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polly
127 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2004 : 20:21:53
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Tom,
I have read your posts about your hip problems. On top of the horror of having my knee replacements breaking up (the plastic patellas are cracked, one more than the other), I had a hip xray today. My hip is all but fused and has probably been the problem all along. I always complained about that area and was told it was the knees causing it. Then I was told it was spine problems which led me to Sarno. I was doing fine until a few months ago when my knees started breaking down.
I'm probably not making too much sense right now, but I'm very frightened and miserable. Of course, the first thing the doctor who did the xray said was that the hip needed to be replaced. This is in tandem with trying to correct the problem with the knee replacements. Then of course they bring up the herniated discs and stenosis nonsense that I have been able to ignore.
My question to you is about your hip. Have you been advised to have a replacement? Are you able to use TMS knowledge to overcome it? Do you have pain there? Any info would be very welcome. If I could climb a flight of stairs I would go up on a roof and jump right now.
Polly |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2004 : 10:00:25
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Dear Polly,
I'm very sorry to hear how bad you are feeling. To answer your question on hip-raplacemt, not a day goes by that, someone doesn't notice my limp and ask when I will have it replaced. If I had a dollar for everytime it's been suggested, I could have paid for it by now.
These are well meaning people, who have accepted the modern way of doing things-if it hurts, EXCISE it! I have been examined by about ten dox, who have viewed my x-rays and MRI's and they all in lock-step, (sorry about that bad pun, but it's true), interpret it as significant arthritis of the right hip. If it weren't for Sarno, I don't know if I could have resisted the constant barage to cut. I just played tennis with a very nice retired doctor who has had both hips replaced and can play adaquate social tennis and skis. He said he had it done because, after standing in the operating rooms for hours, he could barely walk.
So you can see, the dox believe in surgery for themselves also. I get numerous referals for surgeons. People are just trying to be helpful. Most dox I know get frequent surgeries, after all, they know who the best surgeons are and get it wholesale.
Polly, if you have the time you may want to read my archived posts, otherwise I will stay on this pulpit for hours and be late for my tennis practice and make my coach mad.
You mentioned that things were going well until the plastic patellas broke down. If that is so, than it seems to me that can be corrected with more surgery. I have plaved tennis with people with new knees and am occasioanly amazed by how well they moved. Maybe that will get you back to square one.
I have never heard the term "fused" hip. I can see where if you are not ambulatory, the hip would lock up or atrophy. They may be referring to "arthriis" and thinning cartelege which was my diagnosis. Sarno mentions hips and arthritis on a page in MBP. He says it can also be a TMS equivalent, which has helped me greatly in the last year. Previously I was prejudiced by the x-rays. My brain is now suitably brainwashed into accepting TMS thinking that I can recognize the TMS component in every physical "situation".
To further answer your question, I have been able to "fix" my hip without surgery. It is not 100% but I believe some day I will not be able to remember which side it was on. I play tennis 4-6 hours a day, in some pain. The thing that has been the greatest help is to have re-read the page in MBP on hips and arthritis and to accept that TMS applies to the hip joint as well as the back.
Hope this helps and I do feel very bad for your present situation, but I do feel that it can be corrected and rectified. I think that you can be made whole again and return to normal activity someday. As I suggested, read my archived posts and you may get some insight into the evolution of my TMS thinking and my "sore-spot", my right hip.
Sincerely,
tt
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2004 : 11:38:52
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Tom,
Thank you for taking the time to go over this for me.
I will start going through the archives to revisit some of your posts. And, of course, it's back to THE book time.
I can't imagine playing tennis right now, but it sure is something to look forward to. I used to be pretty good at it. It's a nice focal point. Right now, I would like to be able to walk from room to room.
I'm taking all this in slowly. I have an appt. with a doctor that doesn't do surgery in 3 weeks to review all the xrays. I just got really thrown when they popped the hip xray in and I saw how bad it looks. I have to get that image out of my head and the one of you playing 4-6 hrs. of tennis in. I'm still trying to deal with the cracked patella problem and didn't expect this.
You're an inspiration. My first instinct is that I do not want a hip replacement. I don't think I should have had the knee replacements and wouldn't have if I'd gone to Sarno sooner.
I'm going to my new happy place thinking about some guy with the same problem I have serving aces and rushing the net.
Thank you so much.
Polly |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2004 : 13:57:20
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| Thank you Polly, my best wishes and prayers go out to you and I have the feeling that a caring doctor will be able to make you whole again. |
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Allan
USA
226 Posts |
Posted - 11/30/2004 : 14:05:44
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| Polly – There is nothing worse than having a doctor put your MRI up on the wall and tell you (me) that he is going to cut a chunk out of S-4 and S-5 to relieve the pain of spinal stenosis. There is nothing better than having a TMS doctor examine you and confirm your TMS and then put the same MRI up on the wall and say that you don’t need surgery and that you will be fine. Four years later, I am still pain free. Beware of doctors unfamiliar with TMS and the mind body connection. Be of good cheer. Others have recovered. You can also. |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2004 : 09:46:23
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Alan,
Thanks for the encouragement.
Tom,
I am continuing to hold my image of you playing tennis.
Last night I had a lot of trouble sleeping. I got out MBP and started reading. When I did sleep, I kept dreaming about being able to walk and be pain free. This morning I got up and started walking without the cane that I've needed for the past two months. I'm a little shakey, but I haven't felt this positive since I started my TMS journey. I really believe I can do this.
I spoke with a friend last night and told her that I just can't go through with any more surgery. It doesn't feel like it's the answer now that I have all this new knowledge.
I am seeing a doctor who is familiar with Sarno and actually respects his work. He's not the doctor that did the xrays and I have a feeling that there is a light at the end of this long dark tunnel I've been going through.
Thanks for all the support. I'm amazing myself today.
Never give up!
Polly |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2004 : 19:12:18
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Polly,
I'm really sorry to hear that you are still going through a lot of pain. The way you describe it is frightening.
I remember you posting earlier that you had spoken to Sarno about your problem. What did he say to you and did he give you any guidelines on how to proceed with your condition. I mean if he thinks it's not tms then did he give you any direction at all?
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 12/01/2004 : 20:34:30
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Hi Mala,
I spoke to Sarno a few weeks ago when I found out that the plastic patellas in my knee replacemtents were cracked. He was sweet and kind but told me that the problem does not fall under TMS. I'm trying to figure out how to handle the problem. I've so far heard everything from doing nothing and hoping the don't get worse to doing the whole knee replacements again since it's a problem that comes from the initial surgery being done wrong.
While chewing on this load, the doctor took an xray of my hip and it's bad. I was hopeless up until a few days ago. I've decided to fight back. I've got some decisions to make and I'm going to do them slowly and with TMS as my guideline.
I really do feel better today even though I have all kinds of doctors telling me that's not possible.
Thanks for the good wishes. I need them!
Polly
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2004 : 13:28:30
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Polly, I've been curious as to what explanation you have been given for the failure of the plsatic knee parts? This seems extremely unsusal. I would think they should be good for at least ten years. Aren't there knees made of titanium also.
If it's any help, I have played tennis with partners who had double knee surgery-total replacements if I recall right-and moved very well. I had one lady doubles partner who amazed me with her speed. So, there is some hope that the surgeons can get it right, if you decide to have corrective surgery. |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2004 : 15:50:26
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Tom,
There is no explanation yet for why these knee replacements are failing. I had this done 2 yrs. ago when I was 52 and in relatively good shape. I did everything I was supposed to do.
They are made of titanium and plastic. The plastic is a replacement for the cartillage and the patella. A friend of mine had the same surgery with the same doctor a few months before I did. He has also had horrible problems. The doctor did something wrong. There is a step in knee replacement called a lateral release and it was not done in my case. It might be one of the reasons for the patellas cracking if they weren't aligned properly. That's not an easy thing to get confirmed, but that's where this trail is leading. It's just bad luck in something I wish I never did.
When I didn't get pain relief after the surgery I was sent for an MRI and told all these nonsensical herniated disc, spinal stenosis tales. (They weren't nonsensical until I went to see the good Dr. Sarno).
I am seeing an orthopedist here in Florida who works mainly in NY. He wanted me to get a hip xray and I did this past Monday. That's when I saw and was told about the hip problem. I cried all the way home and was in excrutiating pain.
Now here's where the glass is half full, a big part due to your help. I now know that I should never have had the knee replacements. I wouldn't have if I'd seen Sarno sooner than I did. I'm not going to have a hip replacement. In the last 36 hrs., my hip pain has all but gone. I went back to MBP where I should have been in the first place. I'm reclaiming my life.
I'm seeing the doctor from NY in a few weeks to review all of this. He is supportive of Sarno's work. If I do anything, I will see if there is a way to fix the patellas in the knee replacements. I'm doing so good right now, that I'm hoping I can keep from doing any invasive work. I can't stand the thought of being cut up anymore.
I'm still thinking about you playing tennis and I'm continuing to dream about being pain free.
I think you're wonderful, Tom.
Polly |
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tennis tom
USA
4749 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2004 : 16:39:57
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Thanks Polly, for clarfying that for me. I'm glad your hip pain has subsided, and I was able to help you on that. I vivdily recall the phone message I was left by a doctor dx'ing me with "significant" arthritis of my right hip. I was stunned! I recall, I didn't know what to do, so I just went out the door to my scheduled tennis match.
The doc's dx was based upon an x-ray report by some radiologist that I had never met and never met me. The doc took it at face value. Everything nice and neat. That negative image stayed with me for years and I still grapple with it in the back of my mind. I hope for you that they can correct what they've done. Your strong will and a positive outlook will be a major factor in makeing you whole again. Let me know when you're ready to play tennis and I'll see you in Florida. I plan on playing tournaments there soon, it's getting cold in NorCal. |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2004 : 17:59:43
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Tom,
My hip xray shows no cartilage and it looks like a cloudy mess that is fused together. SO WHAT. In this case, a picture is NOT worth a thousand words. These words and my journal are all I'm focusing on right now.
Would love to see you play tennis. I'm not sure I'll be playing anytime soon but I know how to carry a water bottle and yell "nice shot". Let me know.
btw, I got out of the snit I was in and got back in the water and I'm swimming like mad again. It feels so good to move. I don't think of it as something I need physically. It's something that heals my soul and while I'm trying to ignore the physical and get moving, I'm secure in the water.
A fan,
Polly |
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mala
Hong Kong
774 Posts |
Posted - 12/02/2004 : 21:16:26
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Polly,
Glad to know that you are somewhat feeling better. You said that Sarno has ruled out tms in your knee so as far as your knees are concerned, you will have to look at physical ways of dealing with the issue. Am I right? To me, it sounds like the only way ahead is more surgery to correct the botched up job by the previous guy. That is simply because you need to walk right? After all you are still pretty young and have the rest of your life ahead. Or is there another alternative you had in mind?
My heart goes out to you and I can't even begin to understand what you must be going through. I must say that many of my friends here in HK and in England have had total knee replacements in both knees and are doing marvellously. Some of them have had them for years and they say it has changed their life. Of course there are some extreme movements which are not possible for them (I mean lets be realistic, how many people with good knees in their 50s are able to move like twenty year olds) but by and large it has been very successful and they are able to have a normal life without pain.
If you decide to go the surgery route, shop around real good (maybe Sarno could recommend someone) and think positive. I hope and pray that everything works out fine, no, better than fine for you. As for the hip and so called arthritic change , good to know that you are dealing with that appropriately. Keep up that swimming and think positively.
Good Luck & Good Health
Mala |
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polly
127 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2004 : 18:26:12
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Mala,
Thanks for the kind words. They mean a lot to me.
Right now, I'm putting all thoughts of surgery out of my mind so that I don't go out of my mind! The surgery I had was done by the "best" doctor, in the "best" hospital and I had the "best" care. I researched and saw 5 doctors before I decided on one. I did so much reading that I could probable have done the surgery myself. Sometimes, it still doesn't come out the way we planned.
I'm going forward now. That was then.
Thanks again,
Polly |
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Question for Tennis Tom
