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Main Boards => Long Distance Walks => Topic started by: Slogger on 15:13:58, 30/11/19

Title: Long distance gone!
Post by: Slogger on 15:13:58, 30/11/19
Well I am hoping not but at the moment it most definately is, just getting round to the local shops is very painful. Work, I am somehow managing assisted by regular pain killers.My right hip qhich has been grumbling since october 2018, became worse a around 3 months ago after a particularly heavy, twisting, bending etc job.Docs, followed by x-ray, physio, osteopath, ultrasound scan, mri scan, cortisone injection lead to dumbfounded consultant.Basically there is no real arthritis in the hip, a paralabral cyst suggests a possible labral tear, however consultant dismissed this at first and gave me the injection. Whoopee! I was painfree for 2 weeks then pain returned with a vengance worse than before. Leg keeps locking up with pain throough the roof in my front thigh. Literaly van't move for around 5 minutes when that happens. Back for follow up, this time he listens. Last time teold me arthroscopy not funded by NHS, now offers me an Arthroscopy OR a Complete hip replacement which he would do!!?? That put me on the spot, completely unprepared for that. Following discussion, he asks me what I am hoping for. I tell him, just to get back to walking. How far. he asks. I like doing 100 mile non stop, he says thats a bit much for a new hip, 45 mile would do, I tell him. I'll refer you on for an arthroscopy, he said. After me asking he says that if that doesn't work, I can go back to him for the full job.Off to get another more indepth ultrasound scan tonight to finally rule out any soft tissue issues and then await the letter! :-\
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: gunwharfman on 17:20:23, 30/11/19
Sorry about your problems. As an individual who has experienced a few ops in my life, six (it could be 7?) hernia operations, three exploratory investigations (one definitely made my eyes water!) and a Prostate surgically removed I can really sympathise. I have experienced first hand how the NHS has deteriorated in terms of waiting times, seeing a GP and so on, Brexit has driven so many valuable staff away and the remaining people are increasingly 'put upon' to do more and more just so the Government can 'keep up appearances' and try to make out that all is well. 50,000 Nurses, I don't believe a word of it!!! Where I live the wait for a GP is three weeks if you are lucky! Definitely not a good era or time to be ill.

I don't know if this is of help but my wife has problem knees and has to have regular Cortisone injections, whilst a mate down the pub has what I think is the same problem but his GP injects him with something else, a 'something, something acid.' It was very interesting to my wife when she asked her GP would the 'acid' work better for her and his face went blank! She guessed he did not know of it?

Sometimes I'm sure that the doctor or consultant you see can make a difference to what you get, or are offered as treatment. From my personal experience, I always try to seek out the younger doctors, in particular, those from Asian backgrounds who for me always seem to be keen, well-read, ambitious and most importantly are up to date with modern medical knowledge and procedures. We obviously experience things in different ways so in my case would I actively seek out an older 'English' doctor, I would of course, but if there was a younger choice as I've described I know which route I would prefer.

As you have written about an 'arthroscopy,' I know nothing about what that is but it might be worth asking if you have a da Vinci robot in your hospital and if so would this be an option for you? I had my Prostate out in this way and the robot only left me with 5 small puncture marks on my abdomen. Almost easy peasy! They healed in a few days but the most important thing for me was that the robot was super accurate in what it did. Lastly, if your consultant offers you a procedure and if its going to be a long wait could you get it done more quickly elswhere in the country?

Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 18:06:04, 30/11/19
The injections may well be hyaluronic acid.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: sussamb on 20:25:34, 30/11/19
Sorry to hear that Dave, I know how much walking means to you.  I hope it all gets sorted soon, best wishes  O0
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: richardh1905 on 07:51:15, 01/12/19
Good luck with the treatment.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 09:20:02, 01/12/19
Hopefully the treatment will be successful and you will out walking again soon. I am very aware of the impact of injury. I have not managed a decent walk in the country for 18 months due to an Achilles’ tendon injury and then the reoccurrence of a long standing back problem. This is annoying, because sometimes I can walk around at my normal high pace and other times I am struggling to walk and stand up straight. I think I have lost some confidence, worrying that I might get a back spasm that immobilises me when miles from civilisation.


Once again, all the best with your hip treatments.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: gunwharfman on 10:05:10, 01/12/19
Yes, Bigfoot Mike its hyaluronic acid. Thanks for that. I had hoped that the individual that I know was down the pub last night, he wasn't, he's in Malta on holiday.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: tonyk on 21:48:21, 01/12/19
Sorry to hear that Dave.Perhaps its time to sell the business and concentrate on what you enjoy doing? Working on painkillers isn't going to help your recovery and a lot of these injuries you have have had over the last few years seem associated with the job you are doing rather than long distance walking.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: pdstsp on 17:50:43, 02/12/19
Sorry to hear about your problems Dave - I hope the docs get their fingers out and get you back on the hills, I miss following your record attempts!


Paul
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: rural roamer on 18:52:18, 03/12/19
I’m sorry to hear this Dave.  I guess age and or injuries will get to all of us eventually.  Maybe lower your goals to start with and you can always raise them again later?
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: vghikers on 19:15:19, 03/12/19
Ouch, it sounds dreadful. I hope the chosen treatment brings success, but if it fails, from accounts I've read from walkers, a hip replacement has transformed their walking lives.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: April on 19:33:51, 03/12/19
I hope the treatment works for you Slogger and I hope you don't wait too long for it  O0

I think all of us dread anything like this happening to ourselves.
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: One F on 15:29:04, 04/12/19
Good luck with the treatment and hope you can soon get back to the walks you so obviously enjoy. I've enjoyed following your exploits, especially the Spines, and as a fellow septuagenarian, they have given me a lot of food for thought  in what can be achieved with older and well used bodies  8)
Title: Re: Long distance gone!
Post by: Slogger on 13:56:04, 07/12/19
Thank you all for your comments.In the past when I've had bad injuries during my road and fell running days, a few being forced to have up to a year off racing, I kept sane by still being able to do my walking. At the moment that is completely out of the question and I am still awaiting the letter.I had that final ultrasound scan of soft tissue in the thigh and around my hip and everything was normal, so at least I now know for sure the problem is indeed inside my hip.Tony, you are correct that my work, if anything is making matters worse. problem is my kind of business is almost impossible to sell on. Everyone that Ive known who has tried to do that has ended up just selling equipment, and just one that mamnaged to sell on his customer database. Retire? Yes, I wish, but it is simply not possible financially yet, another year - 18 months, maybe, but not at the present.The Arthroscopy is being referred on to another consultant at another specialist hospital, he is one of the top surgeons in the country. I suspect that the first appointment will not be for the operation, but to see if I am a suitable candidate. The issue re: criteria for Hip Arthroscopy, that I have managed to find, puts me outside of it. Suitable candidates should be under 55 years of age, showing no sign of Athritis, and have gone through all other non surgical therapies etc.I qualify on all but the age thing, but am hoping that my general fitness and leg muscle tone will get me through.In years past Ive had arthroscopy operations on both knees to trim off torn meniscus and they have been fine, so here's hoping.Thanks again for your messages.Dave.