5 months post PAO and open debridement, 1 month post screw removal

I am now 5 months postop from my combined PAO and open debridement surgery, and 1 month out from my screw removal/steroid injection.

My hole has closed up nicely, but now there is a bit of suture sticking out of the other end of the incision! Leaving it to just be reabsorbed by itself, but keeping an eye out for infection.

I am still limping and getting a lot of pain in my groin area on weight bearing mainly. Sitting is much more comfortable since the screws have come out, as long as I don't lean over my hip, which then hurts. Sitting in the car, which was one of the problems before the screw removal is now ok, although long journies are still uncomfortable, it is actually my right hip that complains more. My gait is more even, although I still limp, I can't feel the screws rubbing on my abductors as I swing through to walk.

I am still on full dose paracetamol and ibuprofen each day. I have tried to cut them down, but woke up overnight in lots of pain each time. My walking tolerance is about 30-45 minutes at a slow pace before I really need to stop as I am limping very badly.

On the plus side, my ROM is definitely improving. Abduction has come on leaps since the screws are out and I am not getting the sharp rubbing pain over my trochanter area anymore woohoo! I can now move my leg about a foot off my other knee when doing a clam, compared to just an inch a month ago. Unfortunately my flexion is still an issue, and in fact, I realised that I had been cheating. When trying to hug my knee to my chest, I had been flattening my pelvis into the bed, thus reducing the anterior tilt I have and letting me get more flexion. However, when the physio does it on the hard couch and I don't cheat, we can't get more than 95 degrees between us. I am not really sure why it is, but there seems to be something preventing it.

I have started hydro again for another 6 weeks, with the same exercises but adding in water floats attached to my ankles to give more resistance and start strengthening rather than just building the muscles up. Plus my physio has given me lots of new exercises to improve core stability (bridging, standing on one leg with eyes closed and squats) as well as stretching out the quads and hamstrings.

Next followup in 2 weeks, hopefully see some more progress by then.