Sandy, you poppeted in.
Hello Bonesmart world. Getting close to the six week mark, but unfortunately my OS appointment isn't scheduled until seven weeks. That means an extra week of restrictions that I am quite sure are ready to be lifted NOW. I am frankly breaking the 90 degree rule a lot already, but I am trying to honor the don't cross the midline rule. Sometimes I go to cross my leg over my knee without thinking, and I am shocked at how far I get before my hip twinges enough to remind me that I can't do that yet.
Now that PT is over, I have predictably slacked off on my exercises, but I am walking regularly. I still need the cane to do longer walks. I am starting to cut back on pain meds. My current routine is:
One vicodin at night. This gives me 7-9 hours of good sleep. Amazing!
One 50mg Tramadol plus one 500mg Tylenol in the morning.
Two tylenol around 1pm.
Two tylenol around 6pm.
This seems to be working well, so I'll stick to it until it feels like it's time to tinker.
Most days, my routine is to wake up around 9am or so, swallow my meds and wander to the couch. I eat breakfast, read the paper, catch up on online scrabble games, check facebook, and otherwise waste time until suddenly it's close to noon and I decide to get dressed. Most afternoons I find somewhere to go....friends to knit with....errands....appointments....whatever. I haven't needed an afternoon nap for a while now....well over a week or two. Evenings....a good walk after dinner, maybe grocery shopping, maybe seeing friends. Back on the couch to watch television and knit and read. Sporadic exercise now that PT is over. Hmm...this really is a boring life right now!! No school, no dancing, no travel plans....yet. But soon!
I did map out a six-year plan though. This has nothing to do with hip replacements, so feel free to cut out now. If you are at all curious however, here it is:
Fall 2012 Finish Paralegal program
Jan - June 2013 - Begin LSAT prep course (involving 4 hours a day of study). At the same time, either do a ten hour a week paralegal internship OR begin hunting for part-time paralegal work - paid or volunteer.
Summer 2013 - Take the LSAT in June. (I've already taken it once. My score will get me a 25% scholarship at the law school I hope to attend. That is a pittance. I need a much better score to get the 85% scholarship that will realistically allow me to go to law school.)
After the LSAT, do some significant travel.....thinking of a trip to Alaska with my SO, and/or a knitting cruise somewhere really interesting.
Fall 2013 - hoping to take my oldest granddaughter to Disneyworld. Hoping this will be a tradition for each granddaughter when she turns 7. By the time I've taken all of them, the oldest will be a teen, and I hope to establish a tradition of taking each of them somewhere exciting when they are teens. Hoping I am healthy and mobile enough to do this for the next umpteen years.
Also do another internship, or continue with whatever part-time work I have managed to find, if any.
Jan 2014 Begin law school. Will go part-time for five years, so I can still have a life. Do not ask what I will do with a law degree once I have it. The education is the whole point. Figuring out how to make it useful is the NEXT long-term plan. However, if called upon to serve my country, I am interested in being on the Supreme Court.
That's it. That's how I see the future unfolding. I'll come up with a plan B if I can't swing law school, but really hoping I can make it work.
Anyone else want to share a five year or more plan? I fully realize it takes great optimism to plan for more than five days ahead. But I do better if I have an actual plan and then have to deviate from it, than if I just wing it from the start.
Sharon
Australia
