Approaching Five Months

In a couple of days I will be approaching my five month hip-aversary :-)   Five months later I'm really happy that I made the decision to have the surgery.  My life is definitely better and I am continually seeing improvements every day.

To date, I continue to walk with a slight limp and on some days I don't appear to limp at all.  And as for pain/discomfort - it comes and goes and the pain is like muscle strain.  I walk as much as I can and I've been going to Zumba!  It's quite a workout, but it's supposed to be.  I'm up for anything that gets me up and about and stretching these muscles out!

I flew for the first time last month and I didn't even get stopped through the TSA checkpoint - yay!  I don't usually have a carry-on, but this trip I did.  As I walked through the terminal pulling my bag I did feel more strain in my legs than normal and I could feel myself limping a tad bit more.  But overall it was a good trip.  A couple weeks after that I took a weekend trip in the car and drove 5 hours straight with no discomfort at all!  If I would have done any of this last year, I would have been paying for it for days afterward.

I'll be in flight again on tomorrow for another trip and I'm excited about being able to fly without having to take any pills for pain and actually enjoying myself without thinking of the repercussions I may have to pay later.  This new hip is groovy!

Thanks again for keeping up with my journey and I'm looking forward to greater progress and continued good health!

Admission

3 months post-op . . . What is it that they say about admitting the truth is half the battle to your recovery - or something like that.  Well I have to admit that during the month of December I was full of holiday glee and didn't do a thing!  I had the Christmas spirit, but I didn't put up my tree, any decorations or the lights outside.  Pulling out all of the boxes from the garage seemed like too much of an exercise.  Instead, I enjoyed viewing everyone else's and sat and watched TV, sat and ate, sat at the movies and only walked when I was shopping.  And I managed to get a lot of shopping done.  All that holiday glee brought on holiday pounds and I'm ready to start the new year shaking it all off!

I did manage to get in to a few massage appointments.  I really feel that the massages helped to loosen up my lower back muscles, which helped with my tilted pelvis.  My legs don't feel uneven anymore and I'm definitely not limping as much.  I continue to see improvement in my walking.  Definitely the more I walk, the better I feel.  The doctor did give the correct orders - walk, walk walk.

I have started out the new year right with getting back into my walking routine and eating healthier.  I am looking forward to shedding the pounds and continuing to gain more mobility in my legs.   I have my follow-up doctor's appointment later today and I'll do another update.  Hopefully I'm still on track after my holiday slump.  I wanted to blog and admit my defeat before I blogged about my victory (to come)!

I'm back!

I haven't blogged in almost two weeks, but I'm back and a little stronger - mentally and physically!  If I'm not careful I'll defeat myself in thoughts before I even get going.  I've been really hard on myself the past two weeks on my recovery status. 

What's my status?!  I'm doing well.  I had my six week post operative visit last week and everything is good.  My incision is healing and I've been taken off restrictions.  I still need to listen to my body, but I'm good to start moving these muscles and get this leg moving like its supposed to.  The one thing I need to work on is my tilted pelvis (pelvic obliquity).  An issue I had prior to surgery and it will take time to get my muscles relaxed and back to normal.  That's one thing I have to realize and take in - that I didn't develop hip issues over night and my full recovery isn't going to happen over night.

I'm entering week 7 post surgery and I've been completely off the cane for full week.  The first day letting go of the cane was an adjustment, but each day I can feel myself getting stronger and firmer in my steps.  Doctors orders are to walk, walk, walk.  When standing from a seated position I am instantly stiff, but the more I do walk, the better I feel.  So I got myself a treadmill and placed it right in the living room so I can use it every day. 

I had my final physical therapy appointment today and I've met all my initial goals except the 90 degrees.  I can lift my leg from a standing position about 80 degrees, so more stretching and I'll get to the 90 degrees.  I already had a full list of exercises I have been doing and adding the walking on the treadmill.  Well she gave me about 7 more exercises that she feels will help me with my pelvic obliquity so it looks like I'm going to be a busy lady!  Maybe I can lose some more weight through all of this - I hope so!!!  Well I'm on my own through the remainder of the year, my next appointment to see the doctor is in January. 

Thanks to everyone who has been reading my experience and those who have been encouraging me with comments here and through my email - I've really appreciated it!  This isn't my swan song . . . you'll be hearing from me again soon!  Til next time :-)

Not happy . . .

I should have blogged this morning when I was feeling good, I'm not too happy right now. Today is my first day without my cane and I'm beginning to feel the effects of not having my helper. I understand my doctor telling me not to use it or I'll become dependent on it. I have about 45 minutes left in this 8 hour day, but there's work that has to be done and no one is available or willing to stay. This sucks!!! Note to self: get a letter from doctor stating maximum number of hours I can work.

Guess this is the price I have to pay for being good at my job. Rough day and it looks like its going to be a rough night - sob, sob.

Taking a break . . .

Last week it seemed like I took a break from recovery. My mind was consumed with a few of life's other twists and turns. I do need to get back on focus with my recovery. I have my 6 week check-up tomorrow and I'm hoping for a good report.

Through everything, I can say I accomplished two things: 1) I went back to work full-time and made it to through the week! 2) I slept almost straight through the night - just one wake up at 5 am!!

I'm about to start week 6 of recovery and I'm feeling better than week 5 - Thank God!!!

A few steps back / \ / \ / \

Well it looks like I've taken a few steps back.  I don't feel as well as I felt last week.  I woke up Sunday morning feeling great and by the evening I started to feel worse.  Since then I've had more discomfort and more pain when walking.  I thought I was at a point where I would be off my cane soon, but I feel like I am more dependent on using the cane.  Physical therapy has been a little more intense, but I started feeling worse before the physical therapy.  So I've been feeling a little blah and haven't been back to work a full eight hours yet.   I did speak to my doctor's office today and they confirmed that what I'm experiencing is typical recovery pains - I was reminded it has only been four weeks.  I can at least relax is knowing that nothing is wrong and now I need to mentally get more strength to make the rest of my week.  I hoping to look back on this next week and say this was my low moment. 

I'll post again on a better day.
(4 weeks post-op)

Second Gear

I knew it was too good to be true.  Everything so far in this hip replacement journey has been bearable.  Well the first week was really rough, but after that everything seemed alright.  Time for a change and it looks like I've been kicked into second gear. 

I went to bed early last nigh to wake up for a 7a.m. physical therapy appointment.  Why I made an appointment at such an ungodly time?!  I have no idea.  I believe I was thinking let me get up and get it over with and have the rest of my day to enjoy - ha!

I've been really conscious about the 90 deg. angle rule and not having my knee higher than my hip.  Maybe I've been too cautious and not moving enough, because I moved a lot today.  I started out with riding the exercise bike with no tension for 10 minutes.  I was far back enough on the bike and at an angle to where I wasn't breaking the 90 deg. angle rule, but I was definitely moving higher/more than I had been at home.  There was no pain, but I definitely felt the stretch.

While I was at the gym I pretty much walked around without my cane, so that was an effort in itself.  My next station was sideways ladder.  I walked sideways three laps up and down in a line (tape on the floor like a ladder).   The key of course is to try to walk in a straight line and I did pretty well, but I did waver here and there.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Superman!  Yep, I did an exercise like Superman.  Extending my left leg back to my toe tip and leaning forward arms outstretched like Superman.  Not as easy as it sounds - requires a lot of balance and that was just with my left (operated leg back).  You know what's next - put my right leg back and then the majority of my weight is on my left leg (operated).

Time for stairsteps.  We now know I'm knock kneed, so with every exercise I need to try to make sure my frame stays straight and try not to let my knees bow in.  Not an easy fete to do when going up and down stairs.  It was almost like I had to double concentrate - concentrate on making it up the stair and concentrate on not bending my knee inward.  Believe it or not, I actually had to concentrate more with the right knee.  When I got to the left (operated) my only issue was that my knee kept popping/creeking.  Ugh, please don't let me need knee surgery. 

Next, I moved to the bed mat and did clams.  Clams are done by me laying on my side with my knees bent (pillows in between) and raising my knee up keeping my feet together.  Not that difficult laying on my right side, but I had to switch and lay on my left - operated side.  Not the best feeling to lay on the incision on a hard mat. 

If you've ever used a total gym, I'm sure you're familiar with the exercise of laying on your back and pushing your feet off a platform as you slide you and down using your muscles.  Well I didn't get to do that easy variation.  I had to start by laying on my operated side with bended knee and right leg outstretched and pushing my right foot off the platform - 30 reps.  Definitely a little exhausting after 20 reps, but I made it to 30.  Now for the difficult part - laying on my right side with knee bent and pushing off my left leg (operated leg).  I only got to 5 reps and we stopped.  This was very difficult to do.  I definitely felt a stretch in every muscle from my knee to my glutes. 

Finally, my therapist just wanted to see me walk with my cane and see if she could give me any recommendations.  After walking about 25 steps she stopped me and said I'm swaying.  She moved me to the table and had me lay down straight and she stretched out my legs.  No surprise, my left leg (operated) is about a thumbs length longer.  This is nothing to be alarmed about.  Over time my rods (replacement) will settle and I'll be even again.  I've read about this and my doctor told me to continue to do "shimmy" exercises to assist in the settling.  My therapist was a little more alarmed, but I've called the doctor's office and confirmed I'm taking the proper steps.  Let's hope I settle soon.

All in all, I did a lot today and my therapist said I would be sore and guess what - I'm achy and sore.  I guess this is where I say "No pain, no gain"!  Resting now and up again to take a walk and do my additional exercises.  Have a good weekend!