At least the first year of post-op recovery I had my painful days, my doubting days. Early on the pain free days came often enough to make me hopeful, but not so much that I was convinced I would ever have the life before FAI came into the picture. It took months of therapy, months of working hard on my own keeping up with strengthening. I think about 8 months post-op is when I truly began to see the light, that this might turn out okay afterall.
But I still had some painful days. Just often enough to remind me what I had been through...and to keep a hint of fear around. At 12 months I started to feel real strength and recovery...i started to feel comfortable with the idea of running.
I started a very conservative run/walk program. Run and minute/walk a minute and alternating this for 30 min. Every other day I added a minute to my walk, not focusing on distance or speed. Just run/walk. Now, I am not a patient person. Actually I am an extremely competitive person who wants it NOW! But this experience has taught me that one calculated step at a time sets me up for success in the future. And this lesson has helped me in all areas of my life. If I can make it through this, better, stronger with more perspective but most of all with a positive outlook on life...i like who i am more now.
Don't get me wrong...suffering through this is a nightmare. It hurts. And chronic pain affects every part of your life. For me, and many it caused depression. It made me crazy. I cried myself to sleep many nights, woke up crying in the morning. I grieved. And you may need to grieve too. But I kept perspective. I tried my best to put the anger away, cry when I needed too, but keep going. Keep searching and praying and believing there had to be an answer.
I ran my first 5 miles three days ago and expected my hip to complain, but it didn't. And after a day of rest I ran 4 miles. I'm still pain free. And it was a long road getting here. It wasn't just a surgery. I feel blessed to have had the best surgeon for the job, but that was the beginning. It didn't come easy and it didn't come quick. And during the beginning of running I had many days when I iced and cried and doubted...but I kept going. (Oh, and from my experience and what I've been told by the dr and pt is that pain the next day is ok. But if you are still having pain 48 hours later, that could be a bad sign).
So, whatever you are facing...keep perspective. Keep your thoughts on how you are going to get through. Set your heart on recovery and seek out a way to get there. The first time I went to see a doctor for my hip pain was 2005...6 years later I can honestly say it is behind me.
