Fifteen and a half weeks since my second arthroscopic surgery, on my right hip (the left was scoped in July) and I am thrilled to report that my surgeon has given me the go-ahead to resume all normal activities. That means running (oops, I’ve already been doing a little bit of that), outdoor cycling, spinning, yoga and swimming. With one caveat: I’m to engage in these activities gradually and slowly. “Just don’t overdo it,” he said, noting that my range of motion is nearly normal in both legs, but the level of strength has not yet fully returned.
Both the doctor and his assistant said that I should be prepared for little aches and pains to surface as I increase my activity. (Shin splints are a common complaint among runners, they said.) “You just have to come full circle,” the assistant said, which means a year for each surgery. Which is about four more months for my left side and eight months for my right.
Hey Dori, Thanks for checking in! Please don’t be jealous: while my journey may be different than yours, it hasn’t been without its own bumps along the way, too. Right now I am wearing a splint on my right hand (I hope to post about this soon), the result of an injury that started with having to use crutches. And because my body is adjusting to getting active again, I am experiencing things like stiffness in my hamstrings and pain now and then in my knees. My surgeon said: “You will just have to come full circle” – that is, wait a year for each surgery. This is a tough time, I know, but hang in there. Sending you good vibes!
Hi Vivian –
I’m 8 weeks post-op as of yesterday and still having all sorts of issues – super tight IT band and hip flexor, knee pain, groin pain, hip pain, and I still can’t do stairs normally. Pretty much everything I do at the moment irritates my muscles. My doctor says it’s because I had a lot of soft tissue damage before the surgery, plus my actual surgery ended up being a lot more extensive than expected (labrum repair with two clips, hip capsule repair, and shaving of the entire femoral head). I was on crutches for five long weeks and out of work for six because I couldn’t build up enough strength in my operated leg to handle my commute (subway). Up until this week, I was only working four days a week in the office, and after today’s tearful visit with my doctor, he wrote me a note saying I need to avoid public transportation and limit walking and stairs to get work to pay for my parking and wrote me a prescription for an anti-inflammatory. I’m feeling like the worst healer in the history of hip arthroscopies. I’m glad you’re doing well, but I have to say, I’m very jealous. I need some serious good vibes. 🙁
Hi James! I am still doing physical therapy twice a week, but will soon reduce that to once a week and eventually phase it out in the next month or two. Glad you are doing well. Vivian
My surgery was 4 days after yours but more extensive. I am having no problems and I get a little better everyday. Are you still doing physical therapy and when will your PT end.