwomen/summary
You can connect with others and get lots and lots of personal advice and info. While the hipwomen group says it's for women, you or your son can still join. There is a lot of info about PAOs there.
A PAO has a better chance for success the less arthritis one has. My advice is to research your options. I didn't even visit the specialist before I got the ok for surgery. It's scary, but take a deep breath and start gathering info.
Good luck!
May 08, 2009
Stacey said…
Hey, Cass,

It's been awhile since we last "spoke." Even though time has passed, I have thought about you and how you are doing. After talking to my doctor, he said for some folks it can take up to a year to fully recover from having a PAO. I've recently reached my six-month mark, and I am still working on flexibility and strength. Hang in there!

You're in my thoughts.
-Stacey
June 09, 2009
HipSk8 said…
I'm having my RPAO (first one) in 2 weeks with Dr. Mayo; yours was the first Blog I read when I was diagnosed, so I thought about you recently. I'm hoping that no news is good news and that your R hip has continued to improve since the 6 month mark. Really, I hope that you are far too busy doing all the fun things you want to do to even think about your hips! Terri
June 23, 2009
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