Three month update. It has been a zigzag experience ... with some blue moods mixed in for sure.
Weeks 1-4: The racer bolts out of the starting gate.
Flexibility was fantastic almost immediately after surgery and I think I showered maybe the next day after being released. I was pretty much able to take care of myself within a few days. Was off the walker in ten days. Hip felt solid and pain was minimal. Was quite mobile with the cane.
Weeks 5-8. The racer loses energy.
Around 6, I got worried. I assumed I would be off the cane at this point, and I was not. What’s more, I could feel the weakness in my quad that struggled to support my walk on the operated side. A quiet panic sneaked into my mind. Well, turned out, I needed the cane in week 6 and in week 7, week 8 and week 9 though yes, I was walking unassisted more and more. Looking back, I think the excitement from the surgery was dying down at this point independent of my walking. I really psyched myself up for the surgery and hyper-prepared and a friend of mine says I was due for a crash.
Weeks 9 and 10 and 11 ... darkness and light ... high and low ... lows and highs.
Some days I didn't use cane at all ... Other days, I needed it for short spells ... I began doing some of the optional exercises my surgeon recommended. Something told me that maybe the quad wasn’t the problem, that the problem could be the abductor or another muscle not supporting my stride and thus shifting too much load on the quad. I experimented with one of the optional exercises my surgeon gave me. It was a step-down exercise in which I concentrated to avoid using the quad muscle and instead tried get the abductor higher up engaged.
Week 12 … Walking freedom!
I don’t know if the abductor exercises helped or if the leg was doing fine without my “assistance.” But in week 12, I had my first Nascar walking experience. Walked about 2 miles downtown in Philadelphia (hanging with friends and then feeding the parking meter and going back). Felt like I was on the road with a new sports car. Of course, I overdid it ... and a few days later, I had shin pain in the operated leg.
Right now 3 months (13 or so weeks) ... the shin pain is there in the morning getting out of bed, but it's moderate and easing. Interestingly, after I take a few steps, I somehow adjust my step and can walk without pain (without limping).
The great news is that I've been to the gym three times in the last week. I got on the recumbent bike, the treadmill (for walking) and the elliptical (the shins feel great after the elliptical) and I moved a little above the lowest settings. No pain on elliptical like before surgery. Same with the recumbent bike. I also lifted weights, mainly upper body. It has felt so great to get to the gym and to be able to briskly walk to my car afterwards.
This is why I wanted this surgery. And I'm still healing!
Dancing is my passion as
@An54 knows ... And last week, I even put on my dancing shoes with the slippery-suede bottoms and threw on a few favorite swing-dance songs and had some fun. One reason I didn't full-scale panic about dumping the cane is that I couldn't deny that each and every week I moved better when I danced by myself.
I'll assess things at month 4 to see if I'm ready to give the dance floor a go. Of course, I'll listen to my body. Just want to thank everyone here for posting their stories and posting with honesty. I so enjoy reading others’ stories and learn from them. And thanks so much to
@Layla and
@Mojo333 for their warm and deft-touch support in the Recovery Forum. I learn from you guys even when you’re responding to others!
United States
good to hear things are getting better and better!
, but the thought of it just makes me smile!! 
You'd have a wonderful dance! 
