Hip labral repair - 2 weeks out

Wow, what a difference a week makes!  I am frankly shocked at the progress I've made in just two weeks, and that's not to toot my own horn, but rather toot the horn of my surgeon, Dr. Peter Maiers at Methodist Sports Indianapolis, and his team, including my physical therapists Jimmy, Melissa, and Brad.  They have all done a great job and I felt less pain and discomfort after this operation than just about all of the rest. As I've already established in previous posts, I am/have been injured a lot.  This was my 7th surgery.  One thing I've learned is that you need to follow the instructions from your doctors and PTs about as literal as possible.  If they tell you to take it easy, sit your butt down in a chair and take it easy!  The boredom and the lack of activity sucks, but if I'm bored out of my mind for two weeks (I was) and that gets me back sooner, or even on schedule, than that's what I'm doing.  Pushing yourself after a major injury will undoubtedly lead to a repeat injury, or your body will adapt to your current limitations by overcompensating somewhere else, which can and probably will result in another injury.  CASE IN POINT:  I had a foot/ankle surgery in 2011, and I moved across the country about a month afterwords, didn't follow up with the surgeon or do any PT due to relocation, changed jobs that required me to be on my feet all day way before I should have been, and just grinded it out for a year.  Without question, this is what pushed my hips, glutes, hamstrings, and quads out of whack, and eventually shredded my hip.  So here's where I'm at:

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Things that are good:

• My bowels have returned to normal (great first point), I'm sure you're happy about this...I know I am!
• I'm driving again!  It seems to be easier in an SUV than a car, but I've only been driving for one day, so I still need further research.
• No crutches
• No painkillers
• Went back to work today for a 1/2 day.
• Riding a bike daily, which is AWESOME!!!!
• Physical Therapy feels so good!
• I feel like I'm making progress every day.
• Only up 8-10 pounds...not too shabby considering I've been living in a recliner basically doing nothing but watching TV, napping, and eating for 20 hours a day. 10lbs is nothing for me.
• Binge Watch Update:
  • Peaky Blinders S3:  Great acting, can't understand a word they're saying.  Still a great show...need more than 6 episodes though!
  • Really enjoyed "The Lobster," although it's pretty dark, and ridiculously absurd, which I like.  One scene was pretty rough though.  Really rough.
  • Good lord please don't go see "The Shallows."  I only saw it because that's how bored I was.
  • The Americans S2:  Watch this show.
  • Still watching all the EUFA cup

It's only a few minutes, but it's the best part of my day!

Here's what sucks:

• Fatigue.  I'll feel fine right up until the point that I don't.  Then I'm back in the recliner with ice
• Speaking of ice, I had to return my Recovery+ Power compression/cold hip wrap. Insurance said I only needed it for 14 days.  I miss it tremendously already.
• Driving:  I can drive for about 25-30 minutes without having much discomfort.  That's just enough time to get to work, but if you have to press on the brakes hard, or with more pressure, it shortens that time.
• Work:  I'm back at work!
• Sitting is still uncomfortable
• I've tried to get back into my bed at night and had two miserable nights.  I am a side sleeper, which is still painful, and if I lie on my back I will toss and turn all night.  Back to the recliner!
• The weather is still nice and I can't go swimming.

All in all, I am actually thrilled with where I'm at now.  I can tell I'm getting better, but I'm now in that danger zone where things start feeling better, so you do a little more, and then it starts hurting again or you regress.  The key now is to maintain patience and stick with the plan that's been laid out to me by the PTs and the doctor. 

Thanks again for reading!  You can support this site simply by shopping on Amazon from any of the links on this website.  You're already doing the shopping, so thanks in advance for just getting to Amazon from one of my links.  Good luck to all you "hipsters" out there!  Leave a comment, like Rule the Lake on Facebook, follow on Instagram @rulethelake (site) or @kingofthelake (me).