THR Beanie on the go

[Mojo333]

I vote for boat to dock maybe. Getting off will be the trick.
No falling ! Against the rules
Hope today is a Good Day!

 

[Layla]

Hi @Beanie18
Don't rock the boat, don't tip the boat over isn't that a song from the 70's?
Don't answer, it's before you're time, young one.
No slipping or getting incision wet unless you're cleared, no owies.
Hope you have a great weekend!

 

[Josephine]

Now can I go back in time and smack the me that thought she should be full weight bearing 4 days after surgery?

Now that would be a sight to see!

I'm healing, I'm making progress - slow by slow.

I like that!

Husband wants to take me rowing tomorrow.

O-er! Do be careful!

 

[JoeKnows]

Don't rock the boat, don't tip the boat over

Aaaand now this is stuck in my head.

 

[Beanie18]

The rest of the weekend went well - I fully graduated myself to a cane (so sick of that walker) and am trying to focus on proper gait. I'm very slow and get sore easily.

Being rowed around yesterday was lovely - perfect weather and very peaceful. Got a little achy from being in one position for about two hours (plus forgetting to bring my afternoon dose of Tylenol with me) but I transitioned in and out of the boat without any mishaps. And truly felt like a princess on my cushions.


(he's the best)

My ROM is still worse than it was pre-surgery and I'm trying my best to not worry about it until a few months out. Even though a lot of the visible swelling has gone down, I know there is still trauma there being worked out. There's part of me that wonders if I should be doing pt to stretch in an effort to improve ROM, and I'm thankful for the people here who set me straight and remind me that everything I'm feeling is normal and temporary.

Happy Monday, all!

 

[Mojo333]

There's part of me that wonders if I should be doing pt to stretch in an effort to improve ROM, and I'm thankful for the people here who set me straight and remind me that everything I'm feeling is normal and temporary.

Takes longer than ten days for that inflammation to subside.
Normal....temporary...
Temporarily Normal

So happy you were able to get out some...but nothing needed at this point but rest, ice, good nutrition to boost your immune system...and mini walks to stay mobile.
BOooooring!
Hope you stay a patient patient!
Have a great day!

 

[Layla]

Aww, it looks so beautiful and peaceful. I'm glad you had a good time.
Getting out in nature feels so soothing during recovery.
Taking in some sunshine can make your day! You're braver than me. I'm not sure I would have had the confidence to get in that boat at only 11 days post op.

As for ROM, give it some time, it will come. It's a slow process. Mine never completely returned to pre-OA, but there isn't much that I want to do and can't. I'll take it, I'll take it. No More Pain!
Hope your week is lovely!
@Beanie18

 

[Beanie18]

Two weeks out from surgery and I think I'm doing pretty well. Still sore, a bit swollen, a bit stiff in the morning, not able to sleep like I'd prefer, but at the same time able to get up and shift myself around much easier. Practicing taking some stairs normally (with lots of assist from railing and cane). Weight bearing is becoming much easier and I was discharged from home pt yesterday. She noticed I tend to walk on the outside of my right foot on my operated side, and I'm guessing that was a compensation to avoid OA pain and something I will have to unlearn.

Still lots of ice and elevation and reading and being happy for this time to recover. My husband is wonderful and I think he wishes I weren't so stubbornly independent and would ask him to do more for me. Yesterday I was even able to get my compression stocking on by myself (barely) though this morning I was back to missing it by a good three inches and needed him to wrassle it on me again. Le sigh.

This morning I realized that my IV site on my wrist is still sore after two weeks, so isn't it silly to expect a much greater bodily insult to not be so sore? I'm talking to myself here, silly rabbit.

This morning my husband has a meeting in a town about 45 mins away and I am going for a ride along - he'll drop me at a café so I can get wifi (we don't have internet at home other than smart phones) and do work for a class I'm taking for continuing education credits. Have ice pack, will travel.

Have a great day, all!

 

[JoeKnows]

@Beanie18 Sounds like you're doing great! I remember my IV site for my sinus surgery took forever to heal... For some reason it wasn't the same this time around. Bodies are weird.

I think the most concerning thing about your post is that you don't have internet at home - how do you live?! Haha.

I'm also thinking about taking my surgeons offer of PT just for range of motion stuff... For now I'm just trying to stretch on my own (much if the time, carefully in a hot shower). When I rode my stationary bike with no resistance a couple days ago, that seemed to help too.

As for your husband - I can't speak for all men, but I know I like to feel needed. Same instinct as opening a stuck jar, or lifting something heavy, haha.

 

[Layla]

This morning I realized that my IV site on my wrist is still sore after two weeks, so isn't it silly to expect a much greater bodily insult to not be so sore? I'm talking to myself here, silly rabbit.

Your words above, though meant for yourself, are words all should contemplate. Your approach to recovery is measured and wise. You're doing well! May it only get better.

I can relate to something else you mentioned. Walking on the outside of your foot in a subconscious effort to protect your hip. This was the first thing that made me aware I may be in trouble. It was a couple years prior to THR and I noticed it in the wear pattern of my shoe. Next I noticed my gait had changed as I'd catch myself in a store front window, walking toward the door, then came the pain....it was a several year process for me. This is why it's suggested we discard shoes after THR. I couldn't discard all of mine but the ones that were the worst, the ones I wore most often, are now history. I'm favoring shoes with more support these days without sacrificing style. There are so many more on the market....thankfully!

Concentrate on heel-toe walking to get the pressure off the side of your foot.
Let your heel hit the ground first followed by toes.
It takes a concentrated effort but I believe you'll notice a difference. Give it a try. It will also help with a limp if you have one.

I hope you have a nice outing to the cafe this morning and a wonderful rest of the week!
@Beanie18

 

[Beanie18]

I know I've talked before about learning to be patient with this whole healing thing, and still - today I'm just frustrated. I think it's because it's the weekend and there's lots I want to do, and yet the wee bit of walking I do for grocery shopping just leaves me achy and feeling useless. People here have talked about the blues and I guess this is something like that. Basically feeling bad that I can't do more (putting on my darn compression stocking myself still eludes me and the small overly dramatic voice worries my ROM is wrecked FOREVER *cue soap opera back of hand to forehead*). Once again, my husband is a champ and has never once expressed frustration with me or my progress or my need to be on the couch with an ice pack. If only I can be as patient with myself as he is with me.

So as not to be a total downer on this beautiful sunny Saturday, one noticeable improvement: I can actually fall asleep in my non operated side now! Earlier it got too uncomfortable and I would have to shift back onto my back, even with a good pillow between knees. Sleep has been one thing that has been pretty awful since surgery so even a small improvement there is a win.

 

[Barbaraj]

Hey, @Beanie18, even though it’s very early days for me, I have definitely learned that appreciating the small victories is essential. This is such a long, hard road to travel so take the time to celebrate the little things. I was actually able to swing both legs back onto the bed this morning and I cheered, and smiled at my husband as if I’d done the most clever thing ever!

 

[Mojo333]

Only weeks out from Major Surgery.
You aren't going to stay this way!
Stay Sloooooowwww and Easy and you will be on your way back to normal soon.
Sympathy hugs for you, impatient Beanie

 

[JoeKnows]

@Beanie18 I think 2 weeks is when I started to feel like I was going to lose my mind if I couldn't do more NOW. It's just the voices in our heads acting up I guess (metaphorical voices... If there are literal voices, that's a different thing).

I can identify re: ROM frustration. I'm going to court for the first time post op on Tuesday - I realized I have the sock aid and a long shoehorn, but no means of tying my own shoe. So I have to go out and buy loafers. I despise loafers, but I also don't want to ask my secretary to tie my shoes for me (I usually get to the office long before my wife wakes up). I have no constructive advice on this point, just empathy, haha.

 

[Beanie18]

@Barbaraj Speaking of small victories, yesterday (when I was feeling so UGH about everything), I realized I got up off the toilet without holding on to anything. Too much information, perhaps (though this group seems pretty open to any and all aspects of recovery life), but with how I was feeling I was ready to take any win I could find.

@Mojo333 You are such a wonderful cheerleader, which is funny because most cheerleaders are trying to amp people up and here you are cheering people on to take it slow. I love it.

@JoeKnows Thank you for the empathy, I sincerely appreciate it. I've been reading your thread, too, and can't imagine the added demands of children. As for shoes, I've been living in my slip on Vans (when I do go out) and I usually work in Dansko clogs so at least I won't need to worry about laces. The things we never thought we'd need to concern ourselves with...

Last night we went to see the local orchestra perform with some Cirque type acrobats and arial dancers. Absolutely stunning the kind of strength people can develop. Did I mention I got off the toilet without holding on to anything yesterday?

This evening we have a few friends coming over for tacos and games, so I'm gently puttering around the house to prepare, interspersed with icing. I think husband can take care of the floors today.

Have a lovely day, all!

 

[Mojo333]

Last night we went to see the local orchestra perform with some Cirque type acrobats and arial dancers. Absolutely stunning the kind of strength people can develop. Did I mention I got off the toilet without holding on to anything yesterday?

Those acrobatic moves pale in comparison to your courageous feat.
I've shared this a few times...but I was in daily communication with my mother who lived a few hours away during my recovery.
I was so excited The Day I dressed myself and walked unassisted to the bathroom all by myself...I called her to tell her about my accomplishments.
She said..."oh honey...good job.
Again. For I believe I told you that when you were two"

Yay for unassisted rising from toilet.
I also felt relieved when I quit calling for DH to retrieve my panties from the floor. I would try to keep them at knees but sometimes they just fell.
Grabbers were awkward.
Found my sister's telescopic backscratcher with small hand...worked like a charm for panty picker upper!

She said I could keep it

 

[Barbaraj]

@Beanie18 I think everyone celebrates the small victories, especially given how narrow and constrained our recovery lives are at the moment. A collective shout out to ALL of us for every little daily miracle that inches us back to our real lives, as they are meant to be lived! We all rock!

 

[Beanie18]

Today marks four weeks since surgery! Still using cane but relying on it less - at least at the beginning of the day/activity, then finding myself leaning more on it as I become tired. I can finally see how some people start forgetting the cane, yet I want to use it until I feel confident walking without a fear-based wobble. Yesterday I went to work for 5 hours - just sitting, but even getting to where I was sitting was enough walking. Today I borrowed an electric-assist bicycle, set it to turbo (max assist) and biked the mile to the coffee shop for WiFi. It feels like success.

Still a bit swollen, though my bigger dismay is an overall feeling like a squishy sack of mashed potatoes due to the lack of activity/exercise. I admit, it messes with my head a little bit. I hate the thought of the rest of my body deconditioning while one part recovers.

Last Thursday I got the Dermabond dressing off and the incision looks great. I'll have to post a picture to the scar thread at some point. Tomorrow is my last day of aspirin, though I'm supposed to wear the compression knee-highs for two more weeks.

Have a great day, all!

 

[Mojo333]

please say you are TEDless!
Hope all is going well.
Today is going to be a Good Day!

 

[Layla]

Hi there
Wondering how you've been over the past two weeks?
Leave us an update when you have time.
Wishing you a great weekend!
@Beanie18