Holy macaroni has a been a while! 6 months since my last post is inexcusable so I have made a commitment that even if I do not have an impending surgery scheduled, that I will update my blog at least once per season. And this, dear readers, is summer.
Since I last posted, I completed the “plan of attack” I mentioned in my previous post — a combination of 2/week pilates, 1/week physical therapy, daily anti-inflammatories, and monthly meetings with my surgeon. I still need to lose weight (for health reasons) but am hopeful that the regimented schedule required by part-time law school in the fall will help that along.
I am happy to say that my right hip, the PAO side, is doing really well. In general, I have no pain unless I walk for a really long time and even then, the pain is mild (though I have to acknowledge that I haven’t pushed my hips beyond basic activities like walking). Dr. Sink has been very happy with this recovery as well, although he did acknowledge that my recovery from the PAO was about 200% of the average. I am the turtle of recovery but dammit, I think I pretty crossed the finish line.
The left hip continues to strengthen but unfortunately, the pain caused by activity – specifically any significant distance walking – has steadily increased. As a result, my left hip is out of line and thus in pain. Often, after sitting for a period of time, my left hip will ache just from standing up and I limp around for a while like a Weeble-Wobble. I avoid stairs as much as possible because they cause the greatest pain. On top of it all, I have maxed out of PT sessions because apparently I am ‘all better.’ All of that said, Dr. Sink and I agree that it seems possible that it will continue to improve, if slowly, so I am going to wait a bit longer see him around Christmas to discuss next steps and to have new MRI and X-Rays taken. Based on my symptoms and the pain level, my guess is that I will have a total hip replacement within the next 9-15 months.
All of that said, I start back at my last semester in of law school in 2 weeks, followed by the Bar in late February, and then I’m DONE! While it is unlikely I will ever run again, I’ve wrapped my head around that fact. However, I continue to take pilates, bowl, golf, ride my bike (on occasion) and even take weekly trapeze classes — strangely, trapeze doesn’t bother my hips a stitch — and here is video proof from my trapeze show on August 8th. Onwards to Fall!
Dramatically Hip 