Become an Insider

THR Hitch & Get Along<

:wave:@NanaKP Stopping by to catch up on your progress on righty. Looks like you are full steam ahead on that one. Great news on the driving! Feels so good to have that independence :yes!:. I was so glad to drive for two week before heading back to the OR.

Hope your sewing room is ready for you :heehee:...I'm sure you are there now. Your husband is missing you, but is loving having the remote back....briefly!! My hubby was patient too, and tried to find things we'd both enjoy on Netflicks. Much to his good fortune, I'm busy trying to Christmas shop on line, and am not watching TV!

Please know I am keeping you in my special prayers, knowing Dr. Hipster will be sorting out that stubborn fracture for you. :angel: Sending lots of positive healing vibes down to you :flwrysmile:
 
@SwampHiker no worries about the "whacking" with the cane. Jon and I have been together since 8th grade (knew it was love when he launched a football and knocked me off of my bicycle) so we do a lot of laughing together.

Oh what a difference a day (or few hours makes) . . . the one lesson I am learning/relearning this time around is that things can change rapidly and I need to learn to go with the flow. I really started hurting (seemingly out of the blue) last evening and hobbled terribly just going up the stairs to bed. I had a rather rough night, I swear I felt every single wrinkle in the sheet, blanket all night long. What is up with that nonsense? After being awake pretty much every hour on the hour, I fell into a good sleep around 6 for a couple of hours. I have decided to wait to go to work today so although I showered and dressed, I am in the recliner on ice waiting for a load of laundry to finish. All of that requires 3 flights of stairs so I'm not beating myself up too bad about being a softy.

Hoping that all of you hippy's have a great day today (especially you Patty, my surgery twin). Just have to remember that this is a marathon, not a sprint - two steps forward, 1/2 step back is the name of the game sometimes. It's okay though - there is ight at the end of the tunnel!
 
Wow, that was a few steps back for you. I am sorry you had such a rough night and are still feeling it today. I don't think you're a softy. We need to get hubby ironing the sheets now :heehee:

You've made it further than me today and I'm not hurting. I'm still sitting in my pj's in the recliner about to take my 4th nap of the day but I really know that I should take a walk and a shower. I was out and about most of the day yesterday and am just very tired. I'm supposed to return to work in 6 days so I figure I will try to charge up these energy cells as much as I can. Then it will be like the give a penny, take a penny dish. It works like that right? Nap now, so you don't have to next week....:fingersx:

I hope tonight is more comfortable and restful for you :console2:
 
@SwampHiker - I managed to nap away a good solid hour this afternoon. I told my husband I was pretty sure I'd be in but that was pre-nap so once I woke up (and pulled the stuck contact lens' free), I was more interested in watching Ellen's 12 days of Christmas that was on (so easily entertained sometimes). Now it is getting to be dark so no going to work for me . . . darn. I don't suppose he'll fire me. :snork:

Love your analogy of the penny dish - I think it is very close to that with energy through this recovery. My left hip tires very quickly - it really objects to being the "leader" in going up the stairs. I do really well walking with no aids early in the day but as the afternoon goes on, neither hip wants to be "it" so I'm back to one crutch at the very least.

I see that you are returning to work next week. I do hope you are able to structure your days in a way that allow you to leave early when you need. A phased in week or two are, in my humble opinion, the way to approach it. I was thinking I could jump back in close to regular schedule before having to take off again but today my hips are saying "NOT TODAY".

Have a great night -- I'll be keeping that idea of Jon ironing the sheets in my head! LOL
 
I'm happy you got a nap, sometimes they are just necessary! And easily entertained is great! Maybe if you give him the remote control tonight he won't fire you.

Hopefully after your next surgery your hips will be better teammates. I do find by the end of the day my hips are not moving with the same enthusiasm as they were earlier in the day. Sometimes the head and the body just have different ideas lol.

My phased return plan is 1/2 day the first day followed by full days - apparently my schedulers did not get the memo. Grrrrrr. On the upside - I only work 4 days per week Mon thru Thurs, 1 get an hour for lunch and if any of my patients cancel I get another hour break. Dental chairs are the best recliners (mine has a back massager too!) I wear cargo pants so ice packs fit into the pockets in all the right places - isn't that a country song (I've got ice in all the right places) ? Anywho, if I need to leave most of my patients know what's going on and would be understanding. I'll just have to see how it goes.

I hope you get lots more rest and are feeling brand new again tomorrow. I probably wouldn't ask Jon to iron the sheets tonight :wink:

Tomorrow is going to be a great day :loveshwr:
 
Hi @NanaKP Hope you are doing well, napping as needed and getting back to driving. Want to stop by and see how you are doing. Looked at the time and realized you are hopefully sleeping :sleep:!
Thinking of you :flwrysmile:
 
Hello @Alitm - thanks for stopping by. I hope you are having a restful week as you reach that 2 1/2 week point. I feel like I'm rather "stuck" right now when it comes to making any progress. I get really stiff very quickly yet my newest incision site is very tender to the touch so any movement of my clothing over it, has me very aware of every step. Not sure why this side is like that but even the water in the shower hitting it causes me some serious flinching. Hoping that it will get better very soon.

I have an oddball question. When I had the dehiscience on the left side after the fracture fix, it healed leaving a large "divet" in my thigh. Since I am having that cerclage claw and wire removed on 12/14, my OS is having a plastic surgeon come in to do the closure/repair after the hardware is removed. I have a consult with said plastic surgeon on Thursday the 6th. I have ZERO idea what to expect, no idea what to wear (I'm pretty darned modest still despite all of these surgeries and the fact I'm a grandparent). I usually wear large fitting running shorts (with the built in liner) when I see my OS and he just lifts the entire leg up and can see the incision, hip, etc. Any thoughts on this? Anyone???? My husband is insisting on driving me there because it's a minimum 40 minute drive and parking is always a big question (it's at the hospital where I'm having my surgery on the 14th) and of course, his thought is who cares what you wear - just drop your shorts/pants and get it over with! Gah!:shocked:

On a different note entirely, my husband has once again been my KISA (Knight in Shining Armour) with a shop owner near us. This man thinks he is hysterical but most of the time I find myself bristling when I hear even hear his voice. Yesterday he called our shop and when I answered the phone, he gave his regular greeting of "hi ya Cripple, how are you gimping along?" Usually, I'm pretty jovial and can joke with the best of them but through tears I commented to my husband that I was sick and tired of his comments about my limp. I am extremely aware of my awkward gait and I try every single day to be ever so conscious of every step. (Maybe it's the long 7 months that I've had that have made me super sensitive?) My husband told me that this morning he had a little "talk" with said shop owner and told him in no uncertain terms to knock it off before I told him to take a hike in not such friendly terms. Apparently he was really surprised that I would find his words to be disheartening (like I said, I usually can joke with the best of them). Anyway, not sure if I'm feeling more like a child tattling to a parent about a name-caller or just feeling frustrated with where I am these days. Perhaps instead of the blues this time around, I have the grumpies????:hissy:

I guess I had better get over all of it before Thursday's appointment - imagine being GRUMPY, SHY and EMBARRASSED all at once???? (Here's hoping 2019 will bring me LOTS of dulldrums. . . )
 
NanaKP said:
hi ya Cripple, how are you gimping along?
Click to expand...

No, that it's not OK. I routinely make fun of my shortcomings not other people's. And especially when they have no control over the situation. Just NO! Sorry, grammar punctuation out the window this is a full on raging rant here
 
Absolutely NOT OK! You have been a star to put up with this so far but enough is enough. Very annoyed on your behalf.
 
Thank you @SwampHiker and @SurreyGirl . I really was feeling stung yesterday after that phone call (& my tiny emotional breakdown) but today I kept thinking I was probably making too much out of it. Like I said, I can generally joke with the best of them but I am super-conscious of my gait and try very hard to not let anyone see me limping.
 
Same here! If you look at my thread you will see my posts about returning to work and the super-annoying comments I have had to put up with. Even at a party yesterday people were expressing g surprise I was still using a crutch after 4 months. Interestingly the lady who said this to me admitted that she never expected to get rid of her limp. The whole reason I still use a crutch when tired is NOT to limp - and it is working!
 
I referred to my gait before surgery as the Pattymoddo walk people were afraid to laugh when I'd say it.

Now even having had surgery, obviously I have a limp. I am dreading the office Christmas party this weekend. Why? Because I will get dressed nice and nothing in my closet or makeup bag is going to hide my limp. I know I will look very nice, but I'm not looking forward to it at all or the onslaught of questions.
 
Oh my @SurreyGirl, I can relate to the crutch comments. Even my OS has expressed surprise that I was using 2 crutches when I went in at 2 week post-op. My husband and I both just stared at him like, "really?" I do find that later in the day, when I'm tired, my limp is much more pronounced so I go back to a crutch or the cane. I do believe I read it on here that it's important to not let your brain learn that 'limp' or 'gait' but rather use a device to walk properly until it's mastered on its own. This being my 2nd week back to work, I am still bringing both the cane and crutches with me daily. Part of it is the perils of what we do and me not taking any chances of slipping and falling.

I guess I'm rather stunned by some people thinking that the recovery for THR is a rapid couple of weeks thing? I realize they do so many as an outpatient now but good grief, the things they put your body through during that surgery is MAJOR. Perhaps I shouldn't be so modest and start showing off my frankenstein scars that run down each side of my hips??
 
I said exactly the same thing re the scars it still looks pretty gruesome and I am planning on taking a pic. I assume you had the Posterior approach? We all have the same result in the end but there seems to be little doubt that the Anterior are up and moving earlier - but we do all get there!
 
SwampHiker said:
I referred to my gait before surgery as the Pattymoddo walk people were afraid to laugh when I'd say it.

Now even having had surgery, obviously I have a limp. I am dreading the office Christmas party this weekend. Why? Because I will get dressed nice and nothing in my closet or makeup bag is going to hide my limp. I know I will look very nice, but I'm not looking forward to it at all or the onslaught of questions.
Click to expand...

Ummmm they will probably be so drunk that, to them, you will be walking straight!!
 
Valid point, I'll just go fashionably late lol Thank you
 
The neighboring shop owners comment is thoughtless and rude. He never should have made the comment to begin with but I'm wondering if he feels because he got a laugh out of you initially (IF he did) that you thought it was funny. Then for that reason continued. Nonetheless tacky.

I guess I'd be willing to forgive and move forward depending upon how he reacted to your husband's reprimand and whether you get a personal heartfelt and sincere apology.

I'm sure that discomfort and sensitivity in the area of your incision is nerves regenerating. Which can last for a time.

Something that worked for me was marking progress by weekends. Trying not to give it a lot of thought from day to day, which can set you up for disappointment. Consider reflecting back each weekend to the progress you've made since the previous weekend.

Consider wearing a looser skirt for the appt that you can just lift when the doc needs to take a peek with panties still in place. I don't think doctors are too affected by our physical appearance. Hygiene maybe but appearance....they've seen it all.

In the rare chance it hasn't been mentioned on your thread (I don't have time to look) or you haven't read it here before, try heel-toe walking for the limp...

A tip -
Try heel-toe walking when / if you're limping. 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.

May today feel a little brighter :SUNsmile:
 
@SwampHiker - you are such an upbeat person that people probably don't know what to say if they see you struggle. Are you going to at least take a cane with you? I do think having a walking device reminds others that you DID have major surgery recently and the recovery is anything but a piece of cake. Will there be DANCING at this holiday partay? Oh how I love to dance but am thankful that the 4 weddings we had to attend last year were all LAST YEAR (I was in a surgical boot but that's a whole 'nother Oprah). Be prepared for the "my sister's neighbor's friend's cousin's uncle's 127 year old grandfather had his hip replaced and he was running a marathon by day 3" stories.

I admit, I haven't really gone anywhere other than the doctor's office or to work (once to the grocery store where I held onto the cart for balance and strength while Jon pulled it along). I haven't wanted to see anyone in a social setting and I hide in my office when someone is up front. I do think I'll go on two crutches Thursday when I go see the plastic surgeon (mostly because I don't know how many stairs, walkways, parking lots etc I'll have to traverse to get there) and maybe he'll be more understanding of my out of shape body if I'm on 2 crutches (trust me, not being able to go on my daily runs for 2 years is quite obvious). We also have the youngest grandson's first birthday party this weekend so I will probably park it somewhere comfortable most of the time but will take 2 crutches if the forecast holds with the snow coming in. The cane is helpful around the house but it is NOT anywhere near as stable when I'm out and about. I even drive an extra 12 miles to a bank that has a drive thru for our business deposits. I find that getting in/out of the car is DRAINING still and I'm 4 weeks out from the 2nd hip. You know, I was just telling my hubs that I was wheeling around pretty well with the cane once the fracture surgery happened and now I feel very wobbly using it. I'm thinking it's because neither of my hips is wanting to step up and do more than is necessary right now. Hopefully once that wiring comes out and that incision is healed up, I can get more steady on my feet.
 
I find that muscle memory is amazing. I used to lean so much weight on that cane before surgery I went through a few because I bent them. The minute I get a cane in my hand I find myself doing the same thing post surgery. I don't dance! I'll go with my hiking poles, I've been using them this week regularly due to the weird strain/bruised feeling- they're brightly colored and if need be I can take the rubber ball off the end to expose the part that can stab someone.

I think the crutches are a safe bet given the weather and the unknown office factors. I hear you on not running - 17 months here :gaah:

I'm hoping getting that wire out is your fairy godmother of getting back on your feet like you used to be (but without pain) :flwrysmile:
 
Last edited:
Thank you sweet @Layla - it is your advice of that heel/toe walking that I have put into place since I struggled with the first hip. I probably apply your advice of that more than anything since I've started this journey and I do find it to keep me more upright and aware. Even my OS has asked me to repeat it when I'm in there "what is it that you say when you are trying to be aware of every step?" I have no doubt he has passed that suggestion on to many of his patients who tend to shuffle along.

No on that shop owner thinking he was just making me feel better. He really truly is THAT insensitive guy who doesn't know when to stop. He has always gotten under my skin while I have zero problems with any of the other shop owners around us - we see each other socially, have been to each other's kids' weddings, etc. He will probably take it personally after my husband talked with him but at least I'll have a respite from him for awhile.

Great idea about wearing a skirt. I think that's perfect advice and perhaps I'll even look cute in my "non-sportswear" look!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Corganics CBD
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

Members online

Total: 2,856 (members: 2, guests: 2,854)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom