Morning Struggles and Reflection
I woke up around 8:30 AM after about six hours of sleep. My bladder was about to pop, but the discomfort in my hip outweighed everything else. Even the smallest movements set off that sharp, stabbing pain, which spikes to a level 9 at times. It’s as if each step is a battle.
Even though the fluid started draining on Friday night, the intensity of the intermittent pain has not subsided. The constant discomfort makes it feel like there’s no relief in sight, and I’m still trying to navigate how to manage it day by day.
By mid-morning, I had settled into my new writing spot in the recliner, with cacao, water, phone, and music at hand. It was the perfect setting to focus on writing, but I found myself questioning how best to document this journey. Should I continue daily journaling and separate blog posts? Or should I turn these daily entries into the posts themselves? Either way, this raw material will help shape my recovery blog, and I’m excited to get it going.
On a brighter note, my non-WiFi remote outlet switch arrived today! I’ll now be able to deactivate my WiFi remotely, reducing EMF exposure in the house—one more small but meaningful step in my healing journey. This change was inspired by The Invisible Rainbow: A History of Electricity and Life, a book I’ve been reading that explores the history, science, and health effects of electricity. It’s been eye-opening and has encouraged me to make some important adjustments as I focus on healing holistically.
Wound Care Appointment and Harsh Realities
At 2:30 PM, I had an appointment with my wound care doctor, who helped me back in 2017-18 during my battle with femur infection. Today, however, he shared some tough news. He’s never seen an infection heal with metal in place. The plan, he explained, would likely involve removing the metal, clearing the infection, and then reinstalling the hip.
I told him about the orthopedic plan: installing a temporary hip made of antibiotic-encased cement, followed by antibiotics to clear the infection. Once that’s done, a second surgery would install the permanent hip. He agreed it sounded plausible, though the situation was far from easy. Even getting in and out of the car today was a huge challenge with the pain.
Physical Therapy and Setbacks
At 5:00 PM, I went to physical therapy, but it didn’t go as expected. After going over my notes from the last eight weeks, my PT was concerned about the continued drainage and severe nerve pain. He decided to send me home, noting that there was little point in proceeding with therapy until the infection and pain were under better control. He promised to call the triage line and document everything for my doctor at Duke.
It was a disappointing setback, but at the same time, I know that I have made zero progress over the past 5 weeks of physical therapy due to complications, such as fluid, infection and pain.
Reflection and Realizations
Something I’ve been reflecting on throughout the day: this pattern has repeated itself. After both my first and second surgeries, I experienced excruciating pain around 10 days post-op, followed by fluid discharge two weeks after surgery. Both times, my concerns were dismissed, and I was encouraged to continue with physical therapy despite the pain. It’s unsettling to realize the same cycle is happening again.
In my book Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation, Andreas Moritz covers many topics, including the misunderstandings and misuse of antibiotics and infections in modern medicine. I’m compiling all my notes and references, as I think they could be crucial to understanding my recovery process. He also mentions the importance of happiness in the process of healing.
Evening Reflection and Music as Medicine
By 6:00 PM, the day was starting to catch up with me. Two difficult car rides, tough conversations, and the overwhelming weight of it all left me drained. I spent an hour working on setting up my new website and hosting, eager to start sharing my healing journey with friends, family, and the world.
I decided to unplug and relax for the evening, I watched about 30 minutes of the movie Divergent before switching gears.
Around 10:00 PM, I completed a physical therapy session, including 10 minutes on my Sadhu boards. During these sessions, I started incorporate conscious breathing, mindfulness, and music to help center myself and stay focused. This combination of breathwork, mindfulness, and music has transformed my therapy into more than just physical recovery—it’s become a holistic healing experience.
If you’re curious about trying breathwork for yourself, I’ve been using this guided breathwork playlist on Spotify below:
Midnight Breakthroughs: Movement and Healing
Before heading to bed, I had a second mini physical therapy session. I’m beginning to see more motion and mobility during my exercises, and that’s making me happy. Music, too, has become a form of medicine during these late-night sessions.
For the first time in a while, I was able to lift my foot off the ground from a seated position on the ottoman—another small victory in this long recovery process.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! If you made it to the end, please leave a comment!
Lokah Samastah Sukhino Bhavantu – May All Beings Be Happy and Free