Big highlight of the week: I was able to walk about 2/3 of a mile in the forest at Lake Tahoe! I didn’t think I could make it that far, but it was not a problem and I was just sore afterwards. Nothing a couple of ibuprofen couldn’t take care of. I am so stoked! Yesterday, I went down to Idlewild Park and walked along the Truckee River. This is one of my favorite places to walk. I haven’t been there in a year. I was able to say hi to the huge Cottonwood tree who feels like a long-lost, old friend. Again, I was able to go 2/3 of a mile. This is as far as I’ve been able to go without dying for the last year. I’ll bet I can make a mile next week and just keep slowly increasing it from there. It feels so good to walk again!

I realize that walking is an important part of the way I connect with myself and nature, and I’ve missed it more than I knew. I can’t wait to get back into the forest and be able to do hikes again. I’m content for them to be shorter and less strenuous than they once were. I booked our first summer camping trip in July, which is very exciting! We will go out in our cute little teardrop, Pearl. I’ll add a new category to the blog and start chronicling our fun adventures in her.

Pearl in the Redwoods, May, 2017

I also returned to my meditation cushion for morning practice:

After my last post I was able to shave my legs and do a pedicure. Oh, the simple things in life that make all the difference!

This is the point where the hip settles in to my body and the muscles begin to loosen up and strengthen. I can bend down and reach the floor now. I no longer have anxiety about dislocating the implant. However, I continue to move slowly and mindfully and to be very careful not to overdo it. That, my friends, is the golden trick. I have to thank my right hip for all the instruction it gave me on that subject!

This morning, I decided it was time to take all the PT props out of the guest bedroom now that I can get on my yoga mat on the floor in the back room. That is always a big moment, signaling a return to normal. It’s all happening so fast, I’m having a little trouble keeping up. But, I’m not complaining!

This afternoon, I returned to the pool again for the first time in 5 weeks. It was glorious to be back in the water! I oozed into it and stayed until I was pruney. I was able to do about 13 laps, so about 650 meters, which isn’t bad for my first day back! I also did 2 laps of walking front and sideways. Again, I am amazed at the difference between the hips, how much easier this one is than the last. I was so unsteady when I first started going to the pool last time, and I didn’t do that until 3 1/2 months after the surgery! I spent time in the warm water therapy pool, lollynoodling around luxuriously. (Lollynoodling is my word for when I float aimlessly around the pool, whirling and swirling, suspended on a noodle.)

Special Note: I made a video of my favorite stretches after a hip replacement (posterior approach) and added it to Rhonda’s Hip Adventure Videos. If you are one of my hip readers, you might want to check that out.

I’ve been doing well with not overdoing things for the last week. No major setbacks. I can walk about 1/2 mile now, with a couple of stops along the way. I do this about every other day. I’m still doing morning Qigong and Tai Chi. In the afternoons I add some strengthening exercises from physical therapy and also do yoga on my mat on the floor, now that I can get up and down off the floor safely.

I’m able to drive, go to the store and manage carts and grocery bags. I can stand long enough to prepare meals, clean up and do some light chores around the house. I can shower without the grab bar and long-handled brush, since I can easily reach my feet now. I think I’ll try a pedicure this week and see how it goes–shave my hairy legs! The raised toilet seat came off this morning.

I’m off the Celebrex and using ibuprofen occasionally for pain. Some days I don’t use anything but the ice/compression machine and stretching. I do continue to use the CBD salve and sublingual oil at night and I’m happy to say that I’m sleeping like a baby!

I’ve massaging vitamin E oil into my scar morning and night. It is laying down nicely and closing up now. It is important to work with scar tissue starting in the third week so it doesn’t set in. Use gentle circular motions. When it is healed enough, you can hold the center of the scar with one finger and then use a finger on the opposite hand to gently stroke and pull the scar out towards the ends. This is a helpful technique for smoothing out scar tissue.

I graduated from physical therapy yesterday. Last time that didn’t happen until week 7. Lori said she had never graduated someone this quickly, “But, I can’t give you anything that you don’t already have and that you can’t do for yourself.” And I know this is true. It is up to me now to work out my own therapy and healing process, staying in that precious Goldilocks Zone.

I came home from the appointment and cried. I am relieved that this rehab is so easy compared to the last one. But I also feel disoriented. Suddenly, so much is behind me already! I’m trying to catch up to that emotionally. I also realize fully how hard it was for me last time–frustrating and disappointing. I struggled so hard to get better (just like I did all those years I had pain and thought it was a soft tissue injury/problem). This is an old pattern of mine. Beating my head against a brick wall, because somehow that is going to get me where I want to go. I hope that I have learned from this experience to stop when I catch myself doing that and examine what I’m trying to force. I’m learning that acceptance and surrender, while working persistently and gently at one’s edge, is a much better approach!

Hopefully, I can remember this wisdom as I move into the summer and all the things I want to do that I haven’t been able to for so long. Pacing and patience, Rhonda. Be gentle and kind with yourself. (I think that message is for all of us.)

This always feels like an important date in my hip recoveries. It’s the point where I feel like the new hip becomes part of me and a lot of the tightness and guarding of the muscles releases. I definitely feel that today. Again, I am back on my yoga mat on the floor. But this time, I am walking around the block without a cane or limp (see the last video in: Rhonda’s Hip Adventure Videos), can do stairs already and 24-short form Tai Chi! This hip is much stronger and more flexible, with much less pain than my right hip at this point. I can already stand on the leg and balance in all directions. I can do side leg lifts from a prone position, and the clam shell exercise. These were agonizing for months on the right hip and totally impossible at 3 weeks. I absolutely know now that it was the result of the cable, especially the tightening mechanism (the knot on the side of my leg in the xrays). As my muscles snap across that cable, it causes pain, weakness and a tightening of the muscles. Now I can feel the difference so clearly.

I went to physical therapy last week and both Lori and her assistant, Jessie, were amazed at the difference between my two recoveries. We all agree that it is the cable. Already, there is a marked difference in the muscle mass between my right and left legs and glutes. My right side is atrophying. This is not a good sign. If it continues and I cannot get used to the cable and fire my muscles normally, the cable will have to come out. I anticipate we will make that call at my September, 2018 annual checkup on the right hip. Until then, I’ll keep trying to get used to it and strengthen the leg. We will see what happens…

My body is feeling good and my energy level is coming back. I’m able to resume much of my normal activities, in moderation. I do poop out more easily than normal and have been taking afternoon naps. Still loving my ice/compression machine a couple of times a day. I’m only using about one Tylenol a day now and my Celebrex. I think I’ll try stopping the Celebrex and Tylenol this week and go back to ibuprofen as needed, see how that goes.

Reading through my 3-6 week journey on my right hip, I realize that this is the point where I started to push beyond my edge and really set myself back last time. I am determined not to repeat that mistake this time. And, really there is no need. I am already where I was fighting myself to be last time. But, I couldn’t get there because of the cable! At least I know why now.  When I am effortlessly able to do something like lift my leg to the side, I still cry when I remember how difficult and painful it was last time.

I am so very grateful for this miraculous difference!

This is always a big day, the post-op appointment where my bandage comes off and they take the xrays! This means I have some show and tell today and that involves bandages and scars, so if you don’t want to see, don’t scroll down!

First I’ll tell you about the appointment… Danielle brought us into the office and pulled off my bandage. The incision looks really good! Then, Scott and I met with Davis, Dr. Shukla’s assistant. He wanted to know how I was doing. I got up and walked around the office for him, showed him that I could do Tree pose and then told him to breathe while I bent into a forward fold and touched the floor. He wasn’t particularly thrilled about that last part and made me promise I wouldn’t show Dr. Shukla :-). NOTE: If you are 2 weeks post-surgery, you should never do this unless you’ve been practicing yoga for a very long time and have already successfully rehabbed a hip replacement and know exactly where your safe range of motion is!! Keep your 90 degree precaution until week 6.

Then I asked Davis what happened surgically to account for the HUGE difference between my right hip and this left hip? He said that the most likely culprit was the ziptie (or cerclage cable in medical lingo). In the right hip (#1), they had tried one size implant and it didn’t fit properly, so it had to be pulled and another one inserted into the femur. The femur was already showing signs of stress (bone spurs), so they decided to cable it for safety and support until my bone could grow around the implant. On my left hip (#2), they inserted one implant and the femur and bone integrity was better so they could drill further into the pelvis for the cup and only use one screw to secure it (there are 2 screws in the right hip), and they didn’t have to use the cable. Basically, #2 sustained less surgical trauma than #1 and the muscles are clearly impacted by the cable, which made my recovery slower on #1.

We all agreed that we would give my rehab a year, and if at that point, I still cannot walk over a mile without the muscles in my right leg seizing up, they will remove the cable. This is about a 20-minute procedure, using the same incision (but smaller) and I should be out same day with no restrictions and a very fast rehab. I am satisfied with this decision. So, I’ll work on my rehab on leftie and see what rightie decides as we go along. My experience at this point is that the right hip feels more stable and has less pain than before the surgery, probably because I am finally balanced out for the first time in my life.

I am officially no longer dysplastic (though I will make no promises about no longer being dysfunctional :-)…

After May 31, 2018                               Before July 6, 2017

Here’s a picture of the cool silver, antibacterial bandage. This is worn after surgery until the post-op. This is what gets covered with Glad Press n Seal for showering.

And here are my matching pinstripes:

Left hip: Surgery 5-16-2018                        Right hip: Surgery 9-20-2017

I was impressed with how good even the scar looks already! Yay!!! This feels like the day it becomes official.  IT IS DONE AND I NO LONGER HAVE HIP DYSPLASIA!!!!!

I want to thank my amazing surgical team Dr. Shukla and Davis Ayers for their excellent work. You guys are the best! Words can never express my gratitude at getting my life and my mobility back.

I also want to thank all of you who have been by my side supporting me, in person or at a distance, through my hip adventures. I will continue to post regularly through the rehab process, so keep checking the blog for updates.

What a day for me and my new left hip! We started out with qigong and I was able to do Monkey, which requires a lot of balance and I’ve never done without wobbling on my ankles. Imagine my surprise when I discovered I could do it steady and even for the first time! That inspired me to try Tree Pose.

How cool is that? And I can hold it! That took about 3 months last time, due to the problems in my gluteus medius which couldn’t stabilize me on my right leg.

Marta, Larry and Ray came to visit this morning and couldn’t believe the difference in me this time vs. last time. We drank mimosas to celebrate and watched as the old Chevys paraded by, going into the park for the annual Chevy Classic Car Show.

Then I was inspired to try walking around the block without my hiking poles. I couldn’t do that last time until the 4th week! And then it hurt a lot and I wasn’t sure if I’d make it back. I had to sit and rest along the way. Today, I cruised right around slowly without pain and then marched up the stairs at the end! Last time stairs were the bane of my existence for MONTHS. I did everything I could to avoid them.

I walked in the house, sat down and immediately began to sob tears of joy and relief. I had a moment of compassion for myself, fully realizing how very hard it was last time. Theo hopped up on the table and looked at me with concern. I patted his head and told him not to worry, “These are happy tears.”

I continue to be blown away by this experience, which is so different from the last! I just finished walking down to the end of the block and back! It took a long time before I could do that last time. Today is beautiful with fluffy, white clouds dotting the sky and it is wonderfully warm. The neighbors are all working on their yards and the flowers are blooming. It feels outside like I feel inside.

Yesterday I had my first physical therapy appointment with Lori. I walked in with my hiking poles, but just left them by the lockers in case I needed them. She watched me walk up to her, unassisted, in amazement. “Look at you!” she exclaimed. She had me get up on a table and checked my range of motion. “Unbelievable, I’ve never seen this at one week post-op.” I showed her all the things I could already do, including getting up on my hands and knees and alternately lifting my opposite arm and leg. She observed that I was already able to safely pass the 90-degree angle limitation, but cautioned me against crossing the leg against my body. “Don’t do that until 6 weeks, even if you feel like you can.”

I really enjoy working with her, because she can so readily assess where I am and not try to fit me into a “standard protocol.” I told her I’d been doing the exercises she’d given me last time, since Day 4. I also demonstrated that I could stand and balance on the leg and weight shift, which I could not do on the right leg until some time after our last appointment. She decided that meant I could work on the balance board right off! I never even made it to the balance board after 6 weeks of therapy on the right side! But, today I’m sore and stiff, of course. Not nearly as bad as last time, though.

I showed her how my muscles snap over the cable surrounding my femur on the right leg, and told her that hurt until the 7-month mark and that I still can’t walk over a mile without the leg muscles seizing up. She winced. I said I thought that was the difference between this time and last time, that and not waiting as long. I also showed her how I still can’t stand on my right leg and extend my left leg back very far without it buckling. She wondered if I could have the cable removed? I said, that my agreement with Dr. Shukla was that we’d give it a year and if it was still seriously giving me trouble, like keeping me from walking over a mile, he would do it. I’m hoping my muscles will continue to get used to it and I won’t have to have another surgery.

The statement she made that really stuck with me was, “The first one was atypical (bad) and this one is better than I’ve seen at one week from surgery.”

I decided that means the whole thing averages out, and I’m just happy the golden girl was my second one and not my first. Imagine how depressed I would be if it had been the other way around?

When I got home, I cried with relief. I realized that I didn’t know if I could make it through another agonizing, long rehab. I am so very grateful to have this miraculous post-op experience instead! I wept tears of gratitude and thanked God, all my angels, and my great team at Reno Orthopedic Clinic!

I had this knowing deep down: It Is Done. Now, I move forward with steady, balanced devotion to healing and rehabbing, while being kind and gentle, yet persistently determined.

Yesterday was a tired day, so I slept instead of blogging! Today I’m more energetic and thought I’d reach out and update all of you.

I continue to do so much better than last time! It is truly amazing the difference with this hip. I have way less pain, much more strength and flexibility. I can actually stand on my left leg, which I couldn’t do for a long time on my last one. Because of this, I can walk better right from the get go! I hardly need the walker anymore, but do use it to carry things. I use my hiking poles for stability when I’m just walking. But, honestly, a lot of the time I don’t need them either and this is only Day 4! I am absolutely stunned. I think videos are always worth so much more than words, so let’s do that…  Rhonda’s Hip Adventure Videos.  See the video of Day 4 Surgery 2 and compare it to the first video which was Day 4 Surgery 1. Pretty incredible difference!

My body seemed to get back to its regular functions yesterday and I was able to take my first shower. Last time, this was quite the ordeal, requiring several days. I don’t think I could shower until the 5th day and that was a multiple-step process requiring resting in between steps. I couldn’t shower unattended for 3 weeks. Yesterday, I did it myself.

Once again, I’d like to recommend to anyone having surgery, make sure you use stool softeners like Colace and a stimulant like Dulcolax to get your BM’s back on track. It really helps to start the softeners 3 days before surgery  (stay on them until you are off the narcotic meds) and then use a couple of stimulants on the 2nd night after surgery. This usually takes care of things by the 3rd day, and I haven’t needed a stimulant again if I eat right and stay on the softeners. This time I also cut down on eating meat 2 days in advance of the surgery and I’ve eaten lighter during the first 72 hours of recovery. I think this also helped my surgery-sluggish digestive system.

Yesterday, third day after surgery, was a sore and tired day. It’s like the muscle soreness after an intense workout times 10. I find this is also a predictable pattern, but by today I am feeling much better and less stiff. Scott has set up my PT room in the back bedroom again and the cone walk:

I am amazed at how much more flexible this hip is! I can draw my heel to within about 6-12 inches of my behind while sitting up against the pillow. I can also open the leg a lot farther this time. You’ll see me do the cone walk in the video link above.

So, I am SUPER EXCITED!!! Now the big thing is staying in my Goldilocks zone and not doing too much or too little, but just right. I can tell that’s going to be an extra challenge with this one. I remember Davis telling me at my pre-op appointment, “Now, remember, no 2 hips are alike, so expect this one to be different.” I’m so thrilled it is such a wonderful different!

Thank you to all of you for your thoughts, prayers, emails, texts, calls, cards, flowers, food, visits and loving support! Thanks to my Beloved Scott who is always here for me, though this time, he gets off way easier! I could never get through this life without you my dear, sweet partner. Ok, time to sign off, mom is bringing us scalloped potato and ham casserole for dinner–one of my favorites.

In two weeks I will have a new left hip. In the last few days all my pre-op appointments have been scheduled and all the paperwork arrived in the mail today. I stop taking all my supplements tomorrow. I’m actually doing pretty well physically. I feel strong and my energy level is good. My pain is so manageable, I sometimes don’t take my usual 2 ibuprofen at bedtime. Moving forward with surgery sooner has meant less pain and disability than last time.

This is the moment when I realize I’ve just pushed off the shore of the river and into the flowing stream. The current is fast and all I can do now is steer through the rapids.

I keep hearing that old rhyme in my head:

   Row, Row ,Row your boat, gently down the stream.

      Merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

Since my last entry, I’ve had some anxiety. I resisted, it insisted. Feeling states are like that–relentless until acknowledged. Finally, I turned to my anxiety and listened. I realized I’d had the mental conception that because I have just done this, I know what to expect and so this surgery will be easier. Anxiety reminded me that this one is different. It said, “Now, you know just how hard this is for you and how long it takes to rehab. Last time you thought it would be easy and you would be hiking in 6 weeks. Now you know that hiking is likely 8 months to a year away. You know how hard this is going to be.”

I let that sink in, feeling the constriction in my chest and the wild beating of my heart. Then I asked for help. “Please help me through this. Carry me, because I’m not sure I can carry myself. I surrender, completely.”

Then I had this thought come into my mind from somewhere beyond me, “You will be ok. Step-by-step and moment-by-moment, you will get through this. When you need to be carried, I will carry you, or send someone to do it. Don’t be afraid. Trust me. This is the final lesson for you to learn on your Hip Adventure. Let go and trust. Surrender. And keep eating right and doing your exercises! Think positively, visualize a perfect outcome, in time. Surround yourself with positive, supportive, loving people. Unplug from anything negative that brings your energy and heart down. You will be fine.”

I am not a stranger to this Presence which gives me these succinct, powerful messages. It has been with me in every time of need in my life. It has always been right. After this experience, I was not as anxious. As I reflected on the message and honored my feelings, my peace grew and my pain decreased. It always surprises me how that happens.

I talked to Scott about it. He said, “You’ve been anxious?” I guess I don’t show it on the outside. I nodded. He said, “Well, that explains why I’m having all this anxiety I can’t figure out! It’s yours!” He told me he hadn’t been sleeping well since my anxiety began and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The next morning he announced he’d slept like a baby, which is normal for him. The whole exchange between us reminded me that our partners are on the ride with us when we have these surgical adventures. It’s important to communicate with them what is going on inside of us. Then we can both be free and sleep again. I’ve been sleeping again too.

Now I feel peaceful and ready. I know deep down it will all be ok. I will come out of this. Last night I dreamed that this one would be easier and I would recover faster. I hope this is true, and I nurture that hope in my imagination, seeing myself recovering with ease. At the same time, I don’t want to fall into the trap of that expectation. It will be what it will be, and I will paddle this river stroke by stroke. It’s all any of us can do.