On August 4th I returned, again, to the London Clinic for a cortisone injection to the area around my Ischium which showed inflammation on the MRI. Prior to being anethetised, Johan confirmed that I had, indeed, fracture my Ischium. Apparently it showed up very clearly on the 3D CT scan that was done. He said that it is where one of the bone cuts had been and is right where the hamstring joins, which would explain the discomfort that I had been having since having my right PAO done. Basically that area has been sore, because the hamstring has been tight and has been pulling on the bone, which has been trying to heal. My marathon training probably didn’t help this, in the fact that my hamstring was getting tighter and tighter, and then when I slipped it finally threw it’s hands up in the air and said “Can’t cope anymore”! And snapped! Nice~! Lol!
Well, I can now say that as I am now 3.5 months post-slip, that all seems to be going okay. I am not being woken during the night from the pain that I was getting pre and post marathon, and I have started very gentle pilates type physio, non-weight bearing exercises for the next 2 – 4 weeks (been doing them for about the last 3 weeks), and I am seeing Johan next Monday (20th) to see what he thinks. If this doesn’t heal properly and I am still getting pain then he will look at a bone graft and plate. I REALLY don’t want to have to go down that route, so for once, I am behaving myself, not doing really stupid things, like cutting down trees and dragging them down the garden etc., I am watching where my feet go, and just basically giving my bone every possible chance to do what is right!
I, under the advice of my physio have now joined the gym that adjoins to her practice (neat, eh!). Steve, my gym coach, is strict (ridiculously so! Lol!) as he is making me take baby steps (I know, that’s what is needed!) and I am only being allowed to ride on the bike at a low level of resistance and do the x-trainer (first time 10 minutes nearly killed me!), also at a low resistance.
Moving on a couple of weeks, I am now riding the bike for 20 mins at a resistance of 6, and on the x-trainer, I am still on resistance of 4 but doing 20 mins now. I am also now doing upper body exercises, but when I asked to do an ab exercise, I was told “NO”! Next week, perhaps! But so far all is going rather well.
I have also decided what I want to do when I grow up! Took my time on that one! Lol! (Dorothy, I hope you are reading this, because I think this could apply to you!). I am hopefully going down the route of a “Canine Hydrotherapist”, that is if the hips behave themselves and I can build up enough strength to be able to manoevre a (large) dog around a pool – it has been likened to walking through setting cement! Well, there’s a goal if ever I saw one! So watch this space. I am hoping to go on the first of many courses next January!
Anyway, to say that everything is finally starting to be heading in the right direction might just blight things, but I will say that I am in a much better place at this point in time than I have been for what seems like a very long time. Compared to others though, mine has been a very short road, and for that I will be eternally grateful. My hugs and kisses to all my ‘hip chicks’ and may their journey be (eventually) a good one.
So glad you’re now in a better place and heading in the right direction. Keep doing as you’re told (just like I always do >;o) – however hard it may be!
Dawn xx