Tuesday, January 5, 2010

How I Long To Be Normal Again

I got back from vacation yesterday and after 10 days of doing pretty much nothing, I was feeling pretty good. I look normal to someone who doesn't know me, my gait looks pretty good and I am not using any type of assistive device. So I got home yesterday (without luggage....long story, but they lost our 3 suitcases) and headed out to the supermarket. I think it was my first solo trip since surgery, but have to re-read my blog just to be sure!

It didn't occur to me that I may have trouble at the supermarket, since I had been doing well on vacation. It only took about 5 steps in the frigid NY air, pushing an empty shopping cart, that I realized maybe I wasn't quite ready. Oh well, too late, we needed milk and vegetables and dinner etc...so I did it. I looked almost tipsy, and in pain, and when you don't have a crutch, no one really cares if you drop things on the floor, no one holds doors for you.....but I survived.

10 comments:

Kate.Mich said...

Hi Susie,

How far post-op are you now? 5 weeks or so? How does your activity level and pain at this point compare to your other recovery periods?

I wish you the best in the New Year. Hopefully you will be "normal" before you know it. Fingers crossed for you.

Susie said...

I am 5 weeks now. I think this is a little slower than the previous ones, I was spinnig at this point I think after #3. I was also back at work at this point and I am so not ready to work yet. I told work I would go back on 1/25 but I am having second thoughts about this. I am even limping a little at times. It is not worth it to me to go back to quickly and not have a great recovery, so I am thinkning of pushing it back a little more, closer to the middle of Feb I think.

Maria said...

Suzi,

I had to have a revision ankle surgery and I remember being so frustrated that I didn't heal as quickly as the first time. My surgeon said revisions are always more difficult to recover from. Give it some time, I'm sure those normal times will be here before you know it.

Sloan said...

Hi Suzie. Welcome back. So missed your commentaries. Quick question, at any point in your last surgeries, did you do any kind of pilates? Just received a series of Stott Pilate dvds for xmas from a caring friend and is excited but kind of cautious since I had issues after taking a Pilate class about six months after my arthroscopic in 05. I am thinking so much time has gone by and I have increased in strength and flexibility that I will try again.

Susie said...

Sloan, I did Pilates after #3, up until I got pregnant, so only for a few months. I dont recall details but I didnt have any major issues with it.

Maria said...

Have done Pilates with no issues.

Meeegs said...

In response to the pilates question, I've tried taking mat classes many times but I also end up just flaring up my psoas problems. In my case, I think it's just my tendency to overuse my hip flexors whenever possible but just be careful with it.

Sloan said...

Thanks guys. You are so right about the hip flexors. But the funny thing is that the operated hip is dealing with it O.K. Its the other hip that complains.AAArg

Lisa J. said...

hi Susie,

thank you for your posts. i have a question about your pregnancies. i am 3 years post-op for torn labrum and hip scope. i have bad bursitis and arthritis in my hips and i am now pregnant with my first. i was once a runner but since 2004 i've been able to do very little in the arena of exercise and have not been able to run at all. i have come to the conclusion that i will never be "normal" again, unless a THR gives me a second chance to move the way i once did. at one point i could not even walk and it took two years before someone could properly diagnose me (thank God for the Hospital for Special Surgery!). So, as I said, now i'm pregnant and i'm not sure how my injury is going to impact my 10 month journey into motherhood. i've been told i may need to be on bed rest toward the third trimester, then i've been told by another doctor that there should be no problem giving birth. my OB said i may need to have a C-section because of range of motion, or lack there of to be more accurate. i was just wondering how you fared with your pregnancies and if you could provide any guidance.

Blessings,
Lisa J.

Susie said...

Lisa-
There should be no reason for you to have to be on bed rest, and much less for your to have a c-section. If a doctor tells you that you need a c-section bc of the possibility of limited ROM you should def find a new one. I had no problems during my pregnancy with my hips and had a completely natural delivery (that happened to be my second VBAC).
Email me if you have any questions! Lots of luck!