3 Weeks Until Surgery

3 weeks. That's the time I have left until my life changes. People make think I'm being a little over dramatic but this is a new and scary experience for me. Maybe I should explain. If you know anything about me then you know I'm a very active person. I might borderline have a problem but I love anything to do with fitness. Usually the sweatier I get from working hard, the more I like a particular work out. A lot of things that people would call exercise, I call fun. But I digress... I am having labral reconstruction surgery of my right hip. Basically, I tore the cartilage in my hip, so they are going to replace it.

How could this happen? Could I have done something to prevent it? It seems the answer is no - I could not prevent it. My femur the ball part of the joint's ball and socket has a bump in it, so because I am so active, every time I extended my hip a certain amount, I would hit the cartilage with that bump. After a while, it started to tear.

It was a long road to discover this was my problem. Two and a half years ago as always training for a half marathon, I noticed some pain across my butt when I was doing a long run. So I stretched it out and didn't think anything of it. But the pain never went away. After I completed the half marathon, I took a short break from running to see if the pain would go away. It did not. Based on where the pain was and the resulting sciatica I got, I thought I had piriformis syndrome. I went to a physical therapist. The pain subsided slightly but then would come back with a vengeance. I also started to see a chiropractor and massage therapist regularly, hoping something would fix the pain. I even stopped running although for a month (which was really hard to do). Nothing worked! It was so frustrating not knowing.

In December of last year, my friend, who is a physical therapist, asked me if I had any hip impingement (aka if my groin ever hurt) when I move my leg across my body. I noticed that it slightly did so she recommended that I see a hip orthopedic. And sure enough, after getting an MRI (the worst experience of my life to date) and a cortisone shot, the doctor confirmed that I did have a torn labrum in my right hip. The symptoms that I have of my pain (in the butt area) are very rare for this case (lucky me) but none the less it happened. The only fix for this is surgery. I even went got a second opinion and he concurred.

This was in January. Knowing that the recovery is 6 months too full activity I decided to hold off on the surgery and enjoy one more summer and do whatever I wanted fitness wise and have the surgery in September. So that's where I'm at. The surgery is in 3 weeks.

Initially, the thought of not being able to be active depressed me, but since I've been waiting so long for the surgery to happen, I have to be honest and tell you that the pain is getting a little old. It hurts when I run or hike uphill. And it hurts the most from prolonged sitting. The thought of this impending surgery is freaking me out. I've never had to be put under (aside from my wisdom teeth). I've never had to stay overnight in the hospital. But I am trying to be positive. I'm looking forward to the day that I can hike or run or do anything I want without being in pain or worrying or wondering if the activity I'm doing is going to make me regret it in the morning. And I have a great group of people who I know will look out for me, to help with my recovery.

What does this mean being a personal trainer? So my initial plan was that I would take a week off to recover and then continue training people virtually and from my house gym (I won't be able to drive for a while), just not being able to show them lower body exercises. But we will see. I will keep you posted on my recovery.

I would appreciate prayers and good thoughts.

Thanks! XOXO

-Stef