Resolving Hip Osteoarthritis – Case Study : Claire

As followers of my blog and website know, I cured in myself what was diagnosed as a classic case of hip osteoarthritis. I shared my story online and was urged by a number of people to write a book explaining how I did it. I’m currently in the process of writing a self-help guide to help others achieve the same results as me.

I’ve worked out a model that allows me to identify 4 different variations of the basic dysfunction (a muscle imbalance) that results in osteoarthritis symptoms and probably causes the underlying wear to the joint. Not every case is exactly like mine but the basic principles are the same. Using the model and the results of a couple of physical tests (which you can do yourself) I am able to predict which muscles are key players in the dysfunction and identify the no-go areas – the vulnerable nerves, muscles and other soft tissue that’s likely to be painful and reactive. From here I come up with a personalized set of corrective exercises. The golden rule is to never do anything that is uncomfortable. If the exercise selection is right then it won’t hurt.

My biggest challenge lies in figuring out the best way to achieve this in other people. I know what works best for me, but with my sporty background, fitness levels and interest in bio-mechanics my way of looking at things is different from most. I therefore recruited a number of volunteers with diagnosed hip osteoarthritis and I’m testing out my approaches on them to help me gauge how best to present the information to others. It’s a little challenging communicating everything via email but as the self help guide will be in print/online it’s good practice.

One of my ‘guinea pigs’, Claire has kindly agreed to let me share her progress on this blog.

Stage one was to convince Claire that there was a chance that her symptoms were due to a muscle balance and not to her actual joint. That wasn’t too hard to do with Claire – for a 70 year old lady she is EXTREMELY pro-active and determined to fight for her health. Claire knows that there are no guarantees of complete cure – that we can only correct all the soft tissue problems that we find and see where we end up. But without a doubt there’s every hope that she’s going to end up in a very good place! The most important ingredient is an individual’s attitude. It HAS to be a self help approach. No one can do it for you.

When muscles have been tight and sore for a long time the best place to start is just to give them a bit of help to loosen off. Claire has been working on finding and self treating trigger points in her body for a couple of weeks now. Immediately she got great results from releasing a trigger point in her piriformis muscle, reporting that she was able to walk pain free for the first time in ages. She’s been working more specifically this week on the muscles that are likely to be most affected by her particular muscle imbalance. I received this message from her today:

Dear Susan,

The last time I was here, in Cyprus, in June this year, I had great stiffness and pain walking from the car park into the centre of Kyrenia, a walk of around 10 minutes. I was longing to get the THR op over and done with, so that I could be free of this suffering.

But that was pre- Susan Westlake!

Today I did the same walk, and was bounding along, overjoyed with what I could now do. No pain and a freedom of movement that I thought had gone forever.

I have found that in practising Trigger Point Therapy it is a matter of trial and error. I am making precise notes of what works. The Cat and Dog poses in Yoga are helping me, I think.

Do you think I am ready to start your specific exercises?

Many, many thanks, Susan,

Claire
Website Follower

It’s lovely to get feedback like this. It makes it all worthwhile. It just seemed such a waste to figure all of this out then only use it on myself.

I’m working out an exercise plan for Claire tonight. The trigger point bit is the easy part – you can make HUGE gains very quickly. Enough for Claire to decide she doesn’t need a Total Hip Replacement after all! But it’s mostly symptomatic relief. Now that she’s out of pain and her muscles are little softer and more pliable it’s time to get to work untangling the mess of confused, tight and sore muscles. I know what’s wrong and how to correct it. The question is, will Claire’s body respond in the same way as mine? With imbalances like this it’s a moving target with a different ‘sticking point’ from day to day and week to week. The trick is to keep one step ahead and to keep coaxing everything into correct alignment.

We’ll share progress as soon as we have something worthwhile to report.

If you want to find out if your hip osteoarthritis is caused by muscle imbalances like mine then by all means drop me a line or comment below. I can give you a couple of quick tests to do that will give you an indication as to whether this approach is likely to help. I can also give you some tips and ideas to get you started on resolving your symptoms. Also it’s very helpful for me to hear from as many people as possible as it helps me to understand the type of information I need to share in the self help guide.

I working hard to try and get someone involved in osteoarthritis research to help verify my approach. A doctor from the research center for OA in the UK has kindly offered to ‘champion my cause’ and help me to find someone that can help make sure the guide is as useful as possible.

If you want to be informed when the guide is complete please sign up for my newsletter

Author: Susan Westlake

Visit my website to find out more about how I cured my hip osteoarthritis. Find out if you can achieve the same through corrective exercises. If you want to be informed of updates please sign up for my mailing list.

5 thoughts on “Resolving Hip Osteoarthritis – Case Study : Claire

  1. Lucinda Stockton

    Hello. I was diagnosed with hip OA in 2010 and was offered surgery but deep down I just couldn’t go through with it. It does affect my life. I hardly go out and I hate anyone asking me about it or telling me about their elderly relatives/friends who have had a hip replacement and are now jumping for joy! I am now 53 and I know I need to do something particularly as I’m gaining weight. What I find frustrating is not being able to bend to pick things up from the floor or even putting on socks. I’m just glad I’m not alone.

    Reply
    • Susan Post author

      Hi Lucinda, why not pop over to the discussion forum for a bit of moral support and hopefully some practical help to get you out of pain and more mobile. Just follow the ‘Forum’ menu link at the top of the page.

      You certainly aren’t alone and there are steps you can take to improve your situation. Best of luck!

      Susan

  2. Joseph DeGeorge

    I would gladly be a Guinea pig if you need another…
    However you could help would be great ….
    I am certainly imbalanced muscularly with one hip forward
    I don’t know where to start….
    You’ve given me hope….
    Please help …
    Joe

    Reply
    • Susan Post author

      Hi Joe,
      I’m still working on the book – nearly finished so if you can just hang in a little bit longer. If you join my mailing list I’ll let you know as soon as it’s ready.
      I see you’ve contacted me via a couple of different methods and in one you mention that you did martial arts. It was martial arts that I think caused my problem. I did too much one-sided karate practice and ended up with my pelvis rotated.
      It’s highly likely that this imbalance is 100% responsible for all of your symptoms. It can be put right, but it’s difficult. It’s not just a question of following an exercise sheet as with everything out of alignment your body no longer knows how to move correctly.
      Have a try at these exercises and let me know how you get on. I suspect you’ll have difficulty on one side.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNQUivcLKPg

  3. Joy Ziya

    Hi Susan
    I am very interested in the message from Claire who mentions Kyrenia in Cyprus.
    I myself visit North Cyprus regularly.My son lives there and I have my own apartment.
    It would be interesting to meet up with Claire,perhaps you could pass on my email address.

    Normally I would be in Cyprus right now but I am waiting for an apt. with a hip surgeon due to the OA diagnosis.
    I am very anxious about the idea of a THR , but nothing else is being offered.However it seems to me a very extreme solution to what for me apparently is just a bit of missing cartilage(according to x-rays).
    Having checked your symptoms they are remarkably similar to my own.Unable to stand up straight or lie with both legs flat on the bed. I am told I walk with a short leg gait and am Trendelenburg positive on left side.
    I have a deep conviction that the body can heal itself if we learn the right things to do.
    Surgery seems such an archaic and brutal solution for this day and age.
    Pain for me is getting gradually worse,but pain alone not enough as a reason to risk surgery.
    What is unacceptable for me is that I walk awkwardly ,unable to straighten up and I am told this gait will damage my spine which is looking bad on a bone density scan.
    As Hip Replacements are becoming so common even among younger people I have a cynical feeling that too much big business interest is involved in promoting this option.

    I found your site by accident and am so interested in everything you say.
    Curiously I tried going back to where I found it but the link had disappeared.
    Luckily I had copied the link onto a word page and was able to find you again.
    Than k you so much for sharing your experience and good luck with ongoing research.
    Joy.

    Reply

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