September 29, 2014
Pain Level 2-3 depending
Starting my 6th month and not showing much progress. Still in pain and night time is especially difficult sleeping. Even walking fires up anger on the outside of my hip. I thought by now I would be well on my way...pain free and building strength, stamina, and flexibility. Not so. But...after almost 5 months I finally got off the Tramadol and sobered up. I had been continuing my yoga practice as before varying the kind and frequency. That was until I attended the Yogafest on September 14 at Canal Side in Buffalo. It was there that I picked up a local health magazine and opened it to see information on Buffalo Spine and Sports Medicine and an article about the yoga rehab therapy have there under the guidance of Dr. Lenard Kaplan DO* ( that DO makes a difference). He was the doctor that first advised me to being yoga as a therapy to relieve back pain. As I mentioned earlier it worked and I was beginning to train to resume rowing when I was rear-ended in the accident and that started the horrible hip problem. At any rate, I called the next day and as luck would have it an appointment opened up for that Friday. After a thorough examination checking my hip and other areas of my back and pelvis he determined that the area is still unstable. Quite interesting since my surgeon did nothing more than look at x-rays, manipulate my leg and pronounce me ready to resume yoga full on. Not so with Dr. Kaplan. He said the worse thing I could have been doing was hip openers, something that I worked on shorty after I returned to my practice. I need to let the capsule stabilize. He recommended I stop that aspect of my practice for at least 2 months. I can continue to participate in yoga but I need to be careful to modify for my right hip and leg. I asked if it would be appropriate for me to work with his yoga program but he felt that I might be at a place that is more demanding than the program they offer. When I asked him why I was told I could return to yoga full on he said the surgeon was probably not aware that the yoga I was returning to was more "Cirque de Soli" rather than meditation. I am also scheduled for an ultrasound and possible injection in November.
So after a week of modifying my practice I feel a bit better. I am trying to not to get too hopeful and I hope that all I have done has not damaged my prospects of complete healing. I will continue to be patient as best I can and try to stay positive and hopeful.
Stay tuned!!
Namaste
Donna
* I did ask permission of the doctor to reveal his name and that of his practice. I can't recommend them highly enough for someone who is facing a hip replacement that is a yogi or for an other rehab. I hope that others have access to this type of support. Contact Buffalo Spine and Sports Medicine if you are seeking advice, guidance, or recommendations.
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Day 127 - Big Changes
September 3, 2014
Much has happened since the last entry less than a week ago. I have seen some improvement. I am not sure if it is due to the cold laser therapy, my returning to my practice at a higher level, or just the passing of time. I am feeling more hopeful. While I still wake up in discomfort during the night it is not as bad as before. I find that I have more range of motion and can sleep in almost any position. I took a Power Yoga class yesterday and surprised myself. Expecting limitations I found my tree to be even better than I had hoped for. I can get my right foot up above my knee and hold it a long time. I did dancer's pose with almost the same expression as before and actually managed to do my first crow pose without much pain and actually held it for quite a while. I was very surprised.
Perhaps the most important thing is that I went off my tramadol cold turkey. I had been functioning in a fog. I could not focus, remember anything, stay awake, or be at all productive. I found myself falling asleep behind the wheel of my car every time I drove it. I had no initiative. I swear my dear friend who just passed away in February came to me and told me to "get off that shit". I went off Saturday morning. It was rough for about 2 days and I am still trying to detox. I have been drinking more than usual (not alcohol) and the yoga class really sweat a lot out of me. I am getting less foggy and the pain I have is less than when I was on it. It is really more discomfort. I still get still if I do not move and now that school is starting and I am spending more time at my computer I notice it. Hopefully this will diminish. I am keeping up with my meditation, massage, Reiki, and various forms of yoga.
Stay tuned!
Namaste
Donna
Much has happened since the last entry less than a week ago. I have seen some improvement. I am not sure if it is due to the cold laser therapy, my returning to my practice at a higher level, or just the passing of time. I am feeling more hopeful. While I still wake up in discomfort during the night it is not as bad as before. I find that I have more range of motion and can sleep in almost any position. I took a Power Yoga class yesterday and surprised myself. Expecting limitations I found my tree to be even better than I had hoped for. I can get my right foot up above my knee and hold it a long time. I did dancer's pose with almost the same expression as before and actually managed to do my first crow pose without much pain and actually held it for quite a while. I was very surprised.
Perhaps the most important thing is that I went off my tramadol cold turkey. I had been functioning in a fog. I could not focus, remember anything, stay awake, or be at all productive. I found myself falling asleep behind the wheel of my car every time I drove it. I had no initiative. I swear my dear friend who just passed away in February came to me and told me to "get off that shit". I went off Saturday morning. It was rough for about 2 days and I am still trying to detox. I have been drinking more than usual (not alcohol) and the yoga class really sweat a lot out of me. I am getting less foggy and the pain I have is less than when I was on it. It is really more discomfort. I still get still if I do not move and now that school is starting and I am spending more time at my computer I notice it. Hopefully this will diminish. I am keeping up with my meditation, massage, Reiki, and various forms of yoga.
Stay tuned!
Namaste
Donna
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