Category: Hamstring Recovery

Take a Stand on Sitting – Any type of movement is better than none.

I’m 17 days PO today, and I went out with my bestie – for the first time since surgery, besides Wednesday’s post op appt – to get a few gifts. Two stores. On crutches, hip braced. Back home on the couch now, icing it up. Hammies hurt. Surgical site hurts. Incision hurts.

But – I am not afraid. I’m not worried that I undid the repair, or tore something new, or ruined something because I didn’t follow directions. I’m just sore. And I’m sore because 17 days ago, Mark Price cut open my leg, moved aside my glute muscles, went fishing for my hamstring handles, PULLED THEM UP MY LEG, SEWED CABLES THROUGH THEM, and TIED THEM ONTO THE POTTERY BARN ANCHOR SCREWS HE DRILLED INTO MY BUTT BONE. And then I saw fit to walk around the CVS looking for stocking stuffers with that butt. That is why I’m sore. And knowing *that* makes all the difference. My pain can just be pain, and not pain with fear and lack of self-compassion heaped upon it. Just pain. And pain passes.

2-Week post-op went well! I saw the PA and my surgeon. They said…

• Put on these MC Hammer-style paper shorts for your exam. We do this solely for our own entertainment as you will be dropping trou soon to show us your boo-boo. At least they are blue and match your eyes.
• Your incision looks great.
• You did *not* ruin your repair by accidentally & involuntarily kicking your own butt three times. But stop doing that.
• We’ll change your hip brace flexion limit from 30 to 50 degrees.
• Start PT.
• You can take ibuprofen again. It will help with soreness after PT and won’t prevent your tendons from healing, but that’s a great question – nice research.
• You don’t need to sleep in the brace anymore. Use it for walking. And spooning at night if you miss it.
• Come back in 4 weeks.
• You have such a nice ass.

Okay a few of those were only in my head. Onward!

2 Week post-op appointment today! An afternoon out of the bear cave, with time to stop for stocking stuffers and crazy glue for Barney’s leg.

In the half-hour hot mess scramble before work & school, I managed to get the toilet auger up from the basement to the 2nd floor [that’s 2 flights of stairs, for the folks counting at home] and unclog our toilet. …standing on one leg…supported by crutches. My partner threw her arms around me and cried, “You are my plumbing hero!”

Timely, with good nuggets of truth.

Thanks for hearing my screams yesterday, Hammies. And for all the love & light. Onward.

You got this.

I would like to say out loud that this entire process sucks big time, the pain hurts like a mother f*cker, and I’d rather be doing something else. Thank you. Thank you very much. As you were.

What did your surgeon tell you about taking ibuprofen post-op? I am 10 days PO and have weaned myself off oxycodone. I’m just taking Tylenol, but I’d much rather take ibuprofen. My doc didn’t want me taking it in the 48 hours after surgery in order to to keep some inflammation to aid with healing. When I spoke with the PA after 72 hrs PO he advised me to stick with the oxy & Tylenol. So it’s the end of the day, I’m in pain, I don’t want to take the oxy – I lose all my executive brain functions. Is there a danger in taking ibuprofen at this point (10 days PO)?