After my trip to Kona, I flew back to San Diego for a day and a half before my next flight to Vail. Enough time to do some rehab that I had, uh-hum, slightly neglected while in Kona, unpack my summer clothes and repack my winter clothes for my recheck in Vail (where I had both of my surgeries and was due for my recheck a few days later on my most recently operated right hip).
My trip to Vail, other than the frigid 10 degree temps and 4 inches of snow that fell a few days into my visit, couldn't have gone any better. I had my recheck with my surgeon, Dr Philippon, and what better news can you get than, "Your hips are healed. Now go out and win some races!" It was definitely a happy day for me. :-) I also had a great week of therapy with Mark Ryan, director of Sports Performance at Howard Head Sports Medicine, who started me on a 3 x a week return to running program. Thanks also Mark for waking up my glutes - those muscles that I never knew I had before!
So, all in all, it's been a GREAT last few weeks! I'm really excited to be back swimming (and yes, finally flip turning!), biking and running, and getting ready for 2013.:)
4 comments:
hey donna. I am also a PT and I love your patience and dedication to your recovery. You likely know this but what has helped me a ton " to wake up my glutes" is doing a pretty comprehensive dynamic warm up before each run. Good luck i hope you have a great return to your sport!
Hi Donna - I seem to be experiencing similar hip issues that you went through, and also working thru the decision process as to whether to keep racing or have the surgery. I have decided to give Ironman's a break but want to to keep racing/running. What did your surgeon tell you the time frame to be back racing all out would be? and, if you don't mind, what were the key symptoms you had that lead you to the MRI etc?
Thanks from a Toronto triathlete!!
GoBigGreen, thanks for your comments and advice! My glutes were asleep for quite some time, but thankfully they're waking up now!;) I definitely agree that doing a dynamic warm up helps to wake them up. Thanks for your message and have a great 2013!
"a brief compendium on nearly everything", sorry for the delayed reply! The rehab process is 6-7 months I'm told, and I was running at 8weeks post-op. It's a gradual build up and a little different for me since I had back to back surgeries, but at 6 months and 4 months post-op, my hips feel better than ever, and having surgery was the best decision I could have ever made. Dr Philippon has had, I believe, 12-14 athletes go on to compete at the Olympics post surgery including Tyson Gay who won a silver medal in the men's 4 x 100 relay this past summer in London (and 4th in the individual 100m sprint)after having surgery in June, 2011.
My symptoms leading up to the MRI were actually related to TFL (Tensor Fascia Latae) tendonitis on the side of my hip, secondary to instability in my hip joint due to the torn labrum. I also had groin pain on/off for 3 years which I had thought was a groin injury but was also related to my torn labrum. Sitting for prolonged periods of time was also uncomfortable.
Hope that answers your Q's, and let me know if I can provide any other insight. It's been a 100% positive experience for me - not just for getting back to training painfree, but knowing that without the surgery, I would have had even bigger problems to deal with down the road.
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