Now I understand the 20/80 rule

In the early days of this blog, there was lots to write about. Every day was an adventure that involved doctors, nurses, rubber hoses, and narcotics.

But now, there is less to write about. My day is centered around three 45 minute physio exercise sessions, which I’ve been doing religiously. Each day is much the same as the one before, but the hip is steadily getting stronger and less painful.

I become exhausted and fall asleep every afternoon. I said to my son Matt that the fatigue is the result of the surgery. Matt, who likes to challenge everything that I say, suggested that my fatigue is more likely the result of a lack of purpose in my life. Of course I disagreed. My purpose is clear—it’s to recover from surgery and get into shape. So, I asked my smart phone, who knows everything, if fatigue can result from surgery. My phone told me that fatigue is normal after surgery, and is the result of the general anesthetic, blood loss, narcotics, and healing process. My phone told me that the fatigue will dissipate over time.

Now that the hard part of the surgery is over, I’m increasingly excited about the results. I’m excited about having two legs that are the same length. Before the surgery, my right leg had become an inch shorter as the old hip replacement deteriorated. Now, as I do my exercises, I feel a stability that I didn’t have before. My back and knees are coming back into alignment. It’s very exciting.

At the beginning of this adventure, I questioned the 20/80 rule—the rule that a positive outcome of this surgery is 20% the surgeon’s responsibility and 80% my responsibility. But now I understand it. Rehab is my full time job for the next couple of months, and I must continue to dedicate myself to a successful recovery. The surgeon did a great job of his 20%, and now the 80% is up to me.