I paid the orthopedic a visit today to discuss discomfort in my right hip. They took a few X-rays. I sat around and waited for my name to be called. To my surprise, he was on time and it didn’t take long for the results. The right Femoral head is breaking down around the hip socket in the exact same manner the left femur is fracturing around my knee joint.
There are several treatment options. 1. Bite the bullet and deal with the pain. 2. Injections, such as cortisone. 3. Weight loss and low impact exercise IE; water aquatics, elliptical trainer, & stationary bike. 4. Hip replacement.
I am choosing options 1-3 for the time being. A hip replacement is inevitable, but we’ll start with a hip injection next week. The goal is get me through knee replacement and rehab without needing to focus too intensely on the hip.
As for the knee, there is nothing to do between now and Oct 4th. I questioned the possibility of a cortisone injection in attempt to control pain. This was shot down. To my surprise, they don’t perform joint injections within 3 months prior to surgery. I am supposed to stay as immobile as possible, avoid stairs and attempt to lose 20lbs in 3 weeks. The weight loss is little steep so I’ll shoot for 10lbs.
Breakdown: Good news – Surgery is still on for Oct 4th. Bad news – There is little to no pain relief in sight for the next 3 weeks. The Crystal Ball – The right hip will eventually need surgery. That’s the long and short.
Cheers!
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Thursday, September 5, 2013
The Painful Truth
For almost 2 years, I anxiously awaited a surgeon to approve knee replacement surgery. Here is the twist. Less than 4 weeks out from surgery and tomorrow I will be calling that very same orthopedic surgeon to discuss my hip and possibly to postpone the replacement.
I fractured my right hip back in November and it hasn’t been the same since. It has actually been a larger distraction than the left knee. The pain has become intolerable and needs addressing. Horrifying to think there is a more pressing matter than fixing a broken femur and faulty knee but it is true.
If nothing else, it gives me a reason to write more every day. Honestly…What’s the point of a blog if you don’t write?
Cheers…
I fractured my right hip back in November and it hasn’t been the same since. It has actually been a larger distraction than the left knee. The pain has become intolerable and needs addressing. Horrifying to think there is a more pressing matter than fixing a broken femur and faulty knee but it is true.
If nothing else, it gives me a reason to write more every day. Honestly…What’s the point of a blog if you don’t write?
Cheers…
The Spoon Theory is a savior
Five years. Five years, I’ve struggle to explain the invisible. If you saw me in a booth at your local diner drinking coffee and enjoying breakfast, you’d say I look normal. “He’s nothing more than an overweight, bald man stuffing his face.” You can’t see the blood disease that lies dormant in my veins. You can’t see the broken leg, cracked knee cap, or fractured hip. You can’t see the never-ending pain pulsing through my body.
You can’t possible understand how each moment of my day/week/month needs to be planned and scheduled. Most people just get up and go. They know not of restraints or limits of energy. They know not of the invisible diseases, aches, pains, etc., that limit so many people.
Today, I was introduced to The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino. I thank Raine Vollor for the introduction. I repeat. Five years, I spent trying to explain something, which Ms. Miserandino writes about so easily. She lives with Lupus and found herself trying to explain her chronic pain and daily routine to her best friend. Hence, she created the Spoon Theory. The theory based on Lupus can easily be used for cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and many more.
Attached is a link to her article. I found solace in her words. When you hear me referencing “spoons” for now on, you’ll know why. It will be our inside joke.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
PS. There are no surgical updates as the date was moved to Friday October 4th.
Cheers!
You can’t possible understand how each moment of my day/week/month needs to be planned and scheduled. Most people just get up and go. They know not of restraints or limits of energy. They know not of the invisible diseases, aches, pains, etc., that limit so many people.
Today, I was introduced to The Spoon Theory written by Christine Miserandino. I thank Raine Vollor for the introduction. I repeat. Five years, I spent trying to explain something, which Ms. Miserandino writes about so easily. She lives with Lupus and found herself trying to explain her chronic pain and daily routine to her best friend. Hence, she created the Spoon Theory. The theory based on Lupus can easily be used for cancer, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and many more.
Attached is a link to her article. I found solace in her words. When you hear me referencing “spoons” for now on, you’ll know why. It will be our inside joke.
http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/wpress/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
PS. There are no surgical updates as the date was moved to Friday October 4th.
Cheers!
Thursday, June 27, 2013
For those who want to walk, we will cut you.
New England summer weather is the worst for one who’s had an ACL replacement, fractured back, fractured hip, or currently broken femur. Humidity rises. Temperature rises. Humidity drops. Temperature drops. Throw in the occasionally thunderstorm and it all equals chronic pain.
However, I digress.
Several updates for those keeping score at home. First, dad is finally out of the hospital. After a brief 18 night stay between the Union Hospital in Lynn and Beth Israel in Boston, dad is half cured. Believe me, when it is called the “practice” of medicine, they aren’t joking.
Secondly, my son earned his orange belt in Kempo karate this past Monday. I am an extremely proud papa-bear. I love watching him perform karate. He puts in the effort and earns his awards.
Thirdly, my mom found a part-time job. This is excellent news. She has searched and searched to no avail. Hopefully, this will work out well, where she can stay busy and earn a little extra spending money.
Fourthly, I participated in my 4th American Cancer Society Relay for Life. For the first time, I was accompanied by my son and mom. Half-dozen friends came to support our team and assist in pushing my wheelchair around the track. I am grateful to everyone’s contributions, whether it was monetary, time or effort.
Lastly, surgery is scheduled for August 16th to repair and replace my left knee. This will include a revision of cutting & repairing my femur and a total knee joint replacement. I should be in the hospital up to 3 days, followed by 1 month of in-home physical therapy and 3-4 months of out-patient physical therapy. Surgery could have happened as early as July 19th but I opted to share my summer with Gabe instead of recovery.
I look forward to spending many summer days with my son, friends, and family and endure a long recovery from surgery in hopes of doing it all better next year.
Cheers!
However, I digress.
Several updates for those keeping score at home. First, dad is finally out of the hospital. After a brief 18 night stay between the Union Hospital in Lynn and Beth Israel in Boston, dad is half cured. Believe me, when it is called the “practice” of medicine, they aren’t joking.
Secondly, my son earned his orange belt in Kempo karate this past Monday. I am an extremely proud papa-bear. I love watching him perform karate. He puts in the effort and earns his awards.
Thirdly, my mom found a part-time job. This is excellent news. She has searched and searched to no avail. Hopefully, this will work out well, where she can stay busy and earn a little extra spending money.
Fourthly, I participated in my 4th American Cancer Society Relay for Life. For the first time, I was accompanied by my son and mom. Half-dozen friends came to support our team and assist in pushing my wheelchair around the track. I am grateful to everyone’s contributions, whether it was monetary, time or effort.
Lastly, surgery is scheduled for August 16th to repair and replace my left knee. This will include a revision of cutting & repairing my femur and a total knee joint replacement. I should be in the hospital up to 3 days, followed by 1 month of in-home physical therapy and 3-4 months of out-patient physical therapy. Surgery could have happened as early as July 19th but I opted to share my summer with Gabe instead of recovery.
I look forward to spending many summer days with my son, friends, and family and endure a long recovery from surgery in hopes of doing it all better next year.
Cheers!
Thursday, May 30, 2013
The Bees Knees
Today, Thursday May 30, 2013, I got caught off guard. Allow me to explain. I was scheduled for a six month evaluation on my knees. This included X-rays and a surgical consult.
Here is a little history. This would be my 4th visit over the past 2 years with this orthopedic surgeon. Usually the conversation consists of him telling me I’m too heavy, on too many steroids & immunosuppressant drugs, and too young for a total knee replacement surgery. Needless to say today’s expectations were not high.
Fast forward to today. With X-rays completed, I waited for the doctor. Running 45 minutes late, my number was finally called. Johnny tell him what he’s won…a move from the waiting room to waiting in “A” room. Following another hour wait, the doctor eventually comes to my door.
He manipulated my knees, asked about pain, mobility and medication. I told him about my recent surgeries, hip fracture, and weight loss. Then, we looked over the X-rays. The right knee looked decent minus some corrosion of the knee cap. The left leg was interesting. Many angles showed little too no damage except on the outside of my femur. The bended view exhibited a blatant deterioration of the femur.
Now, I am preparing for the “you’re too fat, too young, etc.,” speech but it doesn’t come. Instead he offers me a cortisone shot and explains that we could perform a total knee replacement and knee revision. I decline the shot. (Avoiding needles is a must.) Having surgery is completely my decision and for a change, there is a willing and able surgeon.
What does the replacement and revision entail? For starters, they need to remove the corroded portion of my femur and add a metal plate. This is the revision. The total knee involved stems (rods) into the bones for support, the removal of the knee joint and installation of the new.
What are the cons? 1. I will outlive the replacement. Replacements last 10-15 years and I just turned 35. 2. Infection. 3. Rejection. 4. Amputation. All risks I'm willing to take.
However, if surgery is successful, I could walk with less pain, go up and down stairs, exercise and have more fun with Gabe. My personal plan is to keep dieting. I want to drop another 15lbs, enjoy the summer with my son, and then schedule surgery in early autumn.
That is the long and short of it. I could go on about the great family time & celebration in St. Louis last week for Beau’s graduation or my first successful relationship since the divorce or how amazing my son is but I’ve written enough this evening.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!
Here is a little history. This would be my 4th visit over the past 2 years with this orthopedic surgeon. Usually the conversation consists of him telling me I’m too heavy, on too many steroids & immunosuppressant drugs, and too young for a total knee replacement surgery. Needless to say today’s expectations were not high.
Fast forward to today. With X-rays completed, I waited for the doctor. Running 45 minutes late, my number was finally called. Johnny tell him what he’s won…a move from the waiting room to waiting in “A” room. Following another hour wait, the doctor eventually comes to my door.
He manipulated my knees, asked about pain, mobility and medication. I told him about my recent surgeries, hip fracture, and weight loss. Then, we looked over the X-rays. The right knee looked decent minus some corrosion of the knee cap. The left leg was interesting. Many angles showed little too no damage except on the outside of my femur. The bended view exhibited a blatant deterioration of the femur.
Now, I am preparing for the “you’re too fat, too young, etc.,” speech but it doesn’t come. Instead he offers me a cortisone shot and explains that we could perform a total knee replacement and knee revision. I decline the shot. (Avoiding needles is a must.) Having surgery is completely my decision and for a change, there is a willing and able surgeon.
What does the replacement and revision entail? For starters, they need to remove the corroded portion of my femur and add a metal plate. This is the revision. The total knee involved stems (rods) into the bones for support, the removal of the knee joint and installation of the new.
What are the cons? 1. I will outlive the replacement. Replacements last 10-15 years and I just turned 35. 2. Infection. 3. Rejection. 4. Amputation. All risks I'm willing to take.
However, if surgery is successful, I could walk with less pain, go up and down stairs, exercise and have more fun with Gabe. My personal plan is to keep dieting. I want to drop another 15lbs, enjoy the summer with my son, and then schedule surgery in early autumn.
That is the long and short of it. I could go on about the great family time & celebration in St. Louis last week for Beau’s graduation or my first successful relationship since the divorce or how amazing my son is but I’ve written enough this evening.
Thanks for reading.
Cheers!
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Failure to succeed
Success vs Failure
I like to say, “You can’t be successful without the willingness to fail.” However, I am disappointed with my current failure to succeed.
My attempt to hold a successful large scale charity event for American Cancer Society ended yesterday. Due to poor sales and caterer cancellation, it wasn’t going to happen. Not going to lie…This will sting for a bit and unfortunately, I may decide not to Relay in 2014 and turn my attention to other foundations. I have enjoyed my time with Relay but I need a fresh start.
This weekend wasn’t all black clouds. I spent quality time with my Gabriel. He performed well at karate. We visited 2 parks, played football, went to dinner, and both volunteered at the Special Olympics bowling event in Danvers. Such a good kid.
What to say about my health? I’m tired. Both knees and both hips hurt daily. My back and right shoulder are sore. I have dizzy spells. Walking is a chore. Running is impossible. Stairs are challenging. I’m tired, so very tired. The next 5 weeks will test my stamina and resolve. (More details to come.)
I am overly appreciative to all the donations and support I receive for my charity and self. I understand times are tough and money is tight. Thank you all.
Cheers!
Adam
I like to say, “You can’t be successful without the willingness to fail.” However, I am disappointed with my current failure to succeed.
My attempt to hold a successful large scale charity event for American Cancer Society ended yesterday. Due to poor sales and caterer cancellation, it wasn’t going to happen. Not going to lie…This will sting for a bit and unfortunately, I may decide not to Relay in 2014 and turn my attention to other foundations. I have enjoyed my time with Relay but I need a fresh start.
This weekend wasn’t all black clouds. I spent quality time with my Gabriel. He performed well at karate. We visited 2 parks, played football, went to dinner, and both volunteered at the Special Olympics bowling event in Danvers. Such a good kid.
What to say about my health? I’m tired. Both knees and both hips hurt daily. My back and right shoulder are sore. I have dizzy spells. Walking is a chore. Running is impossible. Stairs are challenging. I’m tired, so very tired. The next 5 weeks will test my stamina and resolve. (More details to come.)
I am overly appreciative to all the donations and support I receive for my charity and self. I understand times are tough and money is tight. Thank you all.
Cheers!
Adam
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