Grateful's a Massive Understatement

A year ago, for a variety of reasons, I could not have dreamt of being where I am today.

A few weeks ago, I underwent bilateral hip replacement surgery and I am already moving comfortably in ways that, a few weeks ago, caused me pain.

 

The surgery happened June 29^th 2022. I went home the next day. Three weeks later, I stopped using a walker to move around the house. On Sunday, I stopped using a cane. I am slowly going up and down stairs on my own and doing exercises to regain muscle strength and my range of motion.

 

I’m walking slowly but, more importantly, without pain.

 

I am getting my life back. As I moved around the house and even the grocery store on Sunday, after setting aside the cane, the word that kept coming to my mind was “incredible”.

 

This morning, I went to see my amazing surgeon, Dr. David Zukor, for the first time since I last saw him the morning after surgery. It’s been six weeks. He was pleased with the new x-rays, incisions, and my progress so far. He has given me the green light to resume pretty much all of my prior activities.

 

I’ve got lots more physio to do!

In recovery a few hours after surgery, eating a protein bar.

Here’s just a bit of back story. I started physiotherapy in the summer of 2017 after noticing that I seemed to be losing strength in my legs. I no longer had my skating stride. I saw several physiotherapists over the following years, most of whom were curious to know what was going on inside my hips. I finally went for an x-ray in July 2020 and was diagnosed with moderate to severe osteoarthritis in both hips.

 

As a physician injected cortisone into my more painful hip in June 2021, he told me the shot typically lasts three months for some patients, six months for others, and as long as a year for a lucky few. The shot provided me with 13 days of relief.

 

Surgery was something I desperately wanted to avoid and yet, faced with diminishing mobility, intensifying pain and so much more life to live, surgery seemed inevitable and the only sensible option.

 

For me, the thought was frightening and the prospect, nothing short of dreadful.

 

My mindset changed completely after meeting Dr. David Zukor on November 1, 2021. I left the Jewish General Hospital that day with so much confidence in Dr. Zukor and the direct lateral procedure he performs, even though I had not expected to hear Dr. Zukor recommend replacing both hips at the same time.

The first three weeks at home, I worked the walker.

Dr. Zukor’s office put me in touch with a flight attendant who had undergone the same procedure. Her words provided insight and encouragement, boosting my conviction.

 

It’s not easy, but if you keep your eyes on the prize, which is sunshine and rainbows, it’s more than worth the journey, besides it’s all happy stuff - you’re headed in a happy direction and, given all the terrifying health issues people face, I am eternally grateful that Dr. Zukor and his team had this option to offer me. 

 

My wife and son were so incredibly attentive, patient and helpful, preparing meals, collecting materials from my downstairs office, and entertaining whims.

 

I am grateful to be loved so much.