Vickie Fee

Bad to the bone

As you’re reading this, I’m likely sitting at home propped up on pillows with an ice pack, or limping across the room hanging onto a walker. With my patient husband’s attention, and the aid of painkillers, I should be doing okay. I had hip replacement surgery on Thursday.

surgery-1807541_1920Since I posted this before I checked into the hospital, I can only speculate about how I’m feeling right now, but I’m optimistic, so I’ll say not so bad. I haven’t really talked about my orthopedic issues on the blog or on social media before now. But, I know some of you are facing or have faced similar problems, so I thought it might be helpful to you – and to me – to share a bit.

About three years ago it started hurting for me to walk or stand for more than about 15 minutes, and I was having trouble (and pain) holding my back straight when standing. I learned that I had a compression fracture in the middle of my back. After it healed, I went to physical therapy, I went to a chiropractor. I took anti-inflammatory pills. I didn’t get better.

Still assuming it was my back, and determined to avoid surgery, I tried more physical therapy, wearing a contraption to help me walk upright, cold laser treatments, ozone injections, steroid injections (in my back), and working with a personal trainer.

Still suffering, I finally went to an orthopedic surgeon. I had MRIs taken along with some diagnostic injections. Turns out it wasn’t my back causing the problem. It was my hips. My ortho guy likes to say “bad hips make bad neighbors.” They can cause pain to show up in other places.

Tests showed both my hip joints were a mess. The tech asked me if I was able to put on my socks, and based on my X-rays, seemed surprised when I said ‘yes.’ The ortho guy said my hip joints were impinged (not shaped correctly) and that I was likely born that way. I guess I’m lucky I made it into my fifties before the addition of arthritis started causing me serious pain. I’ve always been on the clumsy side. Now I can blame it on my joints, like “I was never a good dancer because my hips are impinged.” (This may not be accurate, but that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

Maybe you’ll see me dancing when this is all over. I doubt it. It’ll be a while, regardless. If all goes according to plan, I’ll be having the other hip replaced about three months from now. Where you WILL see me, Lord willing, is walking around at Malice Domestic in 2022. If my titanium hips can make it through airport security.

Photo source: Pixabay

Have you had anything replaced (i.e., knees) or removed (i.e., appendix) that you’d like to share about? Will I see YOU at Malice next year?

70 thoughts on “Bad to the bone”

  1. I still have all my original equipment, but hubby has had his shoulder replaced. He was amazed at how little pain he had during the recovery and PT after. He said the pain was much worse before the surgery. It is amazing what modern medicine can do for us now.
    I hope you heal quickly and are up and around pain free very soon
    Carol

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  2. My husband had his right hip replaced in 2015. It took a long time for his to be diagnosed as well. His pain wasn’t in his hip, either. He had back pain and shooting pains in his thigh that the doc thought was tendonitis. He didn’t have much pain after surgery–nothing like what he endured before.

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  3. I have an issue with my SI joint (sacroiliac) that was masquerading as many potentially serious conditions in that area. Luckily, a sharp urologist told me I did not need an MD, I needed a chiropractor. Turns out he was spot on and I know now when to have it adjusted.

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    1. I’m glad you found the help you needed, Emily! My chiropractor kept me ambulatory at times when I’m not sure I could’ve kept moving otherwise.

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  6. Take care of you. I’m experiencing some of the same things you did. I had the injections, the epidural and still can’t stand long or walk long. A recent MRI shows no degradation, so who knows what is going on. After I deal with current health issue, I’ll be back to the hip/back issue.

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    1. Thanks, Dru! You’ve had a rough time of it lately. I pray this journey leads you to health and healing throughout your body!

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  7. Best wishes for a speedy recovery, Vickie! One if my sisters has had both hips replaced and feels so much better.
    About ten years ago, I was having symptoms that led to carpal tunnel surgery. I was given a local anesthetic and during the procedure, the surgeon found what he called a “nasty, monster cyst,” which he then removed. Listening to live action comments of the team responding to the unexpected find was an experience I’ll never forget! 😂

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  10. Yes, to your question. A knee quite a few years ago and a hip more recently. I won’t mention all the other joints I’m have worked on. I, too, am malformed and didn’t know about it until lately. Mine is scoliosis and my back is truly very bad. In fact, I don’t think I needed my hip replacement. Scans are very good, so we know what we’re dealing with! (I’m very glad I found my new chiropractor. He’s helping me a lot.) I hope to see you at Malice, too, but I may be hobbling seriously by then. Hope you’re not!

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    1. Aw, Kaye — sending love! Hope they are able to get you moving with less pain. So glad you found a good chiropractor — mine has been a godsend! I WILL se you at Malice, my friend!

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  12. Vickie, I hope you are feeling well and that your recovery is going smoothly. No big issues yet, but they’re bubbling up. I was born with one hip higher than the other, so I’ll be watching for the back/hip connection.
    Looking forward to seeing you at Malice in 2022. What a party that will be!

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  13. Just to let everyone know, we Chicks have been in touch with Vickie, and everything went smoothly. Nothing can keep our Warrior Chick down! Wishing you all the best for a speedy recovery, Vickie, and you can bet we will all be dancing through Bethesda with you soon. 2022 or bust! xo

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      1. Aw, thanks for checking in on comments for me, Lisa! I’m moving a little slow and I appreciate the back-up! My convalescence routine is mostly getting up every hour to walk, then resting up for the next walk. It feels like I’m moving in slo-mo, but I must be getting faster. Hubs just said, “You better slow down a little, Missy” on my last lap around the living room! Lol — he worries!

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      1. I always love it when someone makes me sound cooler than I really am! I told the occupational therapist that I’m not brave — but I am stubborn! Hope that gets me through.

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  14. Congrats on the new hip, Vickie! You can be the Bionic Chick now!

    I have all my original parts, but I’m still weird in a bunch of interesting ways after they plucked out the toomah from inside my spinal column. It made me realize I had no idea how exactly all this *waves up and down her body* was put together. Quite an education, eh?

    I will proudly and exuberantly dance poorly with you at Malice 2022!

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    1. Thanks, Becky! Not sure about bionic, but my new hip is titanium! I think exuberance is the perfect measuring stick for dance skills! Add alcoholic beverages if necessary!

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  15. Wishing you the very best recovery, Vickie. So glad you’re walking around, Warrior Bionic Chick!

    As the baby Chick in the coop, I haven’t had anything removed–unless you count those teeth that got pulled out because they couldn’t put braces on me otherwise. (Vicariously, though, my dad had a heart removed and replaced–transplant. And he’s doing wonderfully well!)

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    1. Thanks, Barb — look forward to seeing you at Malice! Good luck with your hip replacement! We’ll go through a metal detector together just to keep security on their toes. 😉

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  17. Vickie, I know you are in healing mode right now, and will only get better.
    Hubby had a heart valve replacement back in 2015, and he is still alive. I know valves don’t last forever, but hopefully he will get another 7-10 years before I have to watch him go through it again.
    As far as me? The only thing I’ve had removed is my pride. I have this habit of tripping over invisible boulders and cracks. Usually ends with me screaming with a face plant. Hopefully I will never have to have any surgery, cause no one in my house knows how to do anything but me! I can’t afford to be in bed for days (let alone weeks) on end.

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    1. Thanks, Hestia! Heart valve is a much trickier deal. They tell me my new hip should last more than 30 years. That seems like good mileage!

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  18. Hope you are doing well.

    I had my appendix out in 2006. And I’ve had sections of my intestines removed a couple of times, once then and once for colon cancer at the beginning of 2018. Nothing replaced – at least not yet.

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  19. Sending hugs and healing wishes for a speedy recovery, Vickie! And I’ll gladly dance (or tea or wine or chat or…) with you at Malice 2022. ❤

    I've had my tonsils and gallbladder removed, but all other parts are currently in place. We'll see what the future brings!

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    1. Aw, thanks, Kathy— it will be so lovely to see you again!
      Not sure where I stand on dancing, even badly, at the moment. My surgical leg feel like 50 lbs heavier than the other!

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  22. I’ve had my appendix out (which turned out to be diverticulitis, not appendicitis), but still have all the rest of my body–for now…

    And yes, to dancing, drinking wine, and swapping stories about all our various surgeries and treatments at Malice 2022! Long live the bionic, warrior Chicks!

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    1. Thanks, Leslie! But, at Malice let’s talk about anything except surgery! How about murder? That’s always a safe conversation starter for us, lol!

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    1. Thanks, Barb — look forward to seeing you again at Malice! I’ve heard knee surgery is harder to rehab than hips. I understand that while putting off the surgery thing. But, we both did it!

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  25. I hope you’re doing well! I had an unexpected bout of appendicitis last year that resulted in two hospital stays. Finally had it out and I’m fine. Weird being in the hospital during covid–no one could visit me and I never saw my nurses’ faces.

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    1. Oh, Elizabeth, I’m sorry you had to deal with a health issue during lock-down! At least my husband was able to visit me after I got back to the room — thankful for that.

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      1. By the time I had the actual surgery, he was allowed in to wait for me, thank goodness. It was a breeze compared to the two stays.

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  26. Well, as long as we’re sharing, I had a tumor removed when I was 25. They thought they were going to have to do a hysterectomy but it turned out not to be attached to my uterus, so they didn’t have to. But I came to in the ob-gyn ward because it was initially classified in that category. I can’t imagine what that would have been like to be a 25-year-old who underwent a hysterectomy finding herself surrounded by new mothers. The experience gave me PTSD as it was.

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    2. I’m sad to say that I have one of those experiences. I went in at the age of 16 to have a breast tumor removed. It was growing very rapidly, so they, in those days, took it out then biopsied it. When I woke up, I asked the doc if it had been cancerous. He said, What do you mean? If it had been, your breast would be gone. NO ONE TOLD ME THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED! Thank goodness it didn’t. Oh, I also woke up on the operating table, but was paralyzed. They couldn’t tell I was awake. Ellen, we had a lifetime of experiences too young!

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      1. Oh, Kay, that’s terrifying! And I can’t imagine waking up on the operating table — that’s a horror story!

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    3. Oh, Ellen, how scary! I’m so glad you didn’t need the hysterectomy — and that a certain young woman named Eliza is in the world!

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  27. Vickie, I hope you are resting comfortably today and watching something fun on tv! We are sending lots and lots of love your way. Can’t wait to see you (and everyone) at Malice 2022!

    And to all who have undergone trying things, hugs your way too.

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  29. Hoping this finds you doing even better than you speculated. I know several people who have had either a hip or knee replacement and did fine after the initial recuperation period. I’m facing knee replacement surgery, but we’re still in the “let’s put it off as long as we can” phase. Let us know how you’re doing. 🙏💓

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