What Made You Decide to Have Hip Replacement?
I had suffered from childhood with hip pain from hip dysplasia. We had modified our house, my husband and family had assumed many daily tasks that were too painful for me to complete. My quality of life had decreased. Appropriate medication levels kept increasing, rendering me less able to do normal activities. I had undergone corrective arthroscopic knee surgeries to eliminate some pain and had spent years working with a chiropractor. After all these modifications, I was in daily pain.
What Were You Not Prepared For?
Prior to surgery, many activities extracted a heavy pain price. So to just begin believing after surgery that those same activities would not be painful, took time and healing. My pain was gone, but I felt left with the debris of the experience. And that has been another journey.
Lessons Learned
- I had both hips replaced within one year. Therapy was physically demanding, but I had a family member, who had been through similar surgery as a coach. Her example of hard disciplined recovery was my shining light. It would be helpful if hip patients had mentors, someone who had "been there and done that" to assist in their recovery.
- It has taken multiple healing therapies for me to reintegrate my mind, body and spirit.
- Surgery is minor in comparison to the journey of full recovery.
