Saturday, December 31, 2011

Recovery - Day 2

Update from Nate for Dec 30: Megan is recovering well for the hospital part of the journey. She battled some nausea throughout the day as she weened off of the heavier IV pain meds; the nausea and itching is subsiding now, and the epidural and catheter have all been removed. She has gotten out of bed with the help of P.T. and made it to the bathroom 3 different times with the walker. We are really pleased to see how well pain is being managed and expect to be coming home tomorrow assuming she can pass the P.T. "steps" test. We should be home to party like rockstars with ice packs and strong drugs...


Thursday, December 29, 2011

Recovery - Day 1

Megan's first day of recovery is coming to a close. She is doing about as well as possible at this point - experiencing nausea and itching from her pain meds, so she didn't sleep much last night. Her leg was immediately put into the passive motion machine following surgery and she will continue with it 6 to 8 hours a day. She hasn't gotten out of bed already and took several steps with a walker during PT.

Pray for rest, calm, well controlled pain, nausea and no itching. Thanks all!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Surgery Complete!

After 4 1/2 hours in surgery this afternoon, Megan's surgery is complete! Dr. Clohisy was encouraged and spoke very positively of how the surgery went. He corrected the previous repositioning of the ball and socket, corrected/fixed the labrum, and shaved the head and neck of femur. This is a great start, but the success of the surgery will be measured by Megan's pain levels weeks from now.

Megan and Nate are thankful for Dr. Clohisy and all of your prayers and thoughts. Please pray for Megan's pain, sleep, nausea, comfort levels, perseverance...

Thank you friends!

Friday, December 23, 2011

St. Louis bound...again


Over the Rhine's Christmas album is playing, presents are wrapped, and we are packing our bags for the weekend in State College, PA with Nate's parents.

An entire autumn season has passed since I last posted here.

Regarding my right hip (which was operated on last May), I continue to strengthen and heal. I am mostly happy with the progress. There is still some pain from my bursitis as well as my psoas, which my doctor believes will settle down in time. Dr. Clohisy says he continues to believe I will heal completely on my right side. We are hopeful for this as we move forward to addressing my left hip once again.

As you all know, my left PAO surgery from a year ago August was a failed surgery, overcorrected and missing a major addressing of my impingement. Over time, the pain of the failed surgery has only heightened; there is significant nerve pain alongside the joint structure that has failed. As time has passed, and now having compared two distinctly differing outcomes, we were ready to consider scheduling a re-PAO of my left hip. My doc was encouraged by my strength and mobility on my right hip and was willing to schedule my surgery. After a fierce battle with Anthem, they overturned our case and are now willing to cover my surgery. WE ARE SCHEDULED FOR DECEMBER 28TH IN ST. LOUIS. We will return from PA on Monday and head to St. Louis on Tuesday.

A re-do PAO is not a cut and dry surgery; it is more involved, there is more bleeding that will occur due to the soft tissues build-up, and altogether it is more of a "gamble" (says my doctor) in that it is the 2nd time around. My hip is not as strong as the first time and whereas at first I would have had a 95-100% chance of full recovery, I now have a 60-70% chance. It is heartbreaking to note how this would have been different had we met Dr. Clohisy and known of him to begin with. Even so, the reality is we have a 2nd chance at this surgery and relieving pain and we feel the time is right to choose it. It's within the deductible year, I'm still young and have the cartilage to qualify, the pain is intense, and we are in the best hands, literally, for this particular need and surgery.

Please pray with us for WHOLE healing, for HOPE and encouragement. After two years of PAO surgeries, and no entirely healed hips yet, we are in need of others to pray and hope for us.

We will keep this blog updated as my surgery occurs next Wednesday and in days following.

For now, Merry Christmas. May the birth of Christ bring joy in your hearts and and a thirst for His tender love.

Megan

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Seeds of Hope

Good morning, faithful blog readers.

If you've stuck around to continue reading, God bless you :) I'd say I've waited long enough to post an update. I am now only 5 days off from being 3 months post op! And, as I welcome the month of August, I'm aware that it's now been one year since my first surgery that went so poorly. 3 months into a highly traumatic surgery on my right hip, I feel stronger and more capable on my right hip than my left hip completed one year ago. No doubt, the last few weeks have caused me to contemplate the differences in these recovery periods.

I have been off all forms of walking assistance since week 6. I have almost completed my PT which did not begin until 3 months into my first (failed) surgery. Although I still have swelling and significant groin and hip joint pain at moments, my right side feels as though it is coming together in ways we prayed for. My left hip continues to have shooting nerve pain and is swollen twice as much as my right hip. In moments where I gets discouraged by the left side, I have to discipline myself to stop, pray, and consider the progress on the right side. Others remind of this as well. And though we don't know how the re-do surgery will go this winter (and if the nerve issues will be addressed in necessary ways), I am grateful to God for the comparison of an accurately healing hip as opposed to the frustration I have lived with in my left hip.

Regarding PT, I've been overwhelmed with gratefulness to meet Andrea who has engaged my PT recovery process in ways that feel as significantly different as my right surgery was with Dr. Clohisy. We've focused our time on less engagement on the hip flexor and more focus on the psoas and glute muscles that "fell asleep" and lost memory this past year as my body chose to overcompensate in the hip flexors. Translation: I have to re-learn to walk again in ways that are slightly differentiated but wholly vital to my overall healing and readiness for my third surgery.

Though we have a long road still ahead, my spirits are high today. I have some low moments but overall, I can see the light ahead. I meet with Dr. Clohisy in 3 weeks for my 3-month check up. I'm anxious to hear his feedback and begin conversations regarding the timetable of my re-do surgery. I'm hopeful he'll have more wisdom to share about addressing my nerve damage.

Lastly, we did receive some excellent news in the few weeks regarding re-do PAO's. There had been no research we could find on successful re-PAO's, which brought some anxiety to Nate and I about moving forward. We learned that two weeks ago Clohisy published a report on re-PAO's, showing a 77% success rate for those he has done. This isn't the 95% success rate we could have had, had he done my left hip in its original state. However, we feel this is is a pretty good statistic given our desperate need for pain relief and forward movement.

Updates to follow from my next visit to St. Louis.

May you be filled with the joy of Christ today and rest in His love.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

6 weeks of healing

Tomorrow marks 6 week post surgery. I am learning to walk again--I walked (with a major limp) with no crutches or cane yesterday; I'll need to return to them now and then, but hopeful to leave them behind soon. I returned to work for 1/2 days in the office last week and my body collapsed in exhaustion and ache at 5pm each day. I am icing often in hopes of avoiding the bursitis I've accrued on my left hip.

Physical therapy starts on Tuesday morning; Dr. Maiers from Methodist Sports recommends a hip/athletically focused PT at Clarian.

I went and sat next to the POOL yesterday and revealed all my scars to the pooling world. Nate says they are not as obvious as I imagine to be; he's so sweet. They are of course gigantic and oh-so-obvious to me; they are battle wounds. We finally had a Saturday with decent weather, so we took full advantage and laid our bodies in the sun (SPF 50). I swam around and found the non-weight-bearing water felt very comfortable to my joints. I think I'll go back this week for some pool therapy.

We are forging on. Our last benevolence meal comes this week, I am trekking upstairs to sleep in my own bed again, and I can finally look out at the garden and envision the day is near when I can join Nate in the labor--just in time for our beans and heirloom tomatoes to pop!

We know there is a lot of work ahead. I look forward to the day I don't need pain pills or Tylenol to get through the day. We know that we won't feel in the clear until several months from now when I am pain free on the right hip and Clohisy gives me the thumbs up (we see him again in August).

Bless you for your care, for coming to read, for continuing to pray as we have healing ahead and yet another (hopefully just 1!) surgery still in front of us.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Next Steps!

On our way to St. Louis on Monday night I told Nate that I didn't know if I can handle bad news or news of setbacks from my surgeon. After a month homebound, new pains, vulnerable, and sometimes irritable, I asked God for particularly good news for Tuesday's appointment.

We received great news.

Clohisy says my bone is growing back quickly and my repaired impingement looks to be a drastic difference from my left side. (side note: He is very methodical and orderly, in fact, so much so that my screws are in perfect order side by side) My scar looks really pretty this time around, less risen and more natural looking. It is healing well. My mobility is ahead of schedule and after a very conservative first month, he is lifting almost all of my restrictions, as I feel able. I can begin to drive (as I feel able), get on the bike at the gym and swim, begin physical therapy (gait training, but no big range of motion stuff quite yet) at Methodist Sports, and return to work 1/2 days next week. I can also bend over the 90 degree angle (I have cheated a few times, but now I can fully bend down when my coffee spills or to tie my shoe) as he has lifted this restriction as well.

He had me get out of the wheelchair and walk to him on my own. I felt quite unsteady but his exact words were "oh yeah, you are going to do very well, Megan." I will need assistance walking with crutches and then a cane for the next few weeks, working towards no assistance at all in a few weeks. Wow. In comparison to my left surgery, I am way ahead of schedule whereas last time it wasn't until the 3 month mark until I left my crutches behind. Right now, I'm at 4 1/2 weeks post surgery.

Tonight Nate and I will go for a test drive to feel out my muscle control. I will hopefully get a swim in this weekend as I so anticipate physical activity. I'm starting to move around a bit more in the house, slowly learning to walk again (with assistance).

On a personal note, I have hit significant low points these past few weeks. In some moments, I have wondered if good news would come again. And in my better moments, I remember Christ as my "good news" and I take heart.

We have waited on this tangible good news from my surgeon as well. We know the battle is still ahead; for now, we will draw a line in the sand, mark this day and thank God for his kindness.

Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner noises of my fears
keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there
even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
"Come to me, you who are overburdened,
and I will give you rest...
for I am gentle and humble of heart."
Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen.

Henri Nouwen

Monday, June 13, 2011

1 month post-surgery


We leave in 1 hour for St. Louis in hopes of good news tomorrow morning as we re-enter Barnes-Jewish Hospital for my 1-month post-op check up...

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Place






We have entered the fourth week of recovery and glad for this approaching marker. I had intensified amounts of pain this past weekend as I think I crutched around more than I should have. Simply moving in and out of the house to the front porch and back can still take my breathe away, but I feel my energy rising again and we're hopeful for good days ahead.

I am "dressing free" as Clohisy's nurse Madelyn has given me permission to strip the wound from all the dressing and let it begin to heal.

When you are forced homebound for an entire month, you count on the small wonders to keep you oriented. Here are a few pictures of my "place": peonies in bloom, my anti-gravity chair, a picture of Grandma and I a few days before she went to heaven, and then, a few pictures from a surprise anniversary trip Nate and I had the week before surgery.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Day 17

It is hot and humid in Indianapolis today. I'm longing for days at poolside and hopeful Dr. Clohisy, when I see him next, will tell me my wound is ready to be in the pool and beginning water therapy. On June 14th we'll make the trek back to St. Louis for our one month post op check-up. I'm anxious to see the xrays and to know if my bones are growing back in as we hope.

Regarding medication, we are weaning off of hydrocodone so as to not have it become habit-forming. I only take it at night right now which means I'm pushing through greater pain during the day. My left side is beginning to feel the full effects of weight bearing...because it's unhealed from the last surgery, my nerve pain and joint pain are difficult and yet manageable most days.

I continue on my mobility machine each day and we're hopeful this will help avoid scar tissue. I have much scar tissue from my last surgery so we're glad to have this option this time around.

I am angsty and ready to "fly this coop" but I know my orders (one month home bound) and we've surrendered to them. My front porch is my haven and though the humidity is present, I'm grateful the sun is out this week. It helps keep spirits alive.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

11 Day Mark


I am now less medicated, ready to write, and less likely to write gibberish to you all. Jen has kindly kept the updates flowing while we've been out of commission. The kindness pours in, yet again, in its various forms. We are filled with family and friends who have come together as our faithful "first responders."



Tomorrow we hit the 11 day marker and the "care pumps" come off my legs (helping with blood circulation) and we will continue to extend my range of motion through the CPM (continuous passive motion) device. We are icing like crazy and beginning basic PT exercises on my back. I am less sedated than before and feel altogether as though this is a different (more energized) recovery process. The intention of the CPM device is to help my range of motion increase and strengthen as I sit still for the next month. We did not have this option in my prior surgery and believe this has made a significant impact in my healing process. The device was on my leg three hours after my surgery ended last Monday.

We had a superb experience at Barnes Jewish Hospital, from the greeters to the anesthesiologists to the nursing staff and then of course, Dr. Clohisy and his first-rate team. We spent Sunday-Thursday night in St. Louis and made the return home sooner than we had planned. The Dr. was happy with my progress and believes I am only prone to more infection the longer I stay at the hospital. Dad and Nate created the best cushion possible for a very painful drive home. We have been home since late Thursday night monitoring pain, attempting to sleep, and learning how to get to the restroom and back with one semi-healed hip and another broken hip/pelvis. I am tired and experiencing different pains each day, but I'm hopeful this surgery will be successful this time around. Time will tell.



Your prayers, your notes of encouragement, bright spring flowers, and loving meals have served us accurately and cared for us in this extended time of need. Bless you.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

In the Thick of It

Talked to Nate this afternoon and Megan is in the thick of hard recovery. Yesterday Nate was able to rig a spot for her on the porch to sit for a bit and enjoy the sunshine. (We hope more sunny days are ahead to cheer her spirit as she looks out the window from the couch!) Overall though she is struggling - with back (and overall) pain, the restrictions of being sedentary and knowing what hard work the short term future will require.

Pray that Megan's hope would be renewed - that God would refresh her spirit with new peace and perseverance. Pray for reminders and heart assurance that this suffering will be for a season and that she would know health and movement will soon come again. Your prayers are powerful friends!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Welcome Home!

Megan and Nate made it home last night from St. Louis about 11:00 pm. The ride home was hard and physically overwhelming for Megan, but she was able to get some sleep. Megan is currently setup with a bed in the dining room, which seems to be working well. She had a night with much pain, but she and Nate were able to eventually get it under control with her meds. Having some of the previously mentioned therapies which can be performed in bed is proving helpful too. Keep praying as Megan works through these hard first days. And pray perseverance for Nate as he continues to care for her so well.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Post-Surgery Recovery - Day 3 - Homeward Bound!

I spoke to Nate late this afternoon. Megan had continued nausea today, but overall is doing well. She had several "successful" PT sessions and the doctors felt that she was in a good place to head home - what a great surprise! Megan and Nate are probably nearing (or hopefully) nearing the end of their drive as I write. They need prayers for safety, for a smooth ride that wouldn't jostle Meg or exacerbate her pain.

The care received this week continues to be wonderful. Meg and Nate were sent home with the supplies - ankle pumps to prevent clots and the CMP for her leg, mentioned earlier. Thank God for well planned surgery and care.

I'm sure Megan and Nate will emerge to share from their own voices in the next few days. Till then keep praying support for them across the city and the miles.

Post-Surgery Recovery - Day 2

Hello all - I received a summary of Day 2 from Nate last night. Megan had more nausea and some persistent itching yesterday, but the itching was improved from Day 1. She got out of bed several times yesterday and seems to be ahead of her recovery schedule from the first surgery. The doctors are encouraged by her progress so far and she will likely be discharged on Friday. Megan is of course starting to get antsy at the hospital, but is grateful to be receiving the care she has. Thanks for your persistent prayers!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Post-Surgery Recovery - Day 1

I just received an update from Nate on Megan. Yesterday was a long night of fitful rest for Nate, but Megan was able to sleep through most of it, aside from repeated disruption due to ongoing IV access issues. Needless to say this was irksome, but eventually after many attempts a new IV was started successfully. Nate and Megan's mother, Marsha, switched posts this am, and Nate caught a few hours of much needed sleep this morning. (He also later determined that the bed he was sleeping on that night was programmed to move periodically, as for traction, and this probably didn't help his sleep!)

From the start, this surgery has been a contrast from Megan's first. Unlike her initial surgery, PT started immediately today, on day 1 of post-surgery recovery. Megan was visited by her PT twice, am and afternoon, and stood up twice! She is also using a CPM (continuous passive motion) machine, which is gradually moving her leg from a bent 45 degrees. The hope is she will reach 60 degrees of knee flexion sometime tomorrow. This machine also helps prevent the build-up of scar tissue, another plus!

Megan's has had only mild nausea, but is currently suffering the common itching side effect from her pain meds. Her meds are going to be changed, in an attempt to curb or stop the itching. If you've ever suffered this side effect or had an allergic reaction to a medication, you know how miserable this can feel!

Another contrast to Megan's previous surgery is that she no longer has to undergo anticoagulation injections to prevent blood clots. Her new surgeon instead prescribes a daily aspirin regimen - much cheaper and much more pleasant!

As you intercess on behalf of Meg, please pray a change in meds stops her itching and for continued pain management. Thanks for your support of Meg!

Monday, May 16, 2011

Out of Surgery!

Hello all! This is Jen...I will be making updates to Megan's blog while she and Nate work through their first days of recovery in St. Louis.

I spoke to Nate a little bit ago and Megan is out of surgery and in recovery. Her physician said the surgery went very well (praise God)! Nate says this surgery experience is different than the first in Indy - a larger, more bustling hospital, and a few different care procedures.

If you are one of those keeping vigil for Meg by prayer, please pray for her pain levels over the next few days and that she would not experience nausea this time around. Pray strength and perseverance as she makes her first post-surgery movements and steps as the week goes on.

I will post again when I have more information. Thanks again for your care of Meg!

Friday, April 15, 2011

Surgery date, take 2

We received a call last week from Clohisy's office. I will re-enter the left PAO surgery on Monday, May 16th at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

I will stay in the hospital anywhere between 4 and 6 days, then we will stay another night or two at a nearby hotel to rest up for the grueling drive home.

We have one month to gear up and prepare for yet another life change.

I saw Maiers this past week and he plans (if we desire) to do wound care and any other partnership with Clohisy here in Indianapolis, as we will already be traveling back and forth for post-operative visits. I'm grateful for Dr. Maiers and his advocacy.

Right about now Dr. Ganz should be assessing my MRI and making any further recommendations, as he visits here from Bern, Switzerland where the "Bernese" periacetabular osteotomy was first created. Very cool.

My pain levels have increased this past week, possibly due to my attempt to take more walks outside. Clohisy sent a packet so I can better understand strengthening and more specific (no hip flexion beyond 90 degrees!) physical therapy.

Onward.

Thursday, March 31, 2011

I write from a most perfect little corner of the world...Sanibel Island, Florida. My mom, brother and I have spent a week of perfect rest here on the island---shelling, beach walks, dolphin watching, , tackling puzzles, reading books, and laying my tired bones in front of the Gulf of Mexico for some good healing. Anxiety is far from me, at least for these few days. I miss Nate so much as he was unable to get off of work for this trip.

Two weeks ago Nate and I road-tripped to see Dr. Clohisy at Washington University in St. Louis. He was our second opinion once we put a hold on the February surgery. We had a three-hour visit with assessments, new x-rays, and some quality time with the doctor. We received some very devastating news news...that which I most dreaded. Dr. Clohisy confirmed my FAI (mushroom shaped femur) that was not shaved down during my August surgery and in addiction, confirmed that my August surgery was over-corrected. A failure.

Dr. Clohisy translated this to mean that indeed I will need a complete re-do of my LPAO, as well as a correction of my impingement this time around.

It's all so confusing and we have more questions even since we were there on Friday. Clohisy ordered a joint injection, a higher dosage of anti-inflammatory, and a different form of PT as to not focus on range of motion but instead new levels of strengthening. He believes that once we address the real joint issues, my bursitis will also decrease.

We are currently making plans to travel to Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis for a late-April surgery. We are confident in Dr. Clohisy's abilities.

Amidst the crushing news, we received some exciting news. Dr. Ganz, the Swiss doctor who first created the PAO surgery, will be visiting Dr. Clohisy in mid-April and will be looking at approximately 10 cases while he is here in the United States. Dr. C generously added me to the list to be assessed by him while he's here. We're grateful for this surprising offer.

We are holding on and eager for new days ahead.

A new hipster friend recently sent me this caption from Robert Bailey's "The Wilderness Experience" which rings so true to our experience during these "unsettling and barren" days:

The wilderness is an experience of contrasts. Ity is an unsettled, barren, perilous area, but it is also a place where God IS. It is a difficult, lonely, unnerving site, but it is also a place where God DWELLS. It is a draining, exhausting, discouraging situation, but it is also a place where God HEALS and STRENGTHENS. It is a removed, desolate, debilitating condition, but it is also a place where God MOVES and LOVES.

For today, I will welcome this last day on the island and receive this version of God's comfort (where God IS).

I'm off to shell...

Friday, March 4, 2011

Backwards

We had PLANNED to have my RPAO this past Friday. In fact, we did not.

Many of you have kindly sent messages of hope and encouragement, thinking I am now a week into my surgery.

Here's a little snippet from an email we wrote to our dear friends and family as we made the decision to postpone last Friday's surgery:

The RPAO surgery we had scheduled for this Friday (Feb. 25th) would ultimately and hopefully correct my congenital hip dysplasia and the labral tear I have on my right side. This is the same exact surgery I had back in August on my left side. We have been gearing up for yet another major life change, almost two months away from work for me, and a long recovery. We have everything in place (caretakers, meals, and all!) to make this the best experience it can be given the major trauma it is sure to be. The pain has been so worrisome, we had several friends join us at our house to pray last Thursday.

HOWEVER, these past few weeks I have been feeling new levels of pain on my left side (the side I had surgery on in August). Aside from bursitis on my hip, I had thought I was healing correctly. These past few weeks, I've had new and extreme groin pains and even some new pain on my back hamstring. After some x-raying, Dr. Maiers saw a slight impingement and thinks this could be the cause of some of my pain. The other fear is that I might have re-torn my left labrum, by which I need another arthrogram MRI to confirm yes or no on this. The news of the impingement was both relieving (to provide an answer as to why the pain) but then also crushing as I've been reading all about impingements (clinically called "Femoracetabular Impingement" or FAI) and I am overwhelmed by the fact that FAI's can be the precursor to osteoarthritis---the very thing the PAO was supposed to avoid back in August.


Dr. Maiers had mentioned that when he and Dr. Scheid went in for my August surgery, they saw "slight impingement" but opted not to revise it as they had so many other things to do in that surgery---they say they would rather be more conservative with the bone then take too much off. It is becoming more common than previously thought to have a mixed phenomenon type hip (dysplasia and FAI together) and surgeons are recognizing this more and more.

So, the point is, there are more surgeries to do on my left side and yet my right side severely needs surgery as well to take care of the dysplasia, the labral tear, and potentially FAI as well on my RIGHT side. And then there's the question as to why my left side MIGHT have torn again and whether this surgery worked back in August. We feel we have a very long road ahead and this completely overwhelms us.

So, as of today, March 4, 2011, we have plans to travel to St. Louis for a March 18th appointment with Dr. Clohisy, an attempt at a second opinion.

More updates to come as we learn them.





May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Saturday, February 5, 2011

Round 2

We have an official date for my combined RPAO/arthroscopic surgery. On Friday, February 25th, I (we) will launch back into round two.

This Tuesday we will hit the 6 month marker from my last surgery. Though I have severe bursitis on the left side, if it weren't for this, we would call my last surgery utterly successful. However, there's still swelling on the left side, some pain from the bursitis, and scar tissue build up. Two cortisone shots later (along with PT, deep massaging, constant icing), there has been no decrease in scar tissue. We are all stumped by the bursitis and hopeful it could go away while I'm resting from this next surgery. However, I'll be weight-bearing on this left side now, so we will wait and see.

Last summer I had minimal to no pain on my right side. Since my last surgery and likely due to weight bearing, the dysplasia grew worse along with a labral tear that formed in my right hip. It certainly wasn't the news we were hoping for, but it did help clarify what our next steps would be: take on the right hip now.


We are following Jesus into the unknown now, hopeful that healing will come for both hips and ready to future days without severe pain. Please pray with us.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Welcome, 2011!

Welcome to 2011!

For all you (hip)sters out there, you know what a big deal it is to hit post-surgery monthly markers. Not that we want to wish our days away, but there is so much pride in saying "I made it through 2 months of recovery" or "I'm at the 3 month mark!" Well...in ONE WEEK I will hit the FIVE MONTH milepost (thanks be to God). This "anniversary" is distinguished by the entrance of snow to Indiana + holiday fun + the "okay" from Dr. Scheid (one month ago) to enter the world of elliptical + a long awaited "stay-cation" = GREATNESS.

As you can see from the pictures, Nate and I love playing in the snow. Over the past few weeks, we took snow walks, sledded with niece (very carefully), and flew through the air on the Park Tudor mini zipline. I can't walk long distances yet, but it feels so good to get outside and enjoy myself. The snow is majestic here and reminds us oftentimes to stop and worship our Creator of all things beautiful.



We had a splendid Christmas at home this year. Especially this year, as we reflect on 2010, we thank the Lord for a newly reshaped and on-the-mend-hip to celebrate. We are hopeful the healing will continue with success as we enter a new year. For those of you wanting hip milestone updates, here are a few:

Physical Therapy: I officially graduated from PT last Wednesday! I got a t-shirt from Sarah to signify my graduation! I gave up on water PT early on as I felt it was not as helpful as the land. I feel I should have started in the water earlier and perhaps it would have had greater impact. My PT says my strength and range of motion have improved significantly. I feel this as well. I still find myself wanting to lift my leg (with my hands) to enter the car or to cross my legs. I need to let my leg do the lifting and let the muscles "remember" what their role is again. I am at the gym almost daily doing either cardio (no running of course!) or strength training. My big focus now is to strengthen my hip flexor and to keep working out the bursitis which is inflaming my left side. My IT band is being overworked due to the bursitis, so I'm walking that line between resting/icing (several times a day I ice, especially after workouts) and regaining strength and stamina. The bursitis has been most discouraging. The cortisone shot hurt like no other and didn't seem to help. The PT hasn't helped it as much as I had hoped. I have stretches and exercises to do to hopefully decrease the inflammation and pain. Just in the past week I have felt some new groin pain. I'm so hoping I haven't re-torn my left labrum. So, the next phase of PT is on my own--working hard to abide by the things that have been recommended to me.

Swelling: As stated above, I am still dealing with much swelling now almost 5 months in. Dr. Scheid has said to expect 6 months of recovery so I'm assuming this is all part of the process. I plan to go see him this month and to address the bursitis if it has not decreased. I've been told a person should no get a cortisone shot in the same place more than three times in a lifetime. I'd like to do a little more research on the pros and cons of cortisone shots.

Quality of life: LPAO surgery has been such a significant trauma on my body, mind, and soul. I am continuing to "restore" life again and yet in a strange way, I look back with fondness as I acknowledge the faith-building, life-altering experience we have walked through and continue to walk through. I am grateful for a chance to live with significantly less pain and I look forward to the day when I don't think about hip pain for an entire 24 hour period. Lord, I pray that day comes!

Until then, we are learning to return to LIFE again. For the most part, minus running, I am back to my normal life. Icing my hip and managing the nerve pain has become a normal part of the day. It's still good for us to remember, however, that we are still in recovery mode. Though Scheid says 6 months of recovery is to be expected, my gut tells me it will take a full year to feel my body get back to normal. I will expect this and then be surprised if it turns out to be less.

Next steps and the right side: The not-so-great news to tell is that last week Dr. Meiers officially diagnosed my right side pain with a labral tear. The MRI showed a significant tear and also displays my severe dysplasia on the right side. This was discouraging news, as you can imagine, but confirms the level of pain I've had in my right groin area. We were waiting to see Dr. Meiers in light of the fact that my right side had been weight bearing for 3-4 months and we were unsure if the pain was related to this weight or to a tear. Likely, it is related to both. Either way, we now know we up against the same thing we were/are on the left side.

We are now praying and considering surgery dates (combined arthroscopic and RPAO) for the right side. More to say about this in days to come...

Until then, we try our best to be present in this day, in this moment, and to choose to live with a grateful spirit:

God of fulfillment, never-failing Lord, grant that we may always place our trust in you, that our hope for deeper love, greater peace, and personal fulfillment reside only in you.