Thanks everyone. It's a challenge adapting to my new "toned down" activity regimen. I sometimes feel downright lazy! But, it's more like the OCD part of my personality has just calmed down a bit out of necessity. I think it was easier having the other hip done during the winter because I was forced to do less because of the weather. Now, it's just too easy to go for one more walk, or do some other outside activity that I couldn't do during the winter. Of course, I am facing additional challenges physically that I didn't have last time.
I haven't noticed much difference with the hip flexor strain--I think that is going to take a long time to resolve. I get impatient, but I do remind myself frequently that at least this is a problem that *will* get better, and for that I'm grateful.
The new exercises from the PT help my back more than the hip flexor. I find myself having to really hold back from doing too many of them--the old "if a little helps; more must be even better!" way of thinking. In addition, I hope the spinal injections I have August 3rd will help he back further. Fingers and toes crossed!
I'm also hopeful that my continued weight loss with help the back. I'm very determined to get to a healthy weight. My weight really got out of control over the past couple of years especially and I have a ways to go, but it is inspiring to step on the scale every few days and see a pound or two gone. 10 pounds less than before my surgery! I only hope I can keep going once I get back to work. That's much harder because my life is more stressful, a variety of food is very readily available from our little work cafeteria (and I don't have to prepare it!), and I'm just tired more and I don't cook or take time to prepare good food the way I can do now when I have more time to do it. I need to come up with a strategy and have it in place before I go back to work.
About work. I think I'm going to shoot for 8 weeks. I wish I could take off more, but I can't afford to do so financially. By that time, the back injections should be settling in and helping and my hip will have 3 more weeks of healing. My job is sitting all day so I have to be very aware of the time and make sure I get up and stretch or move around frequently, rather than just get wrapped up in what I'm doing and get stiffened up like the Tin Man on the Wizard of Oz. Luckily my job is self-paced and flexible, so I can get up and move around any time and as much as I need to. I find the mental concentration component to be just as difficult as the physical. That was a surprise to me last time. My brain fought me every step of the way and didn't want to do anything.
Elle, you are so funny about Lucy! But, I don't think that's it--Lucy firmly believes she is superior to all other 4-legged creatures on Earth, so there would be no need for her to get jealous
Boy, she is my challenge child! She is demanding, devoted, and lovable--all wrapped up into one 45 pound red-headed ball of Australian Shepherd mix fire. My other dog, Heidi, is more like an average dog--she just wants to be happy and doesn't over think life. Her biggest demands are "pet me" for as long as someone is willing to pet her and play "catch" with a ball for a little while. Lucy wants more action. She needs something to do all the time and gets very frustrated when that isn't possible (like now, when I'm recovering from surgery). She's a piece of work! I try to keep her entertained with chews and review her training exercises with her frequently (she loves to do them and responds like a machine). I have a large fenced yard ... sit in a chair and play ball (she likes fetch) with her as much as I can, but sometimes she is fussy and doesn't want to play ball. She probably is a little spoiled and I've given in to her too much through the years, but she is Queen Lucy, and that little red, super expressive face and those huge amber eyes are just too much to resist. What's a mom to do?
Hope everyone has a great day today and things are going well.
Dorothy
United States
Cardie
