Stick to Foot-Tapping

Note to Self: Just because you’re feeling better, and your doctor tells you that you’re a fast healer, doesn’t mean you have to be  stupid cocky overly ambitious enough to try to dance at a concert.

Such was the case this past weekend while I was attending a music festival with a group of friends. By the end of the evening, after far too much revelry,  I found myself limping to the car, forced to stop every few steps to rest. Thank goodness I had a scheduled visit with the physical therapist the next morning. (The massage he gave me, along with the icing and stimulator machine, really helped.)

Now that I am over the two-month mark since arthroscopic hip surgery to repair a torn laburm, I am, in fact, feeling closer to normal on many days. My biggest challenge, though, seems to be knowing when I should slow down.

My surgeon says that I am healing quickly, and during a regular checkup several days ago, he gave me permission to use the elliptical machine for the first time, and to incorporate Pilates in my rehab. (I’m already doing some simple Pilates exercises in PT, like pelvic tilts.) He also said that I could ride the elliptical and the stationary bicycle for up to 40 minutes, and I could add more abdominal exercises.

“Just see how you feel,” he said. “If you’re doing too much, stop.” (Ha!)

He still said no to taking a yoga or spinning class and almost chuckled when I asked about running anytime soon.

I didn’t ask him about dancing, but he probably would have said no to that, too.