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 :-)

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)

Great Report and Spasms

Today we'll eat our dessert first!  Good news, I had my first outpatient physical therapy today and my final report was that I am doing great!!!  I was told that I've been doing excellent with my home exercises and with the in-house therapy.  I had picked this particular rehab location because they have a pool and my doctor's office suggested I do aqua therapy.  I was sooo looking forward to being able to walk around in the pool.  My initial evaluation went so well that my new therapist said I am beyond aqua therapy - what???? no walking around in the pool????  First disappointment :-(   I don't have access to a swimming pool, so when I go back on Friday I am going to ask if I can get in the pool anyway even though I'm at a more advanced stage.

I acquired a few more exercises to do at home and I can drop a few of the easier ones off my list.  My new exercises are geared toward muscle strengthening of my glutes and thighs in hopes of straightening out my "knocked knees".  I swear I didn't know I was knocked knee-ed until recently.  All these years I've been walking funny and no one ever told me.  It's not like I watch myself walk.  I guess everyone thought I knew - nope, didn't know!

Now onto the part of the meal you don't want to eat - bad news . . . the therapy appointment went well and I went into work for my four hours and after about an hour those muscles I stretched with those new exercises started to spasm.  Grrrrr . . . not a good feeling.  I didn't make my four hours today.  I came home at my usual time and went straight for the warm pack on my incision and then my massaging session.  Right in the middle of using the warm pack the spasms continued so I ended up transferring the warm pack from my incision to my interior thigh muscles and was able to get some relief.  I removed the pack and ended up falling asleep and waking up almost two hours later.  That was a long nap - guess I needed it.

Now its time for my afternoon walk and before night's end I need to do some more exercises - blah!  Let's hope with no spasms.  Overall, I'm glad I got a great report!

The little things

First, I remembered to take Tylenol today and I felt better this evening. I was even able to do more of my hardest exercise - stepping up a stair bad leg first!

I nipped my finger on the trash bin at work today and have a little cut. I tell you sometimes it's the little things that bother you the most. Here I had total hip replacement and my little finger is bothering me more LOL! Well enough about my finger.

One other thing I have noticed is my wrist hurts more from time to time. I'm sure it's all the pushing/lifting my body weight. I need to hurry up and get more strength in my legs or I'm gonna need a wrist brace.

How am I progressing? Here are a few things: I'm using a cane and making steps around the house without the cane. I can now go up and down the stairs forward and not sideways I am able to lay on my surgery side while sleeping (pillows between knees/legs) for short periods of time. I can stand up non assisted from my bed - no hand support needed. I can walk a block and back without stopping. And most importantly, I can do all these things without being in pain or totally tired out. In addition to working four hours a day, I do 20 reps of my exercises at least twice a day!

I start outpatient physical therapy tomorrow and I'm looking forward to see what I'll be doing next and getting a second opinion on my progress so far. I think I'm doing well, but I definitely don't want to overdue anything and hinder my recovery in the long run.

Thanks for listening. I'm calling it a night - after my exercises of course :-)