Monday
PAO recovery week 7 has officially arrived, and this week marked some of the biggest milestones since surgery—first steps, first drive, and my first real taste of independence again.
According to my physical therapist, this is when I could start putting weight on my leg. I probably should have waited until I got full clearance from my doctor at my appointment on Wednesday…but curiosity got the best of me. And since my PT said it was probably fine, so I went for it.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t pain-free. I had some tingly nerve pain in my feet for the first few steps, but the biggest pain came from the muscles in my groin. This was also my biggest pain point after my right PAO and scope in 2018, so I’m not surprised—but I was definitely hoping it wouldn’t be an issue this time around.
I know I need to practice patience as I relearn how to walk and put weight on my left leg. My brain is so ready to ditch the crutches, but my body is clearly going to make me take this slow.
I did test out some partial weight-bearing here and there, but I still spent most of the day non-weight-bearing.
This felt like a big turning point in my PAO recovery week 7, even if it wasn’t as smooth as I hoped.
Tuesday
A very small, but noticeable win: I was able to get into bed without lifting my left leg with my hands! I picked it up and swung it into bed completely hands-free.
That means my hip flexors aren’t totally asleep!
Back aftermy right PAO in 2018, I couldn’t lift my leg off the ground unassisted from a seated position for months (like the motion of lifting your knee while sitting). That was definitely not normal and likely a big reason it took me so long to get off crutches the first time.
So while I’m discouraged that putting full weight on my leg is still painful in my groin, it’s really encouraging to see that my hip flexors seem stronger this time around
A huge win I must mention: I DROVE A CAR!! First time in 6 weeks!! It felt like freedom!
Wednesday
The long-anticipated 6-week follow-up appointment!
I’m thrilled to report that my X-rays looked good and my bone healing is on track. Which means…I’m officially cleared to weight bear on my operative leg!
This was a huge milestone in my PAO recovery week 7, finally getting clearance to start weight bearing.
That said, it’s weight-bearing as tolerated, and I fully expect to be on crutches for another 2–6 weeks until I can walk comfortably without pain or a limp.
After my appointment, we went on a small outing—ran into REI to return something and grabbed coffee from a local shop. Being able to get out and do normal things again felt so refreshing.
Thursday and Friday
At around 2 weeks post-op, we made the questionable decision to book a stay at an indoor waterpark, Kalahri, for my kids’ spring break. As it got closer, I was honestly really stressed about it.
I knew it would involve a lot of walking—even if I didn’t get in the water—and the place was HUGE. Just getting from the waterpark to our hotel room felt like a full journey for me.
The first day, I got really sore. I lasted about 20 minutes in those uncomfortable waterpark chairs before calling it. I spent the rest of the day back in the hotel room.
The second day was slightly better—we found better chairs—but after a few hours, I had to move again and ended up in a comfy chair in the lobby.
I didn’t do much beyond slowly transferring from place to place, but by the time we got home, I was completely wiped out. My kids had a great time though and that’s all that matters!
Saturday
Such a grumpy day.
I woke up SO sore, and I’m sure it’s from all the extra “walking” the previous two days.
On top of that, my house was an absolute disaster. I really struggle to relax when things feel messy, and no one in my house quite notices (or handles it) the way I do…which quickly turns into a messy house and a grumpy mom.
Thankfully, my mom has helped so much since my surgery and has kept things from getting totally out of control over the past 6 weeks—but it’s wild how just a couple of days without tidying can snowball so fast with a family of six.
Sunday
My daughter had her final indoor soccer game before the spring season, and I was able to go!
I’ve missed the last 6 weeks of games, so this felt like such a treat. I love watching her play, and it meant so much just to be there.
After that, we spent the rest of the day relaxing at home.
So Many Firsts!
PAO recovery week 7 brought so many firsts since surgery:
- First time driving
- First time weight-bearing
- First outing that wasn’t a doctor’s appointment
- First time lifting my leg unassisted
So many small but meaningful milestones.
I’m really proud of these accomplishments, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t also feeling frustrated. I know I still have a long road ahead.
I’m so ready to feel like myself again—to work out, walk, run, and just move freely without thinking about it.
But for now, all I can do is take it one day at a time.
Next week will be a lot of reentry into the real world. Pray for me…
You can check out my full PAO story HERE.