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This week I’ve seen my Physiotherapist and I’ve been able to show him that I’ve done my worksheet exercises seen Here and though it’s not plain sailing I have felt some progress. But I haven’t managed to do 2 sets yet, instead I increased to 15reps so at least that’s something.

I’ve added some hip bridges into my routine, which I’ve been getting on with fine.


So far doing 1 set of 15reps alternate days

I find the mini squat behind a chair alright, so I’ve now changed it to a more challenging squat. Now I’m in front with my good leg ahead of bad leg, so weight goes through the bad leg only. Again 15 reps on alternative days.

Still using this stretch as I find it the most difficult. Therefore the most needed stretch. Knee to chest and let other leg dangle over bed.

This stretch above still hurts to lift the operated leg, so any hip flexion just feels so difficult.

I’ve started to do Hip Flexion exercise as well, but again I’m finding this immensely difficult and painful. As above 15 reps on alternative days.

We studied weather apps, we mapped out places to go, and weighed up pros and cons of each place, and settled on Barmouth!! To the beach it is…

So alarm clock set, we are off on a road trip. Packed enough stuff for breakfast, dinner and hope to eat tea out, you have to eat fish and chips at the beach!!

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I had #Wytchwood beer, a new beach shelter and a lovely book to keep me occupied while Mr Moon went paddle boarding.

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We managed to get fish and chips for us both, and sneak back to the beach to watch the sun go down and leave us with a dramatic colourful sky. It felt so glorious to bask, and relax in the sunshine, to watch people, dogs and children all enjoy the simplest pleasures in life. Shattered we find a place to sleep, and I fell asleep so quickly. More adventures for another day to come.

Winter brings rain and rain brings mud, as well as icy winds. But we don’t let it deter us, and to keep our spirits high we head on out to the glorious Peak District.

Pains aside as they are happening with or without movement, it’s best to keep this leg moving as best as we can.

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We head to the magickal kingdom of #LudsChurch we’ve been before, you can read about the history of this place Here

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Quite sheltered from the chilly winds here, and you forget how cold the day actually is. But following the church it’s time to head out on the moor land which is open, bonus for views, but very very open to winds.

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Views for miles, you can see so much, more so when the clouds lift. Too scared to stand on the rocks, I let Mr Moon do the honours and marvel at how glorious it is.

Hips and Lower back took a big hit in this walk, due to tensing up a lot over the muddy sections. Really felt it in the hip flexors, and back. I’m glad I’ve now got some back stretches to try, and see if they will help in the long run. So rewarded ourselves with hot water bottles once home!!

I have recently learnt of another family member that has recently passed, and it’s fair to say it’s taking an emotional toll on both me and my Mr Moon. While the loss was expected, doesn’t make it necessarily easier.

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This time it’s my Uncle, the husband to my auntie who we lost very recently. So following this news I knew I needed to get out of the house and breathe in some fresh air, and feel the energies of nature, and it’s Imbolc what better time to focus on death, rebirth and life.

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When it was cold and windy the energies here felt bleak and stark, and we called it Quarry Cleaves from Stonewylde (Check out the Stonewylde series by my late friend Kit Berry (sadly passed in October ) Here

As we felt the bite of the wind, a glimmer of sun shone out and we were blessed with a rainbow, something I never expected.

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Faint but just about there, and it touched my soul and made us feel happier.

Walking is so good for meditation, your sole focus is one foot in front of the other, so it helps you be present in that moment. And when the weather is so changeable you get to really feel alive. Sounds crazy I know, but there is something life affirming to feel a bitter chill, or the glow of sunshine, and even the hydration of rain on your face. I guess it’s feeling lucky to be able to feel these things.

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The area is steeped in history, we’ve been here before, but we revisited the lead mines, found old caves and pump houses. It’s nice to explore and learn history. We stopped to speak to an old gentleman, who was talking about how lucky we are to have this beautiful countryside, and he’s absolutely right!! I’m forever grateful for the hills, the fields, and rivers. It was nice to talk to him.

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It was an amazing day and so good for the soul, But I wish I had a different body, and pain levels though. My back was absolutely crippled, and my 3yr old hip replacement decided to throw up a lot of groin pain too.

This appointment came out the blue, but I’m so grateful I have one. To be able to discuss my worries with the surgeon, is a huge weight off my shoulders. Rather than wait until August this year.

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Up nice and early and of course wearing my Tee from Here as I always do, my tradition now. And if I’m really lucky I will manage to see my friend, who also has an appointment today.

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I needed this, thank you for making me smile X such a lovely friend xxx

And boy didn’t I need her there too!! She helped while away the hours waiting. Plus it felt so nice to have someone there, to weigh up options with, From someone that knows what psoas issues are like.

Not quite sure what I desire from the appointment, but perhaps an x-ray, and maybe a discussion on leg length, and now the inflammation of the iliopsoas muscle. Oh and ask what is that metal bit on the x-ray!!

Finally discovered after Registrar’s gaslighting me for years, that I have a broken off needle, in my right hip. Which also means it’s been there for 3yrs!! Got my answer at long last.

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I had a new x-ray, totally forgot to take a photo though 🤦🏻‍♀️. Though to be fair it looks exactly like the one previously

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We discussed a steroid injection for the psoas, it’s a 6 month wait, so I’m down on the waiting list. And the leg length is still a watch and wait for another 6 months too, so they will at least happen around the same time. Though it’s frustrating to wait, I am trying to trust the process, and give it my all.

So I’m 22 Weeks Post Op, and I haven’t had a physical physio appointment since way way back at the beginning of October, so that makes it a whopping 13 weeks since I’ve been seen!!

Wouldn’t usually be a problem, except I’ve been having huge issues with pain and weakness, which in turn has hindered all healing and progress.

As time goes on I’m convinced it’s the illopsoas, causing a bursitis, I had thought it was more muscle based, but I tried the specific stretches for them with no luck at all. And reading up on it, it seems post hip replacement it can be caused by the acetabular cup. So it’s certainly something I want to ask my consultant the following week.

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After speaking to my Physiotherapist he confirmed he thinks the same, either from doing more, or perhaps the acetabular cup rubbing, or merely the new position the leg is in.

So we’ve found 2 stretches that are basic enough to not hurt too much, but isometric enough to target and hopefully build it up, if it’s a deconditioning issue.

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Can be done without bringing up opposite knee, but it does provide a deeper stretch if needed. So I’m starting small without the knee to chest. 15 second hold X 3 a day

And with this one slightly harder for me, is the chair one

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Raise the knee slightly but push down to create a resistance, this one is very hard and does hurt. So only 3 second hold and X 3 a day for now

Biggest change is the encouragement to take more painkillers and not as I feel pain, but before to try and fend it off. So that is certainly what I will try for now and let’s see what the Surgeon says next week.

I’m starting to feel where and when the limitations appear in the hip, which means I’m also improving, not in traditional physio, which is still unbelievably difficult, but in walking.

I changed my shoe lift to a soft barely there one, and the lurch and rocking between the two heights was far more pronounced than previously, but at least it didn’t ache my foot arch.

I did my first hike as a double hippie and posted it Here and though I was broken for days (nearly a week) afterwards, barely moving for pain. The wonders it did on my mind was unreal. So clearly I am keen to build upon that.

My actual physio appointment is next week, so this week we decided to try a hike again. Lower and more flat and stable paths, as I hadn’t truly healed perfectly. But slapping on as much ibuprofen gel my leg could handle, taking my 3 tramadol and 6 paracetamol (throughout the day) we wrapped up and headed out.

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This time the temperature was a lot lower, and this proved to be the bigger issue in the hips. As I barely have feeling skinwise around both hips, I didn’t realise how cold they had got. It was -4° and they were stiff. Had to sit down far more times this hike, but that was enjoyable.

I find some movements it’s a good job I have my Mr Moon, as he has to manually lift the leg, or move the foot as I simply don’t have the strength to do it myself, or my brain signals aren’t going through. It’s a bit frustrating but at least it’s something I can forward onto the physio or surgeon in the next 2 weeks.

Getting home we spoiled ourselves with a mixed meat kebab, chips and salad. And a hot water bottle, as those hips took the rest of the night to warm up. They were painfully cold.

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I’m still super poorly, and it’s annoying now, as the brain wants to do things but there is no chance the body can really cope. Or so I thought.

I’ve had to cancel the 2 physio appointments I had, due to illness and family commitments. So now I’m seeing them in January 2022. Along with a new consultant appointment in Jan as well (weird as I hadn’t requested one, last I heard it would be August 2022) Not had physio appointment since October now.

After browsing many a YouTube video, I stumbled across the #VersusArthritis workout videos, so I just had to check them out.

With #VersusArthrits I found the exercises, and stretch routines address other joint issues I have, whereas I’m finding my hospital given physio is far too advanced and causing endless issues.

Here is the video for gentle morning stretches, so I gave it a go! It compromised of Neck stretches, Shoulder and Elbow stretches, A Wrist and Thumb stretch, then Hand Glides, Hip Flexion, Squats behind a Chair, Sit to Stand and finally Ankle pumps.

As I have #EhlersDanlosSyndrome which is affecting my neck (head feels far too heavy for neck, my grinding shoulders and elbows. To find something gentle enough for everything was just Perfect!!

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Took around 15 mins, and all super gentle and low impact. Just enough to lubricate the joints.

Hip still struggles with the hip flexion, but hopefully over time it will fix. I’ve pulled it recently with coughing so that set it backwards for a while.

After a week of recovery, and tonsillitis, I’m finally on the mend hip wise, not so much throat wise though. So as planned it’s getting some Physio done. Always hard to fit in around the holidays if I’m honest. But I’m determined to get some done.

Mindful of my disasters when I do certain movements or exercises, or simply do too much of them. The aim is gentle and slow, and little but often.

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Sartorius Stretch first to help the hip out. First holds only 10 second hold X 3

This area is often swollen and painful, especially when I do squats or lunge type exercises. It’s finally settled down, so this is to warm up the area, and help stretch it out.

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Hip Flexor Stretch again easing into it, 10 second hold X 3

This one doesn’t hurt so much, well except the knee joint (add a cushion underneath)

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My dreaded Clam exercise only doing 5 reps X 3

Hate Clams, but I know they have value. But not risking a huge flare up again (felt like it’s took forever to settle it down)

And finally I have a lovely football, so I’m going to use that between the knees to squeeze, and activate those abductors.

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Again like others it’s slow and steady. Abductor squeeze 10 second hold X 3

I finally see the actual physiotherapist on Wednesday this week, so I’m going to ask for more guidance and explain what’s been going on.

Not done a whole lot since the 3rd December clubbing night, (what a night that was!!) the weekend of Krampus was all about not moving swollen hip, and watching scary Christmas films see Here and Here

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I’ve popped out for coffee and chat, (on Tuesday) meet up with my friend, which was lovely, but wore me out more than I thought it would, even though I had my walking stick and mini shoe lift.

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Wednesday sees me with Tonsillitis, and feeling a bit woolly headed. I know it’s tonsillitis as I get it numerous times a year (my weakest point) so that has put me off physio for sure. I also have the dentist Wednesday if they choose to let me in, I’ve rung to tell them about tonsillitis. 3rd appointment in 3 weeks, trying to fit in a plate to help save teeth and jaw (both too weak for fillings and work, crumbling away one joint at a time) And they’ve decided for me to still come in and be seen.

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Thursday is my Mr Moons birthday so we had to have a nice day, and celebrate as best as we can, we have our Eldest daughter and granddaughter over to visit. And at the weekend our Youngest daughter is coming to celebrate too. So birthday will be spread out over various days.

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Friday it’s time to straighten up the spare room, ready for guests to stay over. Still quite poorly but gargling salty water and taking paracetamol to keep on top of it all. Glad I’ve not pushed physio this week as I feel so weak.

Hopefully come Monday I can think more about physio and get walking again, I really miss it.