THR Seeing the Light!

[lovesstars]

That is great news, absolutely great! Pilates in January. Wow.



I don't understand about the "one little piece." Sorry to be dense. What is the piece? Anyway, now you have a plan, and reason to be very hopeful, looks like. I'm so pleased for you.

Well, @EL11 , I think he means that just walking won’t strengthen the teeny gluteus muscles that are weak and damaged...but by standing on one leg and doing the half-squats, that will strengthen those little muscles which will make my walking ultimately easier.

Plus...he said that those post-op exercises we get are general...but sometimes people need more specific help, etc.

Like little old me!

 

[NanaKP]

Sounds like you had a super GREAT appointment today. So glad to hear it went well. Also, a huge YAY for you that you have dates to look forward to! There IS a light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[EL11]

Well, @EL11 , I think he means that just walking won’t strengthen the teeny gluteus muscles that are weak and damaged...but by standing on one leg and doing the half-squats, that will strengthen those little muscles which will make my walking ultimately easier.

Plus...he said that those post-op exercises we get are general...but sometimes people need more specific help, etc.

Like little old me!

That makes sense!

 

[SurreyGirl]

Brilliant! Finally some targeted news re your problem and some hope intermediately re Pilates and flying.

Great to hear (btw I can stand on op leg for more than 5 secs and it is supposed to be fully weight bearing!)

 

[Lmflora]

My goodness @lovesstars, reading your thread is so inspiring! You are so awesome! It all seems so darn hard sometimes doesn’t it? But then I read your story, and I am in awe. Sometimes I just don’t want to do it anymore, I just want to go back before everything. But can only go forward. Your story makes me think.

 

[lovesstars]

Thanks, all. @Lmflora — “makes me think”....about what?

 

[lovesstars]

By Suck Factor (1-10)
Week 4: SF 6 - still recovering from relapse - impatient
Week 5: SF 3 - moving around again - starting to get in some short walks in the mall
Week 6: SF 1 - longer walks of 1-2 miles, including some outdoor rambles

The SF continued up and down for the first 2 months, but the frequency and amplitude dropped over time and eventually went to background noise.

I can't get you pralines, but can I send you some NC pork barbecue?

Hi @Bone-obo—- just re-reading my thread and found this message from you. OMG At six weeks you were walking one-two miles?!?! That’s amazing. Today I did go to a PT for advice — and almost collapsed walking from the front door of the hospital to the clinical wing to see this PT. I am on the ‘slow as ketchup’ path indeed!!!!

 

[Alitm]

I'm a bit late here...such GREAT news @lovesstars!!!
SO very happy for you!!! Look...you are posting posts with laughter , not scary faces ! This is a very good sign! So glad you went ahead with the physio appointment!
Cheers to you!

 

[SurreyGirl]

I have visions of various hippies with gluteus problems standing in our kitchens like storks with our bemused partners/offspring looking on! Do give us an update on your next PT session.
The massage session I had from the PT in a specific area has helped me and pain has lessened since I went back to two crutches. I did walk a short distance from car to curry house on one crutch with no issues so will just take it very gently.
I do wonder if the accident I had in the hospital on the Rotunda which twisted my hip badly caused those muscles to tear and they have been weak ever since. The hip itself seems fine.

Good luck and hope the next days till your next appt go smoothly.

 

[Layla]

Happy Saturday!
Hope it's a happy one for you, lovesstars
Lots of rest, no pain, sunshine and blue skies.
My wish for you today.
Hugs
@lovesstars

 

[lovesstars]

Thanks, @SurreyGirl ...I hope that the pain continues to lessen so you can get back to things (remember crazy curly recovery illustration...) and at least FEEL that you are KIND OF on track.

@Alitm thanks! Many many emojis being used, I see!
@1stSurgery don’t do too much too fast!!!
@EL11 Have you gone upstairs yet??? When do you get to not sleep on a couch?
@NanaKP thank you!
@Lmflora seriously — that is awfully nice of you to say...but how have I inspired you? To buy an ice machine? To put up wallpaper to distract from pain?

Family is away at wedding, as you all have guessed. I was super sore yesterday after PT (maybe from the LOOOOONG walk down the hall to find him) and sore last night. This morning I have ventured down the six stairs into the den (haven’t been in there in almost 8 weeks) and also the additional 12 stairs into the basement to check on the laundry situation. (Also, have not been there two months).

OMG my laundry room is a mess!
It made me crazy that people have just been emptying dust and debris from dryer and leaving them in a pile on top of the machine! I cleaned up everything (In my way of thinking a laundry room should be a clean place) and started a load of laundry. When son comes later this afternoon to take care of dog (he got a last-minute fever and also could not go to wedding...we are just eating ALL KINDS of airline fares this week) I will ask him to continue laundry.

I am now on couch with legs up and tea. Yes, I may feel it later but after almost eight weeks I want to have control of my house again. PLUS — if I couldn’t go into my own basement, how could I even begin to think that I could go to Portland — 2000 miles away?

 

[lovesstars]

Thank you @Layla !
Grey skies here...but trees all sorts of colors which I am happy to look at from the couch (after doing my kitchen-stork moves and glute-half-wall-sitting moves.

Pain management question: if I am already on Celebrex, Tylenol and tramadol just daily — do I manage the additional PT-visit pain only with ice, elevation and praying for it to stop (yeah, spiritual elevation)???

???

 

[Layla]

I don't know what to tell you on pain because we can't really advise. Only Jo.
Could you call the office of your OS and talk to whoever is on call? I certainly wouldn't hesitate.
Hate to see you suffering if they could advise and it helps. Or, you could tag Josephine re: meds, but I'll leave that decision up to you.

I'm so happy you didn't travel. Eating the fares is tough to swallow but I think you've proved to yourself more than once, you weren't ready. Glad you're not there, in misery, all the while trying to be pleasant and look good too....Ugh! Too much work right now.
@lovesstars

 

[Layla]

The first is for 4-hourly doses and the second for 6-hourly:

This is a schedule Josephine has posted and I believe used, herself.
I've seen this followed up by the statement that if you're using this schedule, do check to make sure you're not taking any other drugs that contain Tylenol (Acetaminophen) You need to stay within the safe limit of no more than 4,000 mg of Tylenol in a 24 hr period. If any other medications you're taking contain Tylenol, add their amount into your daily calculations and reduce another of your doses, so you stay within those limits.

Not sure of your dosage schedule and how / where the Celebrex fits in, that's why it would be best if you call the office of your surgeon.

 

[lovesstars]

Ok that is an interesting chart, @Layla ,
The bottom chart is what I am doing ....but my dose is 50 mg.

I will call and ask them if I can do 100 mg.

I’ll do that now.

 

[Lmflora]

@lovesstars, your story made me realize what an easy time I’ve had, that I need to stop whining about it and get on with it. You have gone through so much pain and set backs. If you can be as strong as you are and continue to have such a great sense of humor, then it’s time for me to stop feeling sorry for myself. That’s how you inspire me.

 

[lovesstars]

@Lmflora — again, super kind of you to say — but I have to tell you that I don’t feel strong. I feel like this has SUPER knocked me down. I don’t feel at all funny and I feel like I come up against disappointment after disappointment. But I also know that life is like that sometimes (Wise me speaking for a second).

Among other things I am a writer. I have not felt like writing because I have not felt funny.
As I put in my last piece:

“The largest adjustment to this surgery probably is psychological. It represents a change of how I see myself. Temporary though this recovery may be…it is a huge adjustment nevertheless. I cannot do for myself, I am knocked off my feet. I thought that maybe I couldn’t write this post until I felt ‘funny enough’ — but the funniest parts of my day involve my walker, prunes and the Daily Black Pants.

And who wants to write about that?”


So...thanks....but maybe I will be funnier soon. Stay tuned for videos on endless loop of me breaking into wracking sobs for no reason.

What I am looking forward to...?
1. Christmas Day release of “Mary Poppins Returns” movie.
2. Visiting son in New York City in December.
3. Getting my 20-year old daughter hooked on Hamilton.
4. Ability to go out to dinner at nice restaurant without thinking how comfortable I am and if I have to leave to use the bathroom at home.
5. The end of having to use sticky notes on my kitchen cabinet to record the last time I took pain meds.
Woohoo!

TOGETHER FORWARD!

 

[1stSurgery]

Congratulations @lovesstars on making it down to the basement, den, laundry room, even though you found a house of horrors!! I had a similar experience first trip upstairs to the kitchen! Eeek! Did what clearing and cleaning I could and kept reminding myself about the yummy meals hubby had been making for me, my regular cleanup duty was sorely missed though. But it's a sign of improvement that you made the trip with all the stairs and cleaned up the lint depository!

And I know.... why is it they put orthopedic offices at the end of long hallways?! Same at my hospital and doctors office. Some cruel joke.

Hope your son is ok and doesn't have anything contagious. Enjoy your new heat, hot tea and fall trees outside!

I'm off to eat waffles. NOT an activity that will put me in the ODIC.

 

[lovesstars]

WAFFLES, @1stSurgery !!! I am so jealous!!!
I am munching cold leftover Thai food from last night.

And London Fogs (Earl Grey tea, Milk of Choice, Maple syrup)

 

[1stSurgery]

Just saw your last post and before scooting off to waffle heaven I had to add...

You are and have been very funny, whether you realize it or not!! And have brought me and hordes of hippies here to giggle states in your posts over these weeks of our recovery. That I know. Not to mention your creative patented usage of the iconic fear emoji

I have the BoneSmart comedic metric measuring device here and just sayin.... you're scoring very high on the charts!

Carry on.