Physical therapy plays a crucial role in the recovery process after arthroscopic hip surgery. Most post-surgical patients typically begin some form of PT the day after the procedure – at home, on their own – with the use of an ice machine (I used a rented Game Ready) or ice packs, if…
Monthly Archives: July 2011
Sans Stitches and Crutches
Day 12 in my recovery from arthroscopic hip surgery marked a small milestone. The stitches came out. Four Steri-Strips were put in their place; they will eventually fall off on their own, I am told. (And then I am free to swim.) These are what Steri-Strips look like, if you…
Posted in Hip Labral Tears, My Story
Turn the Page
I’ve added a page to this blog, called “My Hip Chronology.” Don’t let the name fool you: there’s nothing remotely “hip” about it. But chronicling my experience with femoroacetabular impingement, or hip impingement, will at least help me measure how far I’ve come in identifying, treating and recovering from this…
Posted in Uncategorized
Crutches Are My Friend
The worst part about recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery hasn’t been the pain or soreness, or even the bad anesthesia headaches that lingered for several days. It’s been the limited mobility. And for an active person like myself – who doesn’t really stop until hitting the pillow late at night…
Posted in Hip Labral Tears, My Story
Beat the Heat
Laid up in an air-conditioned house recovering from arthroscopic hip surgery, I’m largely impervious to the triple-digit temperatures the rest of the country (and other parts of the world, undoubtedly) has been forced to endure of late. Still, I’d much rather be outdoors running, cycling or hiking, even in this…
Posted in Running
Surgery Update
The four words you always want to hear, and I did hear, after surgery: “Everything went very well.” Recuperating, though, hasn’t gone nearly as well – bad headaches from the spinal anesthesia, nausea, stomach pains and general lethargy. Which was why I hadn’t written anything since my arthroscopic hip surgery four days…
Posted in Hip Labral Tears, My Story
In Love (With Running)
Two days to go before my hip arthroscopy surgery and nervous jitters are getting the best of me. So I did the only thing that I knew would calm me down: I went for a run. It was a slow and easy three-mile run — more like a jog, really…
Posted in Hip Labral Tears, My Story, Running
Surgery Countdown
Today was my preoperative examination and check-in before my hip arthroscopy. The purpose of any pre-op exam is to evaluate a patient’s readiness for anesthesia and surgery through a battery of tests, and mine was no exception. The first stop: the office of the internist, which required me to fill out…
Posted in Hip Labral Tears, My Story
Not Just for Runners
My husband is in France for part of this week, riding a portion of the famous Tour de France race course (as part of a sub race). He is doing Stage 19 – the Alps! There are 21 stages in this grueling race, which covers 3,450.5 kilometers, or 2,058 miles, and…
Posted in Cross Training
Hip Podcasts (And Knees and Shoulders)
There’s certainly no shortage of free podcasts for runners, like Motion Traxx, which has up-tempo music to keep the pace up; and RunCast.net, which offers advice and insight. (If you’re looking for a longer list, check out this site.) But recently I stumbled (bad word choice, I know!) upon a…
Posted in Uncategorized