Not Too Hip

[Paul Wolfe]

I've been having some excruciating pain in my left hip for some months now. It's not constant, but depending on how I move it feels like the bones in my hip and pelvis are grinding and catching on each other. I can barely put a shoe and sock on my left foot and stairs are nearly impossible.

So I went to see my doctor who took some x-rays... she couldn't determine the issue from the pics, so she referred me to an orthopedist and gave me a disc with the x-rays to show him.

On Wednesday I went in to see the orthopedist. After an exam of moving my leg this way and that and watching me grimace in pain he turned to the x-rays on the computer and showed me a groove in the hip bone which causes this type of pain. Then the good news: the solution is a complete hip replacement!

When I returned home I fired up the laptop to show the x-rays to my wife (they gave me the disc after uploading the files to their system). I pulled up the main picture and couldn't locate the groove in question. I began studying the image and noticed that I couldn't see the fingertips that I could see in the picture at the doctors office. In addition, there were some black circles at the office that I couldn't see at home.

Concerned, I left a message with the doctor. The next afternoon I received a call from his nurse. Coincidentally there is a 47-year-old Paul CHARLES Wolfe in Olympia with left hip pain who sees this same orthopedist. I'm 47-year-old Paul WARREN Wolfe from Rochester! The doctor diagnosed my problem with the wrong images.

Now the plan is to get an MRI of my hip and new x-rays. The nurse said that my initial images looked pretty good and that this might be a labrum tear requiring arthroscopic surgery and NOT a complete hip replacement. Of course we have to wait and see what the pictures show, and I might need a replacement after all, but I'd rather have that diagnosis based on my x-rays and not the other guys

Anyway, thanks for giving me an outlet to get this off of my chest.

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

Paul, I can sympathize with having chronic pain. I have diverticulitis and have to have my colon resectioned in a couple of weeks. Since about last May I've been in constant pain, lost a ton of weight, have had to watch very, very carefully what I eat, and have had to rely on meds to keep going each day without pain. Thank goodness my work is so understanding and I have excellent benefits. I will have to be off work for the better part of two months (if not longer) to recuperate, which is gonna suck. I'm used to being busy and moving around, and this is gonna slow me right down, literally.

In the end, though, chronic pain sucks, and I feel your pain. You know, many of us may go back and forth here on the boards, but at the end of the day, it's just debate, and I sincerely think people wish the best for others, and the debate is just in the context of discussion. Best wishes for a very successful surgery and a speedy recovery! No doubt I'll be here on the boards more while convalescing as well! Take care of yourself, alright? Let us know how things go!

[GUITARIDOL5682]

Paul it just goes to show you how hospital negligence can easily happen. The coincidence is just uncanny and a good job you realised from the X rays that you could see the differences. Hopefully for you the operation wont be too severe and you may keep your original hip. Good luck dude

[Sky]

Just as well you checked your x-rays Paul. Hope you get the problem sorted soon!
All the best to you,
Troy

[Paul Wolfe]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words.
Canuck, you take care as well, I'll keep you in my prayers.

[CanuckRhoadsFan]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the kind words.
Canuck, you take care as well, I'll keep you in my prayers.

You're welcome, Paul.

And thanks. Ditto for me on the prayer front.

[Paul Wolfe]

So, today I went for the follow-up to my MRI... there is a labrum tear causing the pain and a 'bump' on the bone causing the impingement which caused the tear.

The verdict?

Go see another specialist who will determine if arthroscopic surgery to file down the bone and remove the problem will work on a person “of my age.” Which is apparently not likely.

The kicker?

Even if this surgery would solve the problem, most insurance companies don’t cover it!

When I asked what happens if it's not the right route or not covered, I was told that complete hip replacement would be necessary at some point. And in the mean time I'd just keep hurting like I do now.

Yea me!!

[oth]

just hang til you hit 62 and qualify for medicare...maybe you should try getting it now if your unemployed.

[Sky]

Not good news Paul, but try to stay positive and see what the next specialist has to say.
Hope the pain is under control soon!

[Paul Wolfe]

just hang til you hit 62 and qualify for medicare...maybe you should try getting it now if your unemployed.

Never thought of that... I'll have to look into it.

Not good news Paul, but try to stay positive and see what the next specialist has to say.
Hope the pain is under control soon!

Troy, the hardest part is not being able to do anything. I've been in the hotel maintenance business since '93 and right now my dishwasher has got a leak but I can't physically get down on the floor to deal with it and can't afford to hire a repair guy. It's probably a simple 5 minute repair but instead I have to do dishes by hand!

It's not always easy to stay positive, but I try.

[oth]

if youre overweight,losing weight helps immensely with knee,back,hip problems.

[Paul Wolfe]

if youre overweight,losing weight helps immensely with knee,back,hip problems.

You sayin' I'm fat?

I completely agree with you, I am currently at 268 because I cannot exercise. I do pushups & pullups, but when you can't walk most other exercises go down the tube. I bought at recumbent exercise bike because it's easier to use with a back issue, but the labrum tear in my hip makes using the bike impossible. So most cardio exercise isn't a possibility right now. Tat adds to the frustration, because I was down to 230 in June with a goal of 210. Then when my hip went, I had to stop and the weight creeps right back up when you get very little exercise.

As soon as the surgery is complete and the recover as well, I'm going full bore on exercise... I miss being able to run.

[oth]

I didnt know you were fat til you mentioned 268!!!!!!!!!!!
Most americans are overweight.

Changing your diet is more important than if you exercise.You can excercise all you want but if you dont change your diet you wont lose weight.Conversely you will lose weight if you change your diet but dont exercise.

I can garanty you you will lose weight if you eat only veggies and fruit.Not that that would be fun.I Its really hard to find non fat food these days since everything has loads of sughar and salt in it including yogurt,peanit butter,orange juice...bread is also a killer...salt and sugar are the nicotine of the food industry.

I reduced the size of my meat portions to help with weight.Instead of using 10$ of organic chicken for 2 meals i split it up for 3 meals.Saves me money as well.I realize i didnt need the extra meat and that i was overfilling my stomach.I know when my stomach starts feeling stretched i have had enough.The less you eat the less you crave.

[oth]

if youre overweight,losing weight helps immensely with knee,back,hip problems.

You sayin' I'm fat?

I completely agree with you, I am currently at 268 because I cannot exercise. I do pushups & pullups, but when you can't walk most other exercises go down the tube. I bought at recumbent exercise bike because it's easier to use with a back issue, but the labrum tear in my hip makes using the bike impossible. So most cardio exercise isn't a possibility right now. Tat adds to the frustration, because I was down to 230 in June with a goal of 210. Then when my hip went, I had to stop and the weight creeps right back up when you get very little exercise.

As soon as the surgery is complete and the recover as well, I'm going full bore on exercise... I miss being able to run.

i swim and rollerblade fourtimes a wk.Running is great but rough on hips and everything else.
You should try lap swwimming.Swimming can be a bore to many and i never thought i would get into it but i got hooked and love it now.I start with a 30min set of nonstop crawl.After 10mins i get into the zone.You can do the crawl without legs/hips with that leg float thing you shove between your legs.

[Paul Wolfe]

I'll look into the local pool prices... thanks for the idea.