Femoral nerve injury

Hi Bethan

i do feel sorry for you, there is nothing worse than depression.  What you do need is someone to understand and feel for what you are going through.  I can understand it's not easy especially when you are self employed and have no sickness benefit. Where you live do you have a citizens advice to discuss this matter with.

Im 6 months post op and have still got problems with my foot which affects my walking and is causing my opposite knee to hurt. I've tried everything and nobody seems to understand how you are feeling. At the moment I'm waiting for an orthopaedic surgeon appointment. If I get one let's see what they have to say.

ive tried explaining to you before but the long reply just disappeared. I'm trying to keep this one brief.

Hope you feel better and let me know how you get on with dealing with your problem. If you are anything like me you need someone to talk to.

Keep your head up and take care Brenda

Thought you might like to know: I went to see my physio last week ( she squeezed me in, bless her) and I came away so very much happier. She did a few tests and said I was much stronger than I realised. Part of the problem was psychological - I was too scared to put weight on the knee, partly because it feels all wrong because of the femoral nerve numbness. It still has a long way to go, but I can step up - onto fairly low steps, but I can do it, and I've been improving quickly ever since.

She showed me some other exercises too, which I've been doing faithfully.

It's just wrong that I wasn't really supposed to see her. My 'time' with physio was up months ago, despite the long term nature of my injury.

So if anybody else out there gets a femoral nerve injury - INSIST on seeing your physio at regular intervals. The gym referral people really didn't know what to do and what not to do with me.

Depression should be handled too. But just seeing the physio helped me no end.

I can now see light at the end of the tunnel.

Great update - very happy that you went to this particular PT and that she is helping you make good progress. I totally agree with you - many of us have discussed for better mental health and emotional support for patients having this surgery - even when there are no complications like yours. I am very glad that your PT is helping with this a bit too.

Depression is no joke. My sister has suffered from deep depression for many years and it is soul- destroying. I hope you will consider seeing a psychologist (ask your GP for a referral) to help you - dnot let this take you down further

Wit big hugs and prayers,

Linda

Hi Bethan, Good to hear that your Physio thought you have improved. I think it is so difficult to look at ourselves and make that judgement. It's so easy to dwell on all the things you can't do rather than what you can. I saw mine this week and she was quite pleased with the progress I'm making. I know my recovery will take over 2 years then we'll know what mobility I'll get back. I feel its so so difficult when you read of so many people having this surgery and getting their lives back  quickly. As much as the physical disability is a struggle, I'm finding th mental toll really hard. I think we all try to smile and make light of the situation to family and friends, does't help much at 3 in the morning! I have been referred to a pain clinic, but my appointment isn't for a cople of months. I'm hoping for some sort of CBT support. I know your not in great pain but suffer more with the inability of doing things. However there must be some sort of CBT support for you through your GP. Think you hav to be quite insistant with GPs sometimes as they seem to have a reluctance to refer, always looking at their budgets! I would stress with him that your living alone and self employed, is there someone you can take to the GP with you. My GP kept refusing to refer me to the pain clinic until my husband came with me, even though I'm on large amounts of morphine!

Have you looked at the Isometric exercises? The Royal National Othopeadic Hospital have been filming people before and after just a few mins of doing them and have seen marked results. It's what are used for spinal injury and stroke patients. You would need a physio to show you how. They are very gentle, simply moving one muscle at a time. More difficult than it sounds. 

Send me a kick up the bottom.....I need one today! Tried to get back in the studio yesterday to do some work, ended up hurting myself, swollen and in more pain! So frustrating. 

Going to do my one muscle moving [hard core!!!!!] exercises now.

Keep smiling

PatsyX