Never Give Up!

So, I haven't posted in a long time! I thought I would get you up to date on everything that's going on with me. I have had some incredible improvements! First of all...

I ran on the treadmill for 10 minutes straight!!! NO WALKING!!!

That was a HUGE accomplishment for me! There was no pain and not even any tingling that I have been feeling every time I ran after surgery. I'm finally getting better and doing this helped me realize that. Before I did this, I felt like I was platoeing and didn't seem to be getting any better or any worse. But FINALLY I saw some improvement! It meant a lot! I just can't wait until I get to run on the road again. I think about that all the time. When I finally am able to, I am definitely not going to take that for granted. I don't even take walking for granted any more. 

So the next big accomplishment...

I walked 3 miles today!

I know I've done this after surgery before, but this time was special. It was on the marathon route. I haven't walked the marathon route by myself in almost 2 years.These little accomplishments aren't little at all to me. There are so many things I am thankful my body is able to do. I am thankful I can walk, run on the treadmill, put my shoes on, walk up stairs, drive the car, sit cross-legged, sit on the ground and be able to get back up, and so much more. 

I saw a man walking with his wife in the park today. There was something special about this man...he was using a walker. He inspired me because I know how difficult it is to do. He made me smile and I just wanted to tell him my whole entire story. I'm back to blending in with the public (something I wanted so bad in the past) and now I want someone to know about my hip! It's only natural to want to talk to someone sharing the same experiences as you. I didn't talk to him. But I am proud of him. I am proud that he went out for a walk and is working hard at recovering. Watching him struggle made me think about everything I've been through and how far I've come. I'm so thankful that I have progressed so much over the past year. I've worked really hard, been through really tough times, and right now I only have positive things to say about my hip. Something, I thought I would never be able to say.

To all those reading this that are going through hip dysplasia, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I'm just starting to see it now, but it is there. Be patient, work hard, and keep family/friends close to help you get through. Never give up.

Photo by: One Hip World

The little things...

I noticed that I was always focusing on the negatives about the hip dysplasia (because honestly, there were a lot more negatives than positives at first). So for this post, I decided to list all the positives that my diagnosis of hip dysplasia has given me:

• I started going full force into Occupational Therapy! And I love it!
• I am substitute teaching and meeting great people
• I got to go through an experience that not many people my age get to go through, and I learned so much along the way!
• I experienced a great physical therapy team that coached, taught, and pushed me through the toughest time in my life
• I LEARNED TO WALK AGAIN! (How many people can say that?! Booyah!)
• I can run without pain!
• I can go out drinking with my friends and not bring crutches or a cane along (I was on crutches for my 21st bday)
• I can play catch in the park with my boyfriend (I did that for the first time today since surgery!)
• I can stand all day at work without being in pain!
• I can sleep throughout the night
• I can actually fall asleep without medicine!
• I haven't had to take pain medication in a long time!!!! 
• I can park far away just to get myself to walk longer
• I don't need to carry a foldable cane in my purse!
• I don't need a walker, cane, crutches or any kind of device to help me walk from my living room to the bathroom!
• I learned that I have great family and friends that would do anything to support me :) 
• I have an excuse to get an awesome tattoo over my 10 inch scar!
• I now have my very own walker, shower seat, transfer board, bathtub handle, sock aid, an abundance of exercise bands, etc.
• I can easily get in and out of the car
• I don't get weird looks when out in public like "Why does that young girl have a cane?" (I actually have been told by various people that "I didn't need that". I just looked at them and told them "No, I really do". How naive can people be?!)
• I am sitting here typing this and can say that I am NOT IN ANY PAIN WHATSOEVER! (Do you know how huge that is?! I never thought I'd feel this great!)
• The list can go on and on...

9 months and 20 days POST-PAO!

Two years

This time two years ago, I was preparing to run my first marathon, finishing my Bachelors degree with high hopes I'd be starting a PhD program, and got a job at my internship that would start right after I graduated. So much has changed over the past two years.

By July of that year, I had to put my marathon training to a halt due to a stress fracture. To my surprise, it ended up being much more than just that. I had to quit my job and didn't get into any PhD program I applied to. I felt like I slammed against a huge brick wall. All the things I was striving for was ripped out from under me.

That winter my childhood friend, grandma, and great aunt passed away along with being diagnosed with a life changing condition, hip dysplasia. All of these happening within two weeks of each other. After all this happened, I started going to school again while preparing for surgery. After one of the most stressful semesters of my life, I had the surgery. I spent the summer recovering and saw huge improvements. That fall I kept going to school and realized how much my hip really did affect my life.

It's now two years later and I'm trying to figure out which race I want to run in the summer. I am able to run on the treadmill but won't be able to run on the roads until the summer. I decided the 5K Color Run in July would be a great way to celebrate. But, I still keep thinking about that marathon I so desperately wanted to complete. My plan is to be able to run the half marathon in September of 2014. Hopefully, one day I'll be able to complete a full marathon.

My hip still does affect me every day and I am constantly thinking about it. I don't think that will ever change. However, what I am able to do with it will. And even though my life is completely different as I planned, I am looking forward to see what it will be like two years from now.

9 months and 3 days POST-PAO!

I graduated!

I officially graduated from physical therapy this week! I have been going to physical therapy for 8 months! Now it is up to me to continue my exercises. I'm going to miss all the people that I used to see every time I went there. However, I am excited to be able to do it all on my own. :)

Jogging, jogging, joggin'

During my physical therapy session today I jogged on the treadmill again! This time was twice as long as the last time I jogged. Also, I increased the jog to 4.0 miles an hour! It felt so great to be able to do this! I just kept thinking about how much I have been through and how far I have come.

As for right now, my left side is still weaker than the right, but it is MUCH better than it was before. I still have a ways to go in recovery. I will most likely be stopping physical therapy at the end of this month and it will be up to me to keep at it! I will probably start up again in the summer when I can start running on the road.

A concern right now is that I have a little bump on my left hip. It is most likely scar tissue and doesn't give me any pain. I just need to keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't increase in size. My thigh is still numb and I am planning on it being that way the rest of my life. It might take two years to come back, but it most likely won't. The best thing for me to do right now is stick with my physical therapy. I slowed down on it for a few weeks and really noticed the difference! It helps so much!

This journey has been a long and eventful one.

 

"Remember the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running."
-Sarah Condor 

6 months and 26 days POST-PAO!

I JOGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME!

Today during my PT appointment, I jogged on the treadmill! This is the first time I have ran since my initial diagnosis of the stress-fracture in my hip way back in August 2011!!!! Yay that's right! Marathon here I come! haha. Just kidding, not even close to that yet....

This is a huge milestone for me. I have been dreaming about running for over a year now. It just happens that I wore my "Marathon Training 101" t-shirt today to therapy. It was perfect. I literally was so happy I even got emotional over the fact that I was able to jog. It means that much to me. I felt like I was re-imagining this whole journey and realizing how far I have come.

Right now my PT is starting me off EXTREMELY careful and slow. We were doing one minute walk/one minute jog. We only did this for 10 minutes, so 5 minutes walking/5 minutes jogging. His goal is to get me to 10 minutes of continuous jogging. During the exercise I felt great. It kinda felt weird still having my leg partially numb but other than that it felt better than it did before surgery! Probably because I was running on a stress-fracture and multiple ganglion cysts! Who knew that running can be painless?!
The real test is going to be how I feel when I wake up tomorrow morning. Right now I feel a good sore after the whole workout today. I hope tomorrow I feel the same because that means we can up the time that I jog! 

Overall, I needed to post something about this! I wish I could of had my PT take a picture of me running for the first time...I might during the next appointment :) If I do, I'll be sure to post it on here!

Let's just say this makes me SOOOO happy! I have had a really hard year, with so many things happening that I can't control. Now, I finally feel in control. It's an amazing feeling!

Invisible Disability Awareness Week

So I missed Invisible Disability Awareness Week (Sept 8-14), however, I wanted to still post this....

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: Congenital Hip Dysplasia and Acetabular Labral Tear
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: December 2011
3. But I had symptoms since: I was 11 or 12. It's been about 10 years since the symptoms first started. I went to the doctor then and they acted as if I was making it up. The doctor would not believe me that I wasn't sexually active. He kept asking over and over and wouldn't let it go. I think it was because he couldn't think of any other reason why I had so much pain in my hip. He was very rude about it and I never went to him again.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: constantly thinking about what is good for my hip and coming to terms that I might never be able to complete the full marathon.
5. Most people assume: that I am cured. The truth is, I will have this the rest of my life. I do not have a normal hip and never will.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: not being able to get up and go for a run
7. My favorite medical TV show is: Scrubs
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: elevators...they are the only way i can get around campus without hurting the next day
9. The hardest part about nights are: getting comfortable. I have to make my hip comfortable and now make my shoulder comfortable too (due to my rotator cuff tendinitis)
10. Each day I take ALOT of pills & vitamins.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I: think many work, you just have to find the best one for you
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible. I can hide it better when I don't want to think about it.
13. Regarding working and career: It is really a burden since I will be working in the healthcare field where I could potentially have to lift, walk and be on my feet a lot.
14. People would be surprised to know:That I ran 15 miles on a stress fracture, multiple ganglion cysts and a dysplastic hip.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: that my hip will never be "normal"
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: walk a 5K 4 months after surgery
17. The commercials about my illness:there are none. There definitely needs to be more awareness of hip dysplasia due to the doctors not even knowing what was wrong with me for so many years.
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: running. I miss it so much.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: completing a full marathon. Someday I might feel ok to complete the half. But a full marathon probably isn't the best thing for my hip.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: Crochet and reading. I never used to read. During my recovery I have read so many books! My brother even got me a Kindle!
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Go for a looong run, go to cedar point, and jump up and down just because I can.
22. My illness has taught me: So much. It would be hard to summarize how much I have truly learned over the past year.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:that I am too young for this! I am so f***ing tired of that statement! (excuse my french). You have no idea how often I hear this.
24. But I love it when people: give my the "VIP" treatment (opening doors, getting me stuff, etc).
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: To join Hip Chicks support group. It may be a life-changing diagnosis but it isn't a terminal one.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that my family and friends are extremely supportive. I'm not surprised about this because I have such a caring and loving people surrounding me. However, I am very appreciative. Thanks everyone!
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: the list for this could go on and on...a)when people came over the apt to stay with me all day b) when Chris just held my hand and told me everything would be ok even though the pain was immobilizing c)when people took me out to do things even though I couldn't walk. I felt like such a burden to them but they didn't even care. d) the fact that everyone waited over 9 hours for me to come out of surgery e) there are just so many nice things....
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I want to spread awareness about hip dysplasia and other invisible illnesses. Just because you can't see that someone is hurting doesn't mean that they aren't hurting.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: appreciated, loved, and proud to spread awareness