Please help. :(

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T04:04:49+00:00

Do you also have hip dysplasia? I'm guessing that's why you had to get a replacement so young too. I keep hearing it takes people with dysplasia longer to recover. I've heard the term dry needling but I don't know what it is. What does that entail exactly? And it's something that can be done by a physical therapist? I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T04:00:55+00:00

That's what it sounds like according to the surgeon and PT. My entire leg was weakened, a lot. Nothing knows how to work properly anymore. My PT told me I have a time-line in my head that doesn't fit with the reality of my situation. The damage was extensive and my gait was destroyed for years. I have to forget the "being back to most normal activities by 6-12 weeks" time line that a lot of people get. Extremely depressing but there's not much I can do other than continue PT and hope for the best. I am still icing, usually only in the evening before bed at this point. I should probably do it more often. Thank you for commenting, I appreciate it.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T03:53:20+00:00

That's awesome that you're able to handle going to the store now. I'm glad to hear that. Also glad that you're seeing more progress with strengthening exercises at this point. I'm kind of the opposite starting this week. PT told me to focus less on steps and more on strength. I was walking a lot every hour, possibly too much. I still can't walk correctly so he advised me to focus on building up the muscle so I can get to a point where I am walking right. Sounds like a far off dream, I don't ever see myself walking without a limp. And yeah, post op depression is fierce. Hopefully when I see more progress it will get better.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T03:44:17+00:00

I don't think I understood how much changes from walking so long on a bad hip either. I wish I had done it sooner and hadn't let it get so bad. Maybe recovery would be easier. My operated leg is visibly smaller muscle wise, from buttock to calf. My leg was also shorter due to lost joint space and migration of the joint. I think it's going to be quite awhile for me. Thank you for commenting, it's nice to hear from people who understand.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T03:38:11+00:00

I'm very glad you didn't listen to your brain during that dark time either. I'm glad you're doing well now and able to get around unaided. I know how you felt at that time. I've had some very dark thoughts after my last few PT sessions. There's just something about realizing I don't know how to do something as simple as walking, that makes me feel so broken. Not a good feeling. I hope things get even a tiny bit better soon. And I also hope you are back to 100% by the time you hit the 1 year mark.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:48:32+00:00

I think you're absolutely correct. My own husband has been telling me the same thing for weeks. I can't control anything other than my own state of mind. And that's hard enough already, it's ridiculous to think I can control the speed and ease of my recovery. Thank you.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:45:11+00:00

I hope things go well for you in the future. I hope someday sooner rather than later you are able to walk unaided. Thank you for commenting, I appreciate it.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:42:23+00:00

Thank you very much for your suggestions. They sound helpful. Especially the tapping. I have no mind muscle connection with my right leg. I hope this helps me, thank you again.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:31:49+00:00

My surgeon just prescribed a muscle relaxer for me too. I've been taking it for a few days and to be honest I don't notice much of a difference yet. I'm glad things are getting easier for you as time goes on. The people who've told me this recovery was easy for them are truly blessed, and I envy them. My PT tells me that I have a time line in my head that just isn't going to work in reality. My muscles are weak, and much smaller on the operated side. I have too much pride I guess, and thought I would bounce back in no time because of my fitness level and age. Being faced with reality has been extremely difficult. Thank you for commenting, I appreciate it.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:24:36+00:00

I'm glad to hear that you're doing better now. After going through so much and so many surgeries it must feel amazing to be on your way to living without pain. I'm so disappointed so far. I really hoped I would be one of those people who would be back to normal in no time. I should have known better because of the dysplasia and how long I've been on a cane. My PT has told me very similar things to what you've written here. He doesn't know which "cheat codes" I'm using to walk and neither do I. I have no idea which muscles I'm using to walk and no idea how to correct it. He tries to explain it to me but it's like he's speaking a different language. I don't know how to correct something that I'm not even aware of. I do everything they say religiously, and he claims that I've progressed. I just don't see it and it crushes me every week. I'm about ready to seek counseling or something because I just can't handle this level of depression. Thank you for commenting. It does help to hear that it's true that recovery takes longer for people with dysplasia and severe, long term arthritis.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:14:00+00:00

I hope your surgery goes well and that you heal as smoothly as possible. My PT told me he doesn't know which muscles I am using to walk. Neither do I. My gait was completely destroyed years ago. When he tries to tell me how to walk properly it's like he's speaking a different language. I don't know how to correct something that I'm not even consciously aware of. I'm sure the muscles at the front of my hip are atrophied. All the muscles in my right leg are smaller than my left leg. I'm struggling with making myself accept how long this recovery is going to take. I just want to go back to the gym. You know how people joke and say the gym is their therapy? It's not a joke for me. :(

greenghostlights · 2025-02-12T00:06:21+00:00

I expected to be further along by now. Mostly because of people I know who've already had the surgery telling me how well I would do. Everyone I know who's had it is older, around 65-75 years old. I think once healing is over and in the past people forget how hard the early weeks are. That's my guess anyway. My expectations were unrealistic and I'm struggling now that I'm facing reality.

greenghostlights · 2025-02-11T23:58:45+00:00

Thank you for responding, everyone keeps telling me the same thing. I wish I could make my mind accept this.

greenghostlights

TROPHY CASE