14 wks post op

I'm 3.5 months out on my right hip and doing well! I would have been able to start jogging at 3mo if it weren't for my left hip. I'm having the same surgery on the left hip this coming Monday. The doc says the tear doesn't look as bad, maybe 2 anchors instead of 3. Hopefully the recovery will go as smoothly or better than the right. I'm just ready to get it done and finally get back to dancing in the spring.... Here we go again!!

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....

One month post op!

Thursday was 4 weeks and today is one month post op. It has gone by faster than expected. I finally started back to work on Tuesday after losing 4 days pay (no PTO left) due to it taking a while to get a new note sent to be released. Work has gone well. My hip aches when I sit too long or stand too long, but overall it has done well. I have been exhausted though! I came home Thursday night and was in bed by 7:45! I guess I'm just not used to being up that long and busy... The stamina will come back though. 

PT is going really well. I added the elliptical and some leg presses this week. My PT says that next week we can start getting a little more adventurous. I've been fairly good about going to the gym or doing my PT at home on non PT days. I would like to start going to aqua boot camp classes. I think I should be able to soon. 

Other than that not much else is new... Interestingly, my left hip aches quite a bit now. I think it's compensation, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's the same impingement on that side. I may have them X-ray it at my next appt to see. It's not bad enough to really consider surgery at this point, but it may happen in the future :-/ time will tell... 

3 weeks post op

Well, I had my follow up appt on Tuesday to get stitches out. The PA said everything looks good and went over the pictures again. It was nice to hear the explanations not all drugged up ;) apparently my tear was very large- three anchors and sutures to repair it and my impingement was pretty bad where they had to shave the femur. I'm worried the left may also need to be repaired, but we will worry about that later. Don't think it's as bad as the right, but it aches and catches in the same way. It's common to have FAI on both. 

I've progressed a lot in PT, added ball squats and hip/glute bridges using the ball. Going 15 min on the bike. PT said to work up 5 min a day to about 30 min, then go back down to 15 with more resistance and work that up. Since I am driving now (yay) I can go to the gym on non PT days. PT said I'm ahead of schedule! Woo!

Latest challenge has been getting back to work. The pa said I could go back as tolerated, but work didn't like the note. They want more specific restrictions on the note, so the struggle has been getting that from my surgeons office. The secretary is trying to get it but the surgeon, PA and nurse have all been in surgery yesterday and today. Needless to say, the note hasn't been faxed so I can't go back yet. Hopefully they'll fax it tomorrow first thing so I can go back.  I'm out of PTO so I am not being paid past today to be out.... I did enjoy the extra days off with errands, pool time, naps etc... But ready to get back in a routine! 

Steri strips over incisions. No water submersion for one more week. 

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!