Dear Team Roper
I am going to give you a short answer now but can answer in more detail if you want. First of all, I agree with those who talked about getting yourself physically prepared before the surgery. Stretching, some mild weight lifting, some aerobic exercise to strengthen your legs all help. I could not run, could not even walk, but I could for some reason use an elliptical trainer. I did 40 minutes a day. My legs got stronger. You can see many postings about what people did before surgery that addresses the physical side of the preparation.
What I have not seen discussed in this forum is the mental/emotional/spiritual preparation. A friend of mine gave me the book, Prepare for Surgery, Heal Faster by Peggy Huddleston. It helped me unbelieveably. It, and its accompanying cassette tape, lead me through guided meditation, visualization of the healing process, emotional connection to how the hip problem may be psychologically related to some unresolved areas of your life, developing a support system, and having the doctors read "Healing Statements" while you are unconscious in surgery. I can't believe the results. I just had the surgery on Jan 16 (this past Tuesday) and was pronounced well enough to go home Jan 18. This hospital normally keeps the patient 3 of 4 post operation days. I have not had to take ANY painkiller of any kind, not out of macho attitude but because I really did not feel the need. I was clear headed within hours after the surgery. The added benefit of no painkiller in your system is that the doc removed all tubes going into my body including the Foley catheter the day after surgery.
I am home now, into the work of rehab. I am stiff, swollen, but feel I am where I need to be. I do a rehab routine 3 times a day. It does tire me out, but it's okay because it does feel productive. I want to add that my doc was skeptical about the "healing statements" part but was open to giving it a try. When I left the hospital last night, he smiled and said, "There must be something to that stuff. You are way ahead of the curve." Incidentally, it was the anesthesiologist who read the statements. I think he is in the best position to see when you are unconscious. The doctor's original doubts were based on he did not think I would hear them because I was unconscious. When I told him that many hypnotized patients could recall verbatim what was said during surgery, he opened himself to it.
I still have a hard time believing that I am on the road to recovery so easily. I am not saying that the rehab is easy, it's just that my mental frame is so relaxed about this and seems to guide me on what to do. YOu can get details, if you are interested by reading the book. If you have any questions, just get back to me. Good luck on your travels.
