am trying to be calm and patient about intense groin/proas pain.
i am 6 and half weeks.
if this is a transitory phase of healing i will and can definitely accept that. however two things are bothering me:
1. exactly how to treat this "problem" ie complete rest, or a programme of physio (which would seem to be counter productive as almost everything i do aggravates the pain). the most i am able to walk with stick or crutches is 200 steps out of the front door and back. i couldn't even contemplate driving or trying a stationary bike etc
2. ive been reading postings onto this site that talk about this problem never resolving, or taking a year to resolve, or requiring further surgery.
i am definitely much more incapacitated now than before the op. my husband says its to be expected after such a big op. but i had the superpath approach which aparently doesn't cut muscles or tendons.
those of you who have read my posts before will know that i an a bit of a panicker, so, am hoping for some success stories to stop me from freaking out .
I'm only 2 weeks out and the issue is driving me dilly .... I am superfit and would not have had the op but for the limitations the condition placed on me. However, I'm now far more incapacitated than before with no sign of easing ....
Dear Lindsey, i wish you all the best and hope you recover but i don't have a good outcome to tell you and I'm 2-1/2yrs post op TLHR my pain become so bad after 6mths i had Cortisone injections which didn't help then at 12mths i had the Psoas and adductor tendons cut which did help relieve the pain and gave me back full range of movement until about 6-8wks later i got an infection and had to stop rehab then after that i had complacations and ended up worse than ever but if i didn't get sick with an infection i believe i would have had a really good outcome but if you were to have it done you need to make sure the cut it at a certain position so you don't lose function of your foot. Hope this helps you....
I think things suddenly 'pop' into place. My recovery is complex as I had 2 surgeries, 10 weeks apart, so I think that the hammering in my socket in the second surgery helped put some things back where they should have been.
Someone said this week that they felt their muscle suddenly 'pop' into place, and pain disappeared.
It does get better, just don't aggravate the muscles and nerves, but keep up the exercises to help it all settle back into the right place again.
I used a programme of exercise one day, rest the next - it worked for me, but listen to your body, we're all different.
Lindsey, I don't think it is ever a good idea to treat intense pain (or any other kind of pain) with exercise! I would go the other direction of resting as much as you possibly can. Elevate, ice, take pain meds. If you google the subject, you will see all the normal treatments. If, over time, those don't work, there are surgical options. At 6 weeks, it is still very early to know whether this is temporary or will be chronic. For some people, healing takes place, for others it doesn't. Time will tell. In the meantime, try being very kind to your poor hurting body and rest!
Hi Lindsey, I am at 7 weeks po and share your pain and wearing patience! I don't have the perspective to say everything will be all right but I will say that the fight has only begun until the operation heals. Then you can start to strenghten all muscles. In my case I cannot put full weight on the left opertated leg due to some of the muscles surrounding the hip not being strong enough. But, I also feel when I lay on my side how internally the hip is still swollen and a bit sore. There are still patches of numbness that slowly feel like they are thawing!
My strategy when I get as worried as you are is to remmember that I've seen so many changes in 7 weeks at least lets see what it feels like when its completely healed in a few weeks or months.
Hang in there. It is a brutal process and a difficult mental challenge. We are with you!!!!!
The only thing that worked for my pain after going off the opiates. I'm 4 months post off LTHR. While recovering, I had home PT and did well, going up and down steps, taking short walks. This was a week or two post op.
My therpist I see 3 times weekly listens to me whine everytime I go in. "This hurts TOO much" he said, "that's your body building make those muscle nerve connections" I've even cried when doing the "clam". But, I could either stay at home on my sofa and atrophy, feeling miserable. Or, I can push through the pain and keep up the PT. They are experts, and would never do anything you can't handle.. you are assessed at the beginning. ( can you stoop, can you manage steps.. etc.) After weeks and weeks, I see a huge improvement in the pain and my range of motion is so much better. Miserable? Yes. I had read too that if it hurts, don't do it. Well, hurt is an important part of the healing process, taken slowly, to get back muscle strength and increase muscle mass. It's been a long time, but I have seen SO much improvement. Give therapy a try and discuss with your therapist your fears and level of pain at your initial assessment. They want only the best for you, and a good outcome.
hopefully she can shed some light on what's going on and what exercises I need to do to strengthen the other muscles that possibly the psoas/groin is compensating for.
Keeping a log of what has happened really does help you see where you have come from and how much progress you have made. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the 'pain of the moment' we just forget what it has been like.
Hi there, i just wanted to say that since my TLHR 2-1/2 yrs ago i was having so much groin pain and so restricted in my movements that i couldn't squat or open my legs like the clam shell. A year later my surgeon tried cortisone injections into the Psoas tendon and Adductor tendon but it didn't help so my surgeon done what they call a release which was actually cutting those tendons but he cut them higher so i wouldn't have a droopy foot so i would still be able to lift and control my foot. I've got to say the first 6wks was awesome i was opening my legs to a fully opened clam shell and squating i was having a good outcome as i was transferred from hospital straight to Rehab hospital for 4wks so i would have a good outcome as i was doing physiotherapy twice a day, hydro therapy in the pool 1 hour a day and exercising in te gym daily. It was all going great until i got an infection and was so sick i couldn't continue rehab so now those tendons ended up with alot of scare tissue and i basically ended up worse than before now with chronic nerve pain from waist down swelling of my full leg to my foot and also a droopy foot where i cant lift my foot properly and i stuggle getting up my stairs and had 8 falls so far as when i walk for more than 5mins my foot won't lift to take a step even though I'm using crutches still due to the chronic pain on weight bairing and i stumble alot. I believe if i didn't get ill with infection i would been so much better and more active, i would recommend the operation to others but as long as you stick to the full workouts with the physiotherapist, hydrotherapy in the pool and working out at the gym to strengthen those muscles again like your glutes and hamstring and your core muscles for a really good outcome... I'm hoping i get well and hoping that they might try again with those tendons if they can cut or repair and clear away the scare tissue, you can actually see the difference between my legs and see the adductor tendon where i have muscle wastage..
interesting the terms... Brits say "I need to go to hospital" not "I need to go to the hospital" or "surgery" for the doctor's office. "Operating theatre" instead of Operating room. "Chemist" for pharmacist. Correct me if I'm wrong, I've only noticed this watching BBC shows - mostly Doc Martin.