THR zumzum to the other side

[zumzumpammy]

Hmmm, sometimes when I tag someone, my post doesn't show, is it sending as a private message? I'll try again. Thank you Poppet for the tip about the injection. My hubby had not been pinching the skin, we tried that today , in the tummy, it was much better. Still burned a little afterward, but much less pain going in.

 

[zumzumpammy]

Now for my update- day 4 (BTW, if I am posting too much, I apologize, I'm filling my time between TV, napping, and Facebook and this forum on my laptop. It also helps me to review the day for myself, making sure everything that I'm doing seems ok when I think it over)
Slept well again, surprising in that leg wedge contraption, woke a bit thru the night but didn't need to get up. Got up 7 ish, hubby brought me coffee & sliced apple, my meds, then he left for surfing- Sunday morning is his surf/coffee date with his buddies. Had a nice long chat with my brother, updated him on my surgery etc. After PT in bed, made it out to recliner around 10, when hubby got home. Nothing much, a few walks thru the house, always followed by a nap, it is just amazing to me that I can fall asleep in an instant after doing anything physical. I am humbled to see how challenging it is to do the simple exercises my therapist has prescribed. Gives me more respect and compassion for the populations that I teach that are not so able-bodied. Tomorrow morning I have PT at the therapists office, so I'll be up early to get ready for that.
Here's a question for you all- what are the best shoes for now, while I'm using the walker? I have my regular sneakers which have a good bottom, but hard to get on. Flip flops, which I usually wear when not in sneakers, I'm sure are a bad choice. I don't have any shoes that don't tie, maybe 1 pair of loafers, would those be ok? I don't want to wear anything that would be unsafe. I mostly wear flipflops when it's warm, boots when it's cold.

 

[Poppet]

So pleased the injection was better

You are definitely right about NO flip flops hon, very risky. I wore Crocs in hospital and at home and if it was cold I got hubby to put socks on with the Crocs. Don't be surprised if when you become more mobile you may need new shoes. The reason being we wear our shoes down in a certain pattern pre surgery and then post surgery when we are standing straighter and walking with a better gait our previous shoes tend to give us problems... Feet, ankles, legs even my knees hurt because of my old shoes.

I am a Crocs girl for warm weather and boots for work and colder weather...

btw, you are doing fantastically well with your recovery.. Perfect!

AND never think you are posting too much... we love you posting... Keep them coming, that is what the forum is all about. In the early days/weeks of my recovery my surgical buddies and I were firing off posts continuously.. We had so much fun

Hugs from OZ xx

 

[PDH63]

zumzumpammy that's good to hear , and ditto , I'm the type of person that likes to have things I'm blind to brought to my attention , I find it's better in the long term and I can change them if I want .

Sounds like you have some great dogs , they're great company and very loyal .
I'll probably be tempted to get a dog again , I had a German Shepherd before it got too uncomfortable to walk him but I made sure he went to a good home , friends of mine who live in the country took him . Now that I'll be out and about and back walking I'd love to get another one or maybe a Husky .

 

[PDH63]

I don't think anyone can post too much on the site , for me it's great to get all the news from people in early recovery like myself , gives me something to do and WOW my typing speed has increased so much , maybe I'm posting too much

 

[calikat]

what are the best shoes for now, while I'm using the walker?

I bought a pair of those slip on Skechers, but mostly around the house I walked barefoot with the walker. When I went outside I used crutches...or sticks as they say across the pond. <3

 

[zumzumpammy]

Thx calikat, those Skechers look good, and I am always ready for new shoes! Of course I will tell hubby that this forum said it is "required" that I add to my shoe collection Seriously, if you could see how many shoes I have, just sneakers alone take up a lot of room. Then there is the collection that I bought for $2 a pair when my friend's brother ran a women's clothing catalog company, they would take pics of the shoes then sell for $2 a pair, Clark's, Hush Puppies, Rockport,...... sorry, I drifted into shoe daydreams for a minute.:rolleyes:
But I wanted to post today about the STUPID thing I did last night, so no one does this ever. I woke up around 2;30 am needed to pee, didn't want to wake hubby, so I decide to not unstrap the Velcro/foam wedge keeping my legs immobile, I have walker and am just bringing both feet together and forward rather than walking. get to toilet, and realize I can't move R leg forward like I always do, so kind of sit sideways and manage to go, when I get back to bed I have to lift both legs at same time and it was so hard, I really strained the inner thigh! I usually bend left leg and use it to move my butt in and then the R leg follows and I only have to lift it a little, this was so stupid of me to not think it all through and realize it was not going to work. R leg was still hurting in that area when we woke up, so iced it , stayed in bed longer than I have been. When I did my PT exercises, I was not able to do the abduction, it hurt, and I was so proud that the previous day I had finally been able to do those completely on my own. usually it gets better as I am doing the PT, but today I couldn't do all the reps I have been. I'm hoping it is feeling better tomorrow. I go for my first PT appt at the PT office tomorrow morning.I'm still taking 2 oxycodone at night, 1 during day, about every 5-6 hrs. Also taking 1 Cellebrex each morning. Does that seem right for almost 1 week out?

 

[sharonslp]

Hi ZZP. At one week out, that definitely sounds right....if it's doing the job. Many of us used something like tramadol to alternate with the narcotic med during the day. At one week, I was taking 2 vicodin at night, 2 more in the morning, 2 tramadol around lunchtime and dinnertime. What's right is what works for you. If you're getting quite adequate pain relief on what you are currently taking, then it's fine. If you aren't, it needs some tweaking.

Give yourself a couple days to recover from your mishap. The general rule is that if something hurts, don't do it! So if you strained some soft tissue, and a PT exercise strains it even more, that's a clue to stop doing that exercise. Avoid it for a few days, and then try and ease back into it. But pain is a warning signal....don't ignore it, and don't try to exercise through it.

Sharon

 

[PDH63]

zumzumpammy I think we all get into situations where we feel some pain , whether it's doing PT , going for walks etc but we got to remember we're after major surgery and the body is being funny with us and protecting itself . Any time I had an irritation doing something or afterwards I ''allowed'' it , I gave it the reigns so to speak and it led me where I needed to be .
I had a couple of instances after progressing walking and PT exercises where I had irritations and slight pain and tightness in the knee , I stopped and took a rest day the day after and just rested watching tv , icing the hip and heating the knee and I'd be flying the next day . I found that by building in a rest day into the recovery every week helps , I just did my walks aroung the house every hour . Before the op I had to keep telling myself that I'm not as fit as I was , I'll be after an operation , I'll be sore and restricted and to be aware and acknwledge these things .

For me I factor my lazy days as much a big part of my recovery as all the PT days , resting is recovery .

I've seen people say on here sometimes '' I've taken two steps forward and one back ''
In my books that's progress , overall it's one step ahead .

You'll be back on track in no time our bodies let us know ''I'm tired and sore so stop now and we'll get back to it tomorrow or the day after and I'll feel a lot better''

Your fitness is a big assett and will increase your recovery rate , I gave it six weeks to walk unaided but with a few unscheduled rest days in the mix I'm still off them at five weeks . Don't worry about anyone else believe me our partners are more worried about us than we are and will give out to us saying '' why didn't you tell me '' , ''why did you do that when I was here to help '' , '' If you hurt yourself look at all the time I'll have to spend up in the hospital with you again AAAAGGGGGHHHHHH !!!!!! '' , They wouldn't say that one but it sounds good

 

[zumzumpammy]

I def agree with that last one! after my hubby got back from picking up groceries etc today, I overheard him tell one of my friends that had called "I don't know how you women do it, taking care of a family is so much work". Umm, yes dear

 

[Jamie]

Zumzum......congratulations! It sounds like you're doing just fine in recovery. I do have a question, though....did your surgeon prescribe the Celebrex? If not, I would definitely clear that with him. Many surgeons don't want you taking any NSAIDs for a while after surgery. And it's usually not a good idea to take NSAIDs when you are on blood thinners.

 

[zumzumpammy]

Yes Jamie, he had me start it the day before surgery, I was surprised too, especially since I had to quit my other AI the week before. I asked his asst at my pre-op and she said it was to help the body before surgery, to not overreact. But I'm going in tomorrow for pt (same building) so I will stop by his office just to clarify that I am still supposed to be taking it. I assumed so because the prescription was for a month supply.

 

[Jamie]

Sounds like a good plan. You are an in-control gal!!! Good for you!

 

[Butterfly]

As to shoes, I just wear running shoes (with socks --- use the sock helper to put them on). I tie the running shoes loosely so I can just shove my feet into them. This has worked out fine for me.

Peace and love to you.

 

[zumzumpammy]

Good morning BS friends! It's a beautiful day here in So Cal- we just had rain for the last 3 days. I have now been to PT twice, worked with cable machine & ankle weights, my therapist did some wonderful massage & stretching on me. I still do my home exercises 2x a day, after that strain last week everything is good again. I learned how to walk with my cane yesterday. I still feel more steady and "protected" with the walker though, but I am practicing with the cane during the day. My incision is getting very itchy under the bandages, hoping that I can get the bandages off on Monday when I see my OS for the first time since surgery. Got a little cabin fever last night. our son was in town for a couple days, so we took him , his buddy, and our daughter out for dinner at our fav fish place, our best friend couple met us, was very nice to get out, but it takes a lot to maneuver around in public! I have a whole new appreciation for those that do it all the time. It was a nice evening but I was totally ready for bed when we got home. Only problem with going to bed earlier than I normally do is inevitable potty -break a few hours in, then body getting sore from being contained in the foam wedge for so long. If I also have a hot flash, even more annoyance. I haven't yet, but wondering if I should just stay up after potty break and be in a different position for awhile? Hubby can now attach and detach my Velcro straps almost in his sleep and he goes back to sleep right away, but I am sometimes awake an hour or more after getting back in bed.
Today my plans include a walk outside! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

 

[MountainGirl]

Hi, zumzumpammy ! Great to see you doing so very well post-surgery! I am very happily medicating myself on schedule here so as to not fall behind on pain control, so my thoughts are a little fuzzy (it's okay to laugh at me-- I am doing the same!), but it seems that your schedule looks very reasonable . Just for the record, I too try to find other things to do once I am up to use the restroom so as to not immediately resume my default position. Maybe we won't sweat that once we're a few more weeks out. $2 shoes? I would gladly give up my barefoot habit were I to have a deal like that available! Try lots at that price and report back to us!

Continued good wishes to you from the state to your North!

 

[PDH63]

zumzumpammy your doing great , sounds like recovery is no struggle .
I know what you mean about going to bed early and the toilet breaks , and ye I used to just get up when I woke like you I'd stay in bed but got fed up of that .
I think , reading peoples' stories , that recovery is like that and just go with the flow , if your body is tired sleep and if not don't , I got into a more regular sleep pattern as time passed .
Your pre op fitness is showing through now and in no time you'll be back training and gently get back into it .
I'm jealous , we're getting frost here , I was down Venice Beach end of December 1999 in a T-shirt , the sun was shining but everyone was staring at me , it was like a Summer's day to an Irishman .

 

[zumzumpammy]

Hi BS friends! Today is 12 days post-surgery. I saw my OS surgeon today, the bandage was taken off. According to OS and MA incision looks good, he wanted to recover it just to let it heal longer and mostly to protect it from rubbing on clothing. I'll keep going to PT twice a week, doing exercises at home, and he wants me to be off my walker /cane in 2 weeks. That seems quick to me! I don't have to keep the wedge strapped at night unless I want to, a long pillow between my legs will be another option. I will see OS again the week before Christmas. They were all very enthusiastic about how I was moving and looking, which made me happy, I have been feeling like my walking & gait is really off and more so when I use the cane.
Question: is it weird to ask for copies of my X-rays? I have the before, would like a copy of the new hip.

 

[PDH63]

I took a photo of my X-ray in the room when they brought it up on the computer screen , looks amazing .
After the OS was finished with it he handed it to me and said it was mine to keep , I reckon everything is on computer anyway . I also have the before and now the after

 

[zumzumpammy]

Day 13- slept with just a king-size pillow between my legs, I didn't roll or cross my legs, it felt better than being strapped into the wedge, but I was definitely nervous about not being restrained. Took 1 pain pill at 11 when I went to bed, woke at 4 for bathroom, decided to not take another pain pill and see how I would do, and was fine. Really feeling like I "turned the corner" today, as far as feeling better overall, , more balanced, not afraid of moving. So went to Costco with hubby- this is 2 days before Thanksgiving- and for those of you across the pond, Costco is a giant warehouse store w/food, furniture, actually anything you can imagine, all good quality & good prices. Hubby gets me an electric scooter cart to follow him in. We are complete opposites, he is an engineer, practical, risk-taker. I'm a rule-follower, free spirit, head in the clouds at times. Anyway, me in this scooter was not good- I was so nervous steering it, people would just cut right in front of me, I can't believe they weren't worried I would crash into them (I came close) And also I was worried I would hit the massive displays of wine and other glass bottles. We were in and out in about 30 min, but then I left the turkey shopping to him when we stopped at the supermarket after. So that was a busy day! Now resting in recliner, little dog next to me, and posting away Every day is a learning experience, and I feel so lucky to have my BS friends to check in with. BTW PDH63, I have found a new series to watch, on Netflix, called "Top of the Lake", takes place in New Zealand- very intriguing.