Prosthetically Hip

A Real Pain in my Ass

March 2, 2011 10:41am

So, back in November of 2007, I busted my tailbone while refereeing a rollerderby bout. Ouch.

Lately though, in increasing frequency, I’ve been feeling this twinge of pain in my right hip. The trigger is inconsistent, and sometimes it seems to also shoot down my leg, but it’s there. It’s also put a serious damper on my new running initiative.

Well, since reading about it is one thing and actually talking to a professional is entirely another, I saw a doctor yesterday. It would appear that I have sciatica. It’s not severe or a result of a slipped disc, but it’s there. It tends to kick in when I’ve been sitting down for a while (especially if I’ve been slouching), and on the couch we watch tv on, but it could always be worse.

I’ve already started trying to stretch out my hamstrings (they’ve always been super-tight), and I’m also making better notes of my posture. While it wasn’t bad to begin with, it could be better. I’ve started to do that stretch where you lay on your back, and twist your lower body while keeping your back on the ground.

Soon: crunches and lower-back strengthening will be added to the daily routine. The shitty part is that if I stretch or bend a certain way, I’m aware of my tailbone. It’s not that it hurts, but it almost just feels sore.

Stupid compressed nerves. But, if it’s a reason to improve, then I’ll choose to see the bright side of it.

I think this sums up my take on it (and Global Warming / Environmentalism overall) quite nicely:

And yes, I get the irony that this blog is named Prosthetically Hip, and I now have an “hip issue”.

Spooks, Spirits, and Saints

November 6, 2009 3:51pm

I’m getting old. Well, not old in the numbers sense as I just passed the 29½ mark, but more in the “I’d rather stay in” sense. And I must admit, it’s not a bad thing.

For me, Halloween started on Thursday, with a VooDoo hash where I ended up running circle in a cemetery and talking with a newly-returned-home-Jason. I wish I could have run trail, but it wasn’t too likely due to the recent perpetration of hate upon my “bad” knee:

 
I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I just can’t have nice things. This happened after the Saints victory over the Dolphins the other week – I guess that since they’re doing so well, I have to compensate by hurting myself.

I fear to think of what might happen towards the end of the season and beyond.

Anyways, Halloween started out pretty awesome: a nice two hour, 2 bottle of wine lunch at the Bistro with Bea and my folks, which turned into an extra beer or two with them at Molly’s.

We got some downtime (not saying that the morning at that point was particularly tedious), and Bea whipped up her costume, while I shaved mine:

 

 
That first photo isn’t the best of me – even considering just how overwhelmingly handsome and über photogenic I naturally am – the photographer is all of 5 foot negative 3. Always take pics from above (when you can). For my costume, I went with the path of least resistance – Earl of My Name is Earl. Bea’s costume was whipped together in about an hour – vines from the backyard, a top I bought at a thrift store for me for a drag queen hash the other week, and my sister’s old debutant dress. We rock.

We headed back over to Molly’s to meet up with hashers and “regular friends” alike for the parade, and opted to just hang out there for the duration of the parade – just take it easy. Next thing we know, the parade is back, and we’re wandering around with friends. We walked down Frenchmen St. and next thing we knew, it was 11:30 and we were at home, calling it a night.

I know, exciting.

The real drag here is that I picked up some bug, and by Sunday afternoon when I had to hare the Black Dress Run, I wasn’t feeling so hot, and five days later, I still don’t. Witness last night’s Guy Fawkes Hash:

 
So, to those of you who came in town this weekend, I’m sorry and I suck.

Hasher’s Knee

May 13, 2009 2:54pm

Well, I think the trail I laid was pretty good, and got a lot of good feedback from it. If you want to read my write-up, you can at VooDooHash.com. The first hash I hared was a while ago with a friend of mine, and was a sheer and utter disaster for various reasons and as punishment, we each had our own bag of ice to sit on, bare-assed.

I think I’ve learned my lesson.

I have learned recently that I “suffer” from Runner’s Knee. Since I’ve started hashing, I’ve noticed that sometimes part-way through the run, often the day after, my right knee and hip have given me grief. It usually amounts to stiffness/soreness and a sharp pinching-like sensation in my knee and hip. It’s hard to describe, but it only happens on the right side.

I decided to ask Herr Google™ about these symptoms, and based on its description and recommended therapy/stretching, I have come to believe that it is indeed Runner’s Knee.

Before last week’s hash, I did the recommended stretch once or twice during the day, and also right before I took off to lay trail. I’m glad to say that neither during the run, or the day after, did I have any problems in either my hip or my knee.

And there was much rejoicing. Yaaaaaaay.

Well, I plan on attending this Thursday’s hash in Metry Brah, and the day after is the 2009 Tchoupitoulas Bar-A-Thon. 6 bars, 6 beers, 6 miles.

I guess I better start stretching.

… And Cancel Christmas!

November 14, 2008 12:45pm

Right now, there are two guys installing $6k in parts and labor to replace the furnace and condenser for the a/c for the kitchen, den, and backroom.

My 401(k), like many others, has seen better days.

Due partly to Katrina and the maritime insurance industry being as cyclical as it is, we’ve hit hard times at the office. We’ve been concentrating on reducing spending and waste as much as possible, but sometimes that just isn’t enough. Not only are there no bonuses this year, I’m taking a $10k salary reduction. One lady here, who is both great at her job and as a person, is losing her job.

Time to tighten the belt and just put my nose to the grindstone.

It was a dark and stormy morning…

August 25, 2008 2:59pm

Two weeks ago, Bea was riding to work, logging in miles on the bike in prep for the MS 150.

To make a not-very-long story short, she spilled on Lee Circle and biked home. I drove her to the ER to get stitched up – while I can treat cuts and scrapes, this was a bit above my head.

The same doc who took care of my knee was assigned to Bea, and took good care of her. Two weeks later, here’s her leg:

My, how she has healed. Well, looks like it’s now my turn again to get hurt. Dammit.

Shock and Awe

July 10, 2008 8:48am

Sometimes, I am ashamed and angered over the actions of my state and country.

 

I’m Handi-capable

February 28, 2008 3:48pm

I just clipped my toenails.

All ten of them.

By myself.

This is an accomplishment.

One month after The Fall

February 27, 2008 7:42pm

Well, one month ago tonight, I busted my knee open. When sitting, I can bring it to an almost 90° angle, and when walking, I’d say I’m down to a smaller limp. Stairs, however, make me feel like I should have been cast in Freaks.

Usually throughout the day, I gradually stretch the ligament instead of the three times a day the orthopedist asked. I will sometimes do the stronger stretch, but I think the slow-cook method seems to be working quite well. Don’t get me wrong, I think the recovery is going well – I just can’t wait to get on a bike again, and I think that day nears, my friends.

Till next time:

The picture doesn’t accurately show the swelling that remains.

Oh, to have Wolverine’s Healing Factor.

February 15, 2008 4:20pm

I now have three less stitches in my body than when I awoke. I went to see Doc Og™ this morning, so that he could check the progress of my healing.

He was pleased.

He tested the flexibility of my knee, how much give there was. I was quite surprised to see how far it goes without hurting. Upon lessening the downward force he was applying on my leg, it seemed to spring back to where it started: unbent. Whether this is due to tightened ligaments/tendons, swelling, my brain listening to some primal urge to keep it straight, or any combination, it was a bit amusing to me; almost cartoon-ish.

In two weeks, I am to return. Until then, three times a day, I am to sit on the bed, leaving my knee and below to hang off. I’ll be putting my right foot over my left, and pushing the left down. If that is to be the extent of my physical therapy, then color me overjoyed.

Unfortunately, I am not the only one under my roof to be in less than ideal form: Bosceaux has worms. It’s an easy fix: a shot, a few days of antibiotics, and not eating for a day and a half. Bea seemed to think it was something we did wrong as “parents” already – when in truth, we have handled the manner in a dare I say, exemplary manner. The gestation cycle of these worms is approximately a month, meaning he ate that fateful flea before he came into our life. The day after I saw he had the worms (it was at evening), he had been treated and even started on heartworm prevention.

One day, hopefully soon, we will all be in proper working order. Till then, it’s one limp at a time.

Slightly Bendy Knee

February 11, 2008 3:25pm

Well, it’s been over two weeks now since “the incident”. I’m off crutches, and limping around.

I’ve finished the 2700mg/day antibiotic routine, and am feeling it. It has thoroughly destroyed all the good bacteria in my digestive system, leaving me habitually close to the bathroom door and low on electrolytes. Too much info, perhaps? You’ll have to get over it while I go pee. Again.

My orthopedist on Friday said it was looking good – both in infection and general swelling / recovery. He said I could start bending my knee again – my reply was that I had been, but not pushing. Just taking what it would give me. A side effect seems to be the back of my knee hurting at times, I’m guessing due to over-exertion – trying to keep it straight or even bent slightly backwards so that it doesn’t go forwards ( if, while sitting, you place your foot upon a rest, you’ll notice that it goes back slightly. Now do that for two weeks ).

So slowly, surely, I’m getting mobile. My stitches should be out this Friday, and once I’m all good and closed up, I reckon I can start doing significantly larger degrees of rotation. I’m not sure how that will go, as I carelessly bumped it while making groceries, and proceeded to quickly bleed onto Aisle 7. Thankfully, I had my trusty handkerchief and a gauze pad ( I don’t go anywhere without them now – never know when the knee will leak ). Still, open or closed, some swelling remains – my kneecap won’t drop down properly.

You know how when you stand, and flex your quads/thighs, your kneecap raise? Mine do that, but don’t go down to their “resting” position due to swollen tissue where they want to be.

I get the sneaking suspicion that when I am finally able to bend my knee even 25 degrees, there will be a crack louder than a backfiring VW Bus. I do and do not look forward to it.