As I moved into the second week of June, I was approaching one month since surgery.
For the first time, recovery didn't feel like I was simply getting through each day. It felt like I was beginning to move forward.
Stronger Every Week
Physical therapy continued progressing.
The exercises were becoming more challenging in all the right ways. We added leg presses, hamstring curls, leg extensions, and step-ups. I could tell my strength was returning, and I was needing less assistance with everyday movements.
Nothing happened overnight.
It was simply a little better every day.
Looking back, that's really what recovery became—small improvements that slowly added up.
The Question Everyone Asked
As I became more active, people started asking me the same question.
"Are you glad you did it?"
Honestly?
I didn't have an answer yet.
The pain I was feeling was different than before surgery. The arthritic pain I'd lived with for years was gone, but now I was dealing with surgical soreness and muscles that had to relearn how to work.
I knew this pain had a purpose.
I knew it would get better.
But I wasn't quite ready to tell someone they should go have a hip replacement.
In fact, knowing my left hip also has arthritis, I wasn't convinced I'd want to do it again if I had to.
The jury was still out.
My Daily Mantra
Whenever I started questioning my progress, I kept telling myself the same thing.
"It's going to get better."
Every day.
"It's going to get better."
That became my mantra.
I think that's one of the biggest mental challenges after surgery. You have to believe in progress long before you can actually see it.
I hoped that by three months I'd look back and know I'd made the right decision.
I hoped that by six months I'd barely remember how uncomfortable those early weeks had been.
At one month, though, I wasn't there yet.
The Moment I Knew Things Were Changing
One day I happened to look down while I was walking.
My foot was straight.
That probably sounds like a strange thing to notice, but it stopped me in my tracks.
Before surgery, years of hip pain had caused me to walk with my right foot turned outward. I had compensated for so long that I didn't even realize how abnormal my gait had become.
Now...
Without even thinking about it...
My foot pointed straight ahead.
That tiny moment showed me something I hadn't fully appreciated.
My body was already moving better than it had before surgery.
Sometimes progress isn't something you feel.
Sometimes it's something you notice.
Finding My Way Back to Fitness
I wasn't back to CrossFit yet.
But I was moving.
I tried the SkiErg.
I did modified push-ups.
Sit-ups.
Physical therapy exercises.
Anything that allowed me to safely move and feel like I was participating again.
I even managed to work up a little sweat.
That felt like a victory.
The workouts looked nothing like they had before surgery, but they reminded me that movement is always better than standing still.
Looking Back
This wasn't a week filled with huge milestones.
It was a week filled with confidence.
I trusted my body a little more.
I trusted the process a little more.
And for the first time since surgery, I could begin to picture what life might look like on the other side of recovery.
Coach's Take
One thing I often tell members is not to compare themselves to where they used to be. Compare yourself to who you were yesterday.
Recovery reminded me that advice applies to all of us.
Progress isn't always dramatic.
Sometimes it's as simple as noticing your foot points straight again.
What I Wish I'd Known
- Healing isn't measured only by pain levels.
- Your body may be improving before you even realize it.
- Small changes are often the biggest signs of progress.
- Trust the process—even when the finish line still feels far away.
Next Week: The milestones started coming faster, and for the first time, I truly began believing I'd return to the activities I love.
Thanks for reading!
I'll be sharing another chapter of my recovery each week—from those first uncertain steps to eventually returning to CrossFit.
If you're recovering from surgery, dealing with an injury, or simply looking for support on your own health journey, I'd love to connect.
🏋️ Learn more about CrossFit 4042: www.crossfit4042.com
💚 Follow along for weekly recovery updates: Facebook & Instagram @CrossFit4042
📩 Have questions or want to share your own recovery story? Send me a message—I'd love to hear from you.
Next Week: A turning point. Sleeping in my own bed again, getting stronger in physical therapy, and finally feeling like I was moving forward instead of just getting through each day.
About the Author
Amy Locklear is the owner of CrossFit 4042 and a CrossFit and nutrition coach passionate about helping people build strength, improve their health, and live active lives. After undergoing a total hip replacement at age 51, she's documenting her recovery to encourage others facing surgery, injury, or setbacks to keep moving forward—one step at a time.
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