Wednesday 26 August 2009

Success at last!!!

I have lost count how many weeks post-op I am-that in itself must be a good sign!!
I think I am 15 weeks post-op.

The last couple of weeks have been full of ups and downs. One day I think I am doing well, only the next I have wished I had had a replacement instead! I have had a few issues with hip flexor problems/tendonitis. I haven't had much help from my physio, and even when I told her which exercises were making it worse, she just gave me a variation of the same one! I have been gradually increasing my activity, with that came more pain and soreness from the bone cuts.

Last week I started at the gym. I have been doing the cross trainer, the bike and the treadmill, also upper body weights and swimming. This has all helped the strength in my hip tremendously, and my physio has agreed to let me carry on on my own over the next four weeks. I will see her again, hopefully for one final time, after I have seen Mr Witt.

Today I took my daughter for a look around a University. It was quite a long day, about an hours drive each way, plus lots of walking around, stairs and on/off buses etc. I took some NSAIDS and paras before leaving home as I was a little sore anyway, and didn't want to be slowed down for the day. We had a few opportunities to sit down during the day, so it was better than I expected. I suddenly realised something at teatime... Although my quads, glutes and back were all sore (muscle only),and I had had a few hip flexor moments getting up into the buses, I realised for the first time in YEARS........................ I HAD NO HIP PAIN!!

I can't believe it, sometime during the day, I forgot about my hip, and only remembered when I noticed that it didn't hurt! Hours later , it still doesn't!! Yes I am a bit muscle sore, but today is the first time my joint has felt normal! Its amazing!! Lol!!

So 15 weeks on, I can say, for the first time , I am 100% glad I have had this surgery.
Things can only get better now, and hopefully the good days will continue to outweigh the bad ones.
I am back to work in just over a week, and today, for the first time, I feel ready.

Thursday 13 August 2009

3 Months post-op!

Three months post-op already, the time has flown, but at the same time that nerve wracking day in May seems an age away.

I am now about where I expected to be at this point. I have very little pain in the joint itself, and certainly the pre-op dysplasia pain has disappeared. My walking is about at the same level as it was pre-op, perhaps better , as I know I can walk around supermarkets without my leg suddenly giving way, and the horrible feeling of instability that was always present and made me wary of every step I took. Now my joint is still a bit weak, I limp for the majority of the time,but I know that is improving daily, and I would rather have that than the pre-op pain that was getting worse daily. I still have some butt pain, and the muscles get tired when I have been on my feet for too long, but nothing that I can't handle. I think the worst thing I am dealing with now is the soreness and weakness at the front of my hip where the Rectus Femoris tendon was cut to allow access into my pelvis. I still find it gets sore very easily especially when going upstairs, driving and walking uphill. It is a balance between doing these activities and the physio exercises to improve it, and not overdoing things and causing a flare up. I am returning to work in two weeks, and although I am looking forward to things finally getting back to normal, I am also terrified at the thought of having to stand and walk around all day. I am sure it won't be as bad as I imagine though.

I have just returned from a week away, a last minute decision as we didn't book a holiday this year due to the PAO. We had a fantastic time, weather was glorious, and I was able to swim and canoe in the lake, and go for short walks each day in between lots of rest and relaxation. My hip didn't spoil things too much, in fact some days it felt better than the left one (Mmmm, bit concerned about that!), I was limited in what I could do, but obviously I knew that before we went and the change of scenery did us all good.

Physio is still going well. I am there once a week. Today I increased the resistance with the bike and the hamstring curls,my regular physio was on holiday this week so the assistant just followed her programme and didn't add anything extra. I am definitely feeling it now so I have obviously done enough. I am hoping to arrange a gym membership this week so I can swim more, and do the cross trainer as well.