IsraelGood evening.
Today was my Sabbath, I am an observant Jew.
This gave me time to reflect and arrive at some truths for myself.
Since I have just finished my first week, post-op, I hardly qulalify as experienced enough to give anyone else advise.
I can only relate some of my own reflections as they relate to me.
I should add, that I am a completely healthy person, who does not take any medication of any kind. I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic, my glucose level is 81).
I don't have high blood pressure ( last bp before leaving the hospital was 114/59) and I don't have high cholesterol or triglycirides.
1. This past week reinforced the absolute necessity to manage pain. This means that pain meds need to be taken irrespective of my pain situation.
I take my meds according to a schedule, and thereby am able to manage pain much more effectively.
This simple lesson was brought into bright relief on Friday evening. Because I was feeling good, I delayed taking one of my pain meds. Needless to say, the onset of pain was very sudden, it was much more difficult to overcome the pain.
So, as is emphasized in Bonesmart, take your pain meds on time and in time.
2. Let your body be your guide.
As a former athlete and current coach, it is sometimes difficult to admit that I can't or more properly, shouldn't force my body to my will.
But in this short time, I have learned that I can only do PT within the limits of what my body can tolerate.
Working through pain only results in causing additional inflamation and more swelling.
So rest when your body tells you to rest and work up to pain but do not cause pain.
Fortunately, my physical therapist share is view and is always restraining my natural inclination to work harder no matter what.
3. Attitude: Be positive. At time this is difficult , but may be the most critical element of successful recovery. I you don't think that you can recover successfully, you can't. Don't give in to doubt. Amittedly, this is not always easy, when you basically have learn again to trust your leg, but if you become discouraged or let doubt persist, a good recovery is much more difficult.
If you need help in overcoming pessimision, seek it out, but you must be convinced that you will recover.
Plan your recovery with you PT, and set goals that are reasonable and attainable.
If you hit a wall, reasses where you are and make adjustments.
4. Each person reacts to joint replacement surgery differntly. While reading accounts of other experiences can be instructional, they may not be relevant to you at all.
Your case is unique and because your timeline doesn't conform to a "standard" doesn't mean anything for you.
This doesn't mean that you don't need to work, but your pace and your circumstances don't have to match anyone elses.
That's all I've got for now.
Have a great rest of the weekend
Today was my Sabbath, I am an observant Jew.
This gave me time to reflect and arrive at some truths for myself.
Since I have just finished my first week, post-op, I hardly qulalify as experienced enough to give anyone else advise.
I can only relate some of my own reflections as they relate to me.
I should add, that I am a completely healthy person, who does not take any medication of any kind. I am not diabetic or pre-diabetic, my glucose level is 81).
I don't have high blood pressure ( last bp before leaving the hospital was 114/59) and I don't have high cholesterol or triglycirides.
1. This past week reinforced the absolute necessity to manage pain. This means that pain meds need to be taken irrespective of my pain situation.
I take my meds according to a schedule, and thereby am able to manage pain much more effectively.
This simple lesson was brought into bright relief on Friday evening. Because I was feeling good, I delayed taking one of my pain meds. Needless to say, the onset of pain was very sudden, it was much more difficult to overcome the pain.
So, as is emphasized in Bonesmart, take your pain meds on time and in time.
2. Let your body be your guide.
As a former athlete and current coach, it is sometimes difficult to admit that I can't or more properly, shouldn't force my body to my will.
But in this short time, I have learned that I can only do PT within the limits of what my body can tolerate.
Working through pain only results in causing additional inflamation and more swelling.
So rest when your body tells you to rest and work up to pain but do not cause pain.
Fortunately, my physical therapist share is view and is always restraining my natural inclination to work harder no matter what.
3. Attitude: Be positive. At time this is difficult , but may be the most critical element of successful recovery. I you don't think that you can recover successfully, you can't. Don't give in to doubt. Amittedly, this is not always easy, when you basically have learn again to trust your leg, but if you become discouraged or let doubt persist, a good recovery is much more difficult.
If you need help in overcoming pessimision, seek it out, but you must be convinced that you will recover.
Plan your recovery with you PT, and set goals that are reasonable and attainable.
If you hit a wall, reasses where you are and make adjustments.
4. Each person reacts to joint replacement surgery differntly. While reading accounts of other experiences can be instructional, they may not be relevant to you at all.
Your case is unique and because your timeline doesn't conform to a "standard" doesn't mean anything for you.
This doesn't mean that you don't need to work, but your pace and your circumstances don't have to match anyone elses.
That's all I've got for now.
Have a great rest of the weekend
