“There’s only one growth strategy: Work hard.” - William Hague
This quote introduces readers to Chapter 5, Recuperation - Milestones & Timeline, in my book, Butternut to Bionic: A Resource Guide for Hip Replacement Surgery. Working hard is what I have done and will continue to do to in order to care for my health.
Movement heals. Managing my chronic conditions and healing from three life-changing surgeries has required a great deal of my time and attention. Relying on the knowledge of professionals has helped me return to an active lifestyle, return to and maintain a healthy weight, and regain strength and flexibility that I feared I had lost forever. In the book excerpt below I share my fitness experience both before and after hip replacement:
“The morning of my first hip replacement surgery, my significant other and I went to the gym for a full upper body weight training workout. Is this suggestion an option for you? That depends on you and your activity level. The morning of my second hip replacement surgery, I still exercised to a certain degree. By my third revision surgery, even though I was on crutches I still went to the gym for an upper body routine that morning. For me, exercise is therapeutic for my body, mind, and emotional well-being. Getting out of the house, distracting my mind, and focusing on what I was able to do rather than worrying about the surgery was a boost for my self-confidence. Exercise provides energy, promotes circulation, and enhances your immune function. I viewed my time at the gym those days as added insurance to protect me against infection, assuring me that I was going to be okay. Surgery is scary.” - Tiffany Anderson, Butternut to Bionic, Chapter 2 Preparing for Surgery, pg. 47
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (1/2020): The detailed timeline at the end of the book will really help individuals know what to expect from the beginning to 5+ years in the future. This is highly recommended reading.
After surgery I knew that preparing for movement was crucial towards a successful recovery. Expectations were high and physically I of course felt awful. The pain, inflammation, and added weight from my new bionic parts left me feeling as though I woke up in the body of a stranger. Grieving the loss of my ‘old self’ and embracing the new has been part of my recovery. Healing from my procedures took years. Learning to walk again, especially after my second hip replacement and subsequent revision surgery left me on crutches for months. Muscle atrophy, joint pain, and infection were just a few of the obstacles for me to overcome. Step-by-step I made it through and invest in my health every day. My quality of life is worth the effort.
How can my advice and experience help you? Team with your healthcare providers as I suggest in my recovery guide. I would not be where I am today without the support, guidance, and advice from my own health and wellness team. Each of the professionals I have sought have also been my greatest cheerleaders. Snag a copy of my resource guide - the recovery tools, tips, and candid insights have helped many. Read the high praise my book received recently from Reader Views here. Butternut to Bionic was nominated for the 2018 AARP Purpose Prize, the 2018 Health Literacy Award, and is currently being judged for a Literary Award by Reader Views.
Yes, I am proud of my accomplishment…this guide was crafted and designed to help others.
Be Well! ~Tiffany Anderson, LMT, RMT, BS, CHES
Founder, Anderson Therapeutics