THR Sarak - There's Life After a Hip Replacement
- Thread starter SaraK
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SaraK
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
@jaydub63 - Staying in with hubby and bubbly sounds good. When your two choices are staying home with a 16 YO son that will be on the computer the entire time or going out dancing with friends ... will be sensible, though and have my son drop me off and take cab/uber home. Lots of drunk/tipsy folks will be driving that night but I won't be one of them.
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jaydub63
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I agree a night out with some friends and dancing sounds like a much better option! We rarely go out on NYE but a few years ago I did get us tickets for a Jeff Daniels show locally. He's from a little town about 20 minutes from me and founded a community theater there that he performs at occasionally. He is a talented musician in addition to acting and did a series of shows in which he performed acoustic guitar and told stories - all in a very intimate theater in the round setting - really cool! One of his sons is also a great musician and his band played during the show too. That's the kind of thing that will get me out on NYE - I can do without the drunk and crazy types at this point in my life!
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SaraK
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
Just back from PT. This was probably the next to last session - he wants me to come one more time after working with trainer this weekend and seeing the OS on Tuesday. If all going fine at that point, we'll be done. The rest of recovery is just increasing range of motion and that will come over time as the muscles and tendons continue to recover. Trainer will still be given some limits (no deadlifts, full squats, kettle bell swings, etc. for another month or two) but will be allowed to intensify the workout (@Layla - I caught that shudder wondering what I might consider more intense 
) and include some lower body/core and things that will require me to get down to and off the floor (slowly and carefully). I commented on the different exercises we did this time compared to the first THR - he said he knew without me saying anything that I was already doing those and saw no need to double up - that it gave us a chance to do more passive stretching and a few additional ROM exercises instead. I guess by the third course of PT, he knows me!
) and include some lower body/core and things that will require me to get down to and off the floor (slowly and carefully). I commented on the different exercises we did this time compared to the first THR - he said he knew without me saying anything that I was already doing those and saw no need to double up - that it gave us a chance to do more passive stretching and a few additional ROM exercises instead. I guess by the third course of PT, he knows me!
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SaraK
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
As always when approaching a new year, I've been thinking back about this last year. And what a year it's been!
At this time last year, I had been dealing with pain in my left hip for 10 months. The third doctor I saw finally tried a hip injection - in part because an experienced PT agreed after 6 weeks of PT that the problem was in the hip. We thought it was a torn labrum and that I might need an athroscopy.
In the meantime, my father had died right after Thanksgiving (TG dinner was in a hospital cafeteria), my birthday was a week after his funeral, I went through the motions for Christmas and I was just generally depressed, lonely and in pain.
Fast forward to now. I've had two hip replacements that I didn't know I was going to need, I've joined a gym to get in better shape (and made some friends there), joined Meetup, including a group called the Fun Peeps that I go out dancing with.
I feel great - in some respects better than before I started having problems with my hips. I have an ever expanding group of friends - including some wonderful people I've met through this site. I recovered from my divorce a while back, but now feel like I'm recovering from the 29 year marriage to an emotionally abusive man.
In short, I am looking forward to 2018 much more than I have any new year in a long time. Thank you all for being a part of that!
At this time last year, I had been dealing with pain in my left hip for 10 months. The third doctor I saw finally tried a hip injection - in part because an experienced PT agreed after 6 weeks of PT that the problem was in the hip. We thought it was a torn labrum and that I might need an athroscopy.
In the meantime, my father had died right after Thanksgiving (TG dinner was in a hospital cafeteria), my birthday was a week after his funeral, I went through the motions for Christmas and I was just generally depressed, lonely and in pain.
Fast forward to now. I've had two hip replacements that I didn't know I was going to need, I've joined a gym to get in better shape (and made some friends there), joined Meetup, including a group called the Fun Peeps that I go out dancing with.
I feel great - in some respects better than before I started having problems with my hips. I have an ever expanding group of friends - including some wonderful people I've met through this site. I recovered from my divorce a while back, but now feel like I'm recovering from the 29 year marriage to an emotionally abusive man.
In short, I am looking forward to 2018 much more than I have any new year in a long time. Thank you all for being a part of that!
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SaraK
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
Now, on the vein of "what has that wild woman been up to lately" -
I'm sure it's not a shocker that I went out dancing last night. It was the first time, though that I didn't use a cane for balance etc on the dancefloor. From 8:30 to 11:30, I put over 6,000 steps on my fitbit! I was a little tired last night and a tad stiff this morning but that went away quickly just walking around the house.
I also worked out with my trainer today (he may not be one of @danabanana's hot firemen, butt he is a cute EMT in is other job). I still gave him some restrictions and declined to do an exercise that seemed to be setting off the hip flexor. We also didn't do any assisted stretching. We fif do modified dead lifts (slightly raised platform), step ups, squats (not too low), wall sits as well as a bunch of upper body and core exercises. I'm feeling pleasantly tired but not sore anywhere. I usually work with him every 2 weeks but it will be 3 weeks before our next session. There will probably be fewer "don'ts" by that time!
Now if I could just put on my socks and shoes without having to twist into 5 different positions!
I'm sure it's not a shocker that I went out dancing last night. It was the first time, though that I didn't use a cane for balance etc on the dancefloor. From 8:30 to 11:30, I put over 6,000 steps on my fitbit! I was a little tired last night and a tad stiff this morning but that went away quickly just walking around the house.
I also worked out with my trainer today (he may not be one of @danabanana's hot firemen, butt he is a cute EMT in is other job). I still gave him some restrictions and declined to do an exercise that seemed to be setting off the hip flexor. We also didn't do any assisted stretching. We fif do modified dead lifts (slightly raised platform), step ups, squats (not too low), wall sits as well as a bunch of upper body and core exercises. I'm feeling pleasantly tired but not sore anywhere. I usually work with him every 2 weeks but it will be 3 weeks before our next session. There will probably be fewer "don'ts" by that time!
Now if I could just put on my socks and shoes without having to twist into 5 different positions!
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Another inspirational post by Sara....I am very sorry as I didn't realize all you've dealt with over the past year.
Losing your dad is enough....couple that with two deteriorating hips producing physical
pain, to go along with your emotional pain, equals a lot of suffering @SaraK
Celebrating Thanksgiving in a hospital cafeteria is not what most of us envision. Attempting to celebrate Christmas or your birthday within days of your dad's funeral would have been an exercise in futility.
My heart goes out to you.
But there is a beautiful upside to the story. Your surgeries have prompted you to get in better physical condition, placed new friends in your path that you are now enjoying while laughing and dancing your sorrows away.
You've been an asset to others here offering friendly, wise and inspirational advice. I've truly enjoyed getting to know you a bit over the past months. I feel 2018 is going to be your year, Sara.
Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday weekend and a New Year filled with abundant blessings.
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Wowza! 
MammaT
supremo
You have had quite the year @SaraK. Didn’t realize you had been married so long. My husband died a few weeks after our 29th anniversary. Whatever the reason, after all that time, healing takes time. While my redefinition of self has not been as adventurous as yours, it is still an ongoing process. New hips just help it along!
jaydub63
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Happy 4 weeks post op! Surely that deserves a celebratory beverage 
. I didn't realize what a year you have had...it's remarkable how so much negative has gradually become positive in your life. Thanks for sharing it with us and I'm glad to have met you (virtually) - you give me inspiration for when I can really get back in the gym in a few weeks.
. I didn't realize what a year you have had...it's remarkable how so much negative has gradually become positive in your life. Thanks for sharing it with us and I'm glad to have met you (virtually) - you give me inspiration for when I can really get back in the gym in a few weeks.
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SaraK
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@MammaT - my heart goes out to you. I can't even conceive of what it's like to lose your spouse-especially after such a long marriage. I stayed in my marriage much longer than I should have - primarily for my kids' sake. Eventually I realized it was so toxic it was killing me and was worse for the kids than being from a broken home. Even though there was nothing good left in my marriage, I still grieved for what could have been/what should have been. I saw my mother last year, after almost 57 years of marriage, sit and hold my dad's hand 24/7 for the 3 weeks he was in the hospital, leaving his side only for the occasional shower. It was such a powerful lesson about love and grace. Hugs!
and long may it continue.
