Thank you! At one month, all is well. Or almost all. I’m still struggling with iron deficiency anemia and will probably need IV supplements. I’m also scheduled for a B12 injection. The anemia has left me with deep fatigue and extremely low energy which is hindering my recovery. I still need to use the walker. It’s not exactly pain, but something in my right hip sends me a loud & clear signal that it doesn’t want to bear full weight. I saw the OS on Friday and he told me it was definitely best to keep using the walker.
It’s not surprising since I spent two years before surgery being very sedentary due to intense pain, and have needed a cane to walk at all for the past year. So I’m having to rebuild everything from scratch. Also the AVN in my hip was just one of many issues: I also have severe scoliosis and just about every disc and vertebra in my spine has multiple problems. An MRI showed that the scoliosis has caused many of the muscles that support my spine to atrophy so just standing up straight is an exhausting ordeal. I really have my rehab work cut out for me.
On the bright side, my life is so much better now without the constant chronic pain. For the first time in 2 years I can sleep for 8 hours without being woken up every two hours by excruciating pains shooting down my leg. I can put on my socks without the sock aid device, and I can even trim my toenails! Quality of life for the win.
All in all, I’ve had a good experience. I’ve had almost no pain, I stopped taking the Tylex after 2 days. I’ve had almost no swelling, never needed to ice or wear compression socks, and very little bruising. My incision has healed cleanly with no problems. I’m not sure whether to credit the direct lateral approach, the skill of my (very cute) surgeon (whose ears stick straight out, making him look a little bit like my childhood hero Alfred E Neuman), the robust resiliency of my own indomitable body, or just pure random luck. Most likely a miraculous combination.
So, onward to month two! Looking forward to more and more progress, no matter how small it seems at the time.
United States
forgot all about him, lol.
and the terrain is challenging) but I tend to forget to use it indoors. I still walk with a limp but it’s considerably less noticeable than it was one month ago. The soft tissue structures supporting my new hip are growing stronger every day.
