As promised, the hip update.

I've been putting off this post for a while.  I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it.  And honestly, I'm scared of saying something out of anger that will come back and get me one day.  So I'll try to be level headed as I write this.  With only a little bit of frustration.

(Side note - sorry there's no pics.  The only thing visible for my injury is a big chubby thigh. I am positively sure it's just inflamed, and there hasn't been too much cake...which is at least somewhat likely, since one thigh is bigger than the other)

I went to two physical therapy appointments before my therapist started worrying about sending me back to the orthopedist.  We were doing a little bit of bike, some minor exercises, and really, just nothing compared to the intensive exercise I did last time I went to a gym (might be skewed, since that was oh, probably 10 years ago).  PT switched me to really passive stretching, and I had to take pain pills, like prescription pain pills, for the pain that night.  That's insane.  It was just stretching!

At that point she gave up and sent me back to the orthopedist.  They called to set up an appointment AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, which freaked me out a bit.  I actually got that call while recovering from the stomach bug last week, so the stress didn't help that at all!

Fast forward to the orthopedist appointment last week.  I go in, explain the situation, and we realize we've exhausted all the easy options.  Medications, restricting activity, physical therapy, etc.  And so, he wants to do surgery on my left hip.  Previously, he had diagnosed me with FAI, femoral acetabular impingement, which means there's some extra bone that has over time eroded my hip labrum.  So in addition to repairing the twice torn labrum, I need my bone shaved down as well. That thought totally grosses me out.

I knew this already.  In my heart I knew it.  But it's a different animal being in the office and talking about surgery details and recovery times and lengthy crutch use.  Not to mention I'm an emotional crier. As in, if there's a strong emotion, I cry. Mad, happy, sad, angry, frustrated, anything.  Which brings me to part two.

My insurance company, Aetna, was one of the last of the big insurance companies to approve the surgery, open or arthroscopic, for FAI.  The only approved it in January of 2012.  With a whole list of caveats.  Basically, I have to meet a list of 6 or so criteria for them to want to approve payment for the surgery.  Some of the criteria are obvious:  try meds, try PT, get FAI diagnosis, don't have arthritis, etc.  Some are not so obvious.  And seem, well, inhumane.

Aetna has a 6 month waiting period for FAI.  Meaning, after I'm diagnosed, I have to wait 6 months to have surgery.  Lets let that sink in.  After I'm in pain enough to go to a doctor in the first place (which takes a bit, mind you), and they diagnose me, I have to be in pain for 6 months longer before my insurance will consider coverage.  SIX MONTHS. While I am off and on crutches already, I use anti-inflammatories twice a day in large doses, I use pain pills on bad days, I'm bedridden on worse days, and all the while I have two small children and a house and animals to tend to.  Who is doing my groceries when I'm not able to walk more than 10 steps?  Who is feeding my kids snacks when just laying down is excruciating?  Who lets the dogs in and out and in and out all day?

Needless to say, at this point, I break down in the Dr.'s office.  Can't help it.  The plan for now is to start working with the insurance company, give me some time off and try PT again in a couple of weeks, manage pain and inflammation as before, and if necessary, take some oral steroids to help (which apparently have a lovely rare side effect of cutting blood flow to the femoral head, woohoo!).

While surgery isn't my idea of awesome, I understand that there is a time and a place for it, and where right now the pain has no end in sight, surgery gives me hope that things will get easier over time.  I'm not fighting the insurance for fun, nor do I like the idea of having surgery in the very near future.  But I miss being able to hike and camp, do groceries by myself, go shopping, and so forth.  And no matter how many weeks/months I spend on crutches, doing PT, and having a totally different life for a while, the difference is hope. Hope that it will be better soon.

And so, off to battle I go.  Here's hoping they understand my dilemma.  There's always a chance.  If anyone reading this has any experience with FAI and Aetna, I'd love to hear your story. Email me or comment if you'd like.