8 weeks post op

I can't believe it's already been 8 weeks! Things are progressing well with my right hip. Getting stronger and adding exercises at pt. I saw the surgeon Monday and he was pleased with my progress. In one more month I can jog. By mid October I should be able to start dancing... Theoretically. They X-rayed my left hip and there was a cyst on the bone. Unfortunately this means there is probably a tear. I also have the same bone impingement. I'm not surprised as my left hip has started hurting more and more as my right is getting better. I will go for an MRI soon and will likely need surgery. It's just a matter of finding the time to have it done. I'd like to have it done sooner rather than later to be able to combine some of the recovery time, We shall see! Luckily dance isn't my career anymore so I can take the time to heal properly. I would like to be able to dance next spring. Only time will tell.... 

6 weeks post op!

Wow, already 6 weeks! I can't believe how fast it's gone actually. My hip doing very well!  I've added various strengthening exercises at PT like squats, even one legged, leg presses, etc. I'm doing the bike and elliptical. Everything is going so well. I have had a few issues with alignment like my lower back going out from compensation but the actual surgery hip feels great. It rarely catches like it was and it doesn't ache too much anymore. My left actually hurts more than the right most of the time (not good- probably have the same impingement in it). I will probably have them X-ray and MRI the left next visit (July 22). I would rather know now! 

I haven't asked about the progression to dance but I'll address it at my follow up. It may be irrelevant if my left is messed up too... I'll cross that bridge when I get there. I am probably not going to try to push for nutcracker this year... Don't want to over do it! Until next time....

15 days post op

I'll start by saying I'm off crutches! Yay! Doctors orders were 2 weeks at 25% weight bearing (barely tapping foot on the ground- or as the pt said, "don't crush the egg"). I was allowed to try one crutch after Tuesday's PT and now just use them as needed if its hurting. I've progressed to 10 min on the exercise bike at PT without pain, he wants me to do it as much as possible so once I can drive I will be hitting up the gym to do so. I added clam shells and glute bridges with a resistance band to the regimen. Slowly getting back glute and thigh strength, though I feel pretty unstable sometimes on the right side. I'm sure that will improve with time and PT. 

I've had more pain as I've been allowed to do more, which is expected. The groin area seems to catch and get stuck a lot which is uncomfortable and often painful to get un stuck. It clicks. I'm told this is normal by the PT. I feel tightness in the front of my hip which I'm supposed to stretch out. The PT started some distraction exercises where he puts a seatbelt type thing around his waist and my thigh and pulls the leg outward, creating space in the socket. It actually feels pretty good. My ROM is still improving. He also did some soft tissue massage in the front of my hip. 

I see my surgeon Tuesday to get my stitches out and follow up. I am pleased with how the incisions are healing. I think they'll fade nicely. I hope to get the all clear to return to work Wednesday. I am running out of PTO and am ready to get back in a routine. 

On a side note, I got a 91 on algebra midterm and have a 98 in the class! Half way done, then I'm off school until the end of August! It'll be a nice break! I should be submitting my PA school app within the next couple weeks. It's all getting very real and exciting!!! 

Here is a pic of the incisions healing nicely:

11 days post op

The last few days have been quite eventful, especially after being home bound for a week.  Friday started with my first PT session/evaluation.  The PT said I am at/ahead of where I should be with regards to range of motion, which is encouraging. He gave me a few easy exercises to get started with, mostly working on range of motion and activation of glute and thigh muscles.  With the addition of PT, I've had more pain... which is expected. My hip was nice and happy being quiet, but when I added movement, it got pretty angry.  The inside part feels "caught" and has aches that tend to run down my leg.  I am having some compensation pain in the outside back part of my knee as well.  I've had to increase the pain meds some with the increase in pain, but expected that with increased activity.  I'm keeping ice on it 2-3 times a day as there is some slight swelling on the outer part of my upper thigh/hip area. 

I had to get my Remicade infusion Friday as well. I crutched my way from PT to the infusion center, which wasn't as close as it seems not on crutches! Needless to say, I was pretty tired by Friday night. 

My sweet sister came by to help me this weekend and get me out of the house. I got to use my handicapped placard, so exciting hahaha.... I did enjoy spending sister time and she got me hooked on Pretty Little Liars.  Now I just have to convince myself to get my homework and PA school essay done instead of watching it ;) I also got out of the house to an engagement party Sunday morning and a dinner with a friend from out of town Sunday night. As good as it was to be social and get dressed up, I may have over done it as my hip was killing me Sunday night.  It is still pretty painful today, but I'm taking it easy.  I have PT every Tues/Thurs and have scheduled it at 7am once I (hopefully) get back to work after the follow up on the 18th with the surgeon. Early mornings for the next 4-5 months, yay!

I'll update more as I go along... may end up being once weekly as I am pretty busy with school work and other tasks!

Stitches... Kind of gross!

Two portals, 3 stitches each. Look like they'll heal nicely. 

(Ignore the lovely stretch marks that are emphasized in this photo!) 

FAI/Labral Tear Surgery

I decided I wanted to keep a blog of my journey with FAI surgery (Femoracetabular impingement) since the blogs that I read helped me fully understand what I was getting into.  I leave in about 10 minutes for my surgery. The road leading here was long, but I realized that it could've been much longer the other day. I wouldn't have even had my initial appointment until next week with the other surgeon that I had looked into.... here we go! I tore my labrum back in December dancing in the Nutcracker, although I have a feeling it was probably partially torn before then.  I finally made an appointment in March at the urging of my coworkers when it kept hurting. I initially thought I had pulled a muscle.... not the case.  I saw a PA who did an MRArthrogram that showed a labral tear.  I got an appointment with my surgeon who also did more x-rays and diagnosed me with femoracetabular impingement. Basically the femoral head is misshapen and catches on the psoas, causing potential tears.  I've decided to have arthroscopic surgery to repair the labrum, reshape the bone, and possibly lengthen the psoas. My surgery is at 6:30am so I will be leaving shortly to check in! I plan on posting once I feel up to it and keeping track of my journey, it will be a long bumpy road ahead!