8 weeks post-pao
I had such a great time visiting the city and seeing all my friends that live all over the country. I have been coming to this convention for 17 years and have truly gained a second family from doing so. I credit a lot of my decision to pursue physical therapy to the families I've gotten to know over the years through FRIENDS. For a long time I was set on becoming an orthopedic surgeon. However, after seeing the tremendous impact that therapists have on their patients' lives and the close relationships they develop, I knew that my heart was in therapy.
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... because sometimes things just suck.As the saga has progressed through the years, I have turned to lots of online forums about pelvic floor dysfunction, labral tears and hip dysplasia to help me figure out exactly what I was getting myself into with all these treatment options. In doing so, I came across so many gut wrenching stories from girls across the country who really struggled in their journeys--even after surgical correction and rehab. In fact, it was these very stories that inspired me to write this blog. Even if my words could help just one girl to not suffer the emotional scarring that so many others have experienced, it would all be worth it. With that being said, I know that a lot of my posts have been all rainbows and puppy dogs... but you and I both know that this has been no walk in the park. But it's not that all this positivity has been fake either. It's been very real. It's just that some days, it takes a lot more work. Sometimes impossibly more work. Putting a smile on your face every day can be absolutely exhausting. So much of my life--of what makes me who I am--has been taken away from me (albeit temporarily of course). And it's devastating. However, I have been afraid to let myself acknowledge this loss because what good would feeling sorry for myself do? I thought that if I were to give into this sadness, it would make me weak and somehow unfit to bear the burden of this process. But let me tell you something, the greatest thing I've learned is that it's ok to not be so strong all the time. I think it's important to let yourself feel the very real loss of the life you are used to living. Scream. Cry. Throw something. Give yourself that space and do it as often as you need, but put your brave face back on when you're ready to resume the fight because this is, in fact, only temporary. The inevitable question we all ask
Going through a clinical doctorate with all of these health issues has been a challenge in and of itself, one that I initially saw as some cruel and unfair twist of fate. But now, I can't help but think that perhaps this timing was actually quite beautiful and necessary. It was simply meant to be.
7 weeks post-pao
6 WEEKS POST-PAO
It's also going to take awhile to adjust to the position of my new hip. There are special sensory nerves in your joints that are responsible for proprioception--which is your brain's ability to sense where your body is in space. Proprioception is what allows you to know where your feet are when you are climbing up a flight of stairs... even without looking at them. Now that the joint has been repositioned, my proprioception is off. I can feel it when I try to walk without the crutch. I have to concentrate really hard on engaging my glutes to stabilize my pelvis, which is something that should happen automatically in response to proprioceptive input to the joint. But never fear! This will come back :) Proprioceptive training will be a big focus for physical therapy, especially as I work towards return to sport.
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AuthorJust a physical therapist and her journey being on the other side rehab. Categories
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