Hip-hop anonymous - a PAO journal

Surgery doesn't scare me. Well, at least not as much as the limitations I will face afterward. I'm sitting here thinking of the activities I've been able to do this year -- snowboarding (or snowfalling, which more accurately describes what I was doing) bowling, dancing my heart out in Body Jam, playing volleyball with my team, shooting around in the gym, and weightlifting. Not that the aforementioned didn't involve some degree of pain, fear or frustration, but I was able to do them. And when you're passionate about something, that's all that matters, baby. Speaking of babies ... Not that I'm a parent, but I compare this surgery to getting said child. Meaning that everything you do afterward changes. Even the simplest of things must be planned, and nothing is just a "quick trip" or an "easy chore."

In my efforts to make time go by quicker so that I can get started on the recovery process (as well as quit annoying myself and everyone around me by worrying about the surgery) I've tried to make some progress on the things I need to do beforehand. So far, I have accomplished the following: Bought some things I'll be needing in the hospital, i.e, a fun, black, satin nightshirt and some really cute slippers, non-slip socks and boxer shorts. Who knew surgery shopping could be so fun? Talked with a physical therapist who is familiar with PAO (one of eight I talked to). I still need to set up a time to meet with her and check out the facilities before I decide she's the one for me. Found a back-up doctor in Montana who is familiar with PAO and is willing to help with my follow-up care. Made more definite arrangements with my mom and dad about my recovery with them. (On a side note, I just want to thank both my sister and my parents, who almost seemed to be fighting over who wa...

For a while, I was able to NOT think about my surgery. That was for a few weeks back in November/December. Now, I tend to think about it. A lot. I'm hoping that if I put some lists together, I'll be able to focus on something else. Like my job, which is incredibly busy right now and would benefit greatly if I would stop thinking about my hips for a second! Having the surgery away from my home and away from the place I will be recovering makes for an extra long list, I found. Below is the main list of things I need to take care of in the next three months, in no particular order. To do list Forward mail Arrange plant-waterers and apartment check on-ers and make keys Haircut, pedicure, teeth cleaning Change Blockbuster online address Give blood (two units) Meet with HR Find backup doctors in MT and CO Arrange PT in CO Order Millennial crutches Arrange wheelchair/walker Arrange handicapped placards Get meds in MT Make hotel reservations for me/family Make car rental reservations P...

Things I struggle with when I've overdone it and my hip hurts: Tying/putting on/taking off shoes Going up stairs Captain's chair ab exercises Curling up on the couch Getting into vehicles Left-handed layups Walking (this is the big one!)

I'm waffling. Few days go by that I don't wonder if I'm making the right decision to have this surgery. I'm not scared so much by the operation and recovery, but I am terrified that I'm somehow going to be worse off. Dr. Mayo told me that it's "not likely" that I'll be 100 percent pain free after the PAO. So what does that mean? Will the pain afterward be worse than what I'm feeling now? The sucky part is that the only way to know is to have the surgery. I do know that the pain I feel now is only going to get worse as I age. I also know in my head that this is the best time for me to go through with it: I have family to help me during recovery; I don't have any kids to take care of; I can take lots of time off my job (paid). Still, I spend lots of time wondering if my quality of life is going to be better afterward. My goal is to go into surgery free of doubt and with the most optimistic outlook possible. Doing so will make recovery...

The past few days I've been doing some research on how this whole out-of-state surgery is going to work. I'm concerned about how my family members are going to get to the hospital from the hotel and how the heck we're going to travel home when I'm all gimped up. I think these are the first issues I need to tackle so my family can start making plans as to who's coming to the hospital, how and when. The idea of flying after surgery is not appealing. I mean, even though air travel is normally such a joy ... with the crowds, long waits, security lines and tiny airplane seats ... all those things tend to scare me when I know I'll be in a lot of pain and have the walking ability of a 13-month-old. Looks like flying will take between six and seven hours (if the flight's on time) while driving would take about 11 hours, but also be less stressful and less expensive. There are a lot of other pros for driving as well: not needing a rental car in Tacoma, no hassl...

I live in Colorado and work in Wyoming. I'm having my surgery in Washington state and will recover in Montana. A bit of a jumble to manage, but with extra planning, it will all work out. In the four months before surgery, I need to find "backup doctors" in both Montana and Colorado to manage my follow-up care, as well as a physical therapist in both states. (PT starts at eight weeks, and my goal is to be back in Colorado by then, but I need someone in Montana, just in case.) The ladies in Dr. Mayo's office in Tacoma (I love Keri and Sandy already) are going to look into finding referrals for me. I obviously need someone with at least some basic knowledge of what a PAO is; those of you who are looking into the surgery know that this is not an easy task! Why Washington? Believe it or not, a "periacetabular osteotomy" is actually harder to perform than to pronounce! It's an uncommon, technically demanding surgery, so I sought out the most experienced surgeo...

Today is the first day since I got the go-ahead for surgery that I'm super excited to do this. I've been dragging my feet and mentally not committing myself to it, but a full day of pain and limping have turned me around. It's funny that a bad day physically can make me feel so excited emotionally. April can't come soon enough. Yesterday, I went to BodyJam , my cardio dance class. It was the first time I'd made it in three weeks due to a pulled muscle in my back and then a sprained ankle. Everything felt fine at the time, but afterward, like usual, I limped home. So I iced it for an hour, like usual, and took some ibuprofen, like usual. When I woke up today, I was still sore, which is unusual because getting off my feet for eight hours normally helps. Getting all my chores done around the house and grocery shopping has not been fun today. I'm grumpy because I'm not going to be able to get it all done, but I've kinda sorta learned that I have to g...

Hi, everyone. My name is Cassie, and I’m a dysplastic. First, a shout out to the hilarious movie “ Big Daddy ,” which inspired the title of this blog. Second, a little about me and why I’ve put this journal together. I was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia in July 2006 at the age of 27 at the Orthopaedic Center of the Rockies in Fort Collins, Colo. by Dr. Stephen Yemm. I’d had problems in my left hip since I was about 18 years old, but the older I got, the more often and more fiercely the pain would show up. One summer day about a month before I was diagnosed, I decided to walk five blocks to return a movie I had rented. As I walked, in pain, I saw my reflection in the storefront windows: a bent-over, hobbling version of myself. I looked ridiculous. This was not the same person I was proud to be (a weight-lifter, volleyball player, basketball player, dancer, rollerblader, hiker, jogger … in short, a strong and athletic woman). It was then that I decided to make an appoint...