OK, been so long, it might just make sense to just start over…except for that pesky hip replacement.
Things are going well. I hope all who read this are doing well too, I found myself in an unintended hiatus from Bonesmart and general updates. I have plenty of family members still waiting for their November update, so I hope my family is gossiping to each other.
I have my 6 month exam with the surgeon this coming friday. My day to day is feeling pretty normal and similar to where I was leading up to my surgery, but without joint pain. There are small nagging things, like a bit of lower back pain, but that tends to be fleeting and the PT said a bit of that just goes along with my age too. I had a bit of knee soreness in the fall, but with continued exercise and overall strengthening that seems to have faded.
I did outpatient PT during November and December, but that has stopped unless there become a need to do so again. During PT, I acquired a good set of exercises that are now my daily routine and have replaced my initial group from after the surgery. I had a few mental lulls during the Fall months, wanting to be farther along and progressing more, but the PT did a good job to solve that. That seems to be a common experience for many, but still hard to deal with at times. I felt I was later than most in starting outpatient and I feel it was well timed for my recovery.
My PT told me 2 things that fit well. 1 was 'Welcome to Humanity' was his response when I told him I am not used to rehabbing an injury and being so limited by my activities. The 2nd bit of advice was 'Stop thinking of yourself as a patient, that is limiting'. He was a very good listener and adjusting his activities to what he felt was right. Never pushing too hard, but frequently pushing limits to show what we could do. I asked 'are you sure?' more than a couple times.
Right now I feel that the exercise bike and clamshells do the most for helping me build strength and tissue back. My Gluteous Medius was pretty weak before surgery and every week it feels better and as a result make everything feel more balanced to me. I keep getting reminders from others about how gradual the entire recovery is. I do not feel any signs of leg length difference and my stride is pretty normal, but when tired it might still be a bit off. I have gone ice skating a couple times, which feels like a gray area, but I took it mellow and everything was fine. I am confident in my ability so I did not feel much at risk and just kept a buffer between myself and other skaters. I hope this will continue to be in my list of returning activities. The process was also a good confidence booster in general, taking back a bit more of normal life.
As markers and achievements slow down, I need to keep my routine of plugging away and be grateful in new sensations, better cardio and any new muscle growth. I plan to give an official report after the next exam. Be well everyone!
United States
