THR Marvellous Marvin's New Home

[Mad Rocker]

Carol,

So good to hear from you...I have said it a few times before...no matter what I do, this is taking as long as it takes. No matter what I do, PT, no PT, rest, nap, walk, elevate, ice, use walker, don't use walker, use cane, be positive, be miserable, go with it, fight it...believe me I have tried it all and it still does what IT wants to do in terms of recovery...so, the more I can go with it the better. And some days are better than others.

Sorry you had to cancel your trip, but you are right about laying low for now. It will get better, hon. Some days I even watch soap operas on the TV, good thing about that is they have more problems than I do so I can get a good laugh out of them at least. Love and peace to you.

Omigoodness Diane :hysterical:

I am going to print this off and make it huge and put it on my wall.

You have nailed it smack dab on the head. Bless your quirky sense of humour. :egypt-dance:

Love you bunches :flowerysmile:you have made my day...my week...maybe even my year!

Take care

 

[Lindawalms]

So sorry you had to cancel your trip - I'm sure you know there will b others but I do know how it feels - I had to cancel 4 of them last year and spent my 40th birthday (instead of having 8 people come to town) barely able to pick my head up off the bed! Really stinks when you are in the throws of it - but it does get better - give it time...

I do so love reading your updates - keep em comin!

xoxo,
Linda.

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi Carol,
I too have canceled trips, both before my TKA and again in January.
Very frustrating, we ended up with trip credits we could not use.
Everything turned out for the best in the long run.
Now I am keeping my fingers crossed I can make my trip next week to Orange county, and then again in June when we are traveling to Indiana, Kentucky, and Chicago.
Guess we cannot forget who is in charge, our replaced joint. :hysterical:, that is our joint laughing at us.

 

[VThereandnow]

OMG I think I need to print out what Diane said too Could not have said it better. Catching up with your thread and am so sorry you had to cancel your trip. I am sure it was quite a disappointment, but sounds like it is what you needed to do for your recovery and that has to be the main priority. Just want to validate how frustrating the chain of events with PT has been for you. It is crazy to me how different they all can be. Some so careful, some so aggressive, what gives?

Wishing you a good, peaceful, non frustrating day. Hang in there. -Cathy

 

[C Mac]

As my hubby has been harping all weekend "You are trying so hard to get better and then it blows up in your face. Overdoing it is not helping, take as long as your body needs to heal."

Hi Carol,

How nice that your husband is supportive, do listen to him and take as long as your body needs!! I'm sorry that you have had to postpone your visit to see your son and I hope you'll be able to get it back on the calendar sometime later this year. We had to cancel the hope for a Christmas trip to Europe this past year...

During a particularly difficult time in my "recuperation" I decided to treat myself to hiring someone to paint two rooms in our house and someone else to create garden beds along the side and entire back of our house -- I was convinced that I'd never be able to accomplish either task again!! Anything special that you might be able to come up with that you could hire out and get off your list of things to do and make you feel a tiny sparkle of happiness while you are waiting to feel better???? Trust me, it was money well spent :yes 4:


Take care,
Cardie

 

[dianemarie]

Hi Cardie,

Been wondering how you are doing...great advice about getting some things hired out if possible, can make you feel so much better. How are you doing?

 

[C Mac]

Hi Diane & Carol,

I'm doing ok, I'll have to write an update soon. Chiropractor yesterday and rolfing on Friday -- it takes a village.... :th_heehee:

Thanks for asking about me,
Cardie

 

[VThereandnow]

It takes a village, so true. I actually was wondering how back at work has been. Hope it is still going ok. I am sure there is much less time to post look forward to the update. -cathy

 

[Mad Rocker]

6:27 pm <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
Day 65 POP<o:p></o:p>
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Hello Everyone<o:p></o:p>
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Not a heck of a lot going on in Marvin’s Town. I’m still on PT hiatus---one more week then I get reassesed to see if I am ready to rejoint PT again. And guess what I decided to do 2 days ago? Well I decided to do a little exercise from the ones I got from our local hospital PT dept when I got discharged after surgery. Pretty basic PT considering they were for early POP but they certainly were not for post injury! I have spent the last 1.5 days recovering from that rush of air to my brains.<o:p></o:p>
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I am beginning to think that I just have this self destructive streak. I can’t stop from pushing that little button that says Do not push until well! There has to be a joke to the sign, right? So--- push it anyways. What could be the worst case scenario? Pain, that’s what!!!!:DOH:Smart I’m not, curious possibly…dumb for sure! :rolleyespink:<o:p></o:p>
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Well that should keep me occupied for the next little while. You would think that I could find a less hurtful hobby than the recurring self punishment. How about skydiving with no parachute? I understand that hurts, too. <o:p></o:p>
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The Stanley Cup Hockey playoffs (the Big Kahuna World Series of Baseball/World Cup of Soccer here in NA) are one of the only things that entertains my hubby to the exclusion to all else in the world---even me. I’m OK with that because One---I do not have to worry about my hygiene or level of dress during this time (and this goes on for weeks.) Two I pretty well can do what I want in the house. I put my theory to the test last year and walked (with my cane) naked through the house while he was watching the game on TV. Not a blink…Disappointed…nah! See I figure that if I had to look good naked there would also be a need for me to get ironed and there are so many wrinkles that even my steam iron would have some difficulties.<o:p></o:p>
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I am currently going to a weekly weight mgt class (over 6 weeks.) I went 4 months before my surgery and managed to lose 4.5 lbs. Nothing this time but that is OK as I know why. I am an emotional eater. With all the nonsense about the setbacks and the additional cancelling of my trip I am just holding static in weight. And that is good because it means that I am not overeating and therefore not gaining. That will change once I get a handle on the negative stuff floating around me like dust. Hey does anyone have a spare DustBuster they can lend me?<o:p></o:p>
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6:58 pm<o:p></o:p>
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Take care Everyone and be comfortable. :ATT637464:<o:p></o:p>

 

[bottomshollow]

You are TOO TOO funny! You do have a regular stand up routine on Comedy Central, don't you?

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Carol, just checking to see how Marvin is getting along. Look forward to your next update!

 

[Pumpkin]

Hi Carol,
How are you doing?
Just completed the first half of my first plane trip, a little sore today.
Hope your recovery is going smoother!

 

[VThereandnow]

Just checking in. I would not call you self destructive, just perhaps a little impatient, ok more than a "little" impatient It is really difficult not to push the envelope for sure. Recovery is tough. Even though most of us did not have good quality of life before, we all of a sudden want it NOW ! Hang in there and be gentle with yourself. Sounds like even though you are joking you also get a bit frustrated with yourself for trying too hard at the expense of yourself. Sometimes these lessons in life are just hard to learn "ya know?" ...and perhaps while you are waiting to get back into PT you could continue to work on your stand up routine, cuz you have a heck of a start there haha.
Hang in there -cathy

 

[Mad Rocker]

8:47 am (I hate digital)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Day 74 POP<o:p></o:p>
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And here is the News from main street Marvin’s Town.<o:p></o:p>
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Nothing going on….<o:p></o:p>
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Well that isn’t the truth. I have had a mixed few days. <o:p></o:p>
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Monday I dropped my husband off at the airport to go see my son playing in his hockey playoffs in Chicago and I sat in the car for a moment :cry4:thinking that Darn it anyways I was supposed to be on that plane!!! Then I drove home to have a pity party for two days… eating almost continually :choc:, good thing I am not a drinker.<o:p></o:p>
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Tuesday I went back to PT to have my re-assessment to discover that I had been discharged :hate-shocked:from the program as according to the group PT I was doing fine, progressing well , no pain/discomfort and was ready to move on to the other programs available to their clients. The PT that I saw for the reassessment was a bit confused to say the least after I reminded her that I had been put on hiatus for 2 weeks (with instructions to continue to do exercises and stretches) as I could not progress to complete my POP rehab due to an injury that I had incurred at their facility. <o:p></o:p>
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I told her that I had discontinued the exercises/stretches for the past week as it only caused me additional pain. She just sorta looked at me and said you have to do something to strengthen your hip flexor and glutes. She reassessed me :skeptical: and agreed :DOH:that I needed more time for the psoas (hip flexor) tear to heal and come back in 3 weeks with no real plan for what I am to do in the 3 weeks. I am proud to say that I did not flip out. <o:p></o:p>
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Wednesday I went to a new place. I say place as it is a health centre that has all the “things” under one roof. Physio, personal trainer, massage therapy, doctors, you get the drill. (Sorry I can’t think of the word…I take drugs.) I saw a lifestyle coach who assessed my baseline physical level, keeping in mind the injury and very recent THR. She (based on what I told her I wanted to accomplish) set up a plan. She was very nice and understood my frustration and sadness over what has been going on for the past 5 years and mostly the past 6 weeks. She herself had suffered a serious injury as a competitive runner and had not been able to walk for almost a year. I feel a bit overwhelmed :wacko: there as this place is more for sports clients but my son, the hockey player, said get a place that specializes in rehabbing sports injuries and surgeries. Go to it Mom! So I did….obedient mother that I am.<o:p></o:p>
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Thursday I saw the PT and man did I hurt. She worked on releasing groin and hip flexor muscles (I called it torture :arghh:, she called it releasing) and I had to a bit.

We have a plan in place to get my injury in hand and get the strength back into the hip. I see her twice a week for the next little while but she is hoping that in a month I will see a dramatic difference in my limp and general walking capabilities. She sent me home with two very simple stretches to do----hold for up to 30 seconds and do 3 times a day. I can handle that! :hapydancsmil:We talked about me being in charge of the treatment and that was enabling as I have felt out of control for so long regarding my physical health.
I also will be seeing a personal trainer to help me with a healthy exercise program made just for me.
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I feel so much better that I have something in “hand” that is a plan for the future of my injury, rehab and lifestyle modification. Yahoo!!!! :happy dance:I have a plan!!!!!<o:p></o:p>
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Today I need to get my life back on track. I have been sitting and eating and that has only depressed me and the weather has not helped at all; raining on and off for 5 days. Not heavy rain but still it makes you think about building an ark…..<o:p></o:p>
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I am pleased that Marvin has been behaving :doggieshmooze:; more discomfort than pain. (Love Marvin.) It’s the hip flexor that is causing all the grief and the need for drugs. But as with all things that too will pass. I have a plan!!!! <o:p></o:p>
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I am going to have breakfast now before its time for lunch so I will close for now. <o:p></o:p>
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Take care Everyone and be comfortable :ATT637464:<o:p></o:p>

 

[C Mac]

Hi Carol,

Yes, a plan!! Doing the happy dance with you as I am a plan kinda girl too!!

Do make sure that your plan involves plenty of rest and down time as it is essential for your on-going healing, especially of that injured spot. There were a couple times during my recovery where my plan was -- no exercise or activity, it does sometimes go that way too. If your body rebels against the new activity plan be prepared to switch gears for the inactivity plan for a while longer. Your PT program and/or Health Centre will still be there waiting for you & Marvin.

Have a good weekend and I hope the sun will shine on you,
Cardie

 

[Pumpkin]

Sounds like progress! Glad Marvin has settled down now to get those muscles on the right track.
My husband is from Chicago, he took me to the old Chicago stadium once, I thought the building was going to shake down with the thunderous noise.

 

[VThereandnow]

You are funny. You start out by saying nothing is going on and then tell all the exciting news about having a plan. That seems like big news. I am happy for you as per your last post you were pretty frustrated. Sorry about your trip to Chi-town, I know you wanted to see your son play. Hope you have a good wknd anyway -Cathy

 

[bottomshollow]

Carol, Hope things will be looking UP, UP, UP for you in the very near future.

I will respond to your tag and post to Rose, but in truth I really know nothing about pain drugs. The drug of choice in my area is percocet--which worked really well for me. I have never had a negative reaction to any med I've taken except for morphine after my first TKR which made me nauseated (but strangely did not bother me when my hip was done).

I am using the following quote you used in posting to TKRers:

No matter what I do, this is taking as long as it takes. No matter what I do, PT, no PT, rest, nap, walk, elevate, ice, use walker, don't use walker, use cane, be positive, be miserable, go with it, fight it...believe me I have tried it all and it still does what IT wants to do in terms of recovery...so, the more I can go with it the better. And some days are better than others.

I have been giving credit to the fact that it was said by a hippie--but can you tell me the user name of the person who actually posted this? I'd like to give them credit--its a powerful statement and so true. My thread is Post-op success is mine! You may have to do a search to find it as I don't post to it that often anymore---too busy posting to others' threads.

 

[Mad Rocker]

Hi Judy
@bottomshollow:

I have used this quote several times. It just explains it all so clearly. Diane hit the nail on the head.

We (me) sometimes get so wrapped up in the pain, drugs, exercising, PT and Dr app'ts that we (I) lose ourselves. What makes us special gets hidden in the stuff that we are going through and the quote makes it all so clear. It's out of our hands. We are not in charge. Nuts!!!!! :arghh:

Take care :ATT637464:

 

[Mad Rocker]

11:30 pm
Day 75 POP

Just a quickie (no comments from the peanut gallery.)

I have just noticed that I am a senior. You know in the title by our avatar. Goodness does that mean I get discounts now? :th_heehee:

Just heard from my hubby who went to see my son in the hockey playoffs. They did not win tonite which would have made a big difference for my son who is playing injured with a torn meniscus (knee thingie.) As a mom I sure wish that I was there baby sitting him, making soup and his fave meals and doing the mom thing. Sometimes we need that mothering and I think that is one reason the blues hit this house. As an adult I know (in my brain) that I can take care of myself) but in my heart I would like my mom to be here to take care of me. Unfortunately she has dementia and is in a wheelchair so she is not really ....

Anyways that is all I have to say ...for now.

Take care Everyone and be comfortable :ATT637464: