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Day 12

Posted , 10 users are following.

cindy48619
cindy48619

Good morning to my fellow hippies. I just want to give you an update on my progress. It is day 12 and I feel that things are going very well. I do all of my excercises quite a few times  day. I forget to use my cane and/or walker because I am able to walk ok. I keep telling my daughters that I "forget" to use the walker/cane. They laugh because the truth is that I leave it right next to my bed and have to physically move the walker out of my way to get up! I have a very strong limp and definitly walk crooked. The physical therapist will be working with me on that this week!. I am able to get up and down the 15 steps to my apartment but I only do it when there is someone here to stay with me. I am getting rather bored but if that is the worst thing happening I will take it. My daughter brough over coloring books and fine tip markers so I can color. She also brought over "happy music" and awesome food for me. I have at least one visitor per day who stays for a meal. I will be going out for my first car ride on Tuesday. My staples also come out on Tuesday and my cat comes home that night.

Does anyone have any thoughts on what I should watch out for with my cat.

Love to you all - Cindy

2 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • AnnieK
    AnnieK cindy48619

    Posted

    Glad you are feeling so well, Cindy! I would caution you, however, on walking unaided with a limp. I was told not to walk unaided if I had a limp, for several reasons. First, you can hurt the other parts of your body that are overcompensating for the weakness in your surgical leg. When I tried it, I got pains in my back, then my other knee and ankle were hurting. Second, you may even be delaying the healing in your surgical leg as you give it more work than it can do, or even causing more harm.

    Sorry to be a wet blanket about this, but going slowly and steadily is always a good idea, and trying to push through disability at this very early stage can do damage.

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 AnnieK

      Posted

      YAY!!! THANK YOU so much Annie. Thats exactly why I posted the question... because I needed to be advised of the right thing to do. I will get back into the habit of using my walker as of this moment. Thank you so much for saving me from making an unhealthy mistake!
    • CelsB
      CelsB cindy48619

      Posted

      I'm with Annie here.  I can walk without my crutches and limp but I won't.  I can walk upright with them, no limp and barely putting any weight on my crutches but they are there for balance.  I admit to sometimes walking off without them when I'm not thinking but my limp soon reminds me.  I had this surgery to get rid of my limp and my pain and to learn to walk properly again.

      Cels x

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK cindy48619

      Posted

      You are SO welcome, Cindy! Using your walker will keep your walking muscles exercised, but without hurting the muscles that are still tender and healing from the onslaught of what they went through in THR. When you have PT, don't do anything that hurts, and don't try to be a hero. At this stage, rest is the best thing you can do. You'll get plenty of exercise just moving when you have to move. My new orthopedic surgeon (who will be doing my gluteal tendon repairs) has very conservative PT recommendations - no straight leg raises, squats or lunges for the first 3 months, and no agressive stretching either. Everything he recommends is very gentle for the first couple of months. It is easy to tear tendons, like I did.
    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 CelsB

      Posted

      Thank you Cels, I will definitly be more mindful of what I am doing. I agree, I had this surgery to get better. I have no intention of doing anything that might put me back in the hosptial for repair smile I followed your posts from right before your surgery as you are a few weeks ahead of me. You have truly helped me. Thank you

       

    • CelsB
      CelsB cindy48619

      Posted

      That's what we're here for Cindy, to help each other.  And there I was on another thread saying my sleep patterns seem to have levelled out and here I am, after 2 hours sleep, wishing I'd kept my mouth shut lol rolleyes
  • annie.conway
    annie.conway cindy48619

    Posted

    Why is it that some people say exercise and others say no, walk only?? Because everyone tells me to take it slowly, I've really tried to. But if I take it any slower I'll be comatose LOL.

    So glad things are working so well for you, Cindy! Keep up the good work!

    • AnnieK
      AnnieK annie.conway

      Posted

      The main point is that the muscles/tendons/nerves/soft tissue/bone that were twisted, stretched and possibly cut during a THR are not healthy. They are damaged and traumatized and they need to heal. After they are healed, then they can get stronger. Sure, there is healthy tissue in there, too, alongside the hurt tissue, but you can't exercise one without also exercising the other. So you just rest everything as much as you can for the first month or two, and then you can carefully, slowly start strengthening, if you wish. I have OFTEN seen on this forum and others when people push too hard too soon, and sometimes they have very negative experiences with new injuries or prolonging healing. 

      You, of course, are free to accept the advice of whichever professional you trust the most. Walking does exercise your walking muscles, and walking too much too soon can do damage, too. 

      There must be a middle ground between being comatose and overdoing things!

    • annie.conway
      annie.conway AnnieK

      Posted

      That's probably what happened to me and my right hip. It was so mobile and strong that I possibly used it in ways I shouldn't have. Now it's not improving, despite me taking it extremely easy and icing it.....
  • kersty35579
    kersty35579 cindy48619

    Posted

    I have 5 cats and the biggest thing I have with them is them lying in my way, mainly on the stairs. Other than that they haven't caused me any problems! 😄
  • EAP26437
    EAP26437 cindy48619

    Posted

    Morning Cindy.

    Its day 14 for me smile.  I agree with my fellow hippies - if you are limping and not able to stand upright you need the extra support of the walking aids.  Then you can practise correct walking.  ALthough for myself I'm not using anything ( no limp) doing my hip exercises ( as prescribed by my physio and surgeon) 3 times a day and walking about 2kms 3 times a day.  I so agree with being bored.  I'm doing suduko puzzles, reading a book a day, and I decided to start sewing yesterday.  Re your cat - it all depends how smoochy it is.  You might want to use a stick in the house again cause you don't want your legs smooched out from under you.

    Take care.

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 EAP26437

      Posted

      Thank you! I needed to be reminded of the right thing to do.

       

    • CelsB
      CelsB EAP26437

      Posted

      Did you have a posterior approach EAP?  If so you're doing incredibly well being able to walk with no limp at day 14.  If I concentrate and walk very slowly my limp is quite small, but my hip still drops at the end of my step with my op leg and I'm 4 1/2 weeks post op.  I can walk well with my crutches though x
    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 CelsB

      Posted

      Hi Cels. Yes I had the posterior approach. I must have miswritten, I definitly still have a limp, very much so. I don't have a lot of pain and it feels like I just have to re-train myself to walk correctly. My balance is pretty good so I think my mind is just protecting my hip/leg which is why my limp is still prominent. My physical therapist said we will work this week on putting more pressure on the operated leg
  • susyp
    susyp cindy48619

    Posted

    Hi Cindy.

    I have an indoor cat he has been with me since day 1. You have to watch your cat doesn't trip you up on the stairs, mine sets of up or down the stairs soon as I do . I now wait for him to go.

    He also has a habit on jumping from the window sill on to my bed so I've locked him out at night.

    Apart from that everything us fine. I've learnt to feed him using my grabber it was tricky at 1st.

    I bought myself a high seated chair for after my operation which he claimed straight away. As soon as I get up he gets in it. They are funny but I think he senses something as he is always wanting affection from me.

    Take care

    Sue x

    • cindy48619
      cindy48619 susyp

      Posted

      Hi Sue, I hear lots of love in your message. I am glad I had Ali stay with friends for the first two weeks. I can't wait to see her tomorrow... she is good medicine for me . I appreciate your input on how to make sure I keep myself safe. Thank you@  -  Cindy
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