Not your grandmother's hip replacement...

I couldn't decide on the tagline for the tshirt...but I think it works!

Fun with Animation

http://swarminteractive.com/patient_ed_animations.html

To see an animation of PAO surgery please follow the link above, click on 'See the Animation' tab, click on 'Hip' Orthopedic Animation then choose 'Periacetabular Osteotomy'. It walks through the surgery in a non-grotesque way (for those of you out there who are a bit squeamish!)

It's too hot for a penguin to be just walking around

Yesterday a lady with a significant limp walked passed us on our way into work. I turned to Ramsey and asked him how much worse her limp was than mine...fully expecting him to say "LOT's" - instead he frowned slightly and said, "they are about the same." What a reality check. I had no clue I looked like a 5'8" penguin.

So, until my physical therapy starts, the only thing I can do is avoid wearing black and white.

Here we go again

My left PAO is officially rescheduled for December 18th. Not the Christmas present I was hoping for, but I'm thinking this will be enough time to prep righty for all the pressure.

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, no it’s a…pig?

It’s true, pigs must be flying today as I finally spoke with the infamous Dr. M., and only two months after our scheduled conversation. I suppose after relentlessly calling his office over the past couple months, his secretaries kindly asked him to quit ignoring me so they wouldn’t have to deal with me anymore. I actually had the secretary put me on hold for 30 minutes waiting for him to finish with a patient.

Below is a transcript from our very fruitful conversation;

Sam: Hi Dr. M., how was your vacation? (I hope he picks up on my sarcasm)

Dr. M.: Yes Ms. Spreadbury, I saw your x-rays, did I not call you earlier?

Sam: No Dr. M. you did not (I am his only patient under the age of 50, he brought in tons of students for my surgery since I was such a unique case, I have left messageS with him relentlessly regarding my 3 month follow up and he is claiming he doesn’t remember if he called me or not? How much did I pay him for this?)

LONG PAUSE

Dr. M.: Well, they look fine

LONG PAUSE

Sam: They look fine?

LONGER PAUSE

Sam: That’s great to hear…unfortunately I have not yet been able to walk over 100yards without tightening in my hip causing me to limp significantly. It doesn’t feel like joint pain, but more related to my muscles just fatiguing very quickly. Additionally, I am hearing a lot of popping that typically occurs when I sit down or stand up which is accompanied by shooting pains down my leg (see mom…I did give him specifics about my pain! He’ll have to pay attention to me now)

Dr. M.: Pain is common after surgeries like this

Sam: (seriously?) Oh, okay, well can you recommend any strength training exercises or cardiovascular workouts that will help me build up strength and therefore reduce the pain?

LONG PAUSE

Sam: Should I start seeing a physical therapist? (Do you really think I can't hear you playing solitaire on your computer right now?)

Dr. M.: I can write you a script for that

Sam: Do you have any recommendations on who I should see or what their specialty is?

Dr. M.: No

AWKWARD PAUSE

Sam: Should we talk about my left hip? We have that surgery scheduled for the end of August but I’m not sure I’m strong enough for it yet and my pain has not been significant in that area since the surgery

Dr. M.: Work with my secretary to determine your scheduling issues

Sam: So you agree I should cancel my surgery?

Dr. M.: If you aren’t having pain now, you don’t need the surgery now

EXTREMELY AWKWARD PAUSE

Sam: Okay, so you are sending me a prescription for PT. Do they x-rays show my bones healing and the screws still in tact and in place? Are there any other specifics you can give me regarding my healing process?

Dr. M.: Yes

PAUSE

Sam: Well, great catching up with you as always

CLICK

Want to know what I took out of this?
- No surgery in August, possibly rescheduling for December
- I should have ignored him months ago and started seeing a PT against his wishes
- The greater the surgeon the bigger the jerk