Time for an update. Today is 6 weeks. Things seem to be going really well with my new left hip. I am walking all around the house, yard (doing some gardening) and short walks in the neighborhood with no crutch or cane and it feels fantastic. No pain at all. Can't remember the last time I took any pain medication. If I try to take really big strides, as my PT tells me to do, I have a little tightness in the front of the hip, so I'm trying to do some gentle hip flexor stretching. If I take a longer walk I take my cane and generally don't use it until after a mile or a mile and a half, at which point I feel a little tired and a tiny amount of discomfort. I have walked up to 3 1/2 miles (with cane) and felt fine except general tiredness at the end.
Sleeping is great, any position including on operated hip comfortably. When I get out of bed in the morning I am surprised every time that I walk straight to the bathroom like a normal person, no limp!! I'm grateful and amazed by this.
Going to PT now, twice weekly, and not sure how helpful it is. They move me around in different ways and have given me some pretty easy exercises to do. I do feel like walking is my most important rehab exercise. The most helpful thing the PT does is "soft tissue mobilization" around my incision. At the first appointment he asked at the very end to see the incision. He was silent for at least 5 seconds when I showed him, and finally said, well we have some work to do on that. He said all the divots along the sides are from fat entrapment and that the dissolvable staples tend to do that. Next visit he spent a long time pushing and pulling the incision around trying to get it to move better. It was pretty uncomfortable (burning sensation) but somehow also felt productive. As he worked there were two distinct snapping feelings when something that was tethered underneath let go. I must say it looks much better now and they continue to work on it each time.
I went back to work last week for two days, Thursday and Friday, and was there all day but with a light schedule. It seemed fine to be there. Didn't use my cane at all. I do think lying down for a bit at lunchtime, and maybe doing some of my PT, will help avoid stiffness.
All in all I can't think of anything to complain about. I find myself forgetting all about the fact that I have a new hip, which I think is a good thing. I have not seen the OS yet; he does not do any routine post op visits until 6 weeks and somehow I couldn't get in with him until next Tuesday which will be 7 weeks and 1 day. I imagine he will release me for any activities, but we'll see. I'm planning to get back on my bike tomorrow and start commuting to work if it feels fine. I like to get exercise and transport all in one. The weather here in Oregon has been glorious.
Thank all of you who have been so encouraging. All my fears and problems have been addressed in one way or another by you all and I am sure it contributes to the great recovery I've had so far. Will keep updating but probably less frequently as there is so little to say!!
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