I think most of us can agree that the rosy picture that's painted of recovery just makes the reality a shocker. I know I felt pretty miserable, helpless, uncomfortable, and generally thought I'd made a mistake in having the surgery. Pre-surgery I could walk, but very slowly. Pre-surgery I had very little pain. I had to remind myself that pre-surgery I was clinging to the doorway for support when I entered my front door, one step up, and it was only getting worse! Recovery is slow, and a bit of a different path for each of us. At some point I realized I was doing a bit better than I was before surgery, and instead of getting worse I was getting better! I guess that was the real turning point.