Week 12

I went to the surgeon yesterday for my 12 week follow up & I actually saw Dr. Rosneck (about time). He isn't as thorough as his PA (I was with him maybe 10 min) but he knows what he's doing. My scar looks great and I know he fixed my hip so I honestly don't care lol. He said that I am ahead of schedule and am doing great. He said it's time to kick it up a notch with therapy (moving on to phase III...not sure what that entails but it means more than leg stretches so I'm game). I can start running in 6 weeks. That seems like so far away but I'm excited that I'm in the home stretch. I never thought I'd miss running so much. I hope I have some not so cold weather to run in. I am also cleared to go back to work. I go back next Friday. I am soooo not ready. I'm excited to see my co workers and get my full paycheck back 😜 but the hospital is so stressful and I don't want my summer vacation to end haha. Being paid to not go to work has been awesome. Reality had to come some time. I am nervous to go back to work because the hospital is huge. It's a lot of walking. I just gotta go slow and do the best I can. One step at a time. 

Dr. Rosneck said I need to work on my stretching more, to externally rotate my hip. 

I did this today at the gym. Doesn't look impressive but you have no idea how much effort this is taking. It's out way more than it has been. 

So since I'm allowed to advance to phase III, I got to do a lot of fun stuff at PT today. I did real leg presses on a real machine, not the reformer. I did them at 60lbs. I also did calf raises on the leg press machine. I did balance work and squats on a bosu ball. I had this giant smile on my face the whole time. This stuff is way harder than the basic table work/stretches I've been doing. I was actually sweating and my heart rate was up. Pathetic I know but I'm so excited! 

11 weeks Post Op

Although I'm doing amazing since surgery, the struggle is real right now. I'm at a point where I'm feeling good, I'm returning to work soon, and I'm starting to be able to do more physically (squats, arc trainer, lunges). Even with positive progress I'm starting to get depressed again. I am not necessarily gaining weight but I'm getting bigger around the middle. It's driving me insane bc I can't workout like I normally would. I can do a lot more than what I have been, but it's not enough to see the results I want. So my struggle is, my hip feels good, but I still can't do shit!!!  No running, no cardio more than 15 min, no leg day. I want my ass, legs, and stomach back. Clothes aren't fitting right. This sedentary time frame and lack of eating clean (it's summer let's be real...drinking and cookouts/parties) is catching up with me. I saw this yesterday and it made me feel better (for a minute) 

Just impatiently waiting to be normal 

2 mo post op

Today I'm 60 days out and I feel great. I'm so glad I had this surgery. I know I will be better off in the long run. 

Yesterday I started to add resistance to the bike/elliptical. I started doing squats (not past 90*) lunges, side steps with a band, & just in general making my normal exercises a little harder. 

I was at the gym 2 days ago and I got up to 7 mph on the elliptical. I don't think I went that fast before I had surgery. 

I made a goal for myself to run a 5K either in the end of Sept or Oct.y surgeon said we could talk running at 4 mo. I've been doing amazing throughout this recovery so I know I can do it. I may be a little ambitious saying this, but I want to do a 5K around the 30 min mark. Ok honestly I'll be upset if it takes me longer than 30 min. I understand it will probably be around the 30-35 min mark but I'm going to be positive. 

I'm so excited to be getting back to my old ways. 

#dontcallitacomeback 

Gym Time

5 weeks exactly today and I went to the gym for the first time since surgery. Big day. Just 5 min on the bike and upper body stuff. Not a lot but you have to start somewhere 

Day 40 - almost 6 weeks post op

I had my 6 week follow up with the surgeon today. Well, I should say his PA since I still haven't seen the man that actually operated on me. Ugh. Lucky for him I really like her. 

She said I look great and am actually ahead of schedule. She said it was ok to advance to Phase 2 of PT. Basically that means I can start doing the elliptical, stair climber, things like half squats... More intense workouts. So what did I do?? Went straight to the gym!! 

I got on the elliptical for just 5 min. I couldn't go any faster than about 3.2 but I'm ok with going slow. Even just 5 min on that thing gave me a workout. 

I forgot to mention that I stopped using the shower stool when we went to Vegas (obviously) so I've been on my own for a little over 1 week. I still can't bring my leg up to shave or to wash my feet. I just prop up my leg on the tub to shave it and I just bend my knee to about 90* and reach as best I can to get to my foot. Sometimes I use a loofah if I'm not feeling so flexible. 

I'm so excited to slowly start to transition back to normal. 

Day 33 Week 5 PT Re eval

I went to PT today for my re eval. He measured my progress. I can flex my hip to 110* & abduct out at 30* which is at/past where I should be. Abducting is bringing your leg out to the side away from your body. We did more exercises like that today and I got to start doing bridges. He also added some resistance on the reformer. He said that I'm doing awesome and that if he didn't have to follow my surgeons protocol he would let me start doing some more intense things. Maybe next week (I don't have therapy for the rest of this week) 

He said that I'm ok to start going to the gym to do upper body and the bike. Some therapist and drs don't want you to do dumbbell work early on because your core isn't strong like it used I be so you start using other muscles to compensate. As long as I don't feel anything in my hip I'm good to go. 

I get so excited about these little things because that's just getting me 1 step closer to my normal life. 

Ouchie

This is a post that anyone who has had this surgery before can relate to. For those embarking upon it...keep this in the back of your minds. 

I'm almost at the 5 week out mark. Over the past 4 days I have not used crutches AT ALL and I have been driving. You don't realize how much more of your body you're using, even without the aide of 1 crutch. I figured if I am walking great with 1 crutch I must be good to go. NO. I am so tired and sore by the end of the day it's crazy. Nothing unbearable by any means but tired and spent none the less. 

The point of this post is a reminder that I am not 100% yet, even tho I have my moments when I forget I had hip surgery. I feel good and without thinking I go to take a side step or turn/twist and quickly I'm reminded I'm still healing. I accidentally externally rotated my leg TWICE today and that is honestly the worst pain I've ever felt in my life. Going downstairs without concentrating on going slow or with balance will send a jolt up your leg. Just be mindful of the steps you take. Go slow and use cation still....or you will pay for it later on.