THR Two Years Post THR and Life is Great!
- Thread starter Granny Di
- Start date
United States
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Granny Di
senior
@sunbunny - my excellent physio uses a large protractor like ruler to measure the angles and I had improved on everything after my 2nd visit. It is so inspiring (I need that) to hear "You were 13 degrees at week 3 and now you are 19 degrees." I have only been to see her twice -I do the exercises when I can - not if I am too tired or sore and she says never do it if there is pain. I have a retrolisthesis and the opposite plus a little scoliosis from favouring the rt hip. I have to remind myself that I can't lift heavy things anymore and sometimes I forget.
Have a good day!
Have a good day!
OP
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Granny Di
senior
Yesterday was a rest day - no physio exercises or walks - although we did go looking for trees as our apple tree has died after a bear broke the main branches trying to have an apple feast.
I was feeling down and impatient yesterday -got out my mtn bike and was afraid to try it -scared of falling on my new hip and hubby wasn't into running alongside to catch me if I did fall. Later he gave me a pep talk and I realized that he has kept me from having melt downs during this lengthy illness.
He said I had to keep things in perspective -I had been sitting doing nothing for 5 months so my muscles are weak and I can't expect to be back where I was fitness-wise only 2 months after surgery. Now if I can only get him to run along beside me while I try my bike today.
I was feeling down and impatient yesterday -got out my mtn bike and was afraid to try it -scared of falling on my new hip and hubby wasn't into running alongside to catch me if I did fall. Later he gave me a pep talk and I realized that he has kept me from having melt downs during this lengthy illness.
He said I had to keep things in perspective -I had been sitting doing nothing for 5 months so my muscles are weak and I can't expect to be back where I was fitness-wise only 2 months after surgery. Now if I can only get him to run along beside me while I try my bike today.
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Extra potato for that super man of yours @Granny Di - you and I are both so lucky to have such caring 'travelling companions'!!! (watching Dr Who this week, getting with the lingo). Just can't imagine you melting down, but of course it can happen to us all. Like the sound of apple tree shopping and rest day!
I wanted to ask someone about the bike thing - I usually ride a bike everywhere in town (no mountains or even slight rises...), but my husband has also been a tad nervous about letting me get it out.
Does anyone know what is recommended re bikes post op?
I wanted to ask someone about the bike thing - I usually ride a bike everywhere in town (no mountains or even slight rises...), but my husband has also been a tad nervous about letting me get it out.
Does anyone know what is recommended re bikes post op?
OP
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Granny Di
senior
@Great Aunt Janet - I think it is the fall that will harm and not the riding. 
My OS said biking was doable -I just think I am not ready yet.
My steri strip trail wouldn't have led to any gingerbread house as they fell off the first night. You and Sunbunny make my day!
My OS said biking was doable -I just think I am not ready yet.
My steri strip trail wouldn't have led to any gingerbread house as they fell off the first night. You and Sunbunny make my day!
OP
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Granny Di
senior
May 20 Update - Week 9 post op
It is my 69th birthday today and I am enjoying bird watching and photographing some of the new of species that have arrived with the spring migration. Our warm 24 C weekend became snow yesterday and the birds were hungry. I managed a 40 minute stroll (2km? ) and the biggest complaint I have is that a tendon is snapping on my "good" hip on every step. It becomes unpleasant after a while. I just carried my camera - no poles/sticks. I'm doing the stretch/strength exercises prescribed when I haven't done too much housework stuff. We moved into our cottage for the summer and I was too tired to do the exercises. Still haven't had the nerve to try my bike especially in the snow! All in all I have a pretty darn good life!
It is my 69th birthday today and I am enjoying bird watching and photographing some of the new of species that have arrived with the spring migration. Our warm 24 C weekend became snow yesterday and the birds were hungry. I managed a 40 minute stroll (2km? ) and the biggest complaint I have is that a tendon is snapping on my "good" hip on every step. It becomes unpleasant after a while. I just carried my camera - no poles/sticks. I'm doing the stretch/strength exercises prescribed when I haven't done too much housework stuff. We moved into our cottage for the summer and I was too tired to do the exercises. Still haven't had the nerve to try my bike especially in the snow! All in all I have a pretty darn good life!
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copsham
post-grad
Hi @Granny Di
Lovely photo similar to our views in Buckinghamshire UK but without the snow. We moved in 9 months ago when my hip was at its worst. it was very frustrating. It was a lovely place to recover in Jan/Feb 2015 and now I can get back to being my "old self". I love the meadows, wild flowers and birds around us and now i can go for walks. So grateful that my hip replacement was successful.
Lovely photo similar to our views in Buckinghamshire UK but without the snow. We moved in 9 months ago when my hip was at its worst. it was very frustrating. It was a lovely place to recover in Jan/Feb 2015 and now I can get back to being my "old self". I love the meadows, wild flowers and birds around us and now i can go for walks. So grateful that my hip replacement was successful.
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Many happy ones for the 20th Di - me on 21st! Bad news about the snow coming back and the tendon too, sounds uncomfortable, especially now when you want to get out there and walk! I hope you can stretch it out or get some advice about it from the good sorts on here.
I nearly killed myself yesterday after work, shopping and cleaning house (visitors coming! in-laws!) and realised that yes, I do still have to take things a bit slower. So after your move, just relaxxxxx!
I nearly killed myself yesterday after work, shopping and cleaning house (visitors coming! in-laws!) and realised that yes, I do still have to take things a bit slower. So after your move, just relaxxxxx!
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Granny Di
senior
@Great Aunt Janet -So we are almost exactly 10 years apart in age. That's why you have so much energy -working, shopping and cleaning! You are amazing!
Quiet day here today - no visitors so it was a relaxing day. You will have to put your in-laws to work for you. Exaggerate the pain - have a relapse - get waited on!
Quiet day here today - no visitors so it was a relaxing day. You will have to put your in-laws to work for you. Exaggerate the pain - have a relapse - get waited on!
OP
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Granny Di
senior
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Hope I'm as quick as you in 10 years @Granny Di - great idea about the relapse!!!!
OP
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Granny Di
senior
@Great Aunt Janet - I hope you are quick at 69 too -and agile, pain free, and just as funny.
Update for my records: 4.1 km with Nordic walking poles in 48 minutes. Tendon wasn't snapping in good leg so that was a bonus. Op hip didn't hurt at all but good hip does hurt. Still hard to bend to pick up stuff -stiffness needs work.
I have seen 25 different bird species in the last three days at our cottage. I love it here -even though it is 0 C.
Update for my records: 4.1 km with Nordic walking poles in 48 minutes. Tendon wasn't snapping in good leg so that was a bonus. Op hip didn't hurt at all but good hip does hurt. Still hard to bend to pick up stuff -stiffness needs work.
I have seen 25 different bird species in the last three days at our cottage. I love it here -even though it is 0 C.
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Great Aunt Janet
senior
Mmm, must be why my pants size has gone up too! That titanium thingie must be huge.
Birch pollen is giving me full blown cold symptoms if I go outside -makes me very tired - so I am staying in. I can FINALLY get out walking and pollen attacks. Meds don't help either. 
@Granny Di I'm on Cape Cod and the pollen has been swirling since Friday. I had been sitting out in the sunshine taking in the rays for a few days. Then Friday morning I woke up and turned my head and the room spun! I had that sensation for 3 mornings, having to move slowly, keep my head up, and get up to start the day for it to clear. And I felt that very tired feeling! So, I too am staying indoors. I am taking 24hr Claritin allergy and after 3 days I have no vertigo but plan to stay indoors until the next downpour. I'm looking forward to my OS followup appointment and don't want to be spinning!
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Granny Di
senior
@wcgirl - This is the first summer in 5 years that I have been bothered by the pollen. Strange!
The water level in our little Kettle Lake is at record highs and we saw on the news that there are droughts everywhere int he world. Not here! The water is a breeding ground for mosquitos so the pollen AND the bugs will keep me indoors for a while. I haven't been to Cape Cod but I know it is a beautiful part of the world. Lucky you to live there!
The water level in our little Kettle Lake is at record highs and we saw on the news that there are droughts everywhere int he world. Not here! The water is a breeding ground for mosquitos so the pollen AND the bugs will keep me indoors for a while. I haven't been to Cape Cod but I know it is a beautiful part of the world. Lucky you to live there!
OP
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Granny Di
senior
End of week 10 Report: I got on my mountain bike for the first time and survived!
I had planned to ride sooner but rain, pollen, black flies and other excuses delayed my venturing out. My bike shoes attach to the pedals and if I met a bear would I be able to get off the bike quickly and get the bear spray out? What scared me was not knowing if my leg would work if I had to stand up? Sitting the old legs worked fine as I have been on the stationary bike.
We are at the cottage now with sand roads and sometimes one has to stand to power through the soft sand. I did it but I did have loose leggy sort of wonky around the knee feeling. It should strengthen with more biking...I hope. Well I am not scared anymore! Man was I puffing though -I have lost so much cardio fitness after sitting for 5 months.
Visited the PT yesterday and she needled me and gave me a stretch that should get rid of the tendon snapping. My glute muscles are tight on my "good" side so she conjectured that the tendon was too loose for the tight muscles -hence the snapping which became painful after a bit of walking. She measured my ROM and says I have improved in all areas so that cheered me up. I was feeling pretty down...thinking my active lifestyle is over....I am having so much back pain. It is so easy to let the negative self talk take over but I am only at week 10 after all and 69 years old. Great Aunt Janet inspired me to get on the bike. Love this forum and the people on it.
I had planned to ride sooner but rain, pollen, black flies and other excuses delayed my venturing out. My bike shoes attach to the pedals and if I met a bear would I be able to get off the bike quickly and get the bear spray out? What scared me was not knowing if my leg would work if I had to stand up? Sitting the old legs worked fine as I have been on the stationary bike.
We are at the cottage now with sand roads and sometimes one has to stand to power through the soft sand. I did it but I did have loose leggy sort of wonky around the knee feeling. It should strengthen with more biking...I hope. Well I am not scared anymore! Man was I puffing though -I have lost so much cardio fitness after sitting for 5 months.
Visited the PT yesterday and she needled me and gave me a stretch that should get rid of the tendon snapping. My glute muscles are tight on my "good" side so she conjectured that the tendon was too loose for the tight muscles -hence the snapping which became painful after a bit of walking. She measured my ROM and says I have improved in all areas so that cheered me up. I was feeling pretty down...thinking my active lifestyle is over....I am having so much back pain. It is so easy to let the negative self talk take over but I am only at week 10 after all and 69 years old. Great Aunt Janet inspired me to get on the bike. Love this forum and the people on it.
Hello @Granny Di I have been getting used to the cane the last few days and trying to pay attention to my posture. PT tells me to push pelvis out, exaggerate my step by lifting my knee, and make sure feet are shoulder distance apart. I feel like I'm walking like a duck soldier! I too have been feeling sore but in my operated hip and random places after 15 minutes. Just tried again slowly paying attention to pelvis and feet and it was much better. I guess we'll work it out eventually. Thank goodness for those mantras. Hope the other hip will be okay!
