OP
OP
pomperson
member
Hello Everyone! I finally have a moment to sit down and update my progress.
I got home on Tuesday, five days post-op, and have been figuring out my new life since then. Everyone talks about babysteps on here, but that is exactly what it is because it's so hard to see progress sometimes, but it is definitely there. I can do anything......just really slowly! LOL Because I had DAA there are really no restrictions, but to do things within reason. I hear about people talking about getting rid of their walker, and I still just don't see that happening anytime soon. My doc said that when he did the right leg (the one with the SCFE history and surgery) that it was so deteriorated that it was about dislocated before he started! He said when he did the left hip (the "good" one), that it had never completely formed/developed. I forget the word he used. But it was in terrible shape and this hip was the cause for the 7-1/2 hour surgery. All along I thought that was the good one. Never had symptoms until the past six months.
As a result of all that, my legs are super weak and I've developed some funky walking patterns. Apparently I vault. That's what the PT told me the other day. First he thought I was flat footed and then he said that I do this weird thing with my leg to push up and probably make up for the leg length discrepancy I had before surgery. That night Charles and I ran into the supermarket to grab some things and I decided to go in with the grocery cart and not my walker. I will never do that again. But, let me preface this little story with another one. Charles had told me that from behind I am totally even. My right hip used to cock up and I was literally lopsided!!! He said now that I am totally even and he is shocked that the doc was able to accomplish this. I am too...but I'm shocked that everyone could see how deformed I was...and then I'm shocked that I'm shocked if I think about it! LOL Things were really bad with me and I am a master at denial apparently!!
Okay...back to the supermarket. I grabbed a shopping cart and went in and boom, I went right back to my old habits, tightened shoulders, death grip on the cart and limping with a cockeyed hip! Charles was like what are you doing? I was like, I'm not sure, it all just came back to me.....and the weird part was, I couldn't stop it! I looked at him like a deer in the headlights and just stopped and stood there. I told him I wasn't gonna move, for him to get the few things we needed and come back for me. When he did, I hated every step I took until I got to the car. Talk about muscle memory!
I have a treadmill at home and my pilates machine which is on a little platform. I went in and started walking at .07 mph yesterday and I'm still vaulting. I am determined to break this habit. I went to PT on Thursday but I'll probably be changing to a better company tomorrow. This new place is housed in the gym I belong to and there is a pool, so when I am given the ok by my doc, I'll be able to work in the pool as well.
I really haven't had any pain. My muscles are a little sore. I do/did have a little num patch down the outside of my left calf, but one of the interns/surgeons said it was probably naproxy something...could kick myself for not remembering what he said....and that it was probably due to compression and would go away. Since I've been home it seems to have disappeared on the top half of my calf and now is only on the bottom. The pattern seems to be numb, then very sensitive to the touch, then normal feeling.
I'm going for my 2nd blood draw to check Coumadin levels today at a local lab. I've also scheduled my post-op visit in LA on Tuesday 9/6. I'm hoping to be able to ditch my bandages then. The intern/surgeon said they're basically dust covers, but to keep them on and only change if they get worn looking. I'm not as good at putting them on as they are.
I can't tell all of you how thankful I am to.....E V E R Y T H I N G!!! Last night I was reading an article in Sunset Magazine about sailing....something I had longed to do but didn't because my right leg was too weak. Charles said, so, are you gonna learn how to sail now? I just looked at him and started crying like a baby saying that I felt like a kid looking in the window of a candy store for years and now I have the keys and can do anything I want! I know I'm a ways off, but I can do these things in time! He just hugged me and said he loved me so much and had tears in his eyes too.
In the morning I get up and hobble out to the kitchen to make some tea of coffee and I sit in a directors chair/stool at my island and am amazed that I am comfortable! I can't remember ever being comfortable ever sitting in any chair. I was just so off. God knows how I danced! Just three years ago, I was taking classes 6-7 days a week and even performing!!!
Well, I was being lazy and have been a little disorganized since coming home, but wanted to update. I hope everyone is doing really, really well!
I have nine days until I fly to LA for my post-op. I'm hoping to be without my walker, but I'm not sure that's possible. But that is my goal, to just strengthen as much as possible. But I'm being realistic and do know that I've let my body deteriorate and need to allow for healing and strength.
Thanks for all of your wishes and comments!
Mucho El Hugos!
Donna...the other one (hey girlfriend!)
I got home on Tuesday, five days post-op, and have been figuring out my new life since then. Everyone talks about babysteps on here, but that is exactly what it is because it's so hard to see progress sometimes, but it is definitely there. I can do anything......just really slowly! LOL Because I had DAA there are really no restrictions, but to do things within reason. I hear about people talking about getting rid of their walker, and I still just don't see that happening anytime soon. My doc said that when he did the right leg (the one with the SCFE history and surgery) that it was so deteriorated that it was about dislocated before he started! He said when he did the left hip (the "good" one), that it had never completely formed/developed. I forget the word he used. But it was in terrible shape and this hip was the cause for the 7-1/2 hour surgery. All along I thought that was the good one. Never had symptoms until the past six months.
As a result of all that, my legs are super weak and I've developed some funky walking patterns. Apparently I vault. That's what the PT told me the other day. First he thought I was flat footed and then he said that I do this weird thing with my leg to push up and probably make up for the leg length discrepancy I had before surgery. That night Charles and I ran into the supermarket to grab some things and I decided to go in with the grocery cart and not my walker. I will never do that again. But, let me preface this little story with another one. Charles had told me that from behind I am totally even. My right hip used to cock up and I was literally lopsided!!! He said now that I am totally even and he is shocked that the doc was able to accomplish this. I am too...but I'm shocked that everyone could see how deformed I was...and then I'm shocked that I'm shocked if I think about it! LOL Things were really bad with me and I am a master at denial apparently!!
Okay...back to the supermarket. I grabbed a shopping cart and went in and boom, I went right back to my old habits, tightened shoulders, death grip on the cart and limping with a cockeyed hip! Charles was like what are you doing? I was like, I'm not sure, it all just came back to me.....and the weird part was, I couldn't stop it! I looked at him like a deer in the headlights and just stopped and stood there. I told him I wasn't gonna move, for him to get the few things we needed and come back for me. When he did, I hated every step I took until I got to the car. Talk about muscle memory!
I have a treadmill at home and my pilates machine which is on a little platform. I went in and started walking at .07 mph yesterday and I'm still vaulting. I am determined to break this habit. I went to PT on Thursday but I'll probably be changing to a better company tomorrow. This new place is housed in the gym I belong to and there is a pool, so when I am given the ok by my doc, I'll be able to work in the pool as well.
I really haven't had any pain. My muscles are a little sore. I do/did have a little num patch down the outside of my left calf, but one of the interns/surgeons said it was probably naproxy something...could kick myself for not remembering what he said....and that it was probably due to compression and would go away. Since I've been home it seems to have disappeared on the top half of my calf and now is only on the bottom. The pattern seems to be numb, then very sensitive to the touch, then normal feeling.
I'm going for my 2nd blood draw to check Coumadin levels today at a local lab. I've also scheduled my post-op visit in LA on Tuesday 9/6. I'm hoping to be able to ditch my bandages then. The intern/surgeon said they're basically dust covers, but to keep them on and only change if they get worn looking. I'm not as good at putting them on as they are.
I can't tell all of you how thankful I am to.....E V E R Y T H I N G!!! Last night I was reading an article in Sunset Magazine about sailing....something I had longed to do but didn't because my right leg was too weak. Charles said, so, are you gonna learn how to sail now? I just looked at him and started crying like a baby saying that I felt like a kid looking in the window of a candy store for years and now I have the keys and can do anything I want! I know I'm a ways off, but I can do these things in time! He just hugged me and said he loved me so much and had tears in his eyes too.
In the morning I get up and hobble out to the kitchen to make some tea of coffee and I sit in a directors chair/stool at my island and am amazed that I am comfortable! I can't remember ever being comfortable ever sitting in any chair. I was just so off. God knows how I danced! Just three years ago, I was taking classes 6-7 days a week and even performing!!!
Well, I was being lazy and have been a little disorganized since coming home, but wanted to update. I hope everyone is doing really, really well!
I have nine days until I fly to LA for my post-op. I'm hoping to be without my walker, but I'm not sure that's possible. But that is my goal, to just strengthen as much as possible. But I'm being realistic and do know that I've let my body deteriorate and need to allow for healing and strength.
Thanks for all of your wishes and comments!
Mucho El Hugos!
Donna...the other one (hey girlfriend!)
United States
. You will do it one day!
We fall asleep watching Ancient Aliens every night on Netflix. I seem to wake when the episode is over. LOL 
