Archive for Recovery
I’m Free!
Posted by: | CommentsNext week I will be four months post op, my how time flies! I have been doing really well. No long term negatives from the run on Sunday, just some achy muscles that got a rude awakening! I went for a 45 minute bike ride with a friend on Tuesday that included one short but rather steep hill that was a little challenge for the glutes. Then on Wednesday I had my FINAL physio session WAHOOOOO.
The final physio session was a repeat of the physical assessment I had 3 or 4 weeks ago to compare the results. Everything has improved fairly significantly in that short time! My flexion is equal to, if not more than my non-op side although still has a ‘pinchy’ end feel at the moment. I have more internal rotation than external rotation which is totally bizarre and muscle tone and balance have improved too. I’ve been left with my gym exercises (I will scan these and upload shortly) and will just gradually increase cycling/jogging distances.
I will be support crew for my friend at the Graperide this year as I won’t be able to compete, but it will still be an awesome weekend! Just three weeks to go. I have also got a holiday weekend booked at the beginning of May to visit Mum and Mike. My best friend will be coming with me and we have a snowboarding lesson/day organised as well as Mum and I participating in a duathlon! I have heaps to look forward to at the moment so I am just buzzing 
Hip Hop
Posted by: | CommentsI went for my first real run yesterday! I intended to do intervals, but I was able to run the full 3.5km stopping only at the single set of traffic lights on the way out and back. Now I admit, my run is more of a plod, it is by no means fast (30mins total), but it felt so good to get out and feel like I was exercising properly and making my lungs work! I was a little sore last night, but I iced and had no lasting issues. The weak, limpy walk when I finished my run was non-existant and even today I feel better post run than I did after my pre-surgery runs.
Now I just have to continue working on strength and increase the distance slowly and hopefully this is the beginning of a great new year of fitness with a new hip!
Yee Har!
Phew!
Posted by: | CommentsOoops, so I’ve neglected you guys a wee bit! It has been a pretty busy week for me so here’s a rundown.
Monday: morning physio at the gym, then the relaxation class which was really quite good, I will be going again tomorrow. Worked 4 hours.
Tuesday: I worked a 9-hour split shift at work, went for a swim at lunch time and then a bike ride after dinner (the same route as Sunday). Then I remembered that I was supposed to do a gym session on my own before I met my physio next, which I thought was Thursday but upon checking discovered it was Wednesday, so didn’t have time to fit that in unless I wanted to do two sessions on Wednesday!
Wednesday: Physio was very happy with me doing a swim and bike ride on Tuesday so not worried about skipping the gym and we made some changes to my program, mainly just adding in some extra sets where things were a bit easy. Told me to try a longer bike ride on the weekend. Worked a 9-hour split shift.
Thursday: I slept in and had a day off exercise. Worked 6 hours.
Friday: I had an appointment with the psychologist who was very pleased with how things are going. It’s amazing what a difference diminished pain levels coupled with a feeling of well deserved normalcy and harmony among peers can make to ones mood! Worked 6 hours. Went to a fund-raising silent auction for my cousin’s rowing team. Managed to buy myself a pair of awsome Roxy snowboarding boots…ummm, never been snowboarding in my life but they were a BARGAIN, winning bid of $80 and they are worth $350! One guess at what I am going to do this winter…and if I don’t like it I can sell the boots lol.
Saturday: I biked to Nanna and Grandy’s for scones and coffee then back home, a 22km round trip. It was good having the break in between. Came home and did some gardening/loading garden waste onto a trailer to take to the dump and felt pretty good afterwards.
Sunday (today): Sleep in, took half an hour to find clothes that fit, argh! Glad to be able to exercise again and ready to put in the hard yards! Sushi for lunch at the mall, grocery shopping then off to the gym with hubby for an hour and a bit. Managed to jog for my warm-up today (first time since surgery) with the treadmill set to intervals for 10 minutes. NO pain on impact, a nice and very welcome surprise! Did all my exercises then 5 minutes on the bike to finish off.
Yummy home-made Balinese curry for dinner at my inlaw’s and now a nice hot cuppa as I recline on the couch and blog
I am really pleased with the way things are going at the moment. I feel like I’m finally getting somewhere. The hardest part of my physical activity is the flexion exercise on the hip machine at the gym which still causes a reasonable amount of discomfort but I’m sure it will just take a little time to sort this out.
I am nearly off all medications. Pain killers are stored in the cupboard (except for the emergency ones in my bag) and haven’t been touched at all during the week.
Life is good
1st Glorious Bike Ride!
Posted by: | CommentsI have done it! Nearly 14 weeks post op I have just come back from my first REAL road ride and it was great, I want to go again! My friend biked over to join me despite having a tummy bug which was really nice of her. We did a 13km loop ride and it took us 35 minutes. I had NO pain. The little swelling becomes apparent on the bike because I can feel it in the groin area when peddling where the other side feels normal but I’m not worried, it doesn’t cause any problems, just feels odd.
The best thing about this ride is the amount of time on the saddle. My longest (indoor) bike ride until today had been 10 minutes so I am just absolutely stoked at lasting 35. I maintain that real cycling is easier than cycling on the trainer!
On top of that I have endured and survived a 42-hour, 7-day week at work. A huge jump from 6 x 15 hour weeks then 22 hours last week. 30 is my normal and will be back to that this coming week. I have not taken pain lollies all week as the hip has been great! A little IT band snapping but NO aching whatsoever. The only problem I have now is aching feet so I need to buy some formthotics or something for my shoes this week.
So that’s my week, I feel like I’ve won the lottery
I am meeting my physio at the gym tomorrow to sort out my strengthening programme then have a relaxation class to go to at the hospital which should be interesting.