Bone Cracking?

Everytime I bend and lean forwards to reach for something my hip cracks, and then I struggle to stand straight again.

From this I know it’s arthritis making the bones grind together, better known as: Crepitus
sometimes called crepitation (krep-i-tay-shen), describes any grinding, creaking, cracking, grating, crunching, or popping that occurs when moving a joint. People can experience crepitus at any age, but it becomes more common as people get older.

So life is getting pretty hard and miserable. And I’ll be counting down time til I can get onto the list.

I fear it could be a long long time, so I need to find something else to distract myself in the meantime, and focus on other things. Otherwise I will fall into a vicious cycle of misery and pain.

I rang the hospital out of sheer desperation and honestly I felt worse, found out that all services have stopped, consultants redeployed elsewhere and to ring back in March, and hopefully then they can reschedule me.

Just knowing there’s no one to see, no one to guide or give hope to me is immensely soul crushing. It’s going to feel like a long long 6 weeks til I can ring again.

Phone Consulation?

All week or so it’s been a game of will I get my call or not? Seeing many surgeries getting cancelled all over again, hits home hard.

The crushing blow of that glimmer of hope extinguishing, is cruel especially at the last minute.

So this week I’ve busied myself each day to distract from that dreaded call to cancel me. As the days ticked on, my spark of hope was igniting again, could it be still going ahead??

So for this week I’ve been trying to distract myself with the new physio exercises and all important anterior pelvic tilt ones too.

And at the last evening before the Call, a letter is posted at 6.20pm and its the NHS it’s what I feared, it’s cancelled.

No clue how long for, no rescheduled date, No Hope!!!!

Trying to get outside

We are in lockdown, but we can get out and walk, so I’m taking it and getting much needed fresh air.

Muddy trails and grey skies, but we don’t mind, even the rain can’t dampen our spirits.

Still beautiful to visit, though most leaves are gone. And it feels productive for the hips, even though they hurt.

Burnt last year in April the scarred ground is slowly recovering.

Sun dial for the time,not sure it works in this grey wintery weather.

Renewed spirits, happiness and grounded fulfilled. I feel much better after that.

Anterior Pelvic Tilt

Mine is back and it’s horrific.

What is it you ask? it’s what I could say is Instagram bum.

Where your lower back throws out your bum, while the whole pelvis tilts forward.

I believe it’s where your Hip Flexors are too tight and short these then pull the pelvis down. While the hip extensors are too loose and long and allow the short flexor the range to pull.

Clearly it’s not by choice to stand like this, and after years of work I had corrected it. But it’s back and it’s time to get to work again.

Dead Bugs are good at helping this out, it’s important to go slowly, and under control. Alternative arm and leg slowly into outstretched, while pulling in the stomach and keeping pelvis in neutral .

Much hated Bridges, but they do help immensely. I too use a band to stop knees from falling outwards. You can add a single leg if you like to make it harder, but for now I’m doing basic.

Just a simple pelvic tilt to help find neutral, can work wonders. Especially to then learn it while standing upright too. I do a few rocks and then settle into neutral for a few breaths.

These Supermen exercises help, but like dead bug but on your knees. Do alternative arm and leg the same, keeping gut sucked in and in a straight line. I find these too hard as my knees hurt.

Let’s hope I can get the results back again, just goes to show physio is really for life and problems soon arise when I stop doing it as regular.

Australia By Stewart Giles #BlogBookTour

#ADGIFTED Another fabulous opportunity to read books I love, pick the genre and author I wish, in return of a review.

So back with Stewart Giles, I’ve said countless times now he’s fast become a favourite author of mine, previously held by Patricia Cornwall and Nora Roberts.

Australia : DS Jason Smith Book 14

From bestselling author: Stewart Giles comes another
brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith series

Detective Jason Smith is sick and tired of the English weather. It’s February in York and the dark, dreary days are getting him down.

When his wife, DC Erica Whitton wins a holiday to Australia, Smith is reluctant to go. He has no desire to go back home. Against his better judgement, Smith agrees to show his wife and daughter where he grew up. The perfect holiday soon turns into a nightmare as Smith finds himself in a race against time to save the only people he’s ever cared about.

Children in Smith’s home town are being murdered. There’s something rotten there, anevil Smith has never come across before, and the local police are not what they appear to be.

evil Smith has never come across before, and the local police are not what they appear to be.
When his wife is attacked and his daughter is taken, Smith realises he’s on his own. With the clock ticking, and not knowing if his daughter is alive or dead, Smithcomes face to face with the worst kind of evil he’s ever encountered.
What readers are saying about Australia
Wow this bookkept me well and truly on the edge of my seat, gripping, horrifying, cringes,
gave me a lump in my throat, every emotion went down on me, fantastic writing
from this author I can never fault him I highly recommend it to all fans out
there to read this man’s work totally brilliant’
– Booklover Bev

AUSTRALIA
quickly demonstrates true evil with a heinous, horrific, abhorrent incident.
Following this, in an idyllic setting, the unthinkable happens. Relentless
heart-pounding agonizing suspense will hold you spellbound from start to
finish. You will not be able to put it down. The pages will fly by while your
heart races on every one. This is a mesmerizing, one sitting, book. ‘ –

Eileen

I enjoyed treating about Smith’s adventures in Australia, as
always fast paced with sharp, witty dialogue. A family holiday takes a sudden
and shocking unexpected twist and becomes a personal crusade as Smith does what
he does best and has to battle to piece together what has happened. Well
written and believable as we follow Smith’s journey and how he overcomes the
various obstacles in his way. Fast paced, enjoyable crime thriller set in
Australia in contrast to York –

Kirsty

One heck of a thriller – a real page turner. The
best Smith story to date!-

Carol

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES

DS JASON SMITH SERIESBook 0.5-Phobia
Book 1-Smith
Book 2-Boomerang
Book 3-Ladybird
Book 4-Occam’s Razor
Book 5-Harlequin
Book 6-Selene
Book 7-Horsemen
Book 8-Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 – Deadeye

Book 13 – Motive

Book 14 – Australia
DI O’REILLY MYSTERIESBlood on the Island
Lies on the Island
Fear on the Island (coming February 2021)
DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker
Trotterdown a box set of DC Harriet Taylor books
1-3
DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 – The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl

Trilogy: The DS Smith & Harriet Taylor box
set

PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLERS
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa
STANDALONE HORROR
The Divide

Wow looking at this list I realise I think I’m totally up to date on his books, shows me how much I love this author!! Medusa being my favourite so far.

Stewart Giles – Author
Bio

After reading English at 3Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live.

In 2014 Ann dropped a ratherlarge speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months
later.

large speaker on my head and I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months
later.

3 years and 8 DS Smith bookslater, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC
Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.

later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series – the DC
Harriet Taylor: Cornwall series.

The Beekeeper was publishedand soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

and soon hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well.

I continued to self-publishthe Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing
results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor
series which was published in July 2018.

the Smith series and Unworthy hit the shelves in 2018 with amazing
results. I therefore made the decision to self-publish The Backpacker which is book 3 in the Detective Harriet Taylor
series which was published in July 2018.

After The Backpacker I had anidea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.

idea for a totally new start to a series – a collaboration between the Smith and Harriet thrillers and The Enigma was born. It brings together the broody, enigmatic Jason Smith and the more level-headed Harriet Taylor.

Miranda is something totallydifferent. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon

different. A stand-alone psychological thriller, it is a real departure from anything else I’ve written before. This was followed by the sequel Mistress in 2019. Medusa is coming soon

The Detective Jason Smithseries continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction:
Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.

series continues to grow and there are now 13 books including the introduction:
Phobia. Book 12: Deadeye was published in February 2020.

Website: www.stewartgiles.com

Twitter: @stewartgiles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stewart.giles.33

My Review

Hold on, Hold on one minute did Stewart Giles really make Smith say 37 is old?! I’m offended, I’m a lot older and I refuse to see myself as old,just pleasantly matured in some ways.

Anyways I digress, this kicks off with a family holiday and murder soon follows. However the local police don’t seem to bother or see it as a priority. Ds Smith can’t relax even though it’s his holiday.

Horror seems to follow and with it coming extremely close to home, he has no choice but to investigate. Ds Smith investigates in his usual way and it unfolds an incredible story that I couldn’t wait to finish!!

Cold Weather, Cold Joints??

Are you like me and suffering in the cold weather like me? The temperature has dropped here and I’m freezing daily. Even with the heating on!!

There is not one simple explanation as for why dropping temperatures affect your joints.

However 1 theory I can get behind says it relates to drops in barometric pressure, which in turn cause tendons, muscles and the surrounding tissues to expand.

Because of this tight confined space within the body, this can cause pain, especially in the joints affected by arthritis.
Everyone’s body reacts to fluctuating barometric pressures in the air, but people with arthritis and those with chronic pain are alot more vulnerable to feeling discomfort.

Also, it’s well known that bad weather can also affect people’s moods; if you are sad or depressed, the perception of pain can be magnified, and centres your focus on the pain so much more.

I find myself shrouded in hot water bottles, blankets and fluffy pyjamas. Which isn’t all bad, let’s face it, it’s cosy to curl up and watch movies. But it does remind me that this flare I’m in, that it will pass once weather turns, and doing more physio at this time will help with heating me, and lifting my mood before it improves the hips too.

Now where is that book I’m reading. I’m in my igloo of blankets and I’ll see you soon

Happy Hippy Birthday

Can you believe it, it’s 2 years today since I had my Hip replacement in Right leg.

And it was the BEST thing I ever did.

I LOVE my replacement and I certainly have no doubts heading for a second one, I can only hope it’s as successful as this one.

I’ve even managed to walk on snow and ice, something I’ve not done without intense fear for over a decade, This time it was just a normal level of caution. And I honestly enjoyed it.

Imagine how confident I can be with 2 Hip Replacements!!

For those that are heading for a replacement, my advice is, don’t look at ridiculous claims of running up mountains after 5 weeks, they are unhelpful and depressing. But celebrate the small victories each time you hit one, like dressing yourself, taking less meds, having a bath etc… I knew at 3months that this surgery was the BEST one yet.

MRI day

It’s here, it was touch and go, as I thought it may have been cancelled once Lockdown 3 was announced on the 4th Jan.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a type of scan that uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

MRI scanner is a large tube that contains powerful magnets. They position you to lie inside the tube during the scan. Quite Claustrophobic for me I’ll be honest.

An MRI scan can be used to examine almost any part of the body, including the:

• brain and spinal cord
• bones and joints (always my hips for me!)
• breasts
• heart and blood vessels
• internal organs, such as the liver, womb or prostate gland

The results of an MRI scan can be used to help diagnose conditions, plan treatments and assess how effective previous treatment has been. So this is to help my surgeon see if it’s small tissue issues or bone, and cartilage problems. Hopefully we will discuss the results in our telephone appointment on the 22nd Jan all being well.

What Happens During The Scan?

During an MRI scan, you will lie on a flat bed (like an xray) but one that’s moved into the scanner.

Depending on the part of your body being scanned, you’ll be moved into the scanner either head first or feet first. I’m always a feet first as it’s hips they want off me.

The radiographer will control the scanner using a computer, which is in a different room, to keep it away from the magnetic field generated by the scanner.

However you’ll be able to talk to the radiographer through an intercom and they’ll be able to see you on a television monitor throughout the scan. Quite reassuring really.

At certain times during the scan, the scanner will make loud tapping noises. (Think jackhammers on concrete) This is the electric current in the scanner coils being turned on and off. It’s immensely loud.

You’ll be given earplugs or headphones to wear.

It’s very important to keep as still as possible during your MRI scan. My biggest issue is staying still, who knew it could be so hard!

The scan lasts 15 to 90 minutes, depending on the size of the area being scanned and how many images are taken. Let’s hope they tie the feet up, and its done quite quickly.

Hip Failure

Now I know I need another hip replacement surgery, and New Year is here, I decided to set a goal of getting into a routine of Physio again.

I’d really let it slide as I was walking more, but since the hip crack I’ve simply existed and barely moved at all.

Time to change this, as last pre hip surgery I was in a good routine, and although basic and simple it actually was highly affective in helping me recover.

Starting with the Bosu Ball

I do 10 step ups x 2 (left foot first)

10 step ups x 2 (right foot first)

10 lunges x 2 (left foot first)

10 lunges x 2 (right foot first)

Hip flexion 10 reps x 2 (left foot first)

Hip flexion 10 reps x 2 (right foot first)

Hip abduction 10 reps x 2 (left foot first)

Hip abduction 10 reps x 2 (right foot first)

Hip extension 10 reps x 2 (left foot first)

Hip extension 10 reps x 2 (right foot first)

Left Hip is awful, needed a crutch to keep me steady, zero balance on board and in abduction exercises. Thankfully Right Hip is fairing better, though does fatigue rather quickly so will benefit greatly from regular physio exercises.

And so starts our 3rd Lockdown can only hope my Mri isn’t cancelled.

New Years Day

So it’s here the infamous 2021, I fear not the saviour that everyone is relying on. But this month I face an Mri and Phone Consultation with my surgeon to discuss the state of the hip inside, and the timeframe of getting surgery done under these new restrictions.

I’m struggling with how externally rotated my hip is, it means the foot rotates and lies flat, and the knee is totally pointing outwards when I lie down.

For an Mri I need to be able to hold it upright for better imaging, for at least 45mins. So I’m attempting to strengthen the glute muscles to aid me.

I am so far off 45mins, I can just about get to 2 minutes before it’s shaking and painful beyond words. They will have to tie my feet together, I’m not strong enough.