Hi All, although it's been a while, my BoneSmart friends are never far from my thoughts. I thought I'd swing by and give you an update on my progress with hip and back, especially for anyone newly recovering or contemplating hip replacement. I know when I first came on BS the recovery threads sometimes scared me to death, so here's some positive news.
I'm almost 16 months postop and I'm feeling better than I have in many years. No complaints at all on either of my hips (I'm knocking on wood now). I walk miles, swim, do strength training at the gym and chase around after my very active grandchildren (31/2 and 51/2).
I posted a few months back about problems with my back that led me to a 'back boot camp' prescribed by a physiatrist. I have to say that experience was one of the best I've had and I'm so glad that I went ahead with it. I 'graduated' from the program in late May and have been continuing the stretches and weight training program that they gave me. I belong to the YMCA, so I can go to any Y when I travel, which makes it convenient. My back feels better than it has in ages. I won't exaggerate and say I never have any back pain, I do sometimes, but it's extremely manageable and I never have back pain anymore when I sleep. And I don't have to take any medicine for back pain, a huge benefit. Unlike other PT I've had in the past, the back program addressed my whole body, core, arms and legs. I had to invest a lot of time and effort, both while in PT and at home, but it was worth it.
Because of the physical therapy program for my back and the program that I continue to follow, I'm so much more active than I've been in years. I've lost 15 lbs in the last two months and feel fantastic. I have OA in my back, so the problem hasn't been cured, but boy is it so much better! Between the hip replacement and this back program I have my life back.
I also have learned that in addition to doing the stretches and weight training regularly, common sense things like icing my back on long car rides makes a world of difference. If life gets in the way of my routine my body tells me real quick to get back to it or else; it doesn't take long to tighten up again. This isn't the type of thing you do for a little while then move on, it has to be lifelong, like brushing your teeth or you'll lose them.
If you're newly recovering and have various aches and pains, remember that your body has been compensating for your bad hip for a long time. It took me over a year to get to this point, but the effort that I put in to a whole body recovery has really paid off.
I am so grateful for my recovery and all of the help that I received the past couple of years from everyone on this site.