Orthopaedic surgery sucks. My wife got a right THA (steel on composite) in December, a right medial unicondylar knee arthroplasty last month, and we're looking at right shoulder work (partial thickness tears of the biceps tending, infraspinatus and supraspinatus ligament impingement, acrimioclavicular joint impingement on upper biceps tendon, intraarticular biceps tendonosis...) next up.
Fortunately, having been through PT for orthopaedic (and other assorted) issues myself - right shoulder reassembly (just jigsaw work) and right knee (blew all of the cartilage out...) the homecall therapist really only comes around to show new exercises and evaluate progress. I handle the daily PT and pain management (with assistance from the MD,) so she's recovering very well.
I just have to keep reminding her that yes, it is indeed worth all of the pain now to get quit of it, instead of just putting up with a reduced amount of pain for the rest of her life. Can be difficult some days...
Yes, I do understand. Yes, it will be worth it. Yes, you will feel like the man who hits himself in the head repeatedly with a hammer because it feels so good when he stops - this is normal. Believe me, you're going to come out feeling better on the other side - but listen to your doctor and listen to your therapist! Orthopaedic work hurts so damned bad because it's something you do not want to screw around with. Or screw up.
