The good; the bad; and the great!

The good news - the adductor is subsiding. It only fires up occasionally now as evidenced by my day today. I am enjoying the 30 lbs that I have dropped since the first of the year and it's actually fun to go shopping again. So, with an entire month of client visits looming, I headed out today to the mall to see if I could find some new, funky but business clothes. Had great success at Nordstrom's . .thank you Kate . . and bought 2 complete outfits - 1 gray skirt, 2 shirts and 2 jackets. I thought the mall opened at 11 so I arrived at 11:15 and found that the stores don't actually open until noon so I was a mallwalker for 45 minutes. No problems whatsoever!! Woooohooooo!!!

The bad news -- I saw Sharon on Friday and my TFL's (sorry don't know the official technical term for this one) are inflamed. Sharon's theory is that as I get one set of muscles working properly, I call on another group to step up and do their part and they have to be crabby about it for a little while. Apparently it's the TFL's turn to be crabby and they are. Sharon worked on them for 45 minutes on Friday and I felt much, much better when I left. I can still feel that they are crabby but less so than on Friday and didn't prevent me from doing anything today.

And, when I say doing anything today that would include the bike riding that I did this evening. I headed out on my mountain bike and rode for about 45 minutes hard and then came home and got on my road bike for some serious speed for another 20. Love speed and love the muscles in my legs that let me ride full out. It is thrilling. No issues with any muscles complaining about the bike riding. That's a first tonite. Usually the adductor will fire up a bit when I push the mountain bike but not today. . . not a twinge, a threat of a twinge or anything.

I am THRILLED!!! It's definitely taken me longer than I anticipated but everyone tells me that, since I had hip pain for so long, I am doing really well in getting muscles re-trained. My best advice for anyone who is reading this and contemplating surgery -- do it sooner rather than later before muscle memory becomes difficult to undo. If my own personal memory was as good as my muscle memory, I might be able to find my car keys in the mornings. :-)

It's been 5 months -- I have absolutely no stiffness no matter how long I sit in one place. My hip doesn't feel "full" and my flexibility is starting to come back. If it weren't for the adductors or the tfl's, I would barely know that I had surgery. Love it!!!

Time marches on

I realized that I hadn't posted any updates in awhile. There is a good reason for that . . .nothing much has changed since last I posted. I still have intermittent adductor pain. It really doesn't like long walks. If pushed, I will admit that it's somewhat better. The problem is that I really only want to be able to say that it's completely gone. It will only fire up when I have done a long walk and occasionally after an exceptionally exhilarating bike ride but it is still there. Ugh!!! I think Sharon, my pt, saw the desperation in my eyes last Friday and worked diligently to see if she could figure out what's going on. She thinks it is a general hip stabilization/pelvis issue and there are lots of pieces and parts involved so no one group is to blame. I seem to have adjusted my attitude (at least today) and know that I am definitely better off than I was pre-surgery so I'll just keep a positive attitude and let the adductor do whatever it feels like it needs to do. I'll keep doing my workouts, bridging, lunges, squats, monster walks, etc. and see if I can build up all of the other muscles so maybe they can overpower the adductor. The day that this goes away completely, I swear I am throwing a big party!

My travel schedule is firing up BIG time for the entire month of October. I am traveling multiple days every week during the month. It's going to really test my commitment to working out. :-) Hotel gyms can leave a lot to be desired. A treadmill and a bike do not a workout make . . .especially since Dr. P prohibits you from getting on a treadmill. Plan to take my bands and deflate my stability ball to take with me so hopefully that will motivate me.

Still loving my new mountain bike. I need to get home before dark but I continue to stay out too late and end up riding home in the pitch black. Guess a light on the front and back may be necessary. There has been an algae bloom where I usually kayak so I have not been on the water in some time. Hope to get some fall paddling in before winter hits Indiana. Boo!!!

I want to say that, despite the whole ugliness with my adductor, I feel so much better than I did before surgery. I have no regrets and feel like I am very much alive again!! I loved my 40's and I suspect they won't even compare to my 50's with 2 good hips!! Wooohoooo!!!

I love a thrill!

So, I did it! I bought a mountain bike and, in typical April fashion, couldn't wait to ride it so I took off to the trails in the pitch black with only a small headband type light on. :-) As I was ripping through a trail close to my house, I had to smile. It's 9:00 at night, pitch black and I am riding full speed down a trail where I really don't know what's ahead of me. My adrenaline was pumping, my heart was pounding and I felt so ALIVE! :-) And, I have incredibly strong legs. One of the reasons that I was flying is that my legs are just so darn strong. I continue to be amazed with my strength and ability to do things that I haven't been able to do in a few years. I can't actually think of an adjective that can properly describe how happy I am with my progress. I am still battling with the adductor. It was particularly testy with me last night after my wild ride but I didn't care. Get over it . . I think I said out loud. Nothing is stopping me now.

Guess there may be a bike rack added to the top of my car soon so I can have the option of biking or kayaking. I so don't want summer to end!!

Not so fast sister!

The adductor and I are still battling it out. I know it's been awhile since I have posted so here's the scoop:

I really thought I was winning the war with the adductor but apparently it was just because it was regrouping and re-arming to come back with a vengeance. Yikes!!! There are times when I feel pretty good and then there are times when it will absolutely seize up and I have to limp along until I can get it to relax. I find myself doing a trigger point release which I am sure looks questionable to those who are walking by since the point that really contracts is right at the top of the adductor. ;-) oh well . . i don't really care. I find that it is at its worst when I try to walk initially. If I can tough it out, I can usually outlast the spasm and it will eventually feel better. ugh!!! I just wish it would go away but it appears I may have to battle this for awhile for whatever reason.

It really doesn't interfere with my workouts which is interesting. It's mostly just when I walk. Last weekend was the MotoGP race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and I really didn't think I was going to be able to walk there. I limped along for awhile and then suddenly realized after about 1/2 hour of painful walking that I was pretty much pain free. Weird!! I think I am about 98% convinced that it truly is my adductor not that the hip surgery didn't work but I have to be honest and tell you that I have panic attacks from time to time about this whole thing. Deep breath!!

There were a couple of NFL kickers out there with me (who shall remain nameless) and I have watched them on TV doing what they do best . . . I am amazed by their recovery. If they had surgery at the same time, shouldn't I also be kicking field goals rather than whining about how my adductor won't let me walk??? :-) I should have had my hip fixed years ago when Dr. P first told me I should . . since I didn't, I have lots of muscle memory to undo and it's simply going to take some time. For those of you reading this who know you have a problem, don't delay thinking it will get better -- it doesn't!!! All that happens is that recovery takes longer. Learn from my bad habits. :-)

And, on a personal note, I have motorcycle fever BAD!!! Seeing all the bikes in town last weekend for the MotoGP race has reignited my burning desire for a motorcycle. So, I have been online for the past week casually shopping motorcycles and trying to talk myself out of it. It's really not working. I have friends who are a bad influence and are encouraging me to buy one. Not helpful in talking myself out of it. :-) A 3 day weekend could give me too much time on my hands and I could potentially be the proud owner of an Indian, Victory, Ducati or Harley by Monday.

My friend, Noelle, had surgery with Dr. Philippon yesterday. Noelle found my blog and started corresponding with me and then we had several phone conversations about this surgery and Dr. Philippon and recovery. I met up with her when I was back out in Colorado in July for my check-up. She's a very, very cool person and I feel lucky to know her. It's so awesome to be able to share my experience, hear about other's experience and be a part of a small but supportive community. Thanks to everyone who leaves a comment here! I really do appreciate it and am very interested to know how others are coming along. And, I think you already know too, am always happy to answer any questions from anyone who is considering, already had or wants to know more about this surgery. It has certainly changed my life!!