It is almost time to head home (well, in two or three days anyway). I am resting today. No physiotherapy—just relaxing by the pool. And I’ve been thinking a lot about waiting.There is no doubt I should have had this surgery years ago. From a clinical picture, these hips were never going to get better. The decline in function was inexorable, as was the degree of physical and functional impairment (way past 50% for many, many months).From a quality of life and productivity perspective, I ended up having to work half-days. Indeed, falling asleep when talking to patients or having fatigue and pain affect my patient assessments are both unacceptable.As well, I couldn’t even do simple things around the house. Nor could I play many sports or enjoy simple activities like walking around the block. As a result, my community and family life suffered for a long, long time.In fact, I never realized how much of an impact the pain was having until I asked one of the nurses I work with one day if she noticed my limp. She said I had limped since I started working with her… over two and a half years ago!So, right now I am waiting to walk a little farther and eventually get back to a normal gait instead of a limp, and maybe growing a little impatient to return to life the way I want it. That wait, the surgeons tell me, is only a few more weeks.And in less than half a year I’ll be back to a full slate of activities including my thrice-weekly hockey games with the boys, a few rounds of golf, a several kilometer cycle ride with my wife, and, yes, even a walk around the block to work off some of that great dinner.I probably could have had those things a couple of years of go if I had been able to have the surgery. But, fretting over that gets me nowhere. That said, it might mean something to someone who is where I was a few years ago.It is unfortunate that some of us live with health systems that can’t meet our needs and want us to accept the suffering that comes with having an orthopedic problem—hip, shoulder, knee, or whatever. It is fortunate, however, that there are options for those of us who won’t accept needless suffering.In eight weeks or less I will be back to work full-time and walking upstairs without dreading another painful 14 steps to the next floor. Sure, I won’t have an excuse for leaving my socks on the floor because it hurts to pick them up. And I won’t have to worry about my patients offering me their walkers and canes when I pick them up to come to my office.Am I getting ahead of myself today? Sure, I have more therapy, and more just walking on my resurfaced hips. But it is nice getting ahead of yourself with hope, instead of frustration and dread wondering when this problem will finally get fixed.
