Today marks FIVE days of being completely crutch free. I wasn’t sure if I would be able to maintain it so I am very proud of myself for keeping it up and the slightly scary thing is that my step count has not gone down! I’ve walked around the farm at my old place of work and been to visit a friend’s new livery yard as well as walking to work and at my yard so I’ve tackled a range of terrain too!
It hasn’t been easy. I have to concentrate on every single step and I feel like I am walking quite stiffly. I have been getting tired as the days have gone on but I haven’t got to the hobbling stage so it isn’t too bad. I had a bit of a scare today – I did a funny step on the pavement walking home from work and it felt like my hip tried to pop out.. It didn’t pop out so the muscles must be good but I’m a bit worried now – I think a call to the physio is in order to check that everything sounds ok. I’m not sure whether I am trying to do too much.
The other revelation this week is that common opinion suggests I am taller since my operation! I saw friends from my old job (who I haven’t seen since my operation) and everyone thought I was taller. I’m not sure whether that is as a result of my slightly lengthened left leg or whether it is because I am walking straighter and not sticking my bum out so much! Either way the longer leg and the straighter walking are good things – I can’t wait to try out my leg and altered seat on Pea in a few weeks time. Here’s a hint of my old leg wonkiness in pictorial form!
I am seeing the physio on the 28th and I am going to ask her what she thinks of me riding again. If she says yes I’ll do it – I feel ready at the moment but I just don’t want to risk undoing all the hard work and I am still on hip precaution restrictions. If she says to wait until 12 weeks then so be it, I’m hoping to have many more years of riding left! For now I’m spending more and more time looking back through pictures of me riding. I made this collage for the two year anniversary of owning Pea – I hope that by January I’ll have plenty to add to document my third year of pony ownership!
Young Hip and Horsey 
Hi I just discovered your site and enjoyed reading your rehab journey and wish you well. I had both hips replaced in 2012 and it worked out well, I tell my story in my blog. rich
LikeLike