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Will have 2 surgeons for my exploratory/gluteal tendon repair surgery!

Posted , 12 users are following.

AnnieK
AnnieK

Doing the happy dance (while limping)!

I had my right THR in July 2015, and have had trendelenberg gait/limp and pain ever since. My original surgeon was unable to diagnose the problem, even though I had figured it out via a comment on this forum (thanks, linda96952!) and internet research, and suggested it to him as a possibility - torn gluteus medius/minimus muscles/tendons. So I went to a different practice that has a surgeon experienced in gluteal tendon surgery. Sure enough, he confirmed my self-diagnosis via MRI, and said I need surgery for repair. He sent me to a revision specialist also in the practice to determine if I had any other issues, such as infection or prosthesis loosening, before we went ahead. I saw that second surgeon and, as far as he can tell from test results and my symptoms, there is probably no infection or loosening. However, he wants to be sure that when they open my hip up again, that they will be very thorough in checking for problems and fixing the ones that exist.

So, both of these (very tall and handsome) surgeons will be presiding over my surgery. I am so grateful and overwhelmed with relief. Really, I feel like a Prom Queen! (Never went to prom, so this will have to do.) They will "pop" the ball out of the socket and look all around for tissue damage and infection, they will check the prostheses for loosening, they will remove all the metal if there is loosening/infection and give me new hardware (not likely), they will probably give me a different ball to help make up for a slight leg length difference, and they will repair any tissue that is damaged, including the gluteal tendons.

It probably won't be for a couple of months yet, as they have to coordinate their schedules, and there is a fair amount of pre-op preparation to be done. But I am on my way!

8 likes, 26 replies

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  • renee01952
    renee01952 AnnieK

    Posted

    Dear Annie , 

    I know exactly how you feel !!!  seriously - in spite of the not-so-good-news, whatever you feel  and are going through has a name now and someone is going to take care of it - so you are not a crazy, whining woman !

    Your surgeon sounds great .... Usually it is frowned upon when patien comes with "findings" on the internet - yours too it seriously and looked for assistance to help you -- and also eye candies , double the pleasure ... 

    It sounds like they are very thorough -

    I am so happy for you 

    big warm hug

    renee

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK renee01952

      Posted

      Renee, I know you are going through some difficulties in recovery that are painful and the outcome is as yet unknown, and I wish you well on your journey to whole health.

      It is wonderful when you feel validated! I did mention to the docs that my previous surgeon didn't understand or accept the seriousness of my condition. I also told the new docs what I thought was wrong, based on my research of what the various muscles in the hip do, and what I cannot do. They listened, did their own exams, looked at my MRI results and they agreed. I also mentioned this forum where I got a clue on the first day that I posted about the possibility of gluteal tendon/muscle tears as the cause. They didn't do any eye-rolling or anything! After all, the internet is how I found them!

  • linda96952
    linda96952 AnnieK

    Posted

    Hi Annie,I'm so pleased to hear that you have finally got some results and are hopefully on the road to resolving your problems and that your handsome surgeons can 'fix' you and will eventualy return to normal fitness.It's been a long road !! 

    In my case,it hasn't been the instant miracle cure I was hoping for but my surgeon ( who is also young and handsome btw !! ) tells me my op was successful and he expects me to be able to walk unaided but I must be patient as it takes some time to strengthen the muscles as they've been inactive for so long.He has advised walking,walking and more walking,no physio.I have taken his advice and am currently walking with one crutch and I do feel that I am walking better but still not able to do it without that support.

    It has been a year since my fall and THR and I am now 8 weeks post op to repair the damage they did in Spain so I'm getting pretty desperate to return to normal.Hopefully that will be soon.

    It is a long haul Annie but it will be worth it when we both regain our mobility.

    Good luck with your surgery,let us know how you are getting on

    Take care

    Linda

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK linda96952

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply about how the tendon repair is going for you, Linda, and for the words of encouragement! It sounds very tough for you, playing catch-up with strengthening those walking muscles. A year is a long time, my friend, and I get your frustration and desire to be normal again. 13 months ago is when I fell and injured a knee (on non-surgical leg) which is what hastened the hip symptoms on the leg where I had the THR 5 months later. I have been using a walker and/or crutches 13 months now, so I get it. SO sick of this!

      I know from the MRI that a bunch of my muscles in my butt and hip area are atrophied, and certainly gluteus medius and minimus are not in good shape after 8 months of non-use. It will be a rocky road to recovery, I'm sure. 

      I have a surgery date, May 9, and since we don't know exactly what they will find when they open me up, we don't know exactly what recovery will entail. I know I will be non-weight bearing on the surgical leg for about 8 weeks, and that will be so hard for me. My arms are sore all the time now, and my "good" leg isn't very good at all.

      I am going to start checking out rehabs today, so that if I need one, I will have a list of preferred places and won't just get stuck in the first one that someone calls. My husband works all the time, and won't even be able to take the Family Medical Leave that he supposedly has available to him. My sister has a bum knee and can't help me with physical transitions. So things will get worse before they get better. 

      Best of luck to you, too, Linda with your recovery. Keep me posted about your progress!

       

  • linda38528
    linda38528 AnnieK

    Posted

    Hi Annie and Linda,

    How frustrating to know in your body and heart that something is wrong and not get listened to - 'cause really, how could we know our own body better than a specialist!

    So glad you are both on the road to real recovery with health professionals who care to include the patient into the team.

    Go team go!

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK linda38528

      Posted

      How true, Linda! I am just glad I am in the US with great insurance, so I can go to any doctor in my network (and it is a huge network) without having to get permission. That was key to me being able to get the correct diagnosis so quickly from a different surgeon. Others with my same issue often go years before getting a diagnosis, and even then they may not be able to get proper treatment or surgery to correct it. Many never even get the diagnosis! So I feel quite fortunate, overall. I'm  also glad that I am naturally assertive and am like a dog with a bone working to get answers. I never give up!
  • lynn66084
    lynn66084 AnnieK

    Posted

    Tut, all this just to get two good looking surgeons, shame on you lollol

    Hopefully, they will get you properly sorted out, all the best.

    Lynn xx

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