Hard to believe it's been one year since my first BHR surgery. Maybe it's because the new one is less than two months old. First, I'll say that even though I'm only 38, I do not regret for one second having surgery. It's a pretty remarkable thing to be pain free. By this summer, I'll be at seven months on the new one, and will be able to be pretty active.
Those of you who've been here awhile will remember it was a bit of a rough go for me the first few weeks. But over the course of the next several months, I improved by leaps and bounds. I'd say the hip really started to feel like "mine" at about 7 months. That's when most of the clunking had passed and the pain in my quad. That's also when I started to notice dramatic improvement in my range of motion. It continues to improve to this day.
Where I'm hoping for continued improvement is in flexed external rotation -- the "sock-putting-on" position. I don't quite have the strength to easily pull my left foot over my right knee. Doing so without help from my hand can also induce a stomach churning cramp high in my groin area. Dr. Pritchett believes both will come with time. As he said, "You're only a year out." I think part of the problem has been my recently resurfaced right hip, limiting me from some stretches and exercises that could be helping me.
Speaking of that hip... it's doing very well. I'll reach the two month mark next week. It feels about a month and a half ahead of where I was with the left side. None of the excruciating quad pain, a lot more strength and ROM, and generally just "better". I had my six week followup with Dr. Pritchett and he said the x-ray looked great. He doesn't feel a need to see me again until the one-year mark.
I think what is going to be challenging this time, is making sure to take it slow. Last time I didn't have an appetite the first few weeks and actually lost about 10 pounds. This time I *did* have an appetite... and during the holidays no-less. I've gained about 10 pounds. Back at work now, the shirt collars and suits are fitting a bit snug. I asked Dr. Pritchett about any potential harm in reducing calories during this critical time of bone ingrowth. He said as long as it's nothing too drastic, there isn't a problem.
All and all, I'm a very happy hippy. I will consider this a success if I'm able to be super active and adventurous with my kids until the last one heads off to college. That's 13 years. Of course, I hope I've had my last hip-surgery ever, but only time will tell.
Thanks to everyone on here who's been supportive on the journey thus far.
Topic: One Year Anniversary - My New Hip (Read 1671 times)
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