Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

As I have said before, one of my biggest learnings has been the fact that in order to recover from a major injury one has to actively manage their own care.  With that, I believe, comes the realization that many decisions, big and small, need to be made.  No longer can we sit back and have the doctor or PT dictate what we can and can't do on a daily basis.  We need to carry the burden of making our own decisions and be faced with the fact that sometimes we will make the wrong ones. 

Thus I have personally done a few things to take the pressure off myself to allow for the wrong decision.  As stated before I have given myself 2 years to recover.  In addition, I view every decision as a test, or experiment.  If the decision goes well, then I continue with it.  If the decision fails, then I tweak it and test again or scrap it altogether.  In order to test it, the decision must provide value to my recovery, fitness, or health, either mental or physical.  And lastly, I try and keep a long view.  I am only 37 years old and I want to be fit and nimble when I am 77 so decisions I make now can impact if I have my own hips 40 years from now and am active, upright, and walking.

In order to best explain my decision making process, let me outline some of the general rules by which I am confined.  At my 4 month appointment I was given 3 rules: don't run and don't jump.  And don't fall.  Everything else is acceptable. 

By and large I have followed that advice.  I haven't fallen - thank God - and the only running I do is with kids playing some pickup soccer, football, or basketball in the yard.  Aside from that, I dont' play basketball, I don't go out for runs, and don't do any exercises like burpees or rope jumping that would put extensive pressure or pounding on my hip. 

Now while I have no desire to run - 3 marathons pre-injury was enough - I do see value in the act of running on my recovery.  I philosophically don't believe that "going out for a run" is the best form of exercise for most of us - which is a post for another day, but I do think a once weekly sprint session or jump rope session is very valuable.  At 8 months into my recovery, I dont' think I could sprint even if I wanted to.  My pelvic alignment and leg strength aren't there yet.  And the pelvic alignment seems to cause some grabbing in my inner thigh, which would be further aggravated by running fast.  So I haven't even bothered to test it.  I think I already know the answer.

Jumping rope, though, could provide the benefits I desire.  The benefit gained, which running also provides, would be added bone density.  Continual pounding on the bones makes for stronger bones.  Cyclists have a reputation for week bones because cycling is effectively a non weight bearing activity.  Therefore, for example, I might try jumping rope in the near future given that the snow has fallen and biking has been limited.  So lately it has been on my mind as a test.  I haven't decided to test it yet but I may.

But this is just one decision, and some are big, some are small.  See a few others below.

• Can I bike? Tested.  It feels great, adds to hip mobility, and helps remind me that the injury was just a fluke thing.  But I no longer ride rode bikes.  The big tires make me feel safe.  It may be an illusion but  confidence has been built on a lot less than an illusion.
• Can I play golf?  Tested swing, too much twisting aggravates groin. Scrap
• Can I bowl?  Tested rolling the ball, a little pressure on the leg and feels a little awkward but no pain.  Keep but limit.
• Can I ski/snowboard?  No way.  Too much of chance of falling hard.
• Should I add more mobility work before my kettlebell workouts and stretching afterward?  Tested.  Yes it helps, I think.  Keep for now.
• Can I play football in the snow with my boys?  No way.  Too much of chance of falling hard.
• Can I bike in the snow/ice with the studded tires?  This is the decision I have been mulling over in my head for the week since we got a foot of snow here in St Paul.  I want to try it because I love it and I believe my gigantic studded tires would keep me upright but you never know.  I just can't gauge the risk factor.  And it becomes a bit like skiing or playing football, the snow and ice ups the chance of falling hard and setting my recovery back.  So far I have decided against it.  A season or two of not riding in the snow is worth the long term use of my "own" hip.
• Should I do more Feldenkrais on a daily basis?  Test.  Feels great. Eases pain.  Keep.

As you can see it is a lot more art than science but it is all about progressing my recovery and not setting it back.  So in sum, I do things that help and avoid or delay anything that could set me back.  I take all activity an put it through an internal feedback loop employing advice as needed.  Typically that is my wife but sometimes it is a trainer, friend, or fellow cyclist.

I would encourage anyone in recovery - no matter a broken hip or bruised shoulder - to employ this approach.  It empowers you to own your recovery and make your own decisions.  Because in the end you are the only one accountable and your decisions are the only ones that really matter.

Thanks for reading....