A New Hip

So normally, a 47-year-old doesn't need a hip replacement. But if you are a first-born female in my family, you are an exception to this rule. My Mom has had three hip replacements (yes, that is one too many if you are doing the math), my cousin has hip problems, and I started on this same path a few years back.

I started noticing that my right hip would give out and have a twitch of pain. This became more regular to the point where I couldn't do certain activities (running) and then slowly I developed a noticeable limp. I chalked it all up to a torn muscle from working out and basically ignored it for a year or so. Then this July at the beach, I got called out by my family for limping down the boardwalk. They demanded that I go see a doctor. And he diagnosed me with hip dysplasia with advanced arthritis. The only real option to fix it? A hip replacement. 

I called Brian in tears. It took awhile to process this information, but eventually I did and that's when my hip problem became more pronounced. My walking slowed down significantly. I couldn't easily tie my shoes by myself. I couldn't do certain weight exercises because it hurt too bad. And that limp became so pronounced that everyone asked me about it. It became obvious that I needed this surgery now.

So I scheduled it for February 24- the day after UA Education Day- one of my biggest events of the year. January and February were a whirlwind (I'll explain why later), but I also had the worry of my surgery in the back of my mind constantly. This anxiety came to a head the week before my surgery when I went to a physical therapy appointment to learn how to help my hip heal. As the woman was walking me through all the things I would need (the elevated toilet seat, the belt to help get my leg into the bed, a driver for several weeks, etc.) I got very overwhelmed. She asked if I had anymore questions, and I said, "Yes, why am I doing this surgery?" and started crying. In that moment I got so overwhelmed on how we would do life if I was completely out of commission. And she responded, "Because you want to lead a full and active lifestyle at your age," and of course she was right. She gave me a hug and another therapist walking by gave me a hug, and said, "It's okay, Moms can do anything." I left Raleigh Orthopedic feeling embarrassed I had had a mental breakdown in their office, but feeling a little better for getting my emotions out.

Fast forward a few days, and I went into my surgery on a Tuesday morning at 6:15 am feeling calm and ready. It was 100% God watching me over me because normally I would be a wreck in that situation. Everything went according to plan (except one botched IV), I went back into the OR 20 minutes early, fell right asleep and woke up in recovery and hour a half later. The surgery had been successful, and within an hour the nurse had gotten me dressed and I was up walking the halls of the surgery center! It was crazy how fast it all happened. I was home by 1:30 pm.

Brian and my Mom were the ultimate nurses and took care of my every need. I rested, healed, and relaxed. It was not nearly as bad as I expected it would be. I was not in that much pain, and each day I got stronger and could do more. By Friday afternoon, I realized I no longer needed Mom and sent her home. I will always be grateful for all she did for me- she packed lunches, drove carpool, slept on the couch with me at night, fixed us dinner, helped with homework, and bought us a new vacuum! Moms truly can do anything. 

I'm now a week out and off the walker and on to a cane. But I really don't even need that. I've started back to work (from home- still can't drive), can do most tasks on my own, and am feeling more like myself every day. 

I'm so happy I had the surgery and that it is now behind me. I will always remember how kind and helpful all my family and friends were to me during this time, how I truly needed a week to reset and relax, and how next time I won't wait so long to take care of a problem because the build-up is much worse than the actual thing.