This year has been overwhelming with doctor appointments. Some appointments have included injections in my hip and back. The cortisone in my hip provided 80% relief for one month. The first round of diagnostic injections in my back provided 50% relief for a few weeks. The next round of diagnostic injections in my back provided no relief. My hip doctor suggested an ultrasound guided injection but also said there’s not much more he could do for me given that he’s a sports medicine doctor. He said we could consider scoping the hip but wasn’t sure that would give me any relief.
As few weeks ago I got a second opinion on my hip from what I was told, was the best doctor for labral tears. Unfortunately, I never saw the doctor, only his PA who would go back to the doctor to figure out a plan. There was talk of doing a diagnostic injection, keeping a journal for 6 weeks and returning to go over my results. A second discussion included a possible surgical option. They could go in and repair the tear and remove the bursa. I would be in a bulky brace around the hips and non-weightbearing for 3 months followed by 6 months of PT. As a realtor, how do I do my job for a year?
My chiropractor suggested I make an appointment with a local Osteopathic physician for a consultation for Prolotherapy. A few months back my dentist had also suggested Prolotherapy for the loose ligaments in my jaw.
All of these appointments left my head spinning. I have so many options that I have discussed with my husband and good friend. My friend used to work in the medical field and I value her opinion with her background and as a friend. My husband wants what is best for me and what will take away my pain. I needed to hear from someone near & dear that is outside my house, doesn’t see my daily pain.
Earlier this month I met with the Osteopath. He believes that my pain could be coming from the labral tear and bursitis but also believes it is coming from a ligament that is often overlooked by orthopedics. He found that all the muscles in the hip are so tight that they are working against each other. We proceeded with 6 lidocaine injections to relax the muscles. This was not going to provide me relief but, hopefully calm down the muscles so they won’t keep fighting.
This morning I was back at the Osteopath. He asked me if I was ready to try Prolotherapy. We went over the details of the second opinion appointment with the hip doctor. While I was discussing the appointment it all started to come together for me. The pain I have been dealing with this year has been so bad that I was ready to do a surgery that would likely take me out of commission for a year. A surgery that brings risk, no guarantee of relief and would remove the bursa, the one thing that protects my ligaments from rubbing against my hip bones. A surgery with a doctor that never took the time to see me for my appointment. I was now sitting across from a doctor who took the time to see me, listen to me, and explain everything to me. A doctor who spends an hour of his day understanding my pain, explaining to me what other doctors don’t, and how he can help me without cutting me open. This appointment helped me to realize that taking the leap with Prolotherapy was the right choice for me. It’s not a one and done, because of my EDS and the structure of my ligaments, I will likely need a second round of injections. Will it give me 100% relief, no, we are shooting for 80%. I will likely have to go for “touch-ups” one to two times a year. This is a much less invasive plan that I am comfortable with.
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