04/18/2026
Two hip surgeries in a little over a year.
Both forced me to learn things I probably wouldn’t have learned otherwise.
Here are three things that process taught me.
1. Rehab that feels good isn’t the same as rehab that prepares you for the life you want to live.
PT after my surgeries was for the most part pretty easy and I often left feeling pretty good.
But feeling good in the clinic didn’t mean I was ready for what I actually wanted to do outside of the clinic.
The first time I tried to return to real training or play pickup basketball, I was quickly reminded that I wasn’t prepared.
That’s when I understood the gap.
There’s a difference between calming symptoms and building my body back up to handle my lifestyle.
If you want to lift, sprint, jump, or keep up with your kids, your body has to be trained for that level of demand, not just “cleared” for it.
2. Pain doesn’t automatically mean damage.
There were days my hip felt worse.
Nothing structurally had changed. Nothing had “re-torn.”
But the symptoms were much worse.
Over time I realized my hip was just sensitive.
Once I stopped equating every flare-up with damage, I stopped spiraling every time something felt off.
3. Preparation matters more than protection.
The times my hip felt the worst were usually after I jumped into something I hadn’t built exposure to.
Heavy lifts. Sudden sprints. Pickup basketball games.
I expected it to tolerate demands I hadn’t necessarily earned.
When I gradually increased the workload my pain became predictable.
I didn’t need a daily mobility ritual.
I just needed better training.
Avoiding discomfort shrinks your world.
Preparing for it expands it.
