It’s been 11.5 weeks since my PAO and I am crutch free (mostly)! I say mostly because I am not willing to put away the crutches quite yet, and will definitely have them with me for longer trips (and I will absolutely continue to use the motorized scooter when I shop at Target). But this weekend, when I went out to dinner with my husband and when I walked 23 (23!) blocks over Sunday afternoon I did it only with a cane. I admit, by the end of the walk both of my legs were aching something fierce but I surprised myself by going as far as I did. I don’t seem to have a limp (as far as I can tell) and my surgery’d side hurts less than my yet-to-be-surgery’d side so I am really pleased.

Recovery was tough for the last week or two – I was doing more because of PT and my hips were not happy about it, very sore and achy and my muscles always quivering. But something seemed to turn a corner this Thursday because when I went to PT it was as if my muscles all decided to start trying to work again and I felt stronger and more capable. My therapist even approved my not using crutches. I’m know that the rest of PT will not be a cake walk and that I have a ways to go to be ‘normal’ but it was nice to feel like I was improving.

For reference, here are some answers about the status of my recovery to date (as of March 9th — 12 weeks and 1 day post-op):

• When did I feel significantly better?  My pain was well managed but I was exhausted for the first 2 months. It literally took until 11 weeks until I felt significantly better.
• How long was I on pain meds?  Narcotics (oxy) – 11 days following surgery; non-narcotic but strong – thru Jan 10th (about 1 month following surgery); Tylenol/Aleve – consistently thru 2 months post surgery; still occasionally
• When was I able to completely take care of myself? My mom and husband were willing to help a lot so I let them. It was until mid Jan (about 1month post surgery) that I started to really take care of myself completely. If I had needed to I could have taken care of myself completely at between 2-3 weeks.
• How long was I on crutches/walker? Non weight bearing crutches or walker – thru 5 weeks; weight bearing crutches – thru 10 weeks.  I continue to use a cane.
• When was I able to wear anything but sweatpants? 2-3 weeks
• When was I pain free? Too early to answer – still have some pain and lots of soreness
• When was I able to lay on the operated side? 4 weeks
• When was I able to drive? Don’t drive (live in NYC)
• How long before I had a day that I didn’t need to lay in bed most of the day? I started working from home at 3 weeks – that was when I stopped laying in my recliner as much but I continue to rest and sleep a lot more than I used to.

I passed the half-way point between my 2 hip surgeries on February 24th and I am 9.5 weeks out from the SDD surgery. The 24th was an emotionally difficult day because I realized that I am actually going to have to go through this (or something like this) again and although I have handled the physical components of recovery well, the emotional has been harder than anticipated. I am scheduled for my next follow-up with my surgeon on March 15th so we will have lots to discuss. I’m really curious to hear if he thinks that I will need another scope on my right side (please, I really hope not). Also, following my unsuccessful balloon surgery attempt, I am scheduled for full sinus surgery (fix the deviated septum, turbinectomy, balloon sinuplasty, who knows what else but ALL performed under general anesthesia) on March 21st. Good news is that recovery for that should just be the weekend, plenty of time for the May 8th SDD.