Greetings to all!

Hi fellow hip runners!

I’m just 2 weeks out after a L THR, anterior approach with robotic assistance and Cr/Cr appliance. My surgeon was a little disgusted that I had run 5k the day before surgery, but as running didn’t hurt I thought one last one would help recovery. He said the ball had become cone-shaped, and was one of the worst he had seen. They let me out the day after and recovery has been rapid, so running may have helped. I did wait to try walking distance until after the first week, kept icing when needed and used support stockings to prevent leg swell, which previous injuries have convinced me is essential to recovery. I was careful to ask EXACTLY what limitations to observe, and other than not pushing too fast and avoid falling at all costs it was mostly ‘treat it like a broken leg, and be careful for 6 weeks’. He did mention a surgical glue was used to adhere the appliance to the bone which aides in initial fusion integrity, but no sense in pushing it.

I am up to managing 2 miles without difficulty and put the walker away for daily use, a cane seems to work OK. My wife has a pair of hiking sticks that work even better for distance as long as I have free hands, but I have decided to do more treadmill work for now. It may be dull with the beautiful weather outside, but there’s no risk of falling. I am using my last pair of almost new traditional running shoes for walking, but when I go back to running will return to my beloved five fingers. I am a heel striker from way back unless barefoot, and while it seems counter intuitive the stride change while barefoot is amazing. I used to kick my shoes off for the last few miles on long races anyway, it just felt better – and cut 2 minutes/mile off my times, which were nothing to brag about. The important thing is my stride quickens and shortens, I run on the mid foot instead of my heel and impact is reduced to nothing. Guess I had a lot of bad habits shoes were masking.

The biggest issue now is sitting for extended periods still hurts. In fact, this was my primary symptom. I have a desk job and it had become excruciating, to the point my wife got me a stand-up workstation for home and work. Sitting still hurts some, but it’s already a bit better than pre surgery and should get better with more exercise. I plan to see what a few short jogs feel like after 2 months – start really slow with a quarter mile if walking feels OK. Baby steps I know, but better a bit slower and avoid a big setback. I don’t know if I will be able to get back to even half marathon distance, but I will be happy to run even a few miles again.

I don’t have any words of wisdom yet, but am very glad to have discovered this group. My very protective wife is now onboard with a careful return to running, having seen the success others have had.