lisanewmc
post-grad
United Kingdom
great update as usual Alan
THR staffsknot story so far
- Thread starter staffsknot
- Start date
- Status
great update as usual Alan
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
I was reading Mrs. Gibbo's thread (Cathy) and decided not to hi-jack it with my questions. The thread is "Running", q.v.
Hi, Everybody. My name is Alan. I am a runner. As a teenager I would run races with other kids across the fields and up and down the mining spoil heaps in Nottinghamshire. Then at 15 I became ill and the doctors said I should never run again. After a time I did, and ran more then 20 marathons in my forties. At age 43 I did 20 miles in 2 hours 9 minutes, which was my best ever. It became an obsession. Correction: it WAS an obsession. Maybe it contributed to my hips eventually breaking down. Who knows?
With more and more hip pain, and then struggling along with walking sticks and then an operation, I have had to give it up. The bone man says so, but he didn't explain why. And now, in Cathy's thread there are siren voices tempting me to have another go. If I give in to them, will I find that the addiction returns in full force? Longer and longer and faster and faster? It doesn't bear thinking about. And yet. And yet?
@Josephine:
Surely a bit of a jog wouldn't hurt, would, it? If it reduces the life of my hip from 25 to 15 years that would make me 85, or, more likely, no longer with you.
I was with 8 year old granddaughter the other day, and she wanted to be chased and tickled. Oh, what the ...? Why not? She giggled and squealed quite a lot, which slowed her down a bit, and I caught her, and it felt good, just to be running again.
Is there anybody out there who can help me? I think I may be slipping back into it. Advice, please. I think I need it.
I feel as if I might turn out to be like one of these people who drink a huge amount and then find they need a liver transplant, and then afterwards carry on drinking and undo all the good work of the transplant. Is a new hip like that, and if not why not?
You'll gather my hip is starting to feel OK at last, if I am tempted to do some of this mischief. More details in my 16 month report.
All the best, Alan
Hi, Everybody. My name is Alan. I am a runner. As a teenager I would run races with other kids across the fields and up and down the mining spoil heaps in Nottinghamshire. Then at 15 I became ill and the doctors said I should never run again. After a time I did, and ran more then 20 marathons in my forties. At age 43 I did 20 miles in 2 hours 9 minutes, which was my best ever. It became an obsession. Correction: it WAS an obsession. Maybe it contributed to my hips eventually breaking down. Who knows?
With more and more hip pain, and then struggling along with walking sticks and then an operation, I have had to give it up. The bone man says so, but he didn't explain why. And now, in Cathy's thread there are siren voices tempting me to have another go. If I give in to them, will I find that the addiction returns in full force? Longer and longer and faster and faster? It doesn't bear thinking about. And yet. And yet?
@Josephine:
Surely a bit of a jog wouldn't hurt, would, it? If it reduces the life of my hip from 25 to 15 years that would make me 85, or, more likely, no longer with you.
I was with 8 year old granddaughter the other day, and she wanted to be chased and tickled. Oh, what the ...? Why not? She giggled and squealed quite a lot, which slowed her down a bit, and I caught her, and it felt good, just to be running again.
Is there anybody out there who can help me? I think I may be slipping back into it. Advice, please. I think I need it.
I feel as if I might turn out to be like one of these people who drink a huge amount and then find they need a liver transplant, and then afterwards carry on drinking and undo all the good work of the transplant. Is a new hip like that, and if not why not?
You'll gather my hip is starting to feel OK at last, if I am tempted to do some of this mischief. More details in my 16 month report.
All the best, Alan
Dee205
senior
Alan,
I just went back and read through your journey. Wow, what a great attitude and sense of humor! Some of your posts had me cracking up. I share your love of swimming and have spent much time in the pool (indoor-gym) post-op, although i'm nowhere near your distance. Can't wait for the summer, I live about a 1/2 mile from the Atlantic Ocean and can't wait to jump in......haven't been able to do that for a few years and I can't wait!
Keep up the great work
Dee.
I just went back and read through your journey. Wow, what a great attitude and sense of humor! Some of your posts had me cracking up. I share your love of swimming and have spent much time in the pool (indoor-gym) post-op, although i'm nowhere near your distance. Can't wait for the summer, I live about a 1/2 mile from the Atlantic Ocean and can't wait to jump in......haven't been able to do that for a few years and I can't wait!
Keep up the great work
Dee.
Hi Alan, this running thing is a hard one. It seems to be OS dependent. Some ban running forever. Some say jogging is fine. Others (like my OS) say go for it and stop if it hurts.
These implants have come a long way. They are far tougher than they were years ago. Why don't you start a thread on this subject in the Hip Recovery area. Meanwhile I'll tag Jo in your post and see what she says.
These implants have come a long way. They are far tougher than they were years ago. Why don't you start a thread on this subject in the Hip Recovery area. Meanwhile I'll tag Jo in your post and see what she says.
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
You know what, Alan? we only have one life so why don't we live it? You could get run over by a bus next week and then your hip would never get worn out, would it?
I can see surgeon's need (for their own peace of mind) to caution their patients against doing certain things and there are particular activities that would be just plain stupid like bungee jumping or sky diving!
I could say well what harm will it do if you don't push yourself or if you only do half marathons, but we both know that's not what you are talking about.
It's your hip. It was before and and it still is now. Given our ages, I just wonder what we are cosseting these new joints for? Life is far too precious not to live it to the full and hang the consequences. That's my thinking, anyway.
I can see surgeon's need (for their own peace of mind) to caution their patients against doing certain things and there are particular activities that would be just plain stupid like bungee jumping or sky diving!
I could say well what harm will it do if you don't push yourself or if you only do half marathons, but we both know that's not what you are talking about.
It's your hip. It was before and and it still is now. Given our ages, I just wonder what we are cosseting these new joints for? Life is far too precious not to live it to the full and hang the consequences. That's my thinking, anyway.
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Yes, thanks for that, Jo. I will do things while ever things feel right. Just to run again through the park with the wind in my hair, what's left of it, would be marvellous. I have no intention of running a half marathon ever again, let alone a full one.
I will have to work up, even to a run in the park, gentle steps and see how it goes. While I'm doing that, I shall be thinking about you, Jo, and all the others who have given me such encouragement over the last year and a quarter.
Thank you all.
All the best, Alan
I will have to work up, even to a run in the park, gentle steps and see how it goes. While I'm doing that, I shall be thinking about you, Jo, and all the others who have given me such encouragement over the last year and a quarter.
Thank you all.
All the best, Alan
Great plan Alan! Just be sure you have some very good running shoes -new ones that aren't worn down from your pre-op walking all wrong.
Let us know how you get on!
Let us know how you get on!
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
ONE YEAR FOUR MONTHS
The Bone Man said that there was not likely to be further improvement after his examination at the one year mark. I am aware of this but prefer
Jaycey's version: that things could still work out better during the second year.
So where am I? In a pretty good place, actually. I can do most of the things you would expect a normally healthy 70 year old pensioner to do: walk
around all day sightseeing with Glenys; work for 5 hours at a time in mother-in-law's garden; play with the smaller grandchildren; fetch own beer from
the bar without spilling any; shout rude things at the television when the content is especially vexatious; operate an iphone without benefit of
anaesthetic; and many more. What I can't do is walk very fast for more than a half mile or so. Running for more than a few hundred yards just makes
the hip area feel too sore. I don't enjoy this sensation so I don't do it. In fact any protracted activity can make me feel a bit lame the next day.
What I can do, which is a bit more than average, is swim. The Bone Man banned breaststroke, but I have gradually eased into doing some of it, and
can now do a push off and 5 more strokes to get along a pool of 20 metres. And I have decided that my freestyle stroke is unsatisfactory. It's the
main obstacle to doing an open water swim of a mile or more. So I have started a short course of lessons to learn how to do Total Immersion
swimming. After the first session, one of 4 hours continuous drills, I feel as if it will all work out in the end.
The lessons take place in a large shed containing a small pool, in which the water moves past you and you stay still, relatively, like a soggy
treadmill. Straightaway I discovered two things: the coach said my style looked like a salmon trying to escape from a net; also, when I saw the video
analysis I saw that two years of enforced inactivity and some overeating had made me into a superfatted walrus. These two revelations were not very
pleasing. The main strategy is to place one's body parts in front of and behind the lungs so that there is perfect balance in the water. That's the
theory. In practice it is very hard to kick against the habits of a 65 year swimming pattern, which is fiercely ingrained into the nervous system. But I
am enjoying it and having fun and experiencing a wonderful sense of doing something I have never done in my life before. And anything that makes
an impression like that after the 70th birthday must be worth something.
I don't like entering my 8th decade. A lot of what goes on is rubbish. I have just had my first joint replacement, with more to come, I expect. Ears, nose and teeth are all causing problems, and as for what goes on at points further South, that is to be spoken of in hushed tones, if at all. But, as I said, I am averagely healthy, so no real cause for complaint. What I do dislike, though, is the way men of 70 plus can sometimes become invisible. The attitude seems to be "Why are you still here? Your actuarial estimate at birth was about 72 years, so any time soon, eh!" You are not allowed to wear fashionable clothes, or short swimming costume, or express an opinion without some younger person yawning or miming the action of winding up an old-fashioned gramophone. One old "codger" recently had the temerity to write to Bonesmart, to ask for help for something worrying. He got a tiny handful of replies and rapidly found himself slithering to the bottom of page 2. This is the kind of thing that happens.
So these are all disappointing tendencies, but while I am here I propose to have as good a time as I can. I shall dig gardens for other people rather than wait to have my own garden dug for me. And if the time arrives when I can't do any of these things I shall have to think again.
HIGHLIGHTS
Walking so far in sandals at the seaside that blisters formed under my feet, but the hip didn't hurt at all.
Swimming lesson, where I learned to balance and float in the water without waggling all my arms and legs like a drunken octopus.
Going round mother-in-law's garden for 5 hours in the sunshine, rediscovering horticultural treasures waking up and starting to show themselves.
LOWLIGHTS
Trying to run 400 yards or so and being reduced to limping again the next day.
All the very best to all of you in your journeys.
Alan
The Bone Man said that there was not likely to be further improvement after his examination at the one year mark. I am aware of this but prefer
Jaycey's version: that things could still work out better during the second year.
So where am I? In a pretty good place, actually. I can do most of the things you would expect a normally healthy 70 year old pensioner to do: walk
around all day sightseeing with Glenys; work for 5 hours at a time in mother-in-law's garden; play with the smaller grandchildren; fetch own beer from
the bar without spilling any; shout rude things at the television when the content is especially vexatious; operate an iphone without benefit of
anaesthetic; and many more. What I can't do is walk very fast for more than a half mile or so. Running for more than a few hundred yards just makes
the hip area feel too sore. I don't enjoy this sensation so I don't do it. In fact any protracted activity can make me feel a bit lame the next day.
What I can do, which is a bit more than average, is swim. The Bone Man banned breaststroke, but I have gradually eased into doing some of it, and
can now do a push off and 5 more strokes to get along a pool of 20 metres. And I have decided that my freestyle stroke is unsatisfactory. It's the
main obstacle to doing an open water swim of a mile or more. So I have started a short course of lessons to learn how to do Total Immersion
swimming. After the first session, one of 4 hours continuous drills, I feel as if it will all work out in the end.
The lessons take place in a large shed containing a small pool, in which the water moves past you and you stay still, relatively, like a soggy
treadmill. Straightaway I discovered two things: the coach said my style looked like a salmon trying to escape from a net; also, when I saw the video
analysis I saw that two years of enforced inactivity and some overeating had made me into a superfatted walrus. These two revelations were not very
pleasing. The main strategy is to place one's body parts in front of and behind the lungs so that there is perfect balance in the water. That's the
theory. In practice it is very hard to kick against the habits of a 65 year swimming pattern, which is fiercely ingrained into the nervous system. But I
am enjoying it and having fun and experiencing a wonderful sense of doing something I have never done in my life before. And anything that makes
an impression like that after the 70th birthday must be worth something.
I don't like entering my 8th decade. A lot of what goes on is rubbish. I have just had my first joint replacement, with more to come, I expect. Ears, nose and teeth are all causing problems, and as for what goes on at points further South, that is to be spoken of in hushed tones, if at all. But, as I said, I am averagely healthy, so no real cause for complaint. What I do dislike, though, is the way men of 70 plus can sometimes become invisible. The attitude seems to be "Why are you still here? Your actuarial estimate at birth was about 72 years, so any time soon, eh!" You are not allowed to wear fashionable clothes, or short swimming costume, or express an opinion without some younger person yawning or miming the action of winding up an old-fashioned gramophone. One old "codger" recently had the temerity to write to Bonesmart, to ask for help for something worrying. He got a tiny handful of replies and rapidly found himself slithering to the bottom of page 2. This is the kind of thing that happens.
So these are all disappointing tendencies, but while I am here I propose to have as good a time as I can. I shall dig gardens for other people rather than wait to have my own garden dug for me. And if the time arrives when I can't do any of these things I shall have to think again.
HIGHLIGHTS
Walking so far in sandals at the seaside that blisters formed under my feet, but the hip didn't hurt at all.
Swimming lesson, where I learned to balance and float in the water without waggling all my arms and legs like a drunken octopus.
Going round mother-in-law's garden for 5 hours in the sunshine, rediscovering horticultural treasures waking up and starting to show themselves.
LOWLIGHTS
Trying to run 400 yards or so and being reduced to limping again the next day.
All the very best to all of you in your journeys.
Alan
Dee205
senior
Alan,
You never fail to amuse and inspire me with your insightful posts! You are dead-on with your comments. I fully understand your not liking entering your 8th decade. I feel the same as I'm approaching the BIG 5-0.....However, it's a lot better than the other option
I understand your feelings concerning the one year mark and whether you can make progress after it. Although I've read that where you are one year post-op is pretty much the most you are backing back, I for one, refuse to believe that!
Dee
You never fail to amuse and inspire me with your insightful posts! You are dead-on with your comments. I fully understand your not liking entering your 8th decade. I feel the same as I'm approaching the BIG 5-0.....However, it's a lot better than the other option
I understand your feelings concerning the one year mark and whether you can make progress after it. Although I've read that where you are one year post-op is pretty much the most you are backing back, I for one, refuse to believe that!
Dee
Z15
graduate
Alan,
I sometimes correspond on a forum with a 70 year old gentleman who is more insightful and eloquent than any 10 younger souls. He is witty and fun and sees things that most of the rest of us look right past...again and again. When I see posts by him I make sure that I take a minute or three to read them, because it will be time well invested.
He goes by the handle Staffsknot...but I've never known why...
Thanks for your dollops of wisdom,
Z
I sometimes correspond on a forum with a 70 year old gentleman who is more insightful and eloquent than any 10 younger souls. He is witty and fun and sees things that most of the rest of us look right past...again and again. When I see posts by him I make sure that I take a minute or three to read them, because it will be time well invested.
He goes by the handle Staffsknot...but I've never known why...
Thanks for your dollops of wisdom,
Z
Bionica
junior member
Alan, you are hilarious! And amazing. If I got into the pool and tried to do even a dry hair stroke, the guards would all stand at the ready since they wouldn't know whether I was swimming or flailing for my life. Now am looking at my nails to see if there are ridges..there are some indentations, but that would be from the miserable pre-op weeks! And you are walking such distances? I walked 2 blocks and back to the post office last week, and recieved 'warning' from the thigh. I think dancing works because you can sit and socialize between spurts.
Was nice to read your progression all in one spot!
Oh, and I can't figure out how to post wound photos either. Can't get them condensed small enough or something. Need a 12 year old grandchild to come help me do it.
Was nice to read your progression all in one spot!
Oh, and I can't figure out how to post wound photos either. Can't get them condensed small enough or something. Need a 12 year old grandchild to come help me do it.
VThereandnow
graduate
Thanks so much for putting all that info in one place. Of course I know each person heals at their own pace and each doctor has their own pace they want you to do things, but it is nice to be able to have some sort of comparison. I am 3 weeks out tomorrow and only got permission to use the cane in the house yesterday. Still wants me to use the walker outside and when I first get up in a.m. And at end of evening when I am fatigued?
Of course I also know that down the road my frustration level will most likely increase but for now I figure I only have one chance to heal properly, so I am going at the pace the doc wants me to, and as far as how I feel, I think it is the right pace for me. Thanks again for the info and I hope you notice progress soon. Cathy
Of course I also know that down the road my frustration level will most likely increase but for now I figure I only have one chance to heal properly, so I am going at the pace the doc wants me to, and as far as how I feel, I think it is the right pace for me. Thanks again for the info and I hope you notice progress soon. Cathy
lisanewmc
post-grad
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Thanks for your kind comments. They are truly appreciated.
To Zee and Linda. Glenys and I have lived in East Staffordshire for 45 years, though we came from Sutton, Nottinghamshire. Our adopted and almost lifelong county is Staffordshire. The Stafford Knot pops up all over the place, on banners, flags, shields. This link traces its possible origins: broken link removed: https://www.staffsmarq.freeserve.co.uk/projects/staffknot.htm
Cathy, at just three weeks in, it must seem like an awfully long time to get to where I am, but in your case, maybe it will be quite a lot quicker. Let's hope so. Try to be patient, and it will all eventually come together.
Carol and Dee, thanks for your encouragement, and let's hope it won't be too long before you are able to take up your favourite activities again. I was able to start swimming again fairly soon, but couldn't go very far without feeling exhausted. This was mainly because my freestyle stroke was rubbish, hence the lessons. If you put "Total Immersion swim" into youtube, you can get some idea of what I am aiming for. It would be great to think I could get as good as the Japanese gentleman,but, hhmmm!?...he is exceptional. Even with the short intro I have had so far, my 9 strokes per lap have already come down to 6 and a bit strokes per lap, in slow motion, so something has started to happen. Don't tell my coach, though, because he told me just to practice the moves so far. If he knew I was trying the full stroke he would be very annoyed; it should be a progression.
And, Carol, I haven't dared try dancing yet. Too much hopping.
All the best, Alan
To Zee and Linda. Glenys and I have lived in East Staffordshire for 45 years, though we came from Sutton, Nottinghamshire. Our adopted and almost lifelong county is Staffordshire. The Stafford Knot pops up all over the place, on banners, flags, shields. This link traces its possible origins: broken link removed: https://www.staffsmarq.freeserve.co.uk/projects/staffknot.htm
Cathy, at just three weeks in, it must seem like an awfully long time to get to where I am, but in your case, maybe it will be quite a lot quicker. Let's hope so. Try to be patient, and it will all eventually come together.
Carol and Dee, thanks for your encouragement, and let's hope it won't be too long before you are able to take up your favourite activities again. I was able to start swimming again fairly soon, but couldn't go very far without feeling exhausted. This was mainly because my freestyle stroke was rubbish, hence the lessons. If you put "Total Immersion swim" into youtube, you can get some idea of what I am aiming for. It would be great to think I could get as good as the Japanese gentleman,but, hhmmm!?...he is exceptional. Even with the short intro I have had so far, my 9 strokes per lap have already come down to 6 and a bit strokes per lap, in slow motion, so something has started to happen. Don't tell my coach, though, because he told me just to practice the moves so far. If he knew I was trying the full stroke he would be very annoyed; it should be a progression.
And, Carol, I haven't dared try dancing yet. Too much hopping.
All the best, Alan
Alan, I think you're doing really well!!! And, quite frankly, I never give your age a thought! My hubby is 74 and to us, that's just a number! Someone's age doesn't matter one bit to me.....it's what's between their ears and their sense of humor. And you're 100% in both those categories!!!
So....Happy One Year Four Months!!! And it's SPRING!!! Bonus!
So....Happy One Year Four Months!!! And it's SPRING!!! Bonus!
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Sorry. Tried to put a Facebook video on but got the security settings wrong. May try later.
OP
OP
staffsknot
senior
Hallo, Everybody,
If I haven't managed to show you the swimming video clip this time, I think I am going to give up. The background to it is in my One Year and Four Months report a few posts back. My coach tells me that it will get a lot better than this. I certainly hope so.
https://youtu.be/eccRhvUvUF0
All the best, Alan
If I haven't managed to show you the swimming video clip this time, I think I am going to give up. The background to it is in my One Year and Four Months report a few posts back. My coach tells me that it will get a lot better than this. I certainly hope so.
https://youtu.be/eccRhvUvUF0
All the best, Alan
haldox
post-grad
Great Vid-how cool is that!! 
Keep up the good work
Keep up the good work- Status
