A Taste of Flava: A New Chapter Is on the Horizon

I woke up excited about meeting my hip surgeon tomorrow.

It feels like I’m standing at the doorway of a new chapter. I’m imagining a life with much less pain. My knees are already 10 years old, and now I’m preparing for bilateral hip surgeries—not at the same time. If everything goes well, I could be moving into 2027 with two new hips.

It’s interesting to realize that I’ve accepted being disabled without shame, while also beginning to believe I may become more able-bodied again. For a long time, I’m not sure I believed that was possible.

Maybe that’s because I’ve been living with chronic pain for three years without seeing the progress I hoped for. My life has changed so much that pain and limited mobility started to feel like simply the way life was going to be. Every day, I live with pain. Winters are clearly the hardest, and this fall has been rough so far.

I’ve also been dealing with incontinence since the time my radiculopathy and hip arthritis became part of my life. It can be hard to talk about, and I’m still learning not to feel embarrassed. Every week, I speak with spine patients—men and women—who share that they’re experiencing incontinence. I try to make those conversations feel safe and comfortable. Their honesty has helped me feel more comfortable talking about my own experience.

This is real life, and it’s okay to talk about it with someone you trust and with your medical team. You might be surprised how many people around you have dealt with something similar.

My daughter reminds me that there are other things I need to address, like getting my eyes and teeth checked. I also have a referral to a urogynecologist. Some of those things have been put on hold while I focus on my hip pain. Once I’ve been through both hip replacements and recovery, I plan to turn my attention to the rest.

Working in the medical industry for more than nine years has shown me how challenging it can be to connect patients with the right care and move their needs forward. Now I’m facing that same challenge with my own primary care provider. I’ve felt discouraged by the lack of response to my needs, especially when I’m trying to find a non-NSAID medication to make the pain more manageable while I wait for surgery.

Getting prompt care can be hit or miss. And when you’re already dealing with pain or other health concerns, it can be hard to find the time and energy to look for a provider or location that feels like the right fit.

So, what do we do?

This may sound like a Health and Wellness blog, but it’s also my present story—my health journey, which I share regularly. Maybe someone can relate to what I’m experiencing or to the topics I bring up. Many people don’t feel comfortable talking about their health. I hope sharing my story can help make those conversations a little easier.

I don’t know everything, and I don’t have a medical degree. I speak from what I’ve learned through my own health journey and from working in the medical industry for more than nine years.

If you have a question or want to share your experience, I hope you’ll find the courage to respond to a blog or email me at dearflava@gmail.com.

We can keep learning and growing together in our understanding of health and wellness.

From Flava in Her Tower 🌻