aasharon90

Hi Im Sharon and im an alcoholic.

By the grace of my HP and people
like you here in SR I havent found
it necessary to pick up a drink of
alcohol since 8-11-90.

For that and you I am truely grateful.

I share in newcomers alot on different
topics because this is where i feel
like i can be of best help with sharing
my experiences, strengths and hopes
not only with recovery but in all
aspects of my life.

I had to go thru many changes in
my life to get me where i am today.

It has been a continuous journey
of many one days at a time collected
together beginning with August 11,1990.

The first day of my sobriety.

I had to experience the pain of what
alcohol did to me mentally, physically,
spiritually, emotionally. And thru
each of those pains emerged a more
stronger, wiser, healthier person
in recovery.

Today im still growing and still changing.

Today it's my physical pain. Im experi-
encing pain in my left leg as a result
of my accident i had 18 yrs ago from
drinking and driving.

My accident cause trauma to my entire
body but im feeling it mostly in my leg
now.

Advanced Arthritist in my hip is what
shows in the exrays. Arthristist has occured
because the ligaments in the ball joint is
worn out. It happened when my bone
joint shifted in the accident.

When i hit that concrete culvert sitting
on top the ground head on, my leg was
jammed into that socket with lots of
force causeing it to shift. So over the
yrs the wear and tear of the joint and
ligaments is now causeing me pain when
i walk or ride motorcycles.

In 2 weeks i will know if i need a hip
replacement.

At least i know now what is causing
me pain and something can be done
about it to allow me hopefully many
more yrs of riding pain free.


Again here i am in recovery embarking
on another change. Physical Change,
done in a sober manner. Im glad
alcohol isnt a part of my life today
to numb this pain which could cause
me more harm than good.

Even you can experience such joy
in all aspects of ur life alcohol and
drug free.

Thanks for letting me share.

adore79

Hi Sharon thanks for sharing. It is amazing how things can catch up to us from years ago. I hope the doctors do whatever it takes to make it better for you.

On a personal note, my Mom is soon to have heart surgery and Im pretty worried about it. But now I know I can turn that worry over to my HP and I know whatever happens is supposed to happen. She will be fine.

Aysha

I always love your Topics.

I always get a kick out of some of the titles.

I hope all works out for you. That sounds like its uncomfortable.
But you are taking it with a great attitude.

I have alot of health issues surfacing due to yrs of using and things that have happened while using. And alot of things that have happened has changed my physical health forever.
I am goin through one right now. With the hernia. Its a result of being stabbed numerous times in my abdomen. And possibly the incision from the surgery following that. It has been weakened and will always be that way now.
I may need knee replacement some day. Who knows why that is. But I have chronic pain.
I could go on and on. But I learn to live with it.
And do it clean.
Thats the most important thing...Doing everything clean.

aasharon90

Thanks Adore. Ur mom is in good Hands.
Having fath in Something Bigger than I
am makes life go much smoother.

Wishing ur mom a speedy recovery when
the time comes. And for u strength and
guidance, love and care as she needs you.

aasharon90

Thanks Chiynita.... I remember my little baby son
yrs ago had a bylateral inginal hernia repair done.

That little buddy did fine.

It is amazing how much trauma we punich
our bodies with. And as we get older they
eventually catch up with us.....

I take care of my alcohilism first and the
rest i discuss options next to not interfere
with my recovery with the doctor.

They r there to help us when we r sick
and if they know our history with drugs
or alcohol then they will work with u to
make sure u r cared for properly.

Very simple.

Mark75

so it WAS your hip... sorry to hear the arthritis is so advanced. You will be well taken care of I'm sure... Get that taken care of, life is for the living, and you want to ride that bike!!

aasharon90

The doctor told me that im young at 50
to have this advanced arthritist in my hip.

If u look at a skeleton picture of the hip
and the leg, there is a ball joint in there.

This ball is suppose to be round with
a cartlidge between the two. evedintly
the ball was shifted out of joint slightly
during the accident then over the yrs
the ball became rough.

When u move ur leg front back side all
around its the ball joint that allowing
ur leg to move around smoothly as
long as the ball is smooth.

If it is rough or out of ailignment then
arhtritist occurs and then theres pain....

Something like that.

I cant feel the pain in my hip, however
when i move my leg which is difficult
because the muscles have tightened
up. They r not working the way they
r suppose to so they have tightened
up.

This is causing stiffness in my leg and
some pain.

I wont die of arhtritists right?

Mark75

yep, that makes sense, it is common for us to think that pain down the leg is always back/slipped disc...

Arthritis won't kill you! But you want to feel good and do the things you want to!!

Mark

aasharon90

They took exrays of the back as well to
see if the vertibrate was ok and it was.

I thought maybe it was a pinched nerve
or something like that but it wasnt.

When i stand i dont feel pain unless i
put weight on that left leg or straighten
it out. Sitting theres no pain or if all the
weight on the right leg there's still no
pain. I can walk around the house and
very little notice of pain.

Its the exercises and stretches on the
leg that makes it hurt....I cant run or
do heavy work with that leg right now.

Im pretty sure the hip replacement will
happen and then i can hop on my bike
and ride till the cows come home.....lol

Ill know what the next step is in 2 weeks.

Anna

It is kind of sad to see fallout from our addiction, but everything happens for a reason.

Hip replacement may be in the cards for you, and if so, you will be able to move normally, once your body heals. That's terrific.

aasharon90

Ur right Anna. But u know what? Im ok
with this. I could have died from my last
drink. Thank my HP it didnt. I have so much
to be grateful for today that hip replacement
is another wonderful gift i can only accept
in my sobriety.

SR is definitely an AWESOME GIFT to me for sure.

Thanks SR for being here for me.

IGGYLOVESU

5 years ago I got my left hip replaced and I do much better than before. I have an IT band issue but the trade off was helpful to my recovery.Best of luck on the operation...it took me 5 years to decide

aasharon90

Thank you iggylovesu. This has been on my mind
all day wondering if anyone in SR had their hip
replaced. And here u write today. Thank you.

Ill go tomorrow at 8:45am to discuss what will
be the next step.

I realy just want to have this done quickly
and get it over with.

Did u get ur replacement done in a hospital
or an Orhopeadic Clinic. I guess ill find out
tomorrow where i will be.

How long did u stay after the operation?

Me, im wanting to get my suitcase packed
and have a lovely gown and fuzzy slippers
to wear....lol....

Should i bring snack foods...lol

Music, books to read.....

In my mind im thinking ill be up and
about the next day moving slow but
strong willed to get moving quickly.

Did u have trouble getting around ur
home? In and out ur bed, baths and so
on?

Ive read on how they will put a cathiter
in, thnking i wont be ready to potty anytime
soon....lol oh my Lord...lol

No driving? No sex...lol OH NOOOOO..!

Philly

Hi Sharon,

My husband who just turned 50 had both hips replaced at the same time last June. He put the operation off for several years because of work. When he decided to get it done he was in so much pain that he didn't care about work. Anyway the recovery for hips is much easier than knees. He was home in 48 hours. No inpatient rehab. He had a PT come to the house and a nurse to regulate the cuminin. He was walking the next day and now he can jog a little. He walks now pain free just a little wobble but I think it was because he got both done at once. Good luck.

I also like reading your posts. You give us good advice. I am only sober since July and do not go to AA for personal reasons but I feel I get alot of AA advice through this site.

aasharon90

Thanks philly I appreciate ur reply. The only
pain i experience is when my leg is idle during
sleep or sitting. As soon as i stand the pain is
there or when i roll over.

My husband and i love to ride motorcycles, i a
passenger for now but want to ride without pain
running down my left leg or having to cut our
ride short because of the pain.

Im anxious to go tomorrow and will keep u guys
posted on whats next.

Im glad ur husband did well after his surgury.

Id like to get back into walking and jogging too.

Thanks.

Jadmack25

Hi Sharon, I know plenty of folk who have had hip replacement ops and the only 2 who had problems refused to exercise so of course they lost muscle tone completely. Tried to tell them that bones need strong muscles to make them work, but all to no avail.

My mum broke her femur and needed that pinned, and as x-rays showed damage to her hip joint thru wear and tear, they did it at the same time. Quite a big op for an old lady, but 4 days after it she was walking with a frame, and within 6 weeks was using a cane.

She was back on her busy life activities within 2 months, still lives alone and has a bit of help with the heavy household stuff.

She had a hugely optomistic outlook, and did everything she was told to do about exercising and strengthening her leg muscles, even pinched my 2kg weights to use.

By the way, mum was nearly 96 when she had that op, and is going strong towards 98 later this year.

Hope this gives you confidence that you will come thru fine.

God bless

aasharon90

Thanks jadmack. Ur mom is a strong woman. Much
admiration for her.

My husband said he would print this reply out and
if he catches me whining about pain then he will
read it to me....lol

I have all my weights here and various machines
for stretching and strengthening my muscles along
with a pool.

So there is no excuses to get moving after this is
done.

Im off in a few minutes to find out further instructions
and ill report later on what will come next.

I have the yellow scoot mobile waiting for me to hop
on and ride so i can get my endorsement.

Will return later.....SR YOU ARE THE GREATEST support
system in my recovery. Love u guys.!!!!!

Tazman53

Well Sharon I was going to share how well this lady in the rooms did after her hip replacement, but it looks like that topic is covered!!! I will add one thing more on a very posotive point for a lady......... Once she had her hip replacement done within a month she looked 10 years younger due to the pain being gone!

Keep us updated and I will put in a good word for you with my HP in the meantime.

aasharon90

Ok, guys....we went this morning and will
return for a 1:15 apppintment to talk to the
Dr. that will do the operation.

We have decided to go with the replacement
instead of some other options available.

Now........

As u know.....alcoholics want what they
want and they want it NOW....lol

It might not happen till 3 or 4 weeks from
now,,,,,NOOOOOOOOOO.....

IF, i need to wait that long, then i dont
want to be in pain when i walk......
Right now im just on Alieve gel caps
i take before bedtime.....and they doesnt
even numb the pain.

Im sitting most of the time now but im
climbing the walls. I need to move
my tush more.....lol

I want to go riding on our Harley with
my husband and i dont want to be in
pain.

Sooooooo.....i will ask for suggestions
for some kind of remedey to aliviate
the pain.

Whatcha think?

aasharon90

Well...im back from the doctor.

The doctor looked at my ex-rays
and wanted to know if i had broken
my hip before. I told him about my
accident i had back in 1990 when
i hit the concrete culvert sitting
on top the ground. That little stunt
sent me to the hospital for 10 days
during my drinking career.

The front of my car was smashed
in to the front seat where my legs
were. It was a wonder i survived
the crash.

There was extensive trauma to my
left leg and numerous broken bones
ribes and contusions.

Maybe that accident cause more
damage than i realized and over the
years arthritist set in,,,,,

Anyway....he could see where i had
broken my hip and it tried to repair
itself.

The operation is set for June 17 i think....
Its a Monday. Then ill stay for 3 days
in the hospital before coming home on
that Thursday.

So between now and then i have time
to pack my little bag of fuzzy slippers
and robe and licorics and AA books and
tapes and makeup, and ....hmmmmm

What else.....lol

I feel like im going on a trip....lol

I hope i can bring my computer to
keep in contact with u guys....

ohhhhhh ....im not gonna have my
hubby to sleep with....NOOOOOOO.....lol

We're still newly weds u know..