8 weeks Post Op

(Saved up two posts for one day)

So I am now officially through my initial recovery period from my RPAO, labral tear repair & femoral head/neck resurfacing. In my head this was my big milestone. At 8 weeks, I was supposed to be able to start doing everything again (walking, driving etc...)! A newly constructed $100k+ hip (the bills are still trickling in but we are over that amount already - details to come). Well, I made it to 8 weeks but not quite there yet. I have one more week of restrictions based on my last meeting with Dr. P on the 7/31/12 (actually a couple more days at this point). Last week I couldn't imagine being here. It felt like I would never get here. This last week was a long and hard one. I was very busy - doing more than I have at any point during recovery and paying for it. I have definitely felt more pain directly increased with my activity level. Some of the same pain - some new.

For the last couple days I have had a new pain that is rather annoying. It stems from the bottom (literally) of my pelvis, I think. The best way to describe it... if you think about when a kiddo hops on your lap and you say "you have a bony butt" when their little bones dig into your thighs... that, on me, hurts.

My bony butt... aches like heck, on both sides. I can't sit, I can't lay, can't walk, can't ride in a car well because of this pain. Sleeping is hilarious. The only thing that doesn't HURT it - is standing... but I have hardwood floors and my feet are not okay with this arrangement. It is a deep achy bone pain. I have tried muscle relaxers. I have tried laying flat. I have tried laying on my stomach. I have also tried rolling a ball along the back to "rub it out." UGH. This is really interfering with my attitude and my sleep. It isn't super intense but it is definitely enough to wake me up and not let me get a good night's sleep. I have a new prescription for sleeping pills to see if that helps...

Walking - I am still using both crutches but I can tell that I am putting more weight on my op leg. In our kitchen, I have been using the counters to get around - cruising, the way babies do around furniture when the first learn to balance. I did accidentally take one step the other night (exactly 8 weeks post -op) when I was cleaning up a bit in the living room. It hurt like hell but my leg didn't buckle and I didn't fall. I don't know if it was more than just angry muscle pain but I will wait a couple more days just in case. I also don't see my crutches going too far in the immediate future.

Pain meds - I am still taking them. I was taking a lot again while my sister was here but if was definitely 'as needed.' Since my activities have calmed down a bit I am not taking as many. I have also stopped taking them when I wake in the middle of the night unless I really can't fall back asleep cause of the pain keeping me awake. Sometimes I can get away with tylenol but it is still pretty annoying to not feel rested. I miss my sleep. I miss sleeping on my right side. I really miss it. I don't like my back or left side with a thousand pillows between and around my legs.

Overall - I still have the hospital bed in the living room - it is still more comfortable than my couch for sitting and resting. I have finally branched out from my yoga pants. I wore my fat jeans for the first time since surgery. They fit (yay and boo) and didn't bother my hip too much. My left hip has been bothering me and I am hoping it is just from the overload. Lefty doesn't have the same dysplasia as my right did so it isn't likely to need to the PAO surgery but it had more arthritis and looked worse off on both the MRI and the x-rays. We'll see if a lighter load helps. I still like ice. My nifty cryo-cuff couldn't handle the work and has started leaking. I am going to buy the actual hip attachment for it and see if that helps. I know I will likely still want/need it when I start PT.

I start PT next week. I also go back to work. I am a little worried about this. The first couple days are without students so it will be nice to see how it goes but we also have to jump back into the work routine after having been out of it for a while...

My little girl starts third grade and a new school. My little guy is staying back for another year and trying preschool out. He has only ever been at an at-home daycare and just doesn't seem ready for kindergarten (from a professional view, not just the "mom-and-he-is-my-baby" view). I am really hoping for a great year for everyone.

I have been doing a lot of thinking (again) about Ehler's Danlos Syndrome (EDS). I have suspected for a little while now that I might have this (my little girl too). When I met with Dr. Mayo for my pre-op appt, he brought up my hypermobility again. He stated that he suspected a unknown connective tissue disorder but knew we didn't have a diagnosis of Marfan's syndrome or anything. I have done research on this and if I were a gambling woman - I would almost bet my house on this... I think that with my deductible and out of pocket expenses met - now might be the time to seek out a genetic specialist who might be able to shed some light on this. You can read about it here

Incision - 8 weeks Post-Op (you can still see my drain holes)