6 Months: More Firsts!

Here it is another new year!  Also, at the start of another new semester. Hard to believe I am already 6 months post op from the hip surgery!  I have not written, or rather posted, in a while as not sure what to to write or share. I have a few half written posts, that I cannot seem to figure out how to finish right now. Things are going well in some respects, not so well in others. I have so many half written posts from during the diagnostic period (years), but was never sure if I wanted to share until I knew outcomes. Thus, never really mentioned hip issues until after surgery. Once again, I find myself uncertain of exactly what is going on. What I think is happening now, is another collision of the numerous chronic medical conditions. We had figured out a temporary means of managing things, but all knew it was not sustainable long term.  We continued this approach long past what was initially ever intended.  Once the hip was repaired, we started to slowly withdraw this management approach.  I crashed medically in September, we reversed the process, got me stable again, but than started again and things have been slipping ever since.  So now what?  (That is actually the title of a half finished post in my drafts.)  I am not really sure.  I had another crazy week before Christmas in which there were lots of medical appointments.  These weeks often get overwhelming, and this time was no different.  However, I felt like every single appointment went well, every single appointment had good, honest, open conversations about where things are at, potential options, and some new ideas for next steps.  I have been told by every single medical provider that I am medically complicated.  A lot of the various issues interact with each other and treatments for some interact with treatments for others.  It can feel overwhelming trying to manage all, trying to keep everyone on the medical team on the same page.  The recent appointments went so much better than I could have hoped!  Everyone is on the same page!  Rarely have all agreed and worked together so well before.  So, what next?  Well, more medical work up.  Probably more medication trials.  Will any of it give new information or help?  Maybe, Maybe not.  I am both hopeful and apprehensive.  My body is notorious for testing negative to everything and responding unpredictably to most medications.  More testing in the same direction of previous negative tests....no one is optimistic of really figuring out what the underlying issues are.  (I gave up on that years ago.  I now have two physicians who have told me if we ever do figure things out, I will end up with a condition named after me.) What we are trying to do is figure out alternate means of managing things.

I had another surgeon recheck of the hip before Christmas and things are doing great from surgical perspective!  This is always reassuring to hear.  Where are things now with rehab?  Still making forward progress. I am walking better and longer!  I can walk for half an hour and PT has had me maxed out there for now.  Pace is still slower than pre-hip issues.  I used to be able to walk 2 miles in 30 minutes (even 4 miles in an hour or less!), but now it has been 1.5 miles in 30 minutes.  I wanted to get faster but my body just did not seem ready and although I am a limit pusher, I know better than to push when things are iffy.  Still, I was excited to be walking! Well, earlier this week, things felt better and I could tell I was walking faster, but chose not to check pace and let my body do what it wanted and what felt right.  Ended up being 2 miles in 33 minutes!!!!  Super excited!  (I was initially concerned PT may not be as excited since that was pushing limits, especially since the 2-mile walk had been immediately preceded by 2 miles on elliptical to make sure things were warmed up and moving well. But, PT was pleased and said that since this is what I used to be able to do easily, this is what we want me back to doing and right around this point in recovery, too.  So, she OK'd keeping this up as tolerated.  She did warn me things may feel off the next day or so and that I may not be able to consistently walk like this yet, but if my body wants to, let it.) It is pain-free, no limping, better gait than in years! But, still have some gait issues that we are working on.  Swimming is still going well--pretty much pre-op pace.  Still not swimming with whip kick, but can go through the motions OK, just not comfortable doing so with the speed and power needed to swim. Shoulder is still hanging in there with swimming, but swimming is also still restricted to protect the shoulder.  I did get the shoulder looked at finally.  I have sort of known that if it was going to calm down, it would have done so a long time ago, but I am stubborn and did not want to be dealing with more than a few issues at a time, so shoulder had to wait until we had hips calmed down. (I was half hoping it would calm down as well once hips calmed down.) Well, I learned my shoulder has impingement (hips had/have impingement, starting to not like that word and what it means).  Injection was mentioned/offered, but since we are working on figuring out alternate management approaches systemically, we opted to wait and see if anything helps.  If not, I can come back for an injection later.  (And, NO mention of surgery or anything! What I had been afraid of.) Good shoulder is apparently deciding to join the party though.  It gave up earlier this week.  It did let me swim, but pace was slower to keep it from pinching too badly.  PT has already instructed me previously on mechanics to try to protect both shoulders, so I know how to be careful.  I also was cleared to try a yoga class this week!  It has been a couple of years since I went to a class as I had too many restrictions and preferred to do things at home on my own.  It seemed to go well, but true test is the next day or so.

It felt like a few breakthroughs this week, finally!  First time this close to pre-op walking pace and duration since surgery!  First time back in a yoga class since years before surgery! Grateful for progress as otherwise, it can be easy to get discouraged when dealing with so many things at once and losing progress with many. I have tried to keep this post focused on the positive, yet still sharing some of the reality. I find that I still have to remind myself repeatedly of my motto from early on after surgery.  This recovery is not a race to see how fast I can recover but a journey to see how well I can recover.  I need to support my body the best I can and let it heal and grow strong at its own pace.  I am now about half way through recovery.  Seems crazy how long this recovery is, but also crazy how far I have already come.  Here is hoping and praying things only get better from here. I am also praying for wisdom for all involved in my medical care as things are precarious and complicated/challenging at present.  Regardless of what happens, I know that God is good.  He has sustained me this far, He will carry me through.

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