In the past week or so, I've made some amazing connections, re: exploring treatment options and finding a group of women/people who "get" PSD/SPD/PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain - apparently, this is the most recent name for this condition, with or without a rupture of the pubic symphysis).
* Pelvic Partnership (http://www.pelvicpartnership.org.uk/): This is a non-profit group out of the UK. They provide TONS and TONS of great information on their site, re: symptoms, treatment, sex, pelvic floor muscles, going back to work, tips for sleeping, sitting, driving - the list is endless. I found their page via Facebook. So far, the biggest take-away I've gotten is this statement: "The good news is that because PGP is a mechanical joint problem, it does respond well to manual therapy." Hmmm. As I've been exploring my options for starting osteopathic treatment (in addition to PT), this really resonated with me. Stay tuned for more there.
* The closed Facebook group, "Diastasis Symphysis Pubis/Pelvic Instability: Separated Pelvis Group" : What an outstanding group of women. I've learned more about PGP from this forum than any medical provider to date. This is what I've been looking for, if subconsciously - someone, anyone, who really understands how I'm feeling, both physically and emotionally. I was alerted to this group's existence by Lexi, who commented on one of my recent posts here on Blogger (thanks, Lexi!). This group has a range of members: ladies who experienced PGP during pregnancy, ladies who had a rupture of the PS during pregnancy, ladies who had a rupture of the PS during delivery, ladies who are pregnant and starting to experience PGP, etc. It was within this forum that I really found the final push I needed to start pursuing OMT treatment in earnest. I suppose I've been hesitant to explore other treatment options due to a fear of "striking out", of these treatments not improving my condition. However, with my return to work coming up in mid-August, I think it's time to get back on the horse and keep moving!
OK - off to see if little R will nap in his crib. We're slowly transitioning him there from his cradle, and so far, he's a bit freaked by all the space the crib has to offer! Wish us luck -
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
An Open Letter To Myself
Dear me,
Right now, life is not anything like you imagined it would be. Summer of 2016, with a 5 month old, was supposed to include leisurely stroller walks, family hikes, trips to camp and the islands, exploring the backyard, dancing the night away at a best friend's wedding, gardening in earnest, general adventuring. Your biggest concerns were supposed to be losing the baby weight, transitioning R from the bassinet to the crib, being anxious when you and E go out for dinner without R for the first time, fretting over R starting daycare in late August. Instead, you're locked in a battle with your body. Trying to get your hips, your joints, back into alignment. Trying to find medical providers who aren't stumped by your diagnosis. Using a walker to move from point A to B, all the while attracting stares that range from curious to pitying wherever you go. You're also at odds with your mind. Seeing a therapist for the first time, to talk about all this, and try to understand how you'll move forward. Feeling awful, deep-green envy whenever you hear about your friends, family, anyone having fun doing all the summertime activities you can't. Feeling rage against the OB-GYN who sent you home from the hospital without a diagnosis, in a wheelchair, and with instructions to "take a couple walks a day, take a couple naps a day, heal!". Feeling more anger that, at that time, you didn't know any better to scream for help. Let's be honest - life sucks right now.
That said... it's going to be OK. You're on the right (if painstakingly slow) path. You're doing all the things you can do, the things you need to do, for yourself, for your baby, for your husband. You're going to continue to get better. Even if your "fully-recovered" body isn't exactly capable of the things your pre-injury body was, you will be active again,you will be happy again, in that body. Keep fighting - each second that passes is another second closer to feeling, at the very least, a lot like your old self. Your new self is already a billion times stronger than your old self. I love you!
Hayly
Right now, life is not anything like you imagined it would be. Summer of 2016, with a 5 month old, was supposed to include leisurely stroller walks, family hikes, trips to camp and the islands, exploring the backyard, dancing the night away at a best friend's wedding, gardening in earnest, general adventuring. Your biggest concerns were supposed to be losing the baby weight, transitioning R from the bassinet to the crib, being anxious when you and E go out for dinner without R for the first time, fretting over R starting daycare in late August. Instead, you're locked in a battle with your body. Trying to get your hips, your joints, back into alignment. Trying to find medical providers who aren't stumped by your diagnosis. Using a walker to move from point A to B, all the while attracting stares that range from curious to pitying wherever you go. You're also at odds with your mind. Seeing a therapist for the first time, to talk about all this, and try to understand how you'll move forward. Feeling awful, deep-green envy whenever you hear about your friends, family, anyone having fun doing all the summertime activities you can't. Feeling rage against the OB-GYN who sent you home from the hospital without a diagnosis, in a wheelchair, and with instructions to "take a couple walks a day, take a couple naps a day, heal!". Feeling more anger that, at that time, you didn't know any better to scream for help. Let's be honest - life sucks right now.
That said... it's going to be OK. You're on the right (if painstakingly slow) path. You're doing all the things you can do, the things you need to do, for yourself, for your baby, for your husband. You're going to continue to get better. Even if your "fully-recovered" body isn't exactly capable of the things your pre-injury body was, you will be active again,you will be happy again, in that body. Keep fighting - each second that passes is another second closer to feeling, at the very least, a lot like your old self. Your new self is already a billion times stronger than your old self. I love you!
Hayly
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
A Numb Foot and Early Reevaluation
Rewind to the weekend of July 2 and 3. I started to feel a numbness/tingling sensation in the arch of my right foot - yep, not good. Since I was originally tested for nerve damage, I wasn't too happy with this new symptom. I did a fair job of ignoring it, but decided to call my orthopedic doc on the evening of July 4. I ended up going in to see him the next day, and I also had my x-rays taken and reviewed then, too - so, my much-awaited reevaluation appointment happened a full week ahead of schedule! Here is what I've learned:
* I will continue to monitor the wonky area on my foot. If it continues to spread and/or becomes painful, I've been told to call the doc again. They think it's most likely a nerve that's being tweaked, thanks to the shifting happening in my pelvic region.
* My new x-rays looked good. Whereas my separation was at about 2.5cm when I was first diagnosed, it's now looking like it's at 2.2cm.
* Still need to work on leveling-out my hips: the entire left side is still positioned quite a bit lower than the right, thanks to the rupture.
* I've been told to keep up the good work in the pool at PT. As a matter of fact, I just added a new exercise to the regime that has me propelling myself the length of the pool, wearing mini-flippers on my feet and floating my top-half with a pool noodle... SO good, it's like REAL exercise! More on that soon in an upcoming post.
* I'm down to 157lbs (from 187 when I delivered R), and I've lost 3 of those lbs in the last 2 months. Being lighter will ultimately help my healing process, as my pelvis will have less weight to support. I'm pretty pleased with myself, seeing as I've stopped breastfeeding and am not doing actual cardio.
* I have orders to request my initial x-rays from the orthopedic center that diagnosed me (somehow they haven't been sent to my current orthopedic pelvic doc yet?!), so that at my next appointment he can more carefully compare the two images.
* I'll go back in for more x-rays and another reevaluation in just over a month, on August 16.
SO. As anticipated, and as experienced thus far, my recovery is HAPPENING, but it's happening S-L-O-W-L-Y. According to these newest bits of news, it will hopefully continue on as such. More soon - #staythankful
* I will continue to monitor the wonky area on my foot. If it continues to spread and/or becomes painful, I've been told to call the doc again. They think it's most likely a nerve that's being tweaked, thanks to the shifting happening in my pelvic region.
* My new x-rays looked good. Whereas my separation was at about 2.5cm when I was first diagnosed, it's now looking like it's at 2.2cm.
* Still need to work on leveling-out my hips: the entire left side is still positioned quite a bit lower than the right, thanks to the rupture.
* I've been told to keep up the good work in the pool at PT. As a matter of fact, I just added a new exercise to the regime that has me propelling myself the length of the pool, wearing mini-flippers on my feet and floating my top-half with a pool noodle... SO good, it's like REAL exercise! More on that soon in an upcoming post.
* I'm down to 157lbs (from 187 when I delivered R), and I've lost 3 of those lbs in the last 2 months. Being lighter will ultimately help my healing process, as my pelvis will have less weight to support. I'm pretty pleased with myself, seeing as I've stopped breastfeeding and am not doing actual cardio.
* I have orders to request my initial x-rays from the orthopedic center that diagnosed me (somehow they haven't been sent to my current orthopedic pelvic doc yet?!), so that at my next appointment he can more carefully compare the two images.
* I'll go back in for more x-rays and another reevaluation in just over a month, on August 16.
SO. As anticipated, and as experienced thus far, my recovery is HAPPENING, but it's happening S-L-O-W-L-Y. According to these newest bits of news, it will hopefully continue on as such. More soon - #staythankful
Friday, July 1, 2016
Onward, Onward
Well, here we are, almost a month from my last post. Here is what's cooking...
* I am officially back in the pool for PT, without any resurgence of infection! THANK GOODNESS. Today will mark my fourth session, and I am loving it. My body is also loving it... the weightlessness of the salt water pool is amazing - I literally feel no pain when I'm in there. I am currently working on walking "regularly" (heel-to-toe, natural stride length, etc.) and strengthening both my hips and my belly. MAN, will I ever be excited when I can begin working away at my mommy-pooch... !
* My first session with my therapist went well. I definitely haven't ruled out meeting with her again - as a matter of fact, I plan to next week. I was worried that I would leave that first meeting thinking that I had wasted my time, but that's not the case. Hopefully it will help me feel better about everything that has happened.
* This month I meet with the orthopedic trauma doctor again. I'll have another round of x-rays to see how my healing is going, and to make a plan of attack for the next few months of recovery. I'm still using the Rollator now, but I wonder if the doc will support me using a cane and/or crutches instead - my PT has been wondering if that would be a good next step (no pun intended), to help me re-learn how to walk correctly (gait training). We shall see.
I am finding it hard to believe that it's been almost 5 months since R was born, since I first learned what a pubic symphysis is, and how much it sucks to have it rupture. Maybe these blog posts have helped someone else going through the same thing, or dealing with PSD, etc. etc. No matter what, I know that that blogging has been a definite, therapeutic activity on this end. Here's to RECOVERY - no matter how slow it's been, it's HAPPENING. #staythankful
* I am officially back in the pool for PT, without any resurgence of infection! THANK GOODNESS. Today will mark my fourth session, and I am loving it. My body is also loving it... the weightlessness of the salt water pool is amazing - I literally feel no pain when I'm in there. I am currently working on walking "regularly" (heel-to-toe, natural stride length, etc.) and strengthening both my hips and my belly. MAN, will I ever be excited when I can begin working away at my mommy-pooch... !
* My first session with my therapist went well. I definitely haven't ruled out meeting with her again - as a matter of fact, I plan to next week. I was worried that I would leave that first meeting thinking that I had wasted my time, but that's not the case. Hopefully it will help me feel better about everything that has happened.
* This month I meet with the orthopedic trauma doctor again. I'll have another round of x-rays to see how my healing is going, and to make a plan of attack for the next few months of recovery. I'm still using the Rollator now, but I wonder if the doc will support me using a cane and/or crutches instead - my PT has been wondering if that would be a good next step (no pun intended), to help me re-learn how to walk correctly (gait training). We shall see.
I am finding it hard to believe that it's been almost 5 months since R was born, since I first learned what a pubic symphysis is, and how much it sucks to have it rupture. Maybe these blog posts have helped someone else going through the same thing, or dealing with PSD, etc. etc. No matter what, I know that that blogging has been a definite, therapeutic activity on this end. Here's to RECOVERY - no matter how slow it's been, it's HAPPENING. #staythankful
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