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Flying South: Hip Fracture and All

I’m flying to southern California for my Deepak Chopra retreat this morning. And not one moment too soon. It’s been a rough week.

My oldest, dearest friend from childhood is going with me. I’m actually older than her by 4 months. Which I thought was cool, in middle school. Now? Not quite so much :))

Fyling South: Hip Fracture and All

 

We have “shared history” as a bond, that newer friendships can’t duplicate. She was there as my birth family disintegrated. I was there through her family struggles. There are no secrets, and no lies between us. This trip will be a blast on many levels!

________

An update on my hip. The MRI showed I did break it. I also ripped the cartilage that holds my leg in the socket. Who knew one trip and fall could do such a thing? Apparently not the urgent care doctor who looked at my X-rays 5 weeks ago, and said I was fine, just bruised.

I’m making the rounds with orthopedic surgeons.

The first doctor said I didn’t have a hip fracture. The second one said, “no hip surgery. Just go home and ice it. The bone will heal, and the tear will mend on its own”. Seriously?? What do you believe when you get such opposing diagnoses? I believe in more opinions and lots of my own research.

Remember, don’t wait to go to the doctor if something is wrong. I now have other issues with my hip and leg, because I waited.

Is there something you should have checked out?

 

 

31 Comments

  1. Oh Jen, I know this is such tough news. I’m happy to hear you decided to take the trip! Some girlfriend time, TLC and mediation at the sea are just what the dr. ordered for your spirit. Let’s catch up this week–I’m back in town!
    xx, Heather

    1. It was perfectly fabulous. Girlfriend time made it more memorable. Let’s chat before I leave on my trip! We are like ships passing in the night!
      xoxo

  2. Your retreat sounds much needed and will hopefully be both physically and mentally healing for you. And how lovely to be sharing this experience with a long-standing friend.

    1. It was terrific. Sharing with my BFF made it all the more special.

  3. Have you seen doctors at UCSF hospital? When you wrote about your fall, I just didn’t have a good feeling about it and in my gut questioned your doctors evaluation. But it’s none of my business. It is amazing to me that you are getting so mant disperate opinions. Scary.

    Enjoy the retreat. Looking forward to reading about it.

    1. I haven’t been to UCSF, but Stanford is slipping in my opinion. Not doing me much good these days. It was a great retreat!!

  4. Jennifer,

    That’s terrible!!! I had a similar thing when the dog pulled me down, the urgent care doctor said “good news, we don’t see a fracture but we will have the radiologist look at the x-ray again on Monday to make sure.” Monday I got a call yup you cracked two ribs.

    How frustrating to get so many different opinions! I sure hope you don’t end up needing a hip replacement! That seems a bit extreme. I thought that was mostly for people with bad arthritis or when the cartilage has worn away?

    I have had a recurring problem with a muscle strain or something is going on with my ribs. (the opposite side where the fracture was) It’s been happening about every 6 months, I’ll be doing something and I hear a pop! and immediately feel pain afterwards. Then I’m sidelined for a month, no workouts except cardio…no weights or lifting much of anything. I’m thinking it is a particular exercise I am doing, and I’m not lifting a ridiculous amount either. Ribs x-rays last week showed nothing so my doctor referred me to a sports medicine doctor. Can’t get in for 2 months. Ugh he is probably going to tell me that I just can’t do what I used to…getting old. šŸ™

    I hope you get some rest and relaxation on your trip!

    Linda

    1. Those “you’re just getting old” diagnosis really tick me off! Why do Dr’s pull that?
      I may have arthritis in my hip and I did tear the cartilage. But I’m really against a hip replacement. It is extreme. Surely they will be able to do something simpler. Fingers crossed. Thanks Linda!

  5. …That is, Enjoy your trip to California for the Deepak Chopra retreat. I should have tried to think of another word instead of “trip”.

    1. LOL. Trip is appropriate. I have another one coming up on Saturday too

  6. In my recent dealings with hospitals and health care it has often felt as if I was on a conveyor belt in some sort of factory, with patients as products. Very impersonal. At the office visit my cardiologist didn’t remember who I was until I reminded him that he was my “hero” at the hospital because he was the one who finally after many, many hours permitted me to have a small sip of water.

    The misdiagnosis that you received was awful. HAHC, Half-Assed Health Care. I hope that now with an accurate diagnosis, you will be able to get the medication and treatment to heal quicker and not be in so much pain.

    Enjoy your trip.

    Susie D.

    1. I love it Susie! HAHC. We should use that hashtag. I couldn’t get the pain meds before my trip, but I have them now! Thanks

  7. That is one of the worst things about Drs 99% of them don’t know a damn thing. How frustrating for you! I hope you find one that knows something and can help you.

    Have fun on your trip!

    bisous
    Suzanne

    1. I know you had a horrible issue with doctors! What is it with them? Some are terrific. Plenty aren’t.

  8. I’m so frustrated for you! And to think you’re in pain and going ahead to the retreat. I wish you peace, no pain and that you be directed to a great doctor who knows what to do!
    Brenda

    1. Thanks Brenda. I’m still in the hunt!xx

  9. Safe travels Jennifer and may you emerge with a peace that bestows you with calm and grace. Leave all the frustration and uncertainty there when you return home.

    Smiles,
    Sandy

    1. Thank you Sandy :). It was amazing!

  10. I am so sorry to hear about your hip/leg problems. My sister did something similar in her early fifties…fall on ice, doctors sent her home to ice her inflamed bursa, they took x-rays but missed a hairline fracture… until she tripped making the bed and totally fractured her hip. It’s so discouraging when you can’t get agreement from medical people. Discouraging and scary.
    Hope your retreat is wonderful. Childhood friends are the best, eh? My oldest friend is 3 moths older than me. Oh…I’m sure she is sick to death of the “older friend” cracks from her birthday in February until mine in May! Next year will be “great” since she will be 60 and I’ll still be in my fifties:)

    1. Misdiagnosis is scary stuff. Several years ago they missed 5 broken ribs on my husbands X-ray, and he nearly died. 60 is right around the corner šŸ™‚

  11. Marguerite says:

    Take care, my dear! I had a labral tear in my hip after I stumbled down a step in a dark restaurant. We were traveling through Bruge Belgium at the time. Somehow I managed the last three days of the trip and the return home to Texas. Planes, trains and automobiles, plus my carry on bag, etc. Later test revealed the problem and surgery performed. I still have a slight limp from nerve damage, but no pain. On another trip to London, I had a mishap in St. Pancras station. I tripped over another passengers rolling bag in fast moving crowd and went flying head first into a stainless steel post! I was ok, but the next day I felt like I’d been in a car accident. We had tickets to Buckingham Palace to see the exhibition of the Royal jewels. I was going to see that no matter what, and I did! have a wonderful time with your special friend.

    1. Oh no Marguerite!!! That sounds so painful. I know how you feel about not missing a wonderful thing. We have a trip coming up that I won’t miss. No matter how painful it is. I did have an amazing time, thanks šŸ™‚

  12. I hope you can enjoy the Chopra event with your dear friend Jennifer. What are you going to do about your hip though?! I won’t go into all of the details here; however my left hip replacement was a three year nightmare, while my right hip done with a different surgeon has had a great result. Both esteemed surgeons!

    xoxo
    Karena
    The Arts by Karena
    Stems Soiree

    1. I’m still waiting to get some good advice! It’s amazing how varied the opinions are Karen. I don’t want a hip replacement ! I’ll email you if its OK, to get your feedback!
      xoxo

  13. I’m glad to hear you are going on the retreat! I hope you have a good time and don’t think about it. Just do a lot of facials, massages and sitting by the pool! Will be thinking of you and let me know what happens when you get back. I can help. xo Kim

    1. No facials, no massages or sitting by the pool. But it was healing, soothing and inspiring.
      Thanks girlfriendā¤ļøā¤ļø

  14. I actually think there are a few – which I’m going to follow up on this week. I keep meaning to make those calls and then, well you know, I get so busy that I don’t follow up on them. Have a great time at the retreat.

    1. Thanks Barbara. I’m glad to hear you’ll follow up in them. The retreat was awesome!

  15. There are more incompetent doctors around than I thought. I hear stories like this way too much. Have a blast, though!

  16. Have a wonderful time this week. You most definitely deserve this!

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