I realize I updated just a few days ago, but I'm amazed at how rapidly things have changed in just the short time since then. (Oh course, I'm still completely ready for the inevitable set-back, the unavoidable bad day, the "all I can do is lay down and ice" moments....
) But an interesting thing has happened since I last posted: I mentioned all the moving from the walker to the cane in my last post, but now, suddenly, I'm able just to walk! It was shocking to me! I had my cane with me in the kitchen but had laid it aside as I was making my breakfast; I needed something a few feet away, and then there I was, not even realizing that I was walking across the kitchen with no support at all! I'm sticking with the cane most of the time, but walking here and there all by myself. It's an amazing feeling!
My input is beginning to be needed more and more at work, and since I can't easily get to my office (upstairs in a building with no elevator), my office staff has been coming to me! First a meeting with my assistant on Monday at the house, then some of the staff wanted a lunch meeting here on Thursday as well. I was promised that all I'd have to do is sit on ice and participate - they'd bring and serve lunch! It was the first time in a LONG time that I've been in group of 7 people all talking about different ideas, brainstorming, discussing serious issues, etc. So much noise and conversation coming at me from all directions - for the first half hour I felt overwhelmed and disoriented! But with a little food in my stomach (which was so kindly served to me), it didn't take long to get back into the swing of things, and though I was throughly exhausted (and very sore for sitting 3 hours straight) by the time it was over, I felt invigorated - it was so good, so brain-stimulating to be back to business! (My main soreness was right down the middle of my operated buttock - almost as if sitting that long was "splitting" the main glute.)
That then made me nervous as I contemplated my first meeting with the outpatient PT the following day (yesterday)! Would it be torture, in light of the way I'd pushed it the day before? It was a very interesting PT appointment, indeed - a very thorough assessment. Among other things she did to measure strength, I had to balance for as long as I could on only my operated leg. (No problem.) I had to sit in a chair, and then without using my arms, stand fully upright and then sit down, and repeat as many times as I could as she timed me. (That was fine.) I was timed to see how quickly I could walk 40 feet. So down the hall I went, no cane, no walker, just walking as quickly as I could. Honestly, I couldn't believe I was actually doing it! (They want to make sure you can get across a street safely and in enough time.) She assessed my gait (barely a limp, which she said was would continue to decrease and eventually disappear with time and walking), she checked my LLD, did some hand traction on my shorter, un-operated leg... (oooh, felt so good), showed me several additional stretches and a couple of exercises to do at home, but said that I was well beyond the 4 week post-op progress mark, and that I could be discharged.
My health care plan offers a joint replacement work-out at their gym - a 6-week, 2x a week program aimed at helping strengthen the muscles that have been "off duty" - in my case, for a good 8 months. Thought I'd give that a try this coming week to see how I like it. But she said a good walking program with good, supportive walking shoes will be the very best therapy for me once the healing has taken place. (No swimming yet as my incision has several places that haven't completely healed. AND, don't know if anyone else was told this, but she strongly advocated massaging the incision throughout the day - something about pushing/breaking up the accumulating scar tissue and as well working on the swelling that's still present.) All in all, I was very happy with her suggestions, didn't feel they were unreasonable in any way, and it was reassuring to have someone assess my progress in detail - something my OS definitely wouldn't have time for - I was with her for over an hour.
Thoroughly exhausted after a walk to and from the car to the PT clinic, on top of all of the things she had me do during the appt, I fell into bed at 9 and slept for 10 straight hours! But I'm getting more and more a taste of "normal" life - and I am so incredibly happy. Every bit of difficulty that the first few weeks of recovery held for me (it's just NOT an easy journey!!!!) is now beginning to fade into the background as the realization that I will soon be living life as I once knew it is now coming into focus - it is so thrilling!!!! You pre-op'ers, it IS worth every bit of blood, sweat and tears!!!! Don't let fear keep you from getting back your life!!!
(By the way, just thought I mention that though I didn't have my husband shave my legs, I DID make him do my toe nails! He did a better job painting my nails than I do! Sadly, he declined the regular position of official nail-polisher! Hehe!)
@Tweetybrd - Yes, it really was a liberating thing to take those TEDS off once and for all! (They are SO constrictive!!! I guess that means they're doing their job! ;-) And who would've ever know that something as simple as shaving your legs would actually feel like a luxury when you've been denied the "pleasure" for over a month!
A friend of mine had ordered me one of those hip kits on Amazon as a pre-surgery "present," so I ended up taking the long-handled sponge and applying my favorite Bath and Body oil liberally to the sponge, and then was able to give my legs a good, deep moisturizing after shaving my legs. Feeling more and more like normal!!!
I'm also a vitamin/supplement advocate, so I was sad when I had to stop ALL of them 2 weeks pre-op, and then, because I was on Warfarin for a month, I couldn't take ANYthing. I mean ANY THING!!! You even have to monitor your diet with that medication - nothing rich in vit K, which hinders the blood thinning effect of the Warfarin. But, as we've seen so many times here on the forum, protocols vary so much from OS to OS - you'll get the full rundown as your surgery gets closer! (Have to say, it feels SO great to be back on my daily vit/supp routine!) xoxox
@BizzyLizzy - Thank you so much, Liz! Yes, as I mentioned up in the first part of this post, progress really started showing up this week! Frankly, I'm convinced it's well in part to the wonderful advice here on BS - don't push, lots of rest, take your meds to keep ahead of the pain, ice and elevate! The therapist I saw yesterday said that I'll be wanting to hang onto all those aspects of recovery well into the months ahead after I've had a particularly hard or challenging day. I can't wait to hear what your OS had to say! And yes, isn't it quite an experience walking into the office where you can so vividly remember the times you were there with pain so severe you couldn't think???? To be in the same place and now find yourself free of that misery is an amazing thing! I'll be looking for your update once you have the chance!!!!!
@Nana2-8 - Getting TEDS on by oneself? I daresay that would be virtually impossible for me, and for anyone with posterior dislocation precautions!!!! Yes, getting rid of those and regaining independence is HUGE!!!!! Adding to your "Gratitude List" (I fully agree that the high-cut legs on the undies have been fabulous!), I just think I'd have to second all the ones you've listed, as well! (Though it sounds as if you had your own meds nurse! Most of aren't that fortunate!) Shaved legs, ice packs a plenty, nail polish (and for me, a husband who makes an excellent pedicurist!) - there is so much to be thankful for! I have a wonderful border collie mix named Jack who has been my constant and sweetest companion day and night - such a gift to me through these long weeks of recovery! (I think he's beginning to enjoy Downton Abbey! He lays next to me, his head on my shoulder - we watch together!
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@Miss Muffet - Jane, I haven't yet used the sock gadget! Here in Southern California (where the wildfires are blazing away through the drought-stricken, dry brush and forests), socks aren't necessary until almost November - and by April or May, we're just about done with wearing them! (We've enjoyed many a Christmas day outside on the patio!) It makes shoe-wearing easy at this point, as it's simply about slipping sandals on for now. But I'll be holding on to that sock gadget in the chance that I might need it once our all-too-brief cooler weather comes around! And as far as a worthy end to our TEDS? I simply LOVE the recycling ideas you've come up with!! (Although, someone told me that they're quite expensive to purchase, so the thought did cross my mind that I might take my freshly laundered TEDS and stick them in the back of my sock drawer in the case that someone else might have use for them! Oh, hopefully it won't be ME!!!!
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@Wrknitout - Thanks so much for wanting to know how yesterday's appt went! (All the details are at the beginning of this post!) It was a breeze!!! I'm finding that when I'm feeling really tight and sore, sometimes walking is actually very therapeutic in stretching things open and loosening everything up! Maybe your husband will be as good a leg-shaver as mine was at painting my nails! Hehe!!!! But if not, you've got a possible back-up plan now! How lovely that you didn't have to deal with the TEDS! (Again, it's so fascinating to me how protocols differ from dr to dr!) You were spared some really extreme leg-squeezing, that's for sure!!!!!) I've been so paranoid about following all the dislocation precautions, that I haven't even given a thought to sleeping in any other position than my back, as I was first directed. (I had posterior approach - I can't remember what you had!) But yesterday the PT told me that yes, I'd be find to sleep on my side with the pillow between my legs. I was SO excited!! (Still a little apprehensive, so not sure if I'll try it before I see my OS again in a little over a week. But, boy, does it sound divine!!!!) Praying your recovery (and everything else going on) is moving forward with improvement!!! xoxox
@Cynthia777 - Hi CC!!! Sure have missed you, sweet girl!!!! I hope your time at the coast was absolutely wonderful and completely refreshing!!! Oh, there is simply nothing like breathing in the ocean air!!!! (But just to let you know, it's simply not the same around here without you!!!) (By the way, is the Bluecut Fire impacting you in any way?? Hopefully you're still quite a distance from all of the smoke and falling ash. We have a number of friends in Wrightwood and Phelan who've had to evacuate - aren't the pictures devastating to watch?
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Did you happen to take a look at the Shewee? I loved the idea so much, I ordered one! Really, how handy would something like that be when on the road and you're unexpectedly forced to use less-than-ideal bathroom facilities?! We're headed down to the coast for a week's vacation in September, and I'll definitely be taking the portable riser seat with me!!! (Your description of the down, down, down experience made me both laugh and cringe as I thought about what I'd be feeling if it were me!
!!! I'm so glad you don't have the 90 degree precaution to worry about, and that you eventually "acclimated" to the "lower altitude!!!"
) Love you, friend! Welcome home!! xoxox
United States
I duct-taped a disposable razor onto a dressing stick (which came in a one of those "hip kits"), and SHAVED MY LEGS! Another fabulous feeling!!!!!! (Now to firgure out how to do my nails!) Stopped the Warfarin yesterday, and can now get back to the supplements I have missed for the past 6 weeks!!! Looks like normal life is beginning to slowly make its way back! HURRAY!!!!
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Can you believe I haven't had them on for a week now, but there are still gouges right below my knees from those things - and I have average sized calves!) (Maybe they gave me the children's size? 
