Last weekend i had to take big jump backwards to move forward again. But, its working! Going back onto two crutches helped my hip settle down. The pain subsided and the loose feeling mellowed out. I'm back to alternating between one and two crutches - but I feel i'm close to losing the sticks completely. Yesterday in the pool i did some waist deep walking and felt incredibly different than I had just last week. I could take a full forceful stride without a lot of pain (just a small pain in the hip flexor, which is still weak). I could stand and balance on the one leg. TFL is getting stronger. I know, little things, but huge progress.
I also got back onto my regular road bike (on the trainer) rather than riding the stationary bike. Clipless pedals, bike shorts, my goodness, it feels strange. But so good to sweat. I only rode for under an hour, and if I had a power meter on i'm sure it would be laughable, but I'll take it. I'm hoping the sun will start shining around here and in the next week or so i'll be able to get out on the road and ride a few times before the next surgery.
Speaking of which, the next surgery is just over 3 weeks from now. I'll be driving from Denver to Vail in exactly three weeks. Boy am I ready. As I'm starting to do more, my right hip has started to have the familiar pains in the front, back, side, allover basically. So, any doubts or feelings of "i can just live with it" have left. Its going to be a long wait, but this wait will be sweet, because it will be the last wait. Enough with this year and all of my pieces falling apart.
I have a lot to rebuild in terms of strength. I did a plank yesterday, and I lasted about 10 seconds. I used to do those for minutes, repeats. I'm sore today too. But hey, I'm excited to just be able to do it and not have my hip or my clavicle limiting me. My biggest challenge will be to have patience, and not do too much too soon. Last thing i want is another injury.
3 weeks to surgery, 3 weeks in Vail, probably another 2-3 weeks until i'm where I am right now on the other hip. I'm expecting and hoping that the next surgery won't need a reconstruction and that it will be less difficult. If my timeline is right, that means in less than 10 weeks I'll be on my bike. That seems almost ok!!
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Groundhog Day
Tonight marks the one week anniversary of my hip surgery. In some ways, the past seven days have flown by. In other ways they have crept so slowly by. Every day I feel a little better. My least favorite thing about the recovery time are the restrictions while I sleep - I despise having to sleep flat on my back with my feet strapped in to the foot bolsters - unable to move. I'm counting down the days til that is no longer required.
Every day is somewhat the same. It starts like this: I wake up in bed, flat on my back, feet strapped to a bolster, calf pumps strapped around my calves, game ready machine strapped around my thigh and hip. Stiff, sore, a little sweaty. (nice, yes). I call out, as nicely as i can "help" - and my mom, who usually hears me on the first or second shout, comes in to undo all of the contraptions. I grab the crutches, hobble to the kitchen, and have coffee and enough food to give a little cushion for the pain killers and all the other medications I'm taking to help my hip. I shower - which is tricky and interesting balancing on one foot - and get dressed in some baggy shorts, slip on vans, a tee shirt, and fleece. Then we head out the door and down the elevator into the car, and drive into vail where I crutch into the Howard Head PT and plop myself onto a bike.
I have PT at Howard Head 2 times a day - usually lasting 90 minutes to two hours each session, along with a 20 minute driver there and back. The PT is great. It consists of about 20 minutes no resistance on an exercise bike. Then, I work with a PT for the next 40 minutes to one hour - doing passive circumduction, some soft tissue massage, and some very mellow exercises to get the muscles firing again. So far, both of the PTs I've worked with specialize in hips and are intimately familiar with what was done inside mine. It is reassuring. I wish I could pack one up and take her home with me.
My parents, who are my everything during this time (cook, chauffeur, nurse, psychologist), wait in the lobby for me - chatting with the other 'regulars', writing emails, doing stitchery and reading. After my PT is over, we head back to the condo, eat and I spend whatever time I have in some combination of the cpm machine, game ready, and calf pumps. Then its back to PT to do it all over again.
Evenings usually involve some reading, a movie and food. Luckily I've had a few visitors to mix it up - which as been lovely. Then its off to bed - where I strap into the game ready machine, the calf pumps, and the bolster, take a few pain pills, and drift off to sleep.
I'm still on pain pills - every 4 hours. This surprises me, since last surgery I was off pain killers about one day post op. I'm also still very limited in movements due to pain and restrictions. Also, a new thing compared to last surgery. Each day seems to get a little easier, and the swelling goes down just a little bit. My hips were about 2x as wide as normal for the first 4 days or so - but they are slowly decreasing in size. Along with the decrease in size, there is a decrease in swelling.
In PT I see lots of other hip patients - at all stages of recovery. It does seem like those who had labral reconstruction have a harder the time first few days than the others. I'm told by the PTs that, in time, this all equalizes and recovery time ends up being about the same.
The first few days after surgery, my biggest concern was that my hip still felt loose. I've talked to the surgeon about this, as well as the fellow, the Surgeon's assistant, both of my PTs and a few other patients (yes, I like to talk when I'm worried). One thing I heard from another patient was the most reassuring thing anyone has said. Apparently Dr. Philippon lets people view the surgery - both the fellows and the PTs on occassion. At the end of a labrum reconstruction, he forcibly attempts to distract the femur from the hip socket at various angles in order to make sure the new labrum has created the suction seal he wanted. The femur does not come out. I believe everyone's confidence that my hip is not loose is based on this fact. I think the looseness I'm feeling is a looseness in the joint capsule, and I am hopefull that this will tighten with time and with the reactivation/strengthening of the muscles. In any event, knowing that my femur is secure in the socket is reassuring - I don't have the feeling of the bone clunking around in the socket as I did before. I am so glad I chose to do this surgery with Dr. Philippon. I feel that I'm in very good hands.
Today I could go to the Pool to start aquatic therapy - which they have every tuesday and thursday. Today's conflicts with my PT, so I'm going to go to PT instead. Maybe thursday I'll go to the pool. I have some fear of the pool - only because that was the first place where my hip subluxed after my first surgery - 10 days post op. So, that's a little hurdle I need to make it over.
We originally were planning to go home this Friday - me back to SF and my parents back to LA. But, we've decided to stay another 6 days - mostly because I can't go back to work at this point anyways, and I also wouldn't be able to do most of this on my own. It is so important to me that I comply with all of their instructions as much as possible to do the most I can do to make a full recovery.
Most of the restrictions are lifted at week three - including the despised bolster. At that point, I can sleep however I want! that will be lovely.
Til next time...
Virginia
Every day is somewhat the same. It starts like this: I wake up in bed, flat on my back, feet strapped to a bolster, calf pumps strapped around my calves, game ready machine strapped around my thigh and hip. Stiff, sore, a little sweaty. (nice, yes). I call out, as nicely as i can "help" - and my mom, who usually hears me on the first or second shout, comes in to undo all of the contraptions. I grab the crutches, hobble to the kitchen, and have coffee and enough food to give a little cushion for the pain killers and all the other medications I'm taking to help my hip. I shower - which is tricky and interesting balancing on one foot - and get dressed in some baggy shorts, slip on vans, a tee shirt, and fleece. Then we head out the door and down the elevator into the car, and drive into vail where I crutch into the Howard Head PT and plop myself onto a bike.
I have PT at Howard Head 2 times a day - usually lasting 90 minutes to two hours each session, along with a 20 minute driver there and back. The PT is great. It consists of about 20 minutes no resistance on an exercise bike. Then, I work with a PT for the next 40 minutes to one hour - doing passive circumduction, some soft tissue massage, and some very mellow exercises to get the muscles firing again. So far, both of the PTs I've worked with specialize in hips and are intimately familiar with what was done inside mine. It is reassuring. I wish I could pack one up and take her home with me.
My parents, who are my everything during this time (cook, chauffeur, nurse, psychologist), wait in the lobby for me - chatting with the other 'regulars', writing emails, doing stitchery and reading. After my PT is over, we head back to the condo, eat and I spend whatever time I have in some combination of the cpm machine, game ready, and calf pumps. Then its back to PT to do it all over again.
Evenings usually involve some reading, a movie and food. Luckily I've had a few visitors to mix it up - which as been lovely. Then its off to bed - where I strap into the game ready machine, the calf pumps, and the bolster, take a few pain pills, and drift off to sleep.
I'm still on pain pills - every 4 hours. This surprises me, since last surgery I was off pain killers about one day post op. I'm also still very limited in movements due to pain and restrictions. Also, a new thing compared to last surgery. Each day seems to get a little easier, and the swelling goes down just a little bit. My hips were about 2x as wide as normal for the first 4 days or so - but they are slowly decreasing in size. Along with the decrease in size, there is a decrease in swelling.
In PT I see lots of other hip patients - at all stages of recovery. It does seem like those who had labral reconstruction have a harder the time first few days than the others. I'm told by the PTs that, in time, this all equalizes and recovery time ends up being about the same.
The first few days after surgery, my biggest concern was that my hip still felt loose. I've talked to the surgeon about this, as well as the fellow, the Surgeon's assistant, both of my PTs and a few other patients (yes, I like to talk when I'm worried). One thing I heard from another patient was the most reassuring thing anyone has said. Apparently Dr. Philippon lets people view the surgery - both the fellows and the PTs on occassion. At the end of a labrum reconstruction, he forcibly attempts to distract the femur from the hip socket at various angles in order to make sure the new labrum has created the suction seal he wanted. The femur does not come out. I believe everyone's confidence that my hip is not loose is based on this fact. I think the looseness I'm feeling is a looseness in the joint capsule, and I am hopefull that this will tighten with time and with the reactivation/strengthening of the muscles. In any event, knowing that my femur is secure in the socket is reassuring - I don't have the feeling of the bone clunking around in the socket as I did before. I am so glad I chose to do this surgery with Dr. Philippon. I feel that I'm in very good hands.
Today I could go to the Pool to start aquatic therapy - which they have every tuesday and thursday. Today's conflicts with my PT, so I'm going to go to PT instead. Maybe thursday I'll go to the pool. I have some fear of the pool - only because that was the first place where my hip subluxed after my first surgery - 10 days post op. So, that's a little hurdle I need to make it over.
We originally were planning to go home this Friday - me back to SF and my parents back to LA. But, we've decided to stay another 6 days - mostly because I can't go back to work at this point anyways, and I also wouldn't be able to do most of this on my own. It is so important to me that I comply with all of their instructions as much as possible to do the most I can do to make a full recovery.
Most of the restrictions are lifted at week three - including the despised bolster. At that point, I can sleep however I want! that will be lovely.
Til next time...
Virginia
Monday, August 16, 2010
4.5 Months Post Op
I almost can't believe its been 4 and a half months since I had surgery on my left hip. I thought I'd be all good by now, alas, I still have 2 surgeries to go. But, putting that aside...
This weekend was almost like a normal weekend for me - woke up both mornings and went and rode my bike for 3+ hours. Yes, I was slow, but it left me with that good exhaustion. It was awesome. Then we ate, went to the farmers market, ate some more, saw a movie (scott pilgrim takes on the world is great), lounged on the couch, played with the kitties, cleaned bikes, caught up with friends, etc. pretty basic weekend, and it was lovely :)
If it wasn't for the looseness in my left hip, I would feel very happy with the results of the surgery. That is good to keep in mind going into the next couple of surgeries. I think if it weren't for my collarbone, i could have started riding outside at about 6 weeks post op. As it turned out, I was off the bike for a bout 4 months - but that was due more to the collarbone than the hip. I think riding has been helpful for the hip - and it feels better than it did 2 weeks ago. It feels stronger, fewer tweaks, etc. Before I was able to ride, I was doing a lot of hiking - which was harder on my hips for sure. Last night i had a burning feeling in my joint/hip area - but I would guess that is just muscles/tendons - and just due to the nearly 100 miles i put in on the road this weekend. It is heavenly to ride without pain in the left hip. I hate that my right hip hurts and aches and grinds, but at least it is a remider of where Iused to be on my left hip - so I have something to compare.
I'm ready to start moving forward - to start building endurance, strength and speed, and to start losing the extra 10 lbs I've put on through all this. But, not quite yet. For now, I need to just be happy that i get to ride my bike. Enjoy the sunshine where I can find it, and just maintain a level of sanity until the next surgery arrives... and then the next one. MUCH better than doing that waiting from the couch!! :)
This weekend was almost like a normal weekend for me - woke up both mornings and went and rode my bike for 3+ hours. Yes, I was slow, but it left me with that good exhaustion. It was awesome. Then we ate, went to the farmers market, ate some more, saw a movie (scott pilgrim takes on the world is great), lounged on the couch, played with the kitties, cleaned bikes, caught up with friends, etc. pretty basic weekend, and it was lovely :)
If it wasn't for the looseness in my left hip, I would feel very happy with the results of the surgery. That is good to keep in mind going into the next couple of surgeries. I think if it weren't for my collarbone, i could have started riding outside at about 6 weeks post op. As it turned out, I was off the bike for a bout 4 months - but that was due more to the collarbone than the hip. I think riding has been helpful for the hip - and it feels better than it did 2 weeks ago. It feels stronger, fewer tweaks, etc. Before I was able to ride, I was doing a lot of hiking - which was harder on my hips for sure. Last night i had a burning feeling in my joint/hip area - but I would guess that is just muscles/tendons - and just due to the nearly 100 miles i put in on the road this weekend. It is heavenly to ride without pain in the left hip. I hate that my right hip hurts and aches and grinds, but at least it is a remider of where Iused to be on my left hip - so I have something to compare.
I'm ready to start moving forward - to start building endurance, strength and speed, and to start losing the extra 10 lbs I've put on through all this. But, not quite yet. For now, I need to just be happy that i get to ride my bike. Enjoy the sunshine where I can find it, and just maintain a level of sanity until the next surgery arrives... and then the next one. MUCH better than doing that waiting from the couch!! :)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
2011?
Talking to various doctors, scheduling appointments, etc. seems to be a verrrry slow process. After several weeks, I finally spoke to the surgery scheduler for Dr. Philippon. I tentatively scheduled surgery to reconstruct my left hip/labrum for the end of January 2011. Also tentatively scheduled surgery to fix my right hip for March 2011. Yipes that is far away!
I haven't even spoken to Dr. Safran yet to get his opinion on the idea of reconstruction of my labrum or to hear the results of the mri i had almost 2 weeks ago (frustrating!). I'm also still waiting to go talk to Dr. Sampson about what he'd do. I'm hoping waitlists will work in my favor here...
The reading I've been doing suggests that having your labrum removed (rathe than repaired/reattached) leads to generally less successful results and apparently causes micro-instability and more rapid wear and degeration of the hip cartilidge. I think its unavoidable in some cases (mine apparently), and only a few surgeons will actually do a reconstruction of the labrum from other sources (if they cannot repair it using the tissue that is there). There is no way for me to know if my looseness and instability is a result of a loose joint capsule alone or if its the result of having 1/3 of my labrum missing - other than to pick one surgery and go with it. If I'm going to have another surgery on that hip anyways, it seems like a good idea to have it be the most thorough as possible? On the other hand, its tempting to just tighten the joint capsule and see if that is enough... since i could have that surgery asap and the recovery would likely be less. I guess there is no way to know what the result will be with either surgery. I just have to take my chances. Not so into that. Either way, a successful result is not guaranteed, and a perfect result is apparently unlikely. I am not seeing very awesome odds with the studies I'm reading. Basically, its considered a success if the patient is better than before the surgery... the dream of having pain free hips may be just that - a dream.
After getting the 2011 appointments set up, I started to reorganize my next several months in my head ... Wonder if I could get back to riding my bike, once my collarbone is sturdy enough (I am seeing progress finally!!!! and am out of the sling most of the day as of this weekend), and just ride and swim as pain allows for the next several months. I miss riding in the sun, coming home exhausted, being fit. Can I get back to enough of that over the next few months to make the wait bearable? I guess I just have to try and see. My collarbone is still not crutch-worthy yet, so I have some time to make these decisions.
I do still have pain in my left hip and in my right. As of today I have pain the the front of my left hip again - similar to what I had before the surgery. The pain levels alternate and migrate back and forth between hips. Burning, sharp pains, popping, aches, stiffness - seems to be in both hips. sometimes i struggle to get up from a sitting position. At the same time, I know I am doing a lot compared to some convalesing hip patients (much less than others!). I do go on hikes and walks. Sometimes I walk through the pains and stiffness, and sometimes I suffer the consequences. I went for a hike this weekend with a friend who does not generally hike (cyclist) and who is 8 months pregnant. I felt about about as i have for the past month or so, and I could barely keep up. So, I don't think my expectations are too high. But, maybe they are. Its been interesting not being able to ride my bike - since i can't compare the pain level in my left hip pre-and post-surgery. I was able to ride pretty hard and pretty far before surgery - but I had achiness, burning, stiffness, sometimes badly, sometimes not so badly. I don't know if I'm better off now or worse. I think its differnet, but its not good. I am almost 4 months out. How long should I expect to wait to get back to living my life normally?
In the meantime, my primary doc is checking to see if I have some underlying issue thats making my joints loose and making my collarbone take forevs to heal. I am guessing they are just two totally separate events, and that the loose hip is simply due to a surgical issue, but I think its better to turn over that stone - for peace of mind.
Not the most thrilling post, but there you have it :)
ciao,
v
I haven't even spoken to Dr. Safran yet to get his opinion on the idea of reconstruction of my labrum or to hear the results of the mri i had almost 2 weeks ago (frustrating!). I'm also still waiting to go talk to Dr. Sampson about what he'd do. I'm hoping waitlists will work in my favor here...
The reading I've been doing suggests that having your labrum removed (rathe than repaired/reattached) leads to generally less successful results and apparently causes micro-instability and more rapid wear and degeration of the hip cartilidge. I think its unavoidable in some cases (mine apparently), and only a few surgeons will actually do a reconstruction of the labrum from other sources (if they cannot repair it using the tissue that is there). There is no way for me to know if my looseness and instability is a result of a loose joint capsule alone or if its the result of having 1/3 of my labrum missing - other than to pick one surgery and go with it. If I'm going to have another surgery on that hip anyways, it seems like a good idea to have it be the most thorough as possible? On the other hand, its tempting to just tighten the joint capsule and see if that is enough... since i could have that surgery asap and the recovery would likely be less. I guess there is no way to know what the result will be with either surgery. I just have to take my chances. Not so into that. Either way, a successful result is not guaranteed, and a perfect result is apparently unlikely. I am not seeing very awesome odds with the studies I'm reading. Basically, its considered a success if the patient is better than before the surgery... the dream of having pain free hips may be just that - a dream.
After getting the 2011 appointments set up, I started to reorganize my next several months in my head ... Wonder if I could get back to riding my bike, once my collarbone is sturdy enough (I am seeing progress finally!!!! and am out of the sling most of the day as of this weekend), and just ride and swim as pain allows for the next several months. I miss riding in the sun, coming home exhausted, being fit. Can I get back to enough of that over the next few months to make the wait bearable? I guess I just have to try and see. My collarbone is still not crutch-worthy yet, so I have some time to make these decisions.
I do still have pain in my left hip and in my right. As of today I have pain the the front of my left hip again - similar to what I had before the surgery. The pain levels alternate and migrate back and forth between hips. Burning, sharp pains, popping, aches, stiffness - seems to be in both hips. sometimes i struggle to get up from a sitting position. At the same time, I know I am doing a lot compared to some convalesing hip patients (much less than others!). I do go on hikes and walks. Sometimes I walk through the pains and stiffness, and sometimes I suffer the consequences. I went for a hike this weekend with a friend who does not generally hike (cyclist) and who is 8 months pregnant. I felt about about as i have for the past month or so, and I could barely keep up. So, I don't think my expectations are too high. But, maybe they are. Its been interesting not being able to ride my bike - since i can't compare the pain level in my left hip pre-and post-surgery. I was able to ride pretty hard and pretty far before surgery - but I had achiness, burning, stiffness, sometimes badly, sometimes not so badly. I don't know if I'm better off now or worse. I think its differnet, but its not good. I am almost 4 months out. How long should I expect to wait to get back to living my life normally?
In the meantime, my primary doc is checking to see if I have some underlying issue thats making my joints loose and making my collarbone take forevs to heal. I am guessing they are just two totally separate events, and that the loose hip is simply due to a surgical issue, but I think its better to turn over that stone - for peace of mind.
Not the most thrilling post, but there you have it :)
ciao,
v
Monday, March 29, 2010
Surgery and Patience
After a lot of back and forth and information gathering, I've finally scheduled surgery on my left hip for April 13. That's 2 weeks from tomorrow!
I am so glad to be finally getting started on this whole hip recovery process. I had been hoping to have both hips operated on (and fixed) at the same time. Unfortunately, the surgeon who is willing to do that doesn't take insurance. While the hospital and anesthesiologist would be covered, I'd be out several thousand dollars - on top of my out of pocket maximum for covered services. It was going to be too much. So, I've come to terms with having one surgery at a time. Dr. Safran is very experienced doing surgery for FAI, and seems very knowledgable and meticulous - two things I appreciate very much in someone who will be operating on me. Here is a link to my surgeon:
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/ortho/researcher/Marc_Safran/
This is going to be a major test of patience for me. Not only will my surgeon only operate on one at a time, he also has a pretty lengthy (and conservative?) post-op protocol. The other surgeon apparently lets you fully weight-bear within a week or so of the bi-lateral surgery (he said i could be off crutches in 3 days!). My surgeon, on the other hand, will have me on crutches for 2-8 weeks - with a maximum of 20 lbs weight bearing on the operated leg. I also will be hooked up to some large machines for several hours a day for up to 8 weeks and going to p.t. 3 times a week. So, its a more involved process. Once i'm off of crutches for the first hip, a month later I can have the other hip operated on - and then the whole process begins again. But, I'm feeling ok about it - I'm hopeful i don't lose my mind during the process and that the conservative route will pay off in the end. Why rush it. I have (hopefully) a lifetime on these hips. If 6-12 months of patience means that I can run again, can compete, train and push myself without pain - then its worth it.
I've already navigated the mental and emotional hurdles of not being able to train and being forced to re-define who I am (am I still an athlete if I can't train or race?) with the various injuries and issues I've had over the past 18 months. I think that was the hardest part. This is the less hard part. My biggest struggle will be fitting in all of the p.t., work, and strength stuff and trying not to gain a ton of weight. I have a tendency to eat more when I do less - and when I'm bummed out. Not a good thing. Hopefully i'll get to swim pretty soon and start doing some core and strength traning to keep me sane and keep the endorphins coming.
Preparing for surgery (and post-surgery) is kind of funny. My mom and dad are coming up from LA to help out - with my mom staying for a week +. This will be absolutely invaluable. We have done this before. Last June when I broke my collarbone in Tulsa and had to have surgery - my mom flew up from LA to meet me at the airport in oakland and stayed with me for a week. It made recovery so much better - not only practically speaking - someone to help me feed myself, put on clothes, grocery shop, pick up pain meds, drive me around - but also mentally. It was nice to have a caring person around to chat with, watch tv with, and keep my mind off of what was happening. So, this time around I'll have my mom and dad for a while, my mom for even longer, and Jon - while he's not working or riding. I think it will be fun :) Work's been stressful and busy lately - so it will be nice to have the break from that as well - to focus solely on healing and taking care of myself.
I'm told I'll be in this lovely contraption for 2-8 weeks for 2-8 hours a day. Jon is already jealous.
I am so glad to be finally getting started on this whole hip recovery process. I had been hoping to have both hips operated on (and fixed) at the same time. Unfortunately, the surgeon who is willing to do that doesn't take insurance. While the hospital and anesthesiologist would be covered, I'd be out several thousand dollars - on top of my out of pocket maximum for covered services. It was going to be too much. So, I've come to terms with having one surgery at a time. Dr. Safran is very experienced doing surgery for FAI, and seems very knowledgable and meticulous - two things I appreciate very much in someone who will be operating on me. Here is a link to my surgeon:
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/ortho/researcher/Marc_Safran/
This is going to be a major test of patience for me. Not only will my surgeon only operate on one at a time, he also has a pretty lengthy (and conservative?) post-op protocol. The other surgeon apparently lets you fully weight-bear within a week or so of the bi-lateral surgery (he said i could be off crutches in 3 days!). My surgeon, on the other hand, will have me on crutches for 2-8 weeks - with a maximum of 20 lbs weight bearing on the operated leg. I also will be hooked up to some large machines for several hours a day for up to 8 weeks and going to p.t. 3 times a week. So, its a more involved process. Once i'm off of crutches for the first hip, a month later I can have the other hip operated on - and then the whole process begins again. But, I'm feeling ok about it - I'm hopeful i don't lose my mind during the process and that the conservative route will pay off in the end. Why rush it. I have (hopefully) a lifetime on these hips. If 6-12 months of patience means that I can run again, can compete, train and push myself without pain - then its worth it.
I've already navigated the mental and emotional hurdles of not being able to train and being forced to re-define who I am (am I still an athlete if I can't train or race?) with the various injuries and issues I've had over the past 18 months. I think that was the hardest part. This is the less hard part. My biggest struggle will be fitting in all of the p.t., work, and strength stuff and trying not to gain a ton of weight. I have a tendency to eat more when I do less - and when I'm bummed out. Not a good thing. Hopefully i'll get to swim pretty soon and start doing some core and strength traning to keep me sane and keep the endorphins coming.
Preparing for surgery (and post-surgery) is kind of funny. My mom and dad are coming up from LA to help out - with my mom staying for a week +. This will be absolutely invaluable. We have done this before. Last June when I broke my collarbone in Tulsa and had to have surgery - my mom flew up from LA to meet me at the airport in oakland and stayed with me for a week. It made recovery so much better - not only practically speaking - someone to help me feed myself, put on clothes, grocery shop, pick up pain meds, drive me around - but also mentally. It was nice to have a caring person around to chat with, watch tv with, and keep my mind off of what was happening. So, this time around I'll have my mom and dad for a while, my mom for even longer, and Jon - while he's not working or riding. I think it will be fun :) Work's been stressful and busy lately - so it will be nice to have the break from that as well - to focus solely on healing and taking care of myself.
I'm told I'll be in this lovely contraption for 2-8 weeks for 2-8 hours a day. Jon is already jealous.
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