Life with a Flare

I manage to survive all three of my appointments yesterday somehow. First up was my OS for the six weeks on the left hip and six months on the right hip. He was happy with where I was with both and said to worry about the motion but focus on the strengthening. When I asked for a cortisone injection in my left knee he said okay, but at first he said that he thought the pain in the left knee was probably referred pain from the hip, but after he examined it he did notice fluid. I also ask for a prescription for a home TENS unit, so that is being ordered as well now. My last question for the OS was when can I start horseback riding again? In 6-8 weeks (at 3 months post-op) I can start riding a little but no jumping, and I can ride without restrictions at 4-6 months post op. The rheumatologist appointment was not exciting, I may eventually get an MRI on my left knee but not for a while since I just had a cortisone injection. We aren't changing any meds or anything. I was not total...

Oh yeah, this girl does if she ever wants to get on a horse again. At 4 weeks post op I am doing very well, no pain with weight bearing at all. Yesterday I did not use even one crutch once, that beats my last surgery by about a week. However I am struggling a bit with gaining back my ROM. I am completely frustrated, I figured ROM would be no problem because last time around I had a larger ROM then pre-op around week 3, but this time no. I got my extension and flexion without issues, my internal rotation does not seem bad either, it is just the stupid external rotation. Of course it would be the one direction that is essential to horseback riding. Even Getting it This Far HURTS!!! I am not going to give up quite yet though. I plan on stretching it for a few 30 second periods (if I can last that long) at least twice a day. It will get better, it has to get better. My PT said I may never be able to ride without pain again, but he didn't say I can't ride. I don't need p...

This week has had some real great days and some real bad days, in terms of both my joints and the rest of my life. Even though it seems easier to concentrate on the bad I am really trying to focus on the good things in my life, because there are some. The Bad It was decided due to my health I cannot go to Israel for a gap year program like I had been planning. OS and Rheumy still disagree on who should be dealing with my knees.  Hip surgery is going to be right after graduation. The Good  My OS said I could join my college's equestrian club! I woke up today without any stiffness and almost no pain! I was able to do things other than table exercise in PT today! Little Me Horse Back Riding!