L BHR with Mr Treacy

[Kiwi]

Hang in there bud. We're thinking of you & you're not alone with feeling like you're not progressing as quickly as you'd like. Everyone said there would be some speed bumps along the way - especially the first 6 weeks. You have some huge muscles that are pretty angry at the moment, give them a chance to reunite.
All the best mate,
Simon

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks kiwi. I've got to admit this is far tougher emotionally than I thought it would be. It's like a rollercoaster ride!

[curt]

       Hi Danny, in talking to Boomer and frankly, myself, I think that you and I and probably a lot of us here got trapped into expectations that were unrealistically high.  I was crippled before surgery and would have been eager to agree to anything that gave me basic mobility, the ability to do little more than walk and sleep.  As I got more info, read all of those "great and fantastic" testimonials of guys doing Ironman triathalons and climbing mountains and all just a few months after surgery, I began to get excited about all the great new and old things that I would now be able to do or do again.
     Trouble is that I lost sight of the basic stuff I really wanted, and my patience got tested along the way (I don't have any patience so the test failed).  Anyway, once I realized that I wasn't going to be running and jumping like the heroes in the example cases, I began to look at what I was getting:  very slowly improving ROM, not good but maybe getting better; strength that sucked but was SLOWLY getting better; surgical pain that was surprising, but no deep OA ache and grinding like before the surgery, etc. etc.  I think its important to see this as something that is slowly getting better on all fronts with total mobility as the end result.  Before surgery I'll bet it was slowly or quickly getting worse with complete immobility as your reward.
     Don't get frustrated and concentrate on the positive direction we are all headed even if its too slow for our competitive and over-reaching brains!  By the way, had to look up how to spell P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E !!

Good luck and smile, Curt

[Boomer]

Danny,

I think a lot of us Hippys had the misperception that we were going to be able to control both the flow and pace of our recovery. I discovered very quickly that although I could attempt the physical therapy recommended by my surgeon and physical therapist, it was my healing body that would actually determine whether or not I could actually do the PT. I was barely able to do a single set of clam shells at my third PT session yesterday, after doing hundreds of them prior to surgery. Some days I walk a little better, and some days I regress to a limp. Some days my healing muscles go about their healing quietly, and some days they squawk at me so loudly that I need to take something for the pain. Every day is different, good and bad.

The only things we can control about our recovery are the mental aaproach we bring to the physical therapy and the physical effort we put forth. The results are not within our control. I start each day with a plan of what I want to accomplish to support my recovery that includes diet, physical therapy and routine activities. At the end of the day, if I accomplished these things, I declar victory, regardless of whether or not there has been any notable improvement in me. Most days, improvement is not there, but I salute the effort I made and share some of it with the Hippys on this blog.

You are having a difficult recovery because you did not receive top care at the hospital or good support from your PT. These issues are outside of your control. Let them go now.

You are much younger and stronger than me, and lots of other Hippys. Your recovery has been delayed, but will ultimately be completely successful because you had a great surgeon who did his job well. Stay positive, block out the issues that are causing you to doubt yourself. Your body is healing itself 24/7 without you doing anything. Strength and range of motion improvements are coming, but not fast enough for you to notice on a daily basis.

Wait for it Danny. The improvements you are looking for are coming, but you have to wait.

We're all pulling for you, especially Hippys like me who are struggling with their own slow recoveries.

Boomer

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks curt. I think I may have expected too much too soon but my expectations over all still stand. I believe as dose my surgeon eventually I will return to my normal activities, have asked
Him about future activity and he says the only things he doesn't like patients doing is running marathons everyday and playing rugby but he has patients who do with out problem.
On a brighter subject this morning I decided to grit my teeth and really try to normalise my gait. I can walk about 5 normal paces when I really really concentrate.
It's as draining mentally as it is physically but I think it's progress.

[hernanu]

Definitely progress, Danny. All of this is draining mentally, but Boomer and Curt put it very eloquently, can't add much to that.

[Dannywayoflife]

I've defiantly done enough today now it's telling me to rest now I'll just have to build on it!

[Dan L]

Danny;

Rollercoaster is the perfect description, feeling the same as well.  The ups and downs are all leading you to the right place, and you'll get there.  My first reaction to this web site in the first 4 weeks after surgery was along the lines of me feeling like I was very far behind others at my stage, but as I read more and corresponded with the incredible people here, and time has passed, it indeed is different for everyone and the surgeons post surgical protocols are all different, so you can't really compare one to another.  My progress has been consistent despite the relatively small down points (relatively small setbacks physically, but very, very large emotionally when they occur) and it is so very, very true to keep a positive look at the end game to tide you through the rough spots.

Boomer and Curt really hit the nails on the head, as have others in this thread.

Keep the faith, you'll get there without question.

[Dannywayoflife]

I don't mind a good ride so long as the end destination is worth it! :)

[Kiwi]

Thanks kiwi. I've got to admit this is far tougher emotionally than I thought it would be. It's like a rollercoaster ride!

Me too Danny - it's not easy some days. I'm trying my hardest to focus on the positives - there are many when you put them in perspective as others have done in this thread.

Another thing I remind myself of, is that on a recovery timescale of 1 year (that's the recovery timeframe I'm giving myself before I lift all restrictions) - I'm only 6% through my recovery path post operation!

[Luanna]

Yep. That's the spirit. Roller coaster extreme!!! I'm at 15 weeks and am still slogging it out...probably quite normal. My doc says that by about 7 months I won't notice every waking minute that I've had hip surgery. At 1 year NIRVANA!!!

Luanna

[Dannywayoflife]

Well this morning I have just reached the end of my tether so I phoned and booked a private session with Mr Treacy. At least this way I will get a good 30mins uninterrupted and un rushed for me to go through things with him.

[hernanu]

Good, Danny - make sure you get your money's worth.

[Dannywayoflife]

Hern I have a list of questions a mile long!:-) I may well be being a hyperchondriac but mentally it's destroying me. And if I don't start making progress fast it will financially ruin me too! I allowed 12 weeks to recover before I would go back to work and managed to pay my bills for that period in advance by working 3 jobs and putting in 100+ hours a week. I'm now stuck on statutory sick pay until I return to work and it works out at around $15 a day. And at the rate I'm recovering now it's going to be a long long time before I'm fit to return to work.  :-\

[hernanu]

Will your work require a lot of the hips / moving or can it be desk work at least early on?

When I went back to work, it was about 5 weeks, but I do have a desk job. I was not perfect at all, and still was pretty beat through the day. I think by 12 weeks you should be in pretty good early shape. Talk to the man and let him know what you're concerned about.

[Dannywayoflife]

I'm a private security contractor and in one of my roles as a asset protection officer/surveillance operative I need to be able to hold my own against sometimes armed villains until police units can attend. This role can be quite hairy at times. My other main job is as a security officer at a large high security site. This requires 12 hours on my feet performing patrols that are approximately 1.5miles in total 5 of these have to be performed every shift so 7.5 miles roughly of walking around on some uneven ground slipy floors stairs, aswel as other taskings such as room and personal searches. This role is less risky in that I am less likely to have to detain anyone but obviously requires a level of fitness and robustness. The client would not be happy with me returning and not being able to perform what they require. So I think im stuck betwee on a rock and a hard place. The first role can be a lot more surveillance orientated but if my unit has to swing into action and detain 6-8 armed men as we have in the past I'm not the sort of guy who could just stand back and let my mates put there necks on the line for me. 

[Dan L]

I can completely empathize with the feeling that it will never end and could not think of going back to work in the early weeks after surgery, but it should get alot better, well before your 12 week limit on off time.  I went back to work from home after 4.5 weeks (IT-related desk job), and then at 6 weeks after off crutches, was back in the office the day after the crutches were gone.

Being back to work itself was a huge morale boost for me, and others here have noted the same thing.  The utter boredom of sitting around was one of the hardest things.  Sure there are some recovery aches and pains after week 6, but overall they continue to decrease, now at week 10, and being up and around and back in the normal activity in life itself is very helpful to overall recovery for me.  The trend line is consistently improving, despite some minor setbacks and some roller coaster emotions.

Certainly can appreciate the fear about financial issues, and in awe of how much you sacrificed to get ready for this, 100 hours per week is simply amazing.  If you do work that does not require alot of physcial exertion of the hip, based on many stories I've read here and my experience, you should be OK to work well before 12 weeks.  Being a chair-jockey, it was a bit difficult to sit for extended periods, but that was mostly minor, even at 4.5 weeks.  Although certainly understandable to have the fears, try to stay positive and celebrate the little improvements to keep your morale moving in a good way.  Little victories helped me alot, and you'll notice perceptible changes in the right direction as time goes on, losing the bruising, swelling going away, incision healing, range of motion improving, etc.

I'm not really one of these overwhelmingly and sometimes annoyingly positive types, so as much as I tended to discount that in the past as a strategy for living, it has been a true benefit to keep positive throughout this non trivial process.  I've learned alot about myself in doing so, and it has made me feel better.  Posting here to help support others also has been a positive thing for me-- dare I say theraputic as well, that continues to help me move forward.

Please keep it coming here, we all understand and have debt of gratitude to everyone who has assisted us, and there are many sincere and caring people as you have seen here, who endeavor to give back.

Dan

[Dannywayoflife]

Thanks Dan. Tho as I say unfortunately all of my work is/can be rather physical. So I suspect that i will be off longer than my planed 12weeks.
I certainly dont recommend working the hours I managed to rack up most of last year! The number of times I had close calls when driving were too many to count! And also the wife got pretty pissed off with never seeing me too.

[Luanna]

If you are dealing with security stuff and have to be physical and are carrying a gun that you might need to use - I'd say that you'd need to feel pretty confident with your hip before heading back into that role. I used to teach handgun classes for women at a local gunrange and the key idea that permeated the instruction was that you must be prepared to shoot the perpretrator if needed without hesitatation and if there is anything that is distracting you - that's not good. Too often the defense weapon is turned back on the victim is there is hesitation.

Sounds like your work is challenging but very interesting.

Luanna

[Dan L]

Maybe a silver lining, after about a couple weeks after walking the worst part has been sitting down, for me.  Walking does require effort, but less pain than sitting so maybe the 7.5 miles may be workable, when you are up to it.