Not what I thought - 88 days post-op

I saw Simon Ellis at Lake Physio today to get my ‘final’ rehab program. I was really hoping for a plan that Amir Takla assured me would be coming my way. Something I could get stuck into for the next 6 months or something like that. I didn't get that.

My 'plan' for the next 3 weeks.

After asking me a series of questions regarding my surgery and history Simon got me to show him what I'd been instructed to do by Amir. I showed him a couple of the 'QF' exercises I'd been doing and explained I'd been riding the stationary bike and doing a little pool work. We chatted for a while while he rubbed away at my left quad/groin.

He did seem surprised when I explained that Amir had asked me to back off a bit. I was quite self conscious of the fact I've just floated along for the past 4-5 weeks in regard to rehab.

I was hoping for a definitive long term strategy that I could adhere to. It didn't come. He wants to see me again in 3 weeks and get some massage in the meantime. I found myself quite frustrated that Amir had led me down the garden path regarding what I could expect. To be honest, I just want someone to cut through the crap and tell me what I need to do long term.

Anyway, I'll get stuck into the stuff he has given me. Hell of a nice bloke, Simon, and it's not his fault but I'll go back to Clarkey and try to get some information/instructions directly from Amir. Too far to travel from Buninyong over to Wendouree.

If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.

Well I'll be..... - 56 days post-op

Well I'm quite amazed. I had no idea what to expect driving down to Ivanhoe to see Amir the Physio.

He asked how my aches and pains were going and how my sleep was travelling then got me up on the massage table to check my range of movement in my hips. According to Amir, all my aches and pains are normal. Wow!

Incredibly he was very pleased with my progress and said in 4 weeks I'd be the sort of patient he'd want to be photographing for his Melbourne Uni study to show how good recovery can be. Amir said I'm a textbook case and I'm a good 4 weeks ahead of schedule. Just to hear that was a great relief and certainly worth the drive to Melbourne.

Amir is certainly passionate about FAI recovery and seems to be an expert in his field. He is a bloke who displays the confidence of someone who has seem 100s of hips like mine and that is very reassuring as a patient.

He wants me to start loosening up my lower back through swimming without using my legs and cycling 4 or 5 times a week for half an hour. He said that I didn't need to continue with Physio back at home and that the light exercise regime will do the trick for the next 4 weeks.

Amir said my back will get tighter in the coming weeks before it gets better as it gets used to my hips having more range of movement than when I was born. His words. I just hope my upper pelvis improves so I can get a consistent good night's sleep. He assured me any twinges I felt walking across muddy footy grounds or riding the bike or putting socks on, etc were normal and nothing to be concerned about as long as I am not loading up the hips.

He wanted to see me at 12 weeks for the final time to outline a full rehab schedule but when I said I wasn't keen on driving down again he said I should see Michael or Simon at Lake Physio back in Ballarat. He has trained them and they will give me a schedule of work to do. Great result.

Today was a good day in regards to my recovery and I know I really just have to be patient and keep the faith.

Oh.....and he said golf will be fine as long as I use a cart to drive around the fairways. Sounds good to me!!

If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.

A great day and hoping for good news tomorrow - 55 days post-op

I had a great day today with the kids down at our family farm teaching them how to drive out in the paddocks. It was a beautiful, sunny winter's day and Lucy, Tom and I drove around in the paddocks with our Golden Retriever, Murray, loping along behind us.

We stopped at a few dams and threw sticks in for Murray to retrieve while the kids shared driving duties. Tom was on my lap and just steered while Lucy can do everything except operate the handbrake. We also had our Nikon DSLR and the kids enjoyed taking loads of photos.

We explored an old small underground goldmine on the property which was a spooky treat for the kids.

After heading back into town and enjoying some meat pies and milkshakes at the bakery, we collected our swimming gear and headed into the YMCA pool where we met my wife, Caroline. After a play with the kids I tried some more hydrotherapy.

Once again I walked the length of the pool forwards 10 times up and back, backwards 5 times up and back, and sideways 5 times up and back while facing the same direction. I felt quite good however I did feel a few uncomfortable twinges in the groins/hips at times whilst completing the sideways laps when I opened the legs too far.

I finished off with 20 gentle knee to chest stretches on each side and 20 heel to bum quad stretches on each side. The left side had an excellent, free range of movement however I found that I couldn't touch my arse with the right heel unless I really pulled on the leg. I had almost a cramping feeling in the lower right hamstring. I've pulled up ok tonight though.

Sleeping has still been a problem that I hoped would be resolved with surgery. Tomorrow I catch up with Amir Takla, the Melbourne physio, who I hope will give me some advice regarding the aches and pains I have in the upper pelvis during the night on both sides. He should be providing me with a program of exercises for the ramped up rehab I expect to be undertaking.

I want to know:

• Are these upper pelvis aches related to the FAI?
• Why do I have the deep pain in the right buttock after sitting or limited exercise?
• Why do I have more aches and pains now than pre-op?
• Why do I experience restriction, tightness and pain in the groins when riding the stationary bike?
• What would he expect me to feel like in terms of aches/pains and movement after 8 weeks?
• Why am I sore after being on my feet at work or walking around on a muddy footy ground?

I'm sure there are loads more things I'd like to know and I'm certain I'll forget to ask him anything. Amir talks fast and I reckon I'll be out the door with my head spinning before I know it.

If you are reading this blog and have any thoughts or comments, good or bad, I would really appreciate it if you could add your comments after any of my posts. I feel like I am on my own with this and would love to hear from people in the same boat.