Sunday Sun

It's funny how I've gone from checking hipwomen a dozen times a day and updating this business near-daily (what did I even have to say??) to dropping off the face of the internet post-op. I guess because now I'm not so concerned with what to expect and, to be frank, recovery is kind of boring. Being back in the pool has been the most exciting part - remembering (my muscles, not my mind) how to walk is a definite eye-opener. I've certainly never tried so hard to act natural before! Last week I was right on the verge of asking one of the PTs how to turn around, a skill I seem to have lost after 8 weeks on crutches. I just could NOT do it normally - I found myself doing the crutchy hop-pivot and thinking "Now that can't be right!" But that muscle memory is something else, let me tell you - all of a sudden last week I realized I was turning like a normal person again. Everything I've started doing normally again has thus far happened like that - I do it unconsciously and then a second later go "Whoa! I just did that!" Same with lifting my leg up to the edge of the tub to dry it, which I did for the first time last week. I'm not too concerned about doing something bad that way, since if the soreness doesn't stop me the physical inability to bend or twist or exert myself that way certainly will. I just can't do it - period. But that list grows shorter by the day and I'm out and about (slowly but surely) more and more. Most pleasing is the steady return of feeling in my hip and thigh, which has been the most surprisingly slow development. Being in the pool is definitely helping in that regard - I never thought I'd be so happy to get that zippy ZING! shooting out of my scar.

And the scar... now I finally understand why the hipwomen talk about not being able to wear jeans post-op. MAN that thing is sensitive! I don't have to worry much about overexerting myself in the pool because the pressure of my suit on the incision gets unbearable far faster than any muscle fatigue. Not really sure if there's any solution to that save for that old healer time, which til now has been mostly on my side. My extended hiatus from the world of work came to an end this weekend, and being back in the store has been great thus far. Going back to school in a few weeks, however... I am SO hoping I'm not still on crutches for THAT business! And Adam & Sue's reception, which is on a boat. :/

At this point I'd say the biggest pain I have is the pain in my ass of trying to communicate with the folks at Boston Childrens - much as I love them and the work they do! I left the hospital feeling like I knew what to expect but as time goes by I'm less and less sure of what I'm supposed to be doing. My second round of post-op x-rays (which I'm trying to do in Vermont instead of driving 6 hours roundtrip for 10 minutes of appointments) still hasn't been scheduled and I have no idea how soon after that I might hope to be off crutches. I haven't seen a PT since I was in the hospital, which just seems wrong. Thankfully I already had my pool routine (which I've curtailed significantly, limiting myself to stretching & walking in the shallow and jogging & skiing in the deep) so I'm not feeling like a total lump, but still. Oh what a lesson in patience hip dysplasia has been!