THR New hip 3/7/12

[Z15]

Cathy,

I didn't see you mention sciatica...when you say the pain is down the back of your leg, does it start way up and keep going down below your knee? Might it be sciatica?

I'm just thinking that if it is that (or its cousin piriformis syndrome) those seem like very specific treatments. If it is more isolate to one area, muscle or tendon, than that's a different issue to tackle.

And yes....I agree with folks, we just keep peeling back the onion and getting thru situations as we adjust to our new geometry. I hope this one resolves soon and your trip back home to Wisconsin is lovely.

Z

 

[VThereandnow]

Thanks Z. I have had sciatica before and this does not feel like that. Seems to be presenting differently. Trying to wrap my head around it. Am going to try to take the day today to take it really really easy. It is raining and my car broke down :( so it should be a good day for it.

This too shall pass, this too shall pass UGH, this too shall pass haha

 

[C Mac]

Hi Cathy,

Sorry to hear that you are having a little setback and hope that the leg pain will settle down soon. I will share a little secret with you as you mentioned the one legged bridge exercise in your message from yesterday. I had that as one of my phase 2 exercises and nearly drove myself to distraction trying to comply with doing it once a day (actually more than once a day because I couldn't do it and kept trying to make it happen). :rolleyes:

One day I got furious about it and about how much energy it was taking from me and I grabbed a red marker and scratched it off the chart... that was it, no more bridges for me. Much later I heard from someone in a professional field that it was not a good exercise for me to do with the back issues (SI joint) that I was experiencing. Might be a handy little exercise for some, but if you'd like permission to use the red marker, by all means DO IT!!!

I see my chiropractor once a week and at times have taken a week off here and there. I find that adjustments are helpful but sometimes a big "step" that my body needs time to adjust to -- in addition to all the adjusting to the new hip & surgical recovery.

Well between your sore leg, rainy day and broken down car it sounds like it is a good day to stay in your jammies and rest -- take it from me, sometimes you just have to shut down the shop....

Take care,
Cardie

 

[VThereandnow]

Thanks cardie, appreciate your thoughts. Actually I do the two legged bridges and my PT was telling me "down the line" to try the one legged. I did not hear the "down the line" part and tried it at home and one try was all I needed to know it was a no go and to hurt myself. Thanks for telling me your experience, it helps and especially helps to know it is not good for people with back issues. These back issues of mine do complicate things sometimes. Today I am actually taking a red marker to ALL exercises, cept some light stretching - u r right, sometimes you just have to shut down shop

When I go to Wisconsin in a couple wks I am taking that as a week off from things. It will be nice to get away from myself if you know what I mean. A week to have other things to focus on besides my health and all these appts. My brother is a chiro, so if I need, he can adjust me and if I don't feel I need it, I won't get one.

Thanks again for stopping by and sharing your thoughts -Cathy

 

[VThereandnow]

Listen to your body! Does anyone else have a hard time figuring out just what the heck it is saying? if something hurts, don't do it, keep walking, skip the excercises if you need to, but don't want to be a slacker, don't want to push it too much, yikes, sometimes I just am not sure what I should be doing. ...and that is my thought for the evening:rolleyespink:

 

[dianemarie]

Thanks, Cathy, for popping over to my thread and the kind words. I have iced and elevated and taken pain meds and anti-inflammatory and the knee has settled and I can now put it straight, now that it is time for bed!
Most days I am able to just go with it (pains and aches, etc.) then days like today I tend to over react and think the worst. Tomorrow is a new day...

 

[Z15]

Listen to your body! Does anyone else have a hard time figuring out just what the heck it is saying?:rolleyespink:

Cathy,

i HAVE learned to speak hip in the last ferw months...at least fake hips. Unfortunately I sometimes have trouble hearing it over the din created by the shouts of my other body parts...:hissyfit:

I am now learning that I need to listen to whatever body part is screaming the loudest....and to also worry about those who seem to be eerily quiet...:skeptical:

Z

 

[tashia]

diane, Hope you feeling better. Isn't something all of soon having a pain come from somewhere. The problem I have is i don't speak that language. I am learning it slowly. Just think when we are in full recover we will know another way our body talks to us. Do remember every day does put us one day closer to full recover. I wish i could come up with something for cars.mm Please do take care and stay safe. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[VThereandnow]

This is how I kayak haha, nice and easy. I put this pic up cuz it was taken right before I fell down the steps, tore the meniscus in my knee, which started all this "body drama" leading to the THR. I am going to use it as inspiration as I try to get my weight under control (again ) and get stronger. We rent this great cottage in the St. Regis Canoe Area of the Adirondack Mtns, which for those out of the U.S. is a place to canoe and kayak where there are no motor boats . Our week this year is in August so I need/want to be able to get in my kayak comfortably by then.

By the way, except for walking, I took the day off of excercises yesterday, iced, heated, rested, etc and :DOH:duh, it helped my flair up. Not done with it by any means, but took the edge off enough that it brought me out of my plunge into the depths. Thanks everybody for your support. It really did help. Have a good day or as a friend of mine says "MAKE it a good day" )

 

[Z15]

Cathy,

I am not a very experienced Kayaker...but my experience is that getting in and out of kayaks is really easy EXCEPT WHEN IT IS NOT. And by that I mean, those little surprises that turn an easy dry launch into an acrobatic wet one! I have also "launched" my kids in kayaks where they get into it on dry land (LOW RISK) and I slide it into the water...I hope if there is ANY doubt for you that you have friends make it as easy and low risk as possible!

Z

 

[C Mac]

Listen to your body! Does anyone else have a hard time figuring out just what the heck it is saying? if something hurts, don't do it, keep walking, skip the excercises if you need to, but don't want to be a slacker, don't want to push it too much, yikes, sometimes I just am not sure what I should be doing. ...and that is my thought for the evening:rolleyespink:

Hi Cathy,

Yes, I hear you on this -- and even 10 months out I still sometimes find myself thinking hmmm what should I do with this (ache, pain, twinge, sore spot -- fill in the blank). In the early months though I often found that if something hurts it's best to just take a break. I think the healing takes a lot more time than the OS prepares us for before we commit to the THR.

I like your kayak picture and do hope that you'll be feeling able to get into your boat this summer. When you get a little further along you can practice some of the more mundane things like getting up and down from the floor and then a little practice of getting into and out of the tub (in your gear, of course) to get a sense of working back towards the actual boat.

Take care,
Cardie

 

[Elizak]

Hi Cathy,
I love the picture of you in your kayak. You certainly look like an expert. I am so glad to hear that your pain has calmed down.

The Adirondacks are so beautiful. It is a great trip that you have planned in August. Maybe canoeing would be a way to start ? More sitting upright versus your very professional and low slung looking kayak.

I am taking my new hip to the Turks and Caicos in June for some clear blue water and beach time. I may try kayaking, a big maybe, but only a sit on top novice type of kayak, nothing like yours.

Sounds like you have things under control for your family trip. Have a great time. Take care of yourself.

Courtney

 

[dianemarie]

Glad things are settling some for you now. Cardie's wisdom is so helpful. Of course I like "taking time off" and have to be careful that I don't over do it with that:hysterical: Sounds like you have some nice goals set with the upcoming travels...nice to have a chiro in the family!

 

[Poppet]

Hi Cathy... Luuuuvvvvv the photo of you in your kayak... and the description of your hideaway cabin on the lake.. I am sure by August you will be enjoying the oh so relaxing feeling of kayaking again..

We have a wonderful waterway at our coast house and have kayaks and it was the one question I asked my OS... Will I be able to kayak again? .... Answer - YES... that put a smile on my face... and it will for you as well 

p.s. Thanks for the PM, I promise to get back to you soon

 

[tashia]

I love your picture and you will get better. Before you know it I believe you will be going down the rivers. Please take care and do work on learning to listen to your body, I don't know if I will every get that one done but will keep trying. Have a fun weekend and a safe one. :doggieshmooze:Tashia

 

[VThereandnow]

Hey everyone, I had a bit of a miracle moment I want to share. My pulled muscle seems to have calmed down considerably. Instead of still taking it easy, I was dying to work on my deck. I had a friend powerwash it and lots of paint came off. I used my new "deep kneeler" that has handles (to help get up) and I worked my way around the deck and got it all scraped, then I primed and painted it with a long handled roller. It felt SOO good to get a project done. i was a little afraid of what I would feel like in the a.m. and took a pain pill when I went to bed. I felt pretty darn good in the morning, in fact it almost felt like being kind of on all fours and reaching a bit to scrape in different directions kind of helped me.*

Here's the miracle. I went to get something and forgot to grab my cane and walked down the hall. Now I have walked without the cane in the house before, but this was the first time I did not limp. I could actually support myself. I was shocked and amazed. I tried it again, WOW, i did it again, and then it weakened. I've not been able to repeat this, except for a step or two, but it let me know that YES, someday, I WILL be able to walk without this cane. It was really a joyous moment for me - gave me hope.:yes 4:

I am off to visit my family and will be gone a week. Having my muscle irritation calm down before my trip is really great. Not sure if I am taking technology with me, so if you don't hear from me after tomorrow, you'll know why.
Take care everyone! Cathy

 

[Jamie]

AWESOME!!!!!:yes 4:

 

[dianemarie]

WOW! Good for you, gives the rest of us hope also. Enjoy your time with family. It is a wonderful time of the year...spring and the nice weather gives us hope too.

 

[Poppet]

Fantastic Cathy.. Funny how these little leap forwards just happen out of the blue.... You are turning the corner hon

Have a wonderful visit with your family

 

[C Mac]

Hi Cathy,

What a great update -- maybe the neighbors will have a party on the deck while you are gone....

Have a great time in Wisconsin!!

Take care,
Cardie