A Not-so-Brief Progress of Time

Yesterday I biked myself to the gym, swam my mile, and biked home. i was so proud. my first bi-sport day!
Today before work Eric and i biked all the way to the hospital, just to be sure i could do it by myself. now, i can return to biking to work and i am so pleased about that.
i'm not using my cane at work anymore either and i have no noticeable limp (except when i get up out of a chair for the first few steps). I've started seeing a massage therapist who i am really excited about. She knew all about my condition ( FAI) and was able to work a bit on my lower back. she described my hip as " you have a lot of scar tissue there that needs to be organized" i love the idea of 'organizing' my hip. it sounds like preparing myself for the freedome of movement that has been my dream for so long now. i also had acupuncture last week, but my hip was so tight that one of the needles actually came out during the session (i guess my hip rejected it or something and actually pushed it back out) all this is a bit costly so i'm deciding to forgo the acupuncture and stick with the massage. i've also started taking an herbal supplement called pycnogenol that is supposed to have strong anti inflammatory properties. i like this idea better then doping up on ibuprofen and aleve all day long and running the risk of ulcers.

the swimming is going great. in fact, i'm considering entering a triathlon as part of a relay team (no way am i running right now!) i'm not that excited about competing itself, but i like the idea of swimming with a goal in mind. there's a half ironman tri in las vegas in october. if the stars align and i have the time off (and so do two other women) we'll go down and have ourselves a blasT!

so the days march on. i am 3 months out from my surgery. i'm still battling the hip flexor tendonitis. it's pretty painful, but only with flexion- my hip is tight so putting my sock and shoe on can be a challenge but i have faithfully done my PT every day since i have been allowed. i think it shows in the fact that i don't have a limp. i have been trying so hard to remain positive about this experience. i learned something new last week. i can only compare myself to the way i was 2 weeks ago. and next week i can compare myself to last week. if i try to compare myself to where i was before the surgery i get down. i am nowhere near my activity level before the surgery. sometimes i get down thinking its' been 3 whole months since i had the surgery and i'm not even thinking about climbing yet. and yet,it's only been 3 whole months and after my surgery that's not very long. so as long as i have made progress since 2 weeks ago i am going forward. i don't know when i'll climb again, but i am completely positive that i will some day.

right now i can't think about having my other hip operated on. i think i have to know that this surgery worked and was effective in the way i want it to be. i am thinking i need to put my new hip through its paces before i commit to tearing the other one open. plus, i think i need soem time to restore the positive energy/vibes so i have an adequate amount to put toward the other hip. so, i'm not sure about the other hip just now.... i wold still like to have an MRI done so i know what's going on in there, but as for surgery, let's slow this train down.

The Gluteus Medius

Who knew a gluteus medius could be so painful? Who even knew you had a gluteus medius?!

This muscle is the one muscle that is so weak on me. It's affecting that darn hip flexor and making it work overtime. Yesterday in physical therapy it got worked- hurray! today i'm sore specifically in my gluteus medius and i couldn't be happier b/c it means it was well targeted and well-worked.

Yesterday I swam one mile. then i went to PT. I was so proud.

Sunday Eric and I went for our first real road bike ride. clipped in and everything. even wearing the outfit. I'M RIDING A BIKE! I am Operation + 10 weeks as of yesterday. Sure, the bike ride was mostly flat. Sure i was only out 30 minutes, but i felt the wind and sunshine on my face and i was joyful inside.

I'm using the cane less and less. in fact, i don't use it at all around the house. my limp is much less pronounced and i don't have to think so hard to walk correctly. my glut med is still very weak, and my hip flexor is still very angry. i'm still limited in my range of motion severely, but my physical therapist showed me my range of motion numbers yesterday and i was improved substantially in all areas. far from normal yet however, making progress. i'm taking anti-inflammatories around the clock to see if that helps the flexor at all.

i asked him (the PT) about the hip flexor. he said it was still too early to tell- i am only 10 weeks out. i think i now understand why parents always give the age of their child in weeks- you are counting baby! i am counting the weeks post-op and i suddenly feel like a parent. 10 weeks is such a long time and yet such a short time at the same time. 10 weeks of my life pre-operation would feel like a long time. 10 weeks post-operation feels like no time at all. i think i was hoping to see significant improvement in activity level at 3 months. and really i have made significant improvement since i came home on cruches. but secretly, deep down inside, i thought i might have put a climbing harness on and tied in at 3 months. i'm thinking more like 4-6 now. so it goes. slowly, slowly. and, by the way, i have put on the climbing harness- and then sat down on the couch and enjoyed the feeling.

A Bike Stroll

Eric and I will often go for walks around the neighborhood after dinner- especially as the evenings cool off and the summer light lingers. I am not up to walking very far yet, but I thought i could manage a stroll around the block on my bike. It was nice to get out around the neighborhood and talk and laugh with Eric.

Nelson's Wedding

My brother Nelson got married to Krissy in Oceanside, California a couple weeks ago. It was a beautiful wedding next to the ocean, and I'm very excited to have Krissy be a part of the family. It was also great to see some of my extended family there as we are all spread out over the greater united states.

while driving through california eric saw a sign for 20 avocados for $5!!! unfortunately, the day we were leaving the avocado stand was not there, so we didn't get to bring any back with us.

on the recovery side of things: I'm still using a cane but walking with only a minor limp now. i started physical therapy (Yay!) and am getting stronger by the day. I also started lap swimming and riding a stationary bike- both activities feel so liberating and good for me. i'm doing extremely modified yoga for myself- just trying to stretch the ole body back out. i still can't touch my toes on the right side and have considerable pain attempting a straight leg raise. My physical therapist believes that i have now given myself an over-use injury in my right hip flexor. b/c all the other muscles in my hip are so weakened from the surgery, the hip flexor has been doing overtime to help me move. now it's pissed. so i have some inflammation there along with quite a bit of pain. its' frustrating though b/c what hip muscle strengthing exercises don't involve the hip flexor? so how to strengthen the hip without affecting the hip flexor?? i'm realizing patience will be my biggest step toward total healing.

here are some of eric's photos of the weekend in california:




Baby Esther- she never did smile for the camera....


trying to capture the moment with a wave in the background.



Eric and I- our 4th year anniversary!



Nelson and Krissy



The Family



My nephew Elliot



Cousins



Mom and I after the rehearsal



Eric and baby Esther


My sister Miranda and brother in law Darin with a squirmy baby!



My dashing nephew Adrian


This one is my favorite!


cousins!



My Uncle Larry helping Mom out with the moves