Day 48, fine for me but big disappointment for H. He left this morning for an event in the middle of England, should have been a 4 hour drive but he got stuck for an extra 3.5 hours in traffic on the M25 so missed it. I am sad for him. Also disappointed for myself, because I was beginning to think soon I could go with him to such things. I was working up to one hour nonstop drives so that we could take all day for a 4 hour trip, stopping every hour. But 3.5 hours trapped in a jam, yikes! Where we live in England is out on the furthest south east corner. We have to take the dreaded M25 motorway round London to get just about anywhere.
Anyway, back to the ever fascinating topic of my hip.
It felt odd not to begin the day by heading up a page to record medication taken. For nearly 2 weeks I have had nothing to record but 2 aspirin, now even that is stopped.
A couple of days ago I tried lying on my non operated side and it went much better than my first attempt, but still not great. This morning I tested whether I could lie on my operated side. I found I could. I didn’t enjoy it, could feel it was going to get sore in a minute, but the fact I could even consider it is quite an advance. Not to worry, I’m getting surprisingly accustomed to sleeping on my back. I do however always feel like I’m laid out in my coffin as I settle down for the night. Morbid or what!
I now do fingertip walking to get round the kitchen. That is, I don’t need crutches if I can touch a counter or chair back on each step. Just a light touch for balance. Even touching the wall will do. And this morning I was about to head from the toaster to the table when I realised I had a cup in one hand and a plate in the other. I thought about putting one down and getting the crutch, but I thought, if I can stand on the operated leg without holding on, I can move the good leg forward. So I covered the few yards like that: stand, concentrate on balance, advance good leg, relax and bring bad leg in line, repeat. Walking, but not as we know it.
I went for a walk, with crutches, to the new cafe which is .35 of a mile distant. Last week when H was away I just walked round the block past it, total of .7 miles, but this time I decided to have coffee. And cake! Quite pleased with myself for manoeuvring door, payment, sitting at table etc without dropping crutches. Heading home I decided that since I had gone to all the bother of putting on my shoes and socks etc, while I was out I might as well go a little further. Usually I’m ultra disciplined about turning round before I get tired, but I got carried away. Suddenly I noticed a burning in my hip. I was now quite a way from home with nowhere to rest. Ah well, just had to tough it out. Fortunately the burning didn’t intensify, if anything it eased a bit by the end of the walk. When I got home I looked at my route on the map and my little detour meant that the return trip from cafe to home was exactly one mile. Pleased to have achieved that nonstop distance. My phone is sulking again and only admits to 500 steps for the whole day, sheesh. I had a looong lie down with ice and the burning sensation is much better, but I can still feel it a bit. I guess I have irritated something. Tomorrow I am doing the absolute minimum!
In another post op first, I put a load of washing on. And then in the dryer and then folded and put away. One sock has escaped of course.
I wrote earlier this week about the fabled 6 weeks out, and how I was foolishly hoping for some magic improvement. Well it’s funny but there really has been a tremendous change this week, just a couple of days behind schedule. I realise I suddenly don’t feel like an invalid any more. I still have a hip that doesn’t feel right yet, but it’s just a hip, not all of me.
United States
reading about your progress....uplifting and encouraging....soon you’ll be out dancing and 
