The last number of years have been all about maintaining mobility, managing pain and postponing upcoming surgeries.  My regular "maintenance" routine goes something like this:

Week 1: Massage (RMT)
Week 2: Chiropractor
Week 3: Acupuncture/Shiatsu
Week 4: Extra rest

Also, I do epsom salts baths, hot packs, cold packs, castor oil packs, stretching, foam rolling, thumper type home massager on a regular basis and extra times when I am in a lot of pain.

I have attached a few of my most current x-rays (not the best quality) for you to take a look at.  My hip shows both the head of the femur (thigh bone) and the acetabulum (hip socket) to be flattened. Notice also how off kilter I am.  One leg is longer than the other so that puts me completely off balance.  Also notice how my spine has developed scoliosis because of those imbalances.

I also had an MRI this past October.  They found a tear in my labrum and ganglion cysts (swelling on top of a joint or the covering of a tendon).  The labrum is soft elastic tissue that helps to hold the hip joint in place.  This was all news to me and obviously things have evolved a bit over the past few years.  This explains the increase in pain and the reason that I have had to reduce the number of hours that I am physically teaching classes each year.

I will be going for a CT scan next Wednesday as well.

Photo is  backwards!  This photo has my affected area on the left.

Good morning!

Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to read my first post.  In less than 24hours we are already at 50 page views!!  Now if only I could figure out how to allow followers that would be great.  I will look into this more later today (I'm not much of a techie).

A few people have asked what my past surgeries were exactly.  Now I don't remember the actual names of the surgeries as I was young and focused more on the details.

12 years old
They put screws in my hip to hold it in place as I grew because the joint had degenerated to the point that it was no longer stable.  This also caused a leg length descrepency so they removed (by laser) part of my growth plates from above and below my non effected side knee.  We were joking at dinner last night that I could have been 3 inches taller if they hadn't done that part!

23 years old
They removed the screws as they were no longer needed and they were rubbing against my IT band causing a lot of pain and the screws actually fragmenting. So as they removed them they also cleaned up the area and some scar tissue that had developed over the years.

So that's a little more background for you :)
Have a great day everyone!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to What A Joint! 

I have decided to start this blog as a journal of sorts for myself and anyone who cares to read it (family, friends or other) as I continue on my path to be pain free!

Bit of background on myself...
When I was quite young I was diagnosed with Legg-Calve Perthes Disease in my right hip.  This is a degeneration of the head of the femur and acetabulum (the hip and hip socket).  At the age of 12 I had my first hip surgery (just months after accomplishing my black belt in Taekwon do).  At the age of 23 I had my second surgery.  By this time I was a certified Personal Trainer (yes, a very active job).

I have spent many hours in hospitals and doctors offices and have often been asked why I don't change to a less active job.  My belief is that my hip issues brought me into the industry of health care and sports and that my own struggles help me to be a better trainer.

I am now 33 years old and the owner of a fully operational fitness business with three staff, approximately 50 regular active members and we don't plan on stopping any time soon!

Feel free to follow my blog as I describe my current situation and decisions being made in my daily life as well as running a business and staying active along the way.

Sincerely,
"B"