On July 1^st I saw Dr. Shukla and Davis for a checkup on “my girls” as I like to call them. I was relieved to hear that everything looks as good on the X-rays as it feels in my body. Dr. Shukla pointed out that my bones have grown in more around the implants and said, “They are now a part of you.” How comforting to hear him say that! I told them all the things I can do now, and we celebrated with hugs. I thanked them for bringing me BACK. They asked me to return in 3-4 years for another checkup.

I was planning to post this in July, but then got sidetracked by a very busy schedule. I think, in hindsight, that I was meant to post this now. By mid-July, Reno was inundated with smoke from the wildfires in California and I could no longer walk and hike outdoors. Not wanting to lose the gains I’d made in leg strength, I returned to the gym at St. Mary’s Center for Health & Fitness. I had not worked out on the floor in seven years, which is an odd thing for an old gym rat and health club owner to say. I guess I’d come to associate the experience with a lot of pain due to my failing hips.

What a difference! I’ve really increased my leg, glute, back and arm strength by returning to the use of Precor weight machines and 20 minutes on an elliptical trainer. I also warm up and cool down on the walking track (5 minutes each). I’ve found my hiking/walking is easier, my standing stamina is improved, and I can grip and lift things with greater ease. I feel more powerful and balanced in my body, and my posture has improved. My chronic neck and shoulder pain is gone! I’ve also noticed improvements in my cardiovascular fitness. I don’t huff and puff as much hiking and I recover faster. The areas where I found I was weakest from not doing this work was my rear deltoids, quadricep, gluteal and low back muscles.

Now every week I try to swim 2 days for 40 minutes, workout in the gym 2 days for an hour, take a 3-4 mile walk or hike on 1 or 2 days, and practice yoga and mat Pilates on 1 or 2 days. I also continue my morning Qigong/Tai Chi practice and teach 3 classes a month.

I credit this routine with bringing me fully back from two total hip replacements and a third surgery to remove a cable from around my right femur. I can easily do everything I want to do now with ease. When I look back at how disabled I was 4 years ago, it feels like a miracle. I am so grateful!