Hip Update Part 2 - 6 Months Post Screw Removal & 14 Months Post Open FAI Surgery.

 Here is part 2 on the hip front update:

So my case manager got in contact with me at the start of February to see how things were going. I advised the lack of contact from my specialist after the last operation, that no rehab programs had been started & that I was experiencing some new aggravations.

She decided I should go to Christchurch for a Comprehensive Pain Management Assessment (CPA from now on!) to get a better insight & fresh eyes. I was keen to go as at that stage I was just wanting someone to set me on the right recovery path after the screw removal.

I must stress now that I know people who have had CPMA's for different disorders and it has helped them greatly & gave them many skills to manage their constant pain. However my experience was far from that or anything I think I assumed it was going to be like.

I had an appointment within a week of talking to my case manager for a Monday morning. I stayed Sunday night with one of my lovely hipster friends & was up at 6.30am getting myself awake and getting the hip moving (normally a late riser as sleeping is not that flash). My appointment was for 8.30am & I arrived at 8am due to paperwork & just wanting to be on time! No one was actually in the office till 8.30am anyway so I prepared my notes & made friends with the resident kitty called Jack - who apparently adopted the Pain Management Centre around 3 years ago and decided to stay!

I knew it was going to be a big day & quite tiring but I was not prepared for how it actually went.

- First assessment was Physiological 1 hour & went through all aspects of my life & how the pain interacts with it. Was not bad as had previously had an assessment done just prior to my screw removal as part of a Work Ready program through ACC & the outcome was I had many coping strategies for the pain & was functioning well and there was no need for any further physiological assessments/treatments.

- Second assessment was Physical by a physio - (here I was a little tired & this is also where it started to go downhill for me.)  I was asked numerous questions regarding my hip & what I thought the limitations were & what I thought needed doing. My main answers were;

I need to start a physio program since after the last surgery nothing had been done - no massage/needles/physio - nothing. Plus throughout the whole saga I have never been able to complete a decent physio program to see results as an operation has always stopped progress.

And that I needed hands-on massage or needles to assist in releasing the deep muscles which after over 4 years were in pretty bad shape!

However I was met with comments like " I need to stop looking for a cure & I need to start focusing on managing my pain so I can get on with life."

To this I stated that the pain level that I am in is able to be reduced with a proper rehab program & I am not going to sit back and say I have to manage it as it is because I know there is still a lot that can be done - maybe not surgically but with physio/massage. Also I am not holding back my life to find a cure, I am trying to get the best possible outcome for this situation.

The questions got more intense & I felt every answer was the wrong one or it was being taken the wrong way - like my crutches. I took one up to Christchurch with me as I new it was going to be quite taxing on the hip, with travelling & getting poked plus the sitting for so long. So I took it "Just In Case". However this was seen as I was relying on it & it would be best to incorporate weaning myself off the crutch. I even stated that I do not normally use the crutch & it's only in taxing situations I would take it along just in case. But this was never written down nor was it acknowledged.

Anyway just over an hour for that assessment then came the last - the Medical Assessment;
The doctor I was supposed to be seeing was assessing another CPMA person so I saw his registrar instead.
She was quite brisk & blunt & by this time I was quite sore, very tired & my mind was boggled from all the Q&A's.  Right off the bat I got a bad feeling & proceeded to be grilled on my medical history, medications & how they interacted with me. I have never been a big pill taker with my hip troubles as I have stomach issues which are upset with large doses plus the fact that I don't like putting a whole lot of chemicals into my body either. I was grilled on my stomach issues - which she has incorrect information & when I tried to correct her I am quite sure she didn't believe me anyway. When I stated how some pain killers interacted with I was told bluntly "Well that just wouldn't do that."  I was pretty much put through the ringer & felt so exhausted and drained I burst into tears. To this she said did I have a habit of crying & not being able to stop? I replied no i did not however when you have been grilled for a morning, are tired, sore and feel like no one is listening to you it's a little hard not to bloody cry!

The Medical part ended not long after that & I was sent to the waiting room while all three assessors got together to compare notes - they would come and get me when they had their findings. I had to wait around 45mins & for a Pain Management Centre their waiting room chairs were bloody uncomfortable. This didn't help me to cheer up either!

After the wait I was asked to come into the main room & sit at a table across from the assessors to hear their findings. Their thoughts were;

- I am a strong woman who has good coping mechanisms though when pushed shows it is hard sometimes
- I need further work on my coping mechanisms
- I need to stop focusing on getting physio treatment and need to manage my pain
- Recommended that I come up to Christchurch for a 3 Week CPM Program & stay in their hostel & each day do certain parts of the program.

To this I promply burst into tears again - after having the morning from hell I was being told that they wanted me to leave my family & friends for 3 weeks to complete a program that I new I didn't need! At this stage I just started nodding, not saying a lot so we could get to the end of the assessment. I was given booklets & info sheets & sent on my way.

I came out of it feeling like I was doing it all wrong, I felt depressed & I dreaded being sent away for 3 weeks! Throughout this injury and all the operations I have always been strong, positive and developed good coping skills if I was having a bad day. Though when I left the CPMA I felt like an empty shell.

When I got back home it took me around 3 days to shake the dark feeling that I had from the assessment & I got a burst of my usual can-do attitude back again. I emailed & left urgent messages for with my specialists receptionist stating I was extremely unhappy with the lack of contact & also where the CPMA was heading. I advised that I did not mind if there was nothing surgical he could do for me but that I needed him to confirm my rehab program & where it should go. After a couple of days I amazingly had an appointment for the next week! Continued in Part 3 :)