Update on My Deterioration

I've had a host of concerned citizens ask me about the status of my ongoing physical deterioration.

Okay, not really.

Today, I've got an appointment with a Periodontist. Her name is Dr. Hsu and she comes highly recommended. She's also rather cute. I don't know how I feel about a nice looking woman poking around in my mouth. It seems like that should be a job for some wicked witch type person who heckles and has a lazy eye. Or perhaps a nondescript man who doesn't laugh and has a steady gaze.

My cool doctor has determined, via a trip to the radiologist for an MRI Arthrogram, that I have a labral tear. I think it sounds worse than it actually is, but apparently I've got a little bump on my hip bone and over time the bump has torn my labram.

A couple of months ago I was going to physical therapy and my physical therapists said, "I think you've got a torn labram. You should probably make an appointment with Doctor Robert Scheinberg. He's one of only two surgeons in the Dallas area who can fix that kind of thing."

I, of course, mostly ignored her and made an appointment with my own hip doctor. Two months, an MRI and $100 dollars later, my cool doctor tells me, "Well, it looks like you have a labral tear caused by a bump on your hip bone. There are only two surgeons in this area who have experience with that sort of thing and I would recommend Doctor Robert Scheinberg."

From doing Internet research, I believe the procedure is called: Labral Repair and Osteoplasty. Feel free to look it up. Recovery involves lots of physical therapy. Four weeks without putting weight on the leg. Two weeks no driving. Six weeks on crutches. I'm not at all happy about it.

I am wondering how fast it will degrade. I'd probably prefer to get the surgery done at the end of the autumn rather than the beginning of summer. But, if they recommend surgery ASAP, then what to do? I've been doubling the amount of pushups I do every morning to strengthen my arms for the coming crutch fest. I've never had to use crutches before. I may beg for a walker. I'll have to remember to get one of those temporary handicap mirror hangers for the car. And tennis balls.

They sent the MRI results to Doctor Scheinberg and basically said, "He'll call you after he determines that you are a candidate." I haven't heard from him yet, but it's only been two weeks. I don't know how long I should wait before calling. I don't think I've waited long enough.