Just when you think your out...they pull you back in!

I have been attending physical therapy twice a week since November. I had been making great strides and was getting very excited at the prospect of leaving that part of the recovery behind. But apparently my body has decided other wise.

Last Thursday, 3/26/09 I completely broke down at PT. I felt so discouraged. Here I am six months out from surgery and I have hit a wall! I read of my fellow PAO's being finished with their PT and here I am...still. My physical therapist, Paul saw the look on my face, that look of "I'm in pain, but dammit I am going to win this battle" and that is when the talk came. Paul called over another PT who is well versed in Strain / Counterstrain. I am still having problems with my muscles communicating properly with my brain. And with more probing, they are pretty positive that it is a labral tear in my hip. I am under strict orders not to do any more lower body work outs until advised. And Paul has limited my PT to one time a week to try and get me to rest more. I have a call into my surgeon to see if I can go in for surgery in May instead of June. June was the targeted month for my screw removal, but I am really hoping for May since a) don't want to be in pain anymore and b) don't want to be sedentary anymore. I am a very active person and this "resting" thing is killing me. I physically feel ill when I can't work out!

To add insult to injury on Friday I went to go down to the basement and get something when I fell down the steps!! I tried to throw my weight and managed to land much harder on my left side, but still hurt the op (right) side pretty good. I called the surgeon and he feels that I did not do any damage. I have had a clicking sensation when I walk ever since the fall. If that and the pain do not go away within the next week, I am to call them and get in to see them. UGH!!!

My main goal is to stay strong until the next surgery. I was so very close to having this all behind me and then WHAM!! I just want to be able to enjoy the things I did before. Positive thoughts!!!

6 Months Post RPAO

Technically it is 6 months and one week from my original surgery on September 16th, 2008. I am allowed to start jogging/running now. This makes me very happy - my hips however - not liking the running just yet.

I am still in physical therapy, but I am hoping that will end soon. As I said in my last post I have a possible labrum tear. I am almost convinced of this now because the pain in that area will not go away. I told Paul (my PT) that I feel like I am in a holding pattern until June. June is when the doctor is going to take the screws out and do a hip scope (if I am still in pain). I have gotten a little better in the last month - but nothing huge. My theory is to try not to think about how slow things have been going and only think about how far I have come.

From the technical aspect of things:

• I am able to run - as tolerated
• In P.T. I have been working on agility drills to help get me back into tennis
• My scar looks pretty good and I am surprised at how quickly it has healed
• I still have to lift my leg onto the gas and brake when I first get into the car - but I am working on this in therapy
• I still have some pain during and after a work out
• On rainy days I feel like I am 90 years old - as I now "feel" the weather. The doctor told me that this is not an old wives tale, but that people who have anything done with their bones are more adapt to "feel" the weather

On a much happier and brighter note - I am anxiously awaiting April 19th. That will be my first practice as the Tennis Coach for Special Olympics Area M. I am very excited and nervous all at the same time. I hope that I can do as good of job as everyone has faith in me to do.

Also on April 19th - I will walk 3 miles for the MS walk-a-thon. I have done this every year since I found out that one of my closest friends was diagnosed with MS. I walk for her and all of the many others who have MS. I truly hope that in our lifetime there will be a cure.

So it seems that I will do my best to continue to heal and regain my strength until June. Life should keep me pretty busy until then...