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.

Some more exercise and that old ache in the pelvis/hips - 61 dayspost-op

I've been very quiet on the rehab front this week. I've continued with the quadratus exercises and been on my feet a lot and have felt quite reasonable. Sleeping is still relatively difficult with that ache in the hip/pelvis area on both sides but I'm soldiering on.

I had a ride on the exercise bike this morning for half an hour with the seat high but some reasonably high resistance. I'm buggered if I know how pro riders can be in the saddle every day of their lives! After half an hour I got off with a numb backside and undercarriage. That's right, folks. My doodle was numb!

I've felt very achy in the left upper hip/pelvis all day today and I'm about to go for a swim, minus using the legs, to try and free up the back. To be honest it is disappointing that the surgery hasn't relieved that pain as it was assumed it would. Back to the drawing board there.

I'm playing golf tomorrow with the use of a golf cart so that should be very interesting. I'm not really too confident that the hip twisting involved in the swing will be pain free. We'll see I suppose.

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.

Suck it up and get on with it - 50 days post-op

I just had a 15 minute ride on the stationary bike. I had felt sore through my right hip and pelvis as I sat working at the computer and thought a ride would do me good.

5 minutes in I was stiff and feeling very uncomfortable in both groins. I had a physio appointment today where Matt both of my groins and it felt as if it did loosen them up somewhat.

I think I need someone to definitively tell me if where my hips are in terms of aches and pains and range of movement are normal for 50 days post-op.


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.

Where I am is where I was - 49 days post-op

It's been 7 weeks since my second surgery and I can honestly say I am running out of patience. I have all of the symptoms I had prior to the ops along with a few new ones.

The nerve pain down the left leg persists, the groins are as temperamental as before, sitting gives me pain at the top of the outer hip/pelvis and I have welcomed back the pain in the upper hip/pelvis on both sides that wakes me at around 4am every night and keeps me awake tossing and turning from side to side. This is identical to how I felt prior to surgery however at that stage I was putting up with the pain and enjoying an active lifestyle.

Now, any cycling on the stationary bike gives me tightness and pain in the right groin, walking across a muddy footy field at AusKick makes the groins ache, being on my feet all day at work leaves me very sore and sitting for any length of time causes a deep ache in the right arse cheek. Even night time "activities" cause pain in the hips. As I sit here now on the couch I feel a dull burning ache in the outer left buttock and upper right hip/pelvis.

Next week I see the Melbourne physio at 8 weeks post-op. I really hope this is par for the course but I am certain it won't be. I am almost convinced that FAI surgery has been a waste of time and money.

While it has been a cathartic experience to write down how I am travelling in this blog, as I look at my comments now there is nothing positive coming and that's depressing.

All I want to do is kick the footy and jump on the trampoline with my kids.


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 bit more activity and a little less pain

Yesterday I walked the kids and the dog down to the shops which is probably a 2km or so round trip. I found I couldn't really stride out but took it easy nonetheless. I did 15 minutes on the exercise bike and the isometric quadratus muscle exercises and felt quite good.

Today I led an excursion with my colleagues around the region looking at the local geology. It involved some walking and climbing the steps of the fire tower on Mt Buninyong. I am feeling ok now but can tell I've done a bit as the hips have that old familiar burning feeling.

In saying that, I had a crack at air drums using my kids' limbs as drum sticks to Iron Maiden's 2 Minutes to Midnight. It's lots of fun and the kids think it's hilarious. Hips survived! Ha!

I reckon sitting on a hard wooden chair, such as the one I am on now, is when I start to feel at my worst. Note to self: I recommend looking after your hips with a pillow when sitting on hard chairs.

Very sore today

I’ve pulled up very sore in the left leg today after yesterday’s driving. I also sat around at the computer for a fair while when I got home which was not ideal. The pain concerns me as it is identical to that which I had pre-op.

The lesson from all this is you must ice, ice, ice. Even if you think it is past the time you’d tradionally ice a soft tissue injury you should keep icing your hips. If anything it offers lovely relief.

Hip scare - 16 days post-op

Had a fright last night. I took socks off to climb into bed and when I put my left foot down my left hip felt like it gave way. There was no stability at all. A horrible feeling.


I had my first hands-on appointment with the physio that day where he worked on my upper buttocks and pelvis and I am certain that this was no coincidence.

I have had a few moments where I have forgotten to look after myself and have caused myself some pain and discomfort.

Actions like lifting my leg over the tow bar of my trailer, getting off my son's bed to kneel next to it and read to him, getting my legs over the rim of the bath to have a shower and putting on socks and tying shoes all can cause some discomfort if I'm not careful.

Getting around on crutches at AusKick

Tonight I hobbled around on crutches organising 150 kids at AusKick and I'm very sore now. I tried to not get around much but I clearly overdid it.

I am quite wary of my right hip having more damage pre-op and therefore I have tried to protect it when I need to get around on my feet by using crutches and my poor old left hip has copped the brunt of that.

I really must remember that I have had surgery to both hips and while one was worse than the other they both require care.