I’m thankfully a healthy and fit person in general as I’ve enjoyed fitness my entire life. I began my Pilates training in 2006 and opened Archer Pilates very shortly thereafter. Along with becoming a Master Trainer teaching others to become Pilates instructors, teaching my own clients, running the studio, and maintaining my own practice, I thoroughly enjoy many other outdoor activities which has lead to my torn labrum and reason for surgery. I’ve had hip pain for quite some time but put it down to a lack of stretching after long hikes or three hours of Pickleball. I started attending physical therapy regularly, but during the stay at home order when my business was closed as well as the Pickle Ball and Paddle tennis courts, I took to running. I also continued my own Pilates at home and went into the studio to specifically work on my hip and core strengthening. My hip pain continued to worsen so when stay-at-home restrictions started to lift, I was able to get an MRI to see the torn Labrum and bone spur. Since I had already received two cortisone injections and had been doing PT without relief, surgery was my only option. My body was already fit and as prepared as could be for what it was about to undergo!!!
The labrum is a ring of cartilage that lines the hip joint helping to make a deeper, more stable joint. It also allows for more flexibility in the hip. When the labrum is damaged, it can be painful and most likely will not heal on its own. Labral tears can differ from person to person; therefore, treatment can also vary. My labral tear was in conjunction with a bone spur, creating a scenario different than someone with just the labral tear. (More on the actual procedure in a future blog!) Because I do a lot of glut and leg work, my hip joint is already fairly stable which is definitely a plus for being able to recover more quickly as I will have more strength in my lower body to better control the various movements of the hip. A strong core also helps with stability in the pelvis, another plus!
The day before my scheduled surgery with Dr. Alexander Weber, a medical equipment person came to my house with the equipment I would need as part of my rehabilitation. He brought a very interesting and old-school looking piece of equipment (CPM) that I would be required to put my leg in for four hours per day for the first two weeks post op. They also fitted me for a hip brace that I was told to wear anytime while up and about the house to be sure my leg didn’t abduct or go past 90 degrees. I received crutches, of course, to assist with walking and a very interesting cooling machine that must be filled with water and iced bottles for a rubber cooling pack that wraps around my hip to keep it cold and reduce the swelling. It was also suggested that I get an upright exercise bike to use 20 minutes every day beginning a couple of days out of surgery. This was not for exercise but to get the hip rotating, keep the swelling down and the joint lubricated. All of this was in preparation for surgery and caused me a fair amount of anxiety not having any idea what my pain level would be. My next entry will be of my surgery day and the beginning of my rehab journey!!!