Hipadeedooda! Here’s a way to help with your hip pain.
Karen Cumming is finding ways to deal with delayed hip surgery
One of the things that has emerged from our locked down world has been an incredible surge of creativity worldwide. People are figuring out new ways of doing old things out of necessity as we practice social distancing in the fight against COVID-19.
My fitness/medical exercise practice has moved online, my guitar teacher is holding classes remotely and it seems like the whole world has discovered the joy of walking the neighbourhood and doing curbside pickup from local restaurants. In many cases we’re proving the adage, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way” to be true. This brings me to the subject of today’s column. What if there really was no ‘way’?
Karen Cumming knows what I’m talking about. As someone who needs a hip replacement, there really is no “way” for her right now. She’s stuck between a rock and a hard place thanks to the lockdown we find ourselves in.
Karen began experiencing hip pain eight years ago. Upon examination, it was discovered that she had torn cartilage in her hip (the labrum), most likely as a result of genetics and wear and tear from recreational running. It is common for injuries of this type to begin a cascade of degeneration, resulting in osteoarthritis, pain and decreased mobility.
Fast forwarding to the middle of March, Karen was assessed to be placed on a waiting list for a total hip replacement (THR). As the pandemic took hold in Ontario and elective surgeries were being cancelled, the ensuing backlog meant that her wait for surgery would be much longer than previously anticipated. Currently, she is not expecting to have her operation until the spring or summer of 2021. What this means is that she is facing many more months of debilitating pain and limited function.
The prospect of sitting around, in pain, waiting to be called did not sit well with her. While she couldn’t do anything about the postponement of her surgery, she decided that she could do a variety of other things to help manage her pain. First and foremost, Karen became very proactive with her physician in regards to pain medication. Working closely with her doctor to find the best pain reliever, specifically for her, allowed her to have better days and to do the other things necessary for managing her condition. Once Karen was able to achieve a moderate level of pain relief, she sought the help of a physiotherapist who she meets with, virtually, twice per month for assigning and updating a list of exercises that she can do independently at home. She also practices yoga on a regular basis, follows along with an online stretching program and is a devoted daily meditator. In her mind, the entire process of pain management and pre-habilitation to surgery is more like a marathon than a sprint. Her approach demands consistency and patience.
Karen has also found great value in connecting with others who may be going through the same thing as her. Just being able to share stories, tips, complaints and bits of wisdom have proven to be therapeutic for her, so much so that she has created a Facebook group designed specifically to bring together others suffering with hip pain and disability. The fact that the people drawn to this group are managing with little to no physical contact with allied health professionals makes the group even more attractive.
The group that Karen has started is called Hipadeedooda. It’s sort of a safe space where people can check in with each other, offer moral support and inspiration or just lend an ear. Members can also use it to post updates regarding surgical dates, changes in government policies or any other information that could be useful to other users. To join the group, simply search “Hipadeedooda” on Facebook and click the button to “Follow” and you will receive updates and announcements and will be able to post messages for other users to read and react to.
In closing, I asked Karen if she had any tips for people trying to manage pain and disability during these challenging times. Here are four that she came up with: 1 — Work with your physician to find the right pain medication for your situation.
2 — Use meditation and mindfulness practices to envision a time in the future when you will no longer be in pain.
3 — Be absolutely diligent and consistent in following the advice and rehabilitation plan from your physiotherapist.
4 — Reach out to others that may need help and do your best to lift their spirits.