Yippie I finally get to look in here!!!!!!
Sorry it has taken me so long to acknowledge this act of kindness, but there was a mix up at the dealer and the gift certificate hadn't been sent out. Don (TwoLane) contacted the dealer today and got it all straight and it went in the mail today. I would like to thank everyone for your thoughts, calls, prayers, and contribution to the gift certificate. I can honestly say I don't believe there is any other group like this, and I'm damn proud to be a part of it.
Update on my rehab/recovery - I'm doing extremely well, gaining strength and flexibility back daily. I have physical therapy twice a week, and exercise at home twice a day. When I was discharged from the hospital I had to use a walker to get around and that lasted about a week. I then used crutches for another week, and finally I'm up to just using a cane. Today when I was at PT he had me walk w/o the cane and suggested if I felt comfortable w/o using it that I should use it less, and less. I'm real thankful for the pace that I'm progressing, and look forward to being in the wind when weather permits. I actually have sat on the bike since I've been doing PT just to see how it would feel to raise my left leg from ground to floorboard. I was able to do this by just using muscles in my leg, which couldn't be done before surgery. There was so much pain and discomfort using the muscles and putting pressure on the hip joint before that I was using my hand to lift my leg up. When riding the bike I wouldn't put my left leg down at stops, and was using only my right leg to hold me and the bike up which wasn't good.
My first session at PT we discussed my goals pertaining to doing the PT, and the first thing that came out of my mouth was riding my bike again by late spring/early summer. Therapist feels that this should be easily accomplished, and each session he constantly comments on how much I've progressed. Putting in the time doing the therapy, and exercises at home have definitely paid off.
It's amazing how there is no pain at all in the joint like it was before. I'll tell anybody that is suffering from arthritis and their doctor has suggested this procedure it's definitely worth it. I could feel the immediate relief after surgery as far as the joint pain I had. There was some discomfort because of the incisions, and muscle tissue that had to be disturbed to get the new joint in, but all the deep joint pain was gone. I had the surgery on Monday, was up walking on Tuesday, climbing steps on Wednesday, and went home on Thursday. By the Saturday after surgery I had stopped taking all the pain meds, and the Thursday before Super Bowl I coaxed the Surgeon to take me off Coumadin (blood thinner). I explained to him that it was Super Bowl weekend and it would be hard to watch the game and not have "adult beverages".

He told me with the way I was getting around, and being active that the risk of blood clots were minimal and I could stop taking the Coumadin. So I'm now med free from surgery and able to drive myself around, and do all the things that we take for granted (dressing, showering, etc).
Again thanks for your thoughts, prayers, calls, and acts of kindness. Those of you that know me know this gift certificate will be put to something "shiny". OCD/SEO Rules!!!!!

Ride Safe,
Fired00d
