Day to day life

At 14 weeks post LPAO, life is starting to feel more normal again. I’m still working through pain, physical therapy, and rebuilding strength, but this stage of recovery feels like a big step forward.

I haven’t updated in a couple weeks because honestly… I’ve just been busy living regular life again. Between managing four kids, their schedules, and keeping up with the house, life has felt full!

At this point, I can do almost everything related to day-to-day life. There are still a few things I haven’t attempted yet, like yard work or scrubbing the shower, but overall, I’m doing it!

Physical Therapy

PT is continuing to move along really well. Each week they’re giving me more and more to do. Right now I see one physical therapist twice a week and another once a week.

The PT I see twice a week focuses more on strengthening exercises, light tissue massage, and stretching. The other PT I see mainly for deep muscle and tissue work. He does a ton of hands-on therapy, and since going back to him I’ve noticed a huge improvement in both pain and mobility.

Some exercises I’m currently able to do include short walks, single leg bridges, side-lying leg lifts, squats, wall squats, single leg balancing on a foam pad, low-weight leg press, banded monster walks and side steps, and bird dogs.

Medication

I’m still taking quite a few daily supplements to support healing and inflammation. Most are from Thorne: a multivitamin, Emotional Balance, Omega-3, CoQ10, probiotic, and curcumin. I also take a Nature Made vitamin D supplement.

Most days I’ve still been taking 2–4 Advil. Over the last week, though, I’ve had a couple days without needing any pain medication at all. I do still notice that I feel better overall with some anti-inflammatory support right now.

I also haven’t taken a muscle relaxer in a couple weeks, and I haven’t needed any narcotics in well over a month.

Looking Ahead

Over the next couple weeks, I’m hoping to start taking more consistent walks closer to a mile. I’d also really love to get back into some arm workouts.

I tried adding upper body strengthening back in around 3 weeks post-op, and then again around 6 weeks, but both times it really aggravated my hip. I haven’t attempted it again in about a month, but with how I’ve been feeling lately, I’m hopeful I can slowly ease back into an arm routine soon.

It’s honestly crazy to think I’m already 14 weeks post-LPAO. While the pain can still fluctuate day to day, the overall trend is clearly moving in the right direction.

And I haven’t even used my one crutch in two weeks.

If you’re reading this in the early weeks of recovery — or preparing for surgery yourself — just know that it does get better. There is hope.

You can also read my earlier hip surgery recovery updates to see how this journey has changed week by week.

For more general information on periacetabular osteotomy recovery, you can visit the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.