When a hip starts to go....

I don't know how people wait months to have their surgery.

Five or six weeks ago, I thought I'd be planning this procedure next fall or winter. Three weeks ago, my symptoms took a major step up -- significant pain and mobility issues, I knew there was an increased problem, but I could manage with Tylenol. The past couple days, symptoms have become difficult to control. I can't keep people from noticing that I'm hobbling. I'm careful where I kneel or squat down because I know I'll need support to get up.

So, I'm forced to say: I'm glad I'm having surgery tomorrow. Sure wish I could skip the next 6 weeks, though.

Here we go again -- not even a year later....

A month ago, I would have said, yeah, the (remaining) hip is starting to show some problems, but I'll probably make it 'till next winter.We can deal with it later.

That was before the family ski trip to Montana. And how we'd looked forward to this outing! While the men in the family had been traveling to western mountains for a week in January the past few years, Z's high school vacations didn't synch with the college boy's. She and I diligently stayed home dealing with January finals. 

We were all excited. Weather and scenery were spectacular. While we didn't have powder, snow was good. I was conservative and skiied gently. No major falls. No crazy runs. Relatively short days. While I had no problems on the slopes, I was a cripple in the evenings. 

When we got home, I thought I'd just aggravated the joint. I took max NSAID doses and consistent Tylenol doses to gain pain control. Things actually got worse. Sometimes, when I shifted my weight, something would catch and I'd experience a most interesting stab or pop, nearly sending me to the floor.

So, I went back to my orthopedic surgeon. While I feared some odd injury, x-rays showed "normal" arthritic deterioration. It wasn't going to get better. I could try an injection to buy some time, but with that crazy "catch" and "pop" I figured I had some loose body rolling around in there that wouldn't respond to medication.

So here I am again. Not even 60 yet! (Well, soon.) I'm still too young! 

And this is not how I expected to spend the next 6-8 weeks or so. 

OK, fine. So things did go pretty smoothly last time. Now I'm feeling pressure to meet or exceed that recovery pattern. Plus, I've got family situations and work projects to deal with. Now, we're on a fast track for a Feb. 1 procedure date. I'd say I wasn't ready -- except for that "catch" and "pop."

So, I'm looking back through last year's blog figuring out how I set things up for my recovery and trying to feel prepared and organized.

I'm sure there's a plan here for me, but I'm having a really difficult time going with it.