So...today is my One Year Hippiversary. That really is a thing apparently. Not sure it's made it into the OED yet. Friendaversary is in the urban dictionary so there's chance yet I suppose. Or if hippiversary isn't enough of a thing there's the Hippy Birthday. Whatever...today is a year since I went bionic in my right hip.
Before my surgery I thought that by this time I would be back riding, zumbaing (not sure what the verb is there!), dancing...everything I've put on hold for the last 5 years. And to start with that's just how it seemed. Walking well, pain free, only niggle was the groin thing that I knew would go because everybody said it would. Only it didn't. It stayed, then it got worse and my last blog entry has gone through the whole sorry story.
So while I would love this to be an all signing happy-clapping story of my perfect life with my new hip the reality is an update on the groin pain that has hung round for the past year. I had my steroid injection 3 weeks ago. I was a bit of a mess going in for it having had a pretty rough time with one before. But this was actually not too bad. Not something I'd have on a bucket list of how to kill a couple of hours but I've been through worse. Watching Liverpool in January for one thing - now that was painful!
Yet again there was more stress in my head than necessary. And yet again it was the local anaesthetic injection that was the worse bit. Just a little prick! That came after having spent quite a while looking at me via an ultrasound to see just where needles were going. So having been comfortably numbed I then lay there chatting to the nurse and pointedly not looking down as I felt a lot of pushing around. Occasionally it got a bit uncomfortable but really wasn't painful. Which was just as well seeing as it must have gone on for about 10 minutes.
The doctor did tell me upfront that this was not a cure and was only designed to buy me time. That was the first time anyone had specifically said that. It wasn't much of a surprise and I was grateful that it had actually been made clear. He also warned me about 'steroid flare'. This is where the first couple of days can actually go more painful before they get better. So I was suitably prepared. Kev was with me to drive me home, as the hospital had instructed, but to be honest I felt fine. And for the whole evening I was having happy positive thoughts as for once it wasn't excruciating. OK so I still had local anaesthetic in me but it was nice to enjoy for the moment.
I went to bed thinking maybe I hadn't needed to plan on working from home next day after all. I woke up next morning in agony and couldn't even move my leg. Ok this was steroid flare kicking in. I did some gentle stretches and walked round the house a bit in between having to sit and work and by lunchtime it had eased a bit. Then over the next week or so I was aware of things. Like not having to wince as I brought my leg into the car. And best of all being able to step into my knickers :)
It wasn't pain free, but it was like winding the clock back several months and just having a little twinge. And this time I knew what I needed to do to.
I have been back to my exercises really diligently. To the point I am now bored rigid doing them but I'm persevering. I'm actually having some days when I feel more sore in my outer thigh and buttocks from all the glutes exercises. I've even deliberately gone to trying to work 2 days a week from home so I can do my exercises in the morning. It has been a constant niggle of having been at this point before and it got worse rather than went away. But it really had seemed to help having the injection and if this blog had been written a week ago I probably would have been quite bouncy. BUT (and with me there's always a big butt!) in the past week it feels as though it's getting worse again. I can still step into the knickers but it's definitely more painful. I'm trying to keep going with the exercises and hoping it will get better but it is hard at times to keep all positive as I just feel I've been here before. Yes there's been moments I've had a little bit of a cry in frustration too and then I get annoyed at myself for being like that.
And I hate feeling my whole blog post is a tale of doom and gloom. Am I still glad I had the surgery? Yes. Would I go through it again if my left hip needed it? Yes again. I can walk loads and mostly am in little or no discomfort at all. Pre-op that was something I couldn't do at all. I did go to a party last week where Kev was DJ and avoided dancing as I was just feeling cautious, and I don't like that but I am trying to do all I can to help myself here. Generally people would likely be pretty amazed to hear I've had a hip replacement whereas 13 months ago they'd have seen me hobbling round using a walking stick. A purple sparkly one but still a walking stick. I banished that stick the day I went into hospital. Once I came off crutches I didn't use a single aid and for that I am really pleased. So the next few weeks I will work my butt off - or at least work it! And keep fingers crossed. Back to Mr H-R late March, 8 weeks post injection and then possibly consider release surgery if need be. For now I'm going to hope and keep enjoying stepping in my knickers :)
