Prepping

What I love most about this blog is it might help someone else. It's because of many other blogs out there that I am feeling pretty good about what to expect and most important what I need to prepare. As a married mother of 3 (14 , 13 and 9 year old) I want to do the best I can to make it as easy as possible for my family.  There were quite a few suggestions I have read that I would have never thought about otherwise.  Things like a shower stool, pads for your crutches, a bag attachment to carry your items rather than a purse, slip on shoes (because you won't be able to tie them for a while) and applying for a temporary disabled parking tag are some big ones for me. So today I stopped to get my "surgical prep kit" and submitted paperwork to complete for FMLA leave and the parking permit and will be going to get some of the other items this weekend so I can start practicing with my crutches. I'm pretty clutzy on a normal day - throwing crutches in there is downright dangerous, so I need all the practice I can  get

Let's start at the beginning

For as long as I can remember I have always had leg and hip pain. As a kid I often had horrible burning in my legs that would radiate from my knees to my hips.  They would feel like they were on FIRE!  I was always told it was growing pains and just something to deal with. As I got older it would get worse. Finally during an annual checkup about 4 years ago I asked my dr for medication for restless leg syndrome (RLS).  She was leery (said i was too young) but did prescribe it for me. I will say it has helped but i still have good and bad days.  The next year I talked to my dr about how it radiates to my hips and I was starting to worry how my hips were hurting more and more. I cant explain it but it is this deep bone pain. Doesn't matter if I'm sitting, standing, walking, sleeping - it was always there. I remember growing up my aunt had horrible hips and always walked with a significant limp.  I was also told my other aunt and grandmother (who passed before I was born) also had bad hips. My fear was I would walk like that and suffer for the rest of my life. So after talking to my dr she suggested maybe I was starting to get arthritis and likely had bursitis and did a cortisone injection. A few days later it was back.  Ill admit I probably let this drag on way too long but I was scared I would get answers I didn't want - "you are going to be crippled for the rest of your life - sorry!"  I went back to the dr 2 years ago for my annual and again told her it isn't better. She decided to do an X-ray. The X-ray came back with something unexpected. Good news - no signs of arthritis. Bad news - I had a type of "bone spur" on my left hip and it was causing a pinching to happen, ultimately causing a chip in the ball socket. She referred me to an orthopedic dr in town. I didn't make the appointment for nearly 6 months. Again - I'm a bit of a procrastinator and a chicken and frankly had good days and bad days so would justify that it isn't hurting that bad so why should I?  But I couldn't deny it was getting worse. I finally went to the specialist in September 2012. He diagnosed me with FAI (femoral acetabular impingement) - basically my hip catches. He suggested an MRI with contrast and that he would refer me to a specialist to do a hip scopeNext step was insurance approval of the MRI. Denied. Tried again. Denied. Insurance wanted me to do physical therapy before even approving the MRI.  The specialist said he would battle with insurance and to hang tight. I waited and waited ...and waited. I called several times and couldn't get calls back, couldn't get answers. I was finally so fed up with the specialist I call my regular dr for another referral.  She referred me to "the best hip surgeon in town".  But I knew my insurance wouldn't change so moved forward with pt. I started in January 2013 and went for about 6 weeks. I'll be honest, it did seem to help a little and honestly felt good when I was doing it, but I knew it was still there. I was doing a ton of travel for work so made the appointment in April 2013 for the new dr. I went, got another set of X-rays which showed the same thing and was told the same diagnosis. - but this guy only did hip replacements and not hip scopes. So he referred me to another specialist, but not without caution. He explained the procedure and how the put your leg on traction, dislocate your hip and crutches for a month not to mention months of intense therapy to follow. Oy!!!!  But he promised this was the guy to go to.  By this time I was having some pretty good days and frankly it scared the hell out of me so I didn't call. Until the pain was so bad I was walking with a limp and need a constant rotation of ice packs and hot baths. I called in August and had my appointment in September 2013. Another set of X-rays - only this time it is now showing early onset arthritis and the "spur" has gotten a little bigger and the chip a little deeper. I explained to him my insurance woes and he says "I know a guy". Here we go again. He said give me a few minutes. I roll my eyes. 10 minutes later I have an MRI scheduled that afternoon and approval for surgery. What the hell just happened!!!??  MRI was smooth and the next day the call that I had small tears in the labrum which he suspected. My surgery is scheduled for October 14th. He put my mind at rest and assured me of the process. I remember crying I was so happy I finally had answers. And because I was so mad I let this go on for so long. So this is my journey. I decided to blog after doing some research of my own and found a lot of other people have a lot of good information out there from their own experiences. Most people I saw got FAI after sports injury - usually running.  My doctor feels that mine is likely a birth defect or something Ive had all of my life. My hope is that my story will help someone too.