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In June, 2020 I was diagnosed with an anterior and posterior labrum tear in my left hip. My best option was surgery.
I'm determined to work my way back to pre-surgery conditioning (or better). This page will document my recovery, including victories and setbacks. I’ll also be sharing the things I learn along the way. Hopefully, if you're in a similar situation, this information will help you to know what you might encounter. It always helps to know that you're not alone. Thanks for following my journey. And cheers to your recovery efforts. |
 I’m not going to lie. Recovering from a hernia operation is tough. I like to stay positive and look for the bright side in every situation. And there is a bright side here; once I’m through this I can get back on the fitness track that I value so much. But I can’t help but chirp a bit right now.
The big difference between the hernia surgery and hip surgery is I could use my core for the hip recovery. Yes, I had to take it easy for a couple of weeks before starting hip PT. With the hernia, I’m benched for quite some time; Probably 4-6 weeks. And here I must avoid using my core. I admit, it’s a little disheartening because I’m pretty much sidelined beyond walking and there is no PT here. In fact, I can’t go back to my PT for my hip until I’m much more recovered from the hernia surgery. What I thought would be a bump in the road is more like an uphill climb (without using my core). I will say in the beginning, everything hurt. It’s been about a week and a half and I’m definitely in less pain. At first, every clearing of the throat, cough and unintended shift was an adventure. The first night, I had a two-and-a-half-hour case of the hiccups. Oh, so fun! Fortunately, I was able to keep myself from sneezing for a week. Thank goodness. So now what? Well, I wait. I’m doing things to keep myself motivated. I’ve started to acquire hardware for a garage gym. A very good friend helped me build shelves in the garage prior to surgery so I could clean up and organize to open up some space. We’ve managed to acquire single and pairs of hex dumbbells in various weights. We also purchased used 35# and 45# bars and have some plates on backorder. Once those are all here, we’ll look to acquire a rack that works best in the space. So, I’m planning to be back and am making a commitment to it. Yes, it’s tough at the moment but I’ve said many times that I’ve been playing for the big picture and must continue to do so. I fully plan to compete next year both in running and CrossFit and must (and will) play it smart so I can realize those goals.
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As I sit in anticipation of another late night, I have that all too strangely familiar feeling that you get before you know something unpleasant lies just ahead. As I’ve known for some time, in order to achieve complete recovery and be able to improve from there, I must address my hernia.
So, tomorrow that will be addressed. And from there, another lengthy recovery. This isn’t a complaint. Rather, it’s just the reality and facing that reality is important for my overall health in the big picture. The dividend is I’ll soon (relatively speaking) be back to “normal” workouts, only without experiencing pain. I’m grateful that I could do full mobility workouts again, with the help of Dr. Jon at my PT, even if only for just a few weeks. I even got to do my birthday burpees tonight. Yes, it’s a few days early, but having the ability to do them is a victory. In the meantime, as far as tomorrow is concerned, I won’t be able to eat after midnight. So, I will wait until about 11:30 and have my nutrition coach-approved late-night pre-surgery meal…pizza. Sort of feels like college again. And tomorrow, I’ll do what must be done.  I’ve had three sessions at my new PT location, Prime Physical Therapy and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in this entire process. Dr. Jon means business, and I mean that in a good way. I had known that they understand CrossFit here, as many athletes I know go there and have had great results. However, I did not know the extent of their knowledge until I got started. They’ve been working with me on my movement and are helping me improve my range of motion.
Dr. Jon has also done a couple of dry needling sessions with me. I’ve never had that done before and it’s been a unique experience. Those of you who have had that done before know what I’m talking about. Those of you that haven’t, the best word I can use to describe it is “funky” but it’s helping to get the desired result. Dr. Jon has had me doing a lot of squat work. I’ve had that familiar feeling of my quads being fried just like after a workout. I have to say it’s kind of nice to feel that again. Although, I’m sure the novelty will wear off very quickly. In my first session he had me doing air squats while holding a plate in front of me. In the second session he had me doing back squats (with a little bit of weight), single leg kettle bell deadlifts and wall balls. I ran through the movements for 5 rounds It was a workout! The last session was an EMOM of cleans and front squats. I love that my recovery is centered around my goals to return to CrossFit and to run again. I love that my physical therapy is largely CrossFit movements. And I love that there’s a detailed focus on proper form. Dr. Jon has helped me to improve issues with my form that have been there for years. It motivates me and gives me confidence. In short, I’m happy with how things are going right now. Ah, but let’s not forget there’s another surgery less than two weeks away. With the way things are going at the moment, I’m sure I will be back to my recovery quickly and will be able to slowly and properly work my way back up. I’m optimistic that I can be back at CrossFit and working hard by the end of the year. For now, the biggest job I have is remaining patient and trusting in the process. |
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