Three Weeks Later: How Hard Can it Be?

One of my favorite television shows is the BBC series, "Top Gear," in which three regular guys undertake vehicular adventures most of us can't even imagine. From driving a pickup truck across the English Channel to launching a Renault into space to racing a half-million dollar car and a fighter jet, most of the on-screen adventures begin the same way: They think of something totally crazy and then muse, in the typical understated British manner, "How hard can it be?" Budget-busting, death-defying, and humor inevitably ensue as they set about to accomplish some crazy thing that just makes me stop and stare. It's very, very good TV.

While I don't remember wondering, "How hard can it be?" I do think it's fair to say I had no real idea what I was in for when I opted to proceed with having my damaged left hip replaced. Since the surgery three weeks ago and my return to work three days ago, I've been constantly surprised at just how big a deal this process really is. It's important to interject immediately, however, I have no regrets. I still know it was the absolute right thing to do - and that I did it at the right time. Next I want to say how much new found respect I have for people who've been through this process, especially those who are in their 60s, 70s, and beyond, those who've undergone multiple joint replacements, and those who've gone through this with concomitant health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and other ailments. If you're in any of those groups, you have my respect.

So, how's the view from the three-week milepost? While things are a lot better than they were at the one-week mark, I still have a way to go before I'm back to normal. Pain meds, motion precautions, limited activity, sleeping problems, crutches, feeling disconnected from life, and not pulling my weight are some of the things I'm still dealing with. That's not a complaint - I mean, it really has just been three weeks and lots of people are dealing with lots more on many fronts - but it is an accurate status report. I am kind of surprised how much it still hurts, how pokey I feel gimping around on crutches, and how much I want to be doing but just can't or shouldn't. I don't think I'm intellectually surprised, if that makes sense; I did just have two pieces of bone sawed away and metal pieces put in their place, so it stands to reason that three weeks later I'm still healing. I think I'm mentally, emotionally surprised... like, I knew this would happen but I wasn't really mentally prepared.

And maybe that's for the best. We can only deal with the reality we're in - not the one we're worried about - so what would it matter if I'd have had a crystal ball a month ago and could have looked forward to today? Not much. I guess mission #1 now is just riding it out for another three weeks or so until things hopefully return to normal, while trying to balance job, family, self, and wellness.

Really... how hard can it be?