Ok Tonerika,
The best thing was walking down a really big waterfall (641 steep stairs) without any pain, 2 months after surgery, and running on the beach,
I know that none of this is directly related to the surgery, but it is all a consequence of the surgery ...
Surgically, placing my weight on the operated leg and knowing that it was ok, and by far the most important moment was at rehab, when I walked (albeit with crutches) straight for the first time in 20 years!
The worst part for me was vomitting after the surgery (ALMOST missed the OS) and having low blood pressure so I kept fainting afterwards....this delayed my getting out of bed.....At NO time was this surgery traumatic or was I in tons of pain....
I had an "anterior, minimally invasive" thr, and I wouldn't hesitate to go back for the other hip should it become necessary. I am 43, with an active family of 5 kids and whilst i can't say I should have done it earlier....these things happen when you are ready....I'm really glad that I have done it and I'm glad that the sitting around knowing that one day Id need the surgery has gone so that I can now get on with life without the unknown shadow of thr hanging over me.
If you are in pain, or your life is shrinking around you, if you are frustrated because of the things you can't do, if you send your kids to the park, and sit on the bench rather than kick the ball, If you find yourself using your hip as an excuse, if this is stopping you from doing all the things that you love to do ....then go and make that surgery appointment......and you'll be on your way to Orlando.
Incidentally the bushwalk was with 4 kids in tow, and without any other responsible (?!) adults other than myself.....and I was not worried about it at all!
My question is .....Is the hip and pain going to get better? If not, what are you waiting for?
Rachel