THR staffsknot story so far
- Thread starter staffsknot
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OP
staffsknot
senior
SIX MONTHS
Taken as an average, I seem to be doing a little better than a month ago, but progress is so gradual, and at the same time undulating, by which I mean when I wake each day I do not know what sort of hip I am going to have to work with that day. I reach for the stick only when I have been on my feet a long time and it is all starting to feel sore yet again. G is kind enough to carry it in her bag so that I can’t use it until I need it.
Highlights:
a) Looking after 7 year old granddaughter. Ashby Castle, lawns and banks, roly poly, cartwheels. How supple and bendy her nice new legs. Let’s climb spiral steps up tower. 98 steps. They threw boiling oil and lead and revolting yukky things years ago. I have trouble enough without. What pain meds would J recommend for boiling lead? Next day, Kenilworth Castle, Roundheads won easily. Earlier, Earl of Warwick built knot garden to impress Elizabeth 1. She not impressed, nor me, too many steps.
b) Caravanning with G in Devon, walking every day, slowly around gardens and trying to work out geology round Hartland Quay. Walking more freely every day.
c) Gardening for G’s mum. She 90, can’t reach ground. End of day, I feel 90, can’t reach ground. Sure arms have got shorter as day progressed. Have planted hostas, shuttlecock ferns, heucheras, geraniums, macleayas, pulmonarias, etc, on shady side and they are starting to look brilliant.
d) Swimming, have got up to 1600 metres, 11 yards short of a mile. Leg always feels good the next day after swim.
e) Visiting a Yellow Book garden, and climbing a vertical ladder to reach the tree house. Not much of a ladder but a small triumph for me.
Lowlights:
a) Try to walk at “normal” speed in National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, near Burton on Trent. Finish the walk really sore. Not ready yet to go at more than a simple saunter. If you live anywhere near, please go. It is an inspiring place, and getting more beautiful every year.
b) Being laughed at by Bonesmarties for rediscovering my lost libido. Reminds me of Schnozzle Durante singing the Lost Chord.
All the best,
Alan
Taken as an average, I seem to be doing a little better than a month ago, but progress is so gradual, and at the same time undulating, by which I mean when I wake each day I do not know what sort of hip I am going to have to work with that day. I reach for the stick only when I have been on my feet a long time and it is all starting to feel sore yet again. G is kind enough to carry it in her bag so that I can’t use it until I need it.
Highlights:
a) Looking after 7 year old granddaughter. Ashby Castle, lawns and banks, roly poly, cartwheels. How supple and bendy her nice new legs. Let’s climb spiral steps up tower. 98 steps. They threw boiling oil and lead and revolting yukky things years ago. I have trouble enough without. What pain meds would J recommend for boiling lead? Next day, Kenilworth Castle, Roundheads won easily. Earlier, Earl of Warwick built knot garden to impress Elizabeth 1. She not impressed, nor me, too many steps.
b) Caravanning with G in Devon, walking every day, slowly around gardens and trying to work out geology round Hartland Quay. Walking more freely every day.
c) Gardening for G’s mum. She 90, can’t reach ground. End of day, I feel 90, can’t reach ground. Sure arms have got shorter as day progressed. Have planted hostas, shuttlecock ferns, heucheras, geraniums, macleayas, pulmonarias, etc, on shady side and they are starting to look brilliant.
d) Swimming, have got up to 1600 metres, 11 yards short of a mile. Leg always feels good the next day after swim.
e) Visiting a Yellow Book garden, and climbing a vertical ladder to reach the tree house. Not much of a ladder but a small triumph for me.
Lowlights:
a) Try to walk at “normal” speed in National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, near Burton on Trent. Finish the walk really sore. Not ready yet to go at more than a simple saunter. If you live anywhere near, please go. It is an inspiring place, and getting more beautiful every year.
b) Being laughed at by Bonesmarties for rediscovering my lost libido. Reminds me of Schnozzle Durante singing the Lost Chord.
All the best,
Alan
sharonslp
Former BoneSmart staff member
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Alan, your highlights make me want to hop on a plane and come to England immediately. I was very fortunate to spend a summer in London once upon a long time ago, and reading your post transports me right back to the delightful excursions I would take all over the country.
Playing with my granddaughters was a major motivator for my surgery. I haven't put it to the test yet. 98 steps....yes, way too much. I'm still practicing on building up speed on just a dozen or so.
We aren't laughing AT you. We are laughing in delight FOR you.
Sharon
Playing with my granddaughters was a major motivator for my surgery. I haven't put it to the test yet. 98 steps....yes, way too much. I'm still practicing on building up speed on just a dozen or so.
We aren't laughing AT you. We are laughing in delight FOR you.
Sharon
nanamac
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Absolutely! I would NEVER laugh at a fellow Bonesmartie! It was such a delight to read your so very eloquent chain of events. I did find it amusing, but in a wonderful way Alan. More power to you!
And I must admit, I'm just a little bit envious...
And I must admit, I'm just a little bit envious...
Alan, I just love reading your posts!!! You have a wonderful way with words and a sparkling touch of humor that makes a great story.
I think you are doing just fine!!! It's wonderful to hear how you are enjoying yourself.
I think you are doing just fine!!! It's wonderful to hear how you are enjoying yourself.
AnnaRose
junior member
Alan, your swimming really inspired me! I'm not a swimmer, and ignore the pool most of the time (it's about 30 ft. from my sliding glass door and I see people out there every day), but for the past 2 days I've put on my suit and gone for a dip! I'm not really swimming, though -- I'm walking back and forth across the pool in chest-deep water. It feels like a great way to exercise my "walking muscles" without the stress of gravity. I'm sure it will help in my recovery. I can't wait to get out there again today. Thanks!
nanamac
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Oh that is a great thing to do, AnnaRose, and free too! Where abouts in NC are you? My sister is in Pinehurst.
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Looking at the score for six months, I realise I must have moved on, but at times it feels as if I am still stuck fast. That dream of a relaxed country walk with hardly a whimper of protest from the mangled hip has not yet come to pass. The other dream of competing in an open water swim near my 70<SUP>th</SUP> birthday in September is seeming more and more unlikely the nearer I get to it.
To the casual observer I seem to have made it. They think I am fully recovered. I walk with every appearance of normality, not assisted by a stick or cane, but only I know that every stride is an effort and carries risk of suddenly stumbling or overbalancing. And then I feel terrible because many people nudging 70 are nowhere near as active as me, and my wife, G. And then I read about the awful experiences of fellow bonesmarties and feel worse still. Really, I don’t have a thing to complain about. Here’s a flavour of things I can now manage, but couldn’t a month ago.
a) I can go everywhere without a stick. Thinking of putting it on eBay, but might not bother. Could be trouble further down the road, concerning my other hip.
b) Can kiss both knees, no, not at the same time. And no, it isn’t a strange perversion, just an index of improved flexibility.
c) Can sock, underpant and trouser myself whilst standing on the non trousering leg. Pointless skill but one that shows progress and confidence.
HIGHLIGHTS
1) Climbing the White Mark on the Chiltern escarpment without a stick.
2) No stick again for a 7 hour day with 7 yo granddaughter round Windsor Legoland.
3) No stick for a day at the Gardeners World Show in Birmingham, 6 hours on feet.
4) 1200 metre swim in 34 minutes, best since operation.
LOWLIGHTS
1) Every day on first getting out of bed, when the hip tells me it didn’t like what I did yesterday.
2) Nottingham Forest failing in the playoffs yet again.
I shall continue with monthly reports till a year is up. Then I shall fly the nest, or, in the unhappy event that I am still moving a bit painfully, shuffle away from the nest.
In the meantime, good luck to everybody who has had serious problems. All the best,
Alan
To the casual observer I seem to have made it. They think I am fully recovered. I walk with every appearance of normality, not assisted by a stick or cane, but only I know that every stride is an effort and carries risk of suddenly stumbling or overbalancing. And then I feel terrible because many people nudging 70 are nowhere near as active as me, and my wife, G. And then I read about the awful experiences of fellow bonesmarties and feel worse still. Really, I don’t have a thing to complain about. Here’s a flavour of things I can now manage, but couldn’t a month ago.
a) I can go everywhere without a stick. Thinking of putting it on eBay, but might not bother. Could be trouble further down the road, concerning my other hip.
b) Can kiss both knees, no, not at the same time. And no, it isn’t a strange perversion, just an index of improved flexibility.
c) Can sock, underpant and trouser myself whilst standing on the non trousering leg. Pointless skill but one that shows progress and confidence.
HIGHLIGHTS
1) Climbing the White Mark on the Chiltern escarpment without a stick.
2) No stick again for a 7 hour day with 7 yo granddaughter round Windsor Legoland.
3) No stick for a day at the Gardeners World Show in Birmingham, 6 hours on feet.
4) 1200 metre swim in 34 minutes, best since operation.
LOWLIGHTS
1) Every day on first getting out of bed, when the hip tells me it didn’t like what I did yesterday.
2) Nottingham Forest failing in the playoffs yet again.
I shall continue with monthly reports till a year is up. Then I shall fly the nest, or, in the unhappy event that I am still moving a bit painfully, shuffle away from the nest.
In the meantime, good luck to everybody who has had serious problems. All the best,
Alan
nanamac
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Alan, sounds to me like you are doing pretty darn good! And you never have to flee the nest :wink1:. I enjoy reading your posts and you certainly have come a long way.
Please don't get discouraged. If I am reading this right, you will actually be seven months tomorrow. Look at what you are able to do now! I don't think that is anything to be down about. You are doing super in my book.
Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration to other hippies
.
Please don't get discouraged. If I am reading this right, you will actually be seven months tomorrow. Look at what you are able to do now! I don't think that is anything to be down about. You are doing super in my book.
Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration to other hippies
.
nanamac
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Oh you got me Alan ...
...
Alan,
It was great seeing your progress report in one thread. As a level 2 swimming teacher for the last few years, your crawl progress is impressive, many of the young people I have taught over the years have not been as committed - keep it up! For anyone who doesn't like the idea of counting, but is happy to do a set time in the pool, you can get an MP3 player which clips onto the goggle band and special underwater earphones, this is great if you download tunes which have a good beat to keep you paced! Mine is made by Speedo. I am a bit of a gadget freak!
It was great seeing your progress report in one thread. As a level 2 swimming teacher for the last few years, your crawl progress is impressive, many of the young people I have taught over the years have not been as committed - keep it up! For anyone who doesn't like the idea of counting, but is happy to do a set time in the pool, you can get an MP3 player which clips onto the goggle band and special underwater earphones, this is great if you download tunes which have a good beat to keep you paced! Mine is made by Speedo. I am a bit of a gadget freak!
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
EIGHT MONTHS
It's all very slow and steady but this month I am convinced I have moved on a little. When G and I are city visiting or doing a short country walk, or a flower show, it's no longer a matter for debate as to whether the walking stick comes along as well. Actually, if anybody has seen it, I'd be grateful for information about it. It's telescopic, or folding, or whatever, with a geometrical pattern in different tasteful shades of brown, a bit girly if the truth be told, but it puts me in touch with my feminine, flower arrangy side, which can't be a bad thing.
On the other hand when, as now, I have been trying a bit too hard to be normal, wandering araound every square yard of the Tatton Park flower show, and the following day spending 5 hours doing mother in law's garden, then my leg keeps telling me how foolish I have been.
Anyway, the assaulted area looks a lot more normal now, but if I run my hand down the right flank, there is a kind of missing bit, a hollow. I am intrigued as to whether it will fill in eventually, preferably with rippling muscles, but I'm not to fussed about it really. Nobody ever looks at that portion of my anatomy anyway. Nor any other part, for that matter.
HIGHLIGHTS
Joining in water fight with children celebrating 8th birthday of granddaughter. I had to throw children into the pool and be pushed into it by children. Great fun. All the children had to warmed up with towels and cocoa, the British climate being as it is.
Swam a mile on front crawl in 46 minutes, no discomfort from right hip during this.
LOWLIGHTS
None. Well, none I'm prepared to post about.
All the best to all strugglers, especially the more advanced ones,
Alan
It's all very slow and steady but this month I am convinced I have moved on a little. When G and I are city visiting or doing a short country walk, or a flower show, it's no longer a matter for debate as to whether the walking stick comes along as well. Actually, if anybody has seen it, I'd be grateful for information about it. It's telescopic, or folding, or whatever, with a geometrical pattern in different tasteful shades of brown, a bit girly if the truth be told, but it puts me in touch with my feminine, flower arrangy side, which can't be a bad thing.
On the other hand when, as now, I have been trying a bit too hard to be normal, wandering araound every square yard of the Tatton Park flower show, and the following day spending 5 hours doing mother in law's garden, then my leg keeps telling me how foolish I have been.
Anyway, the assaulted area looks a lot more normal now, but if I run my hand down the right flank, there is a kind of missing bit, a hollow. I am intrigued as to whether it will fill in eventually, preferably with rippling muscles, but I'm not to fussed about it really. Nobody ever looks at that portion of my anatomy anyway. Nor any other part, for that matter.
HIGHLIGHTS
Joining in water fight with children celebrating 8th birthday of granddaughter. I had to throw children into the pool and be pushed into it by children. Great fun. All the children had to warmed up with towels and cocoa, the British climate being as it is.
Swam a mile on front crawl in 46 minutes, no discomfort from right hip during this.
LOWLIGHTS
None. Well, none I'm prepared to post about.
All the best to all strugglers, especially the more advanced ones,
Alan
Lindawalms
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Thanks Alan, I just got up to date on your thread - sounds like you are making fine progress Thanks for letting us know how you are doing. I used to competitively swim in my childhood and teenage years - maybe I will try to take it up again - thanks again for the update :biggrin:
xoxo,
Linda.
Thanks for letting us know how you are doing. I used to competitively swim in my childhood and teenage years - maybe I will try to take it up again - thanks again for the update :biggrin:xoxo,
Linda.
nanamac
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:th_heehee: You do make me laugh Alan! Seriously though, great update! Pretty much good as new,eh? Terrific ! All the best and PLEASE, keep them coming :wink1:!
! All the best and PLEASE, keep them coming :wink1:!
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Thanks, folks, for all your support.
But what about that hollow near my right hip? Is it ever going to fill up again? and if so with what? Ripply muscle or yucky gooey rubbish, or doesn't anybody really know? Just now it feels like just an absence. I'm hoping that will change due course.
All the best
Alan
But what about that hollow near my right hip? Is it ever going to fill up again? and if so with what? Ripply muscle or yucky gooey rubbish, or doesn't anybody really know? Just now it feels like just an absence. I'm hoping that will change due course.
All the best
Alan
DaveL
junior member
Hey staffsknott. I am only 10 weeks post op, but I have the same hollow. I thought it was just me. What's with that anyway?
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