Surgery Tuesday w McMinn

[Aerial]

I also agree on the icing.  It helps so much to minimize swelling and in doing so minimizes pain. I iced several times a day through about 2.5 weeks, especially later in the day. If you want to go through the trouble there is an automatic ice machine that you fill with water and ice.  There is pad you wrap around your hip that is secured with Velcro.  It is a great way to ice.  It is called a Polar Care Kodiak.  Dr. Gross has his patients buy one but others have done a short term rental from a medical supply store. If you freeze water in water bottles (like you would carry on a bike) and freeze water in yogurt cups, you prevent having to buy ice when you freezer can't keep up!

[hernanu]

Gotta ice Jon, the only thing to remember is to do it only for 10 to 15 minutes tops, then let your skin warm up. Don't want frostbite. Otherwise, do itas much as possible. Much better than drugs, imo.

[jon]

Thanks for all the ice input.  Will try today after a little exercise.

Day 11 post-op.  Feeling really well.

Will walk a mile or two then return to celebrating our belated Xmas with the family (kids have not missed a beat).

Off the crutches around the house and post-op flexibility almost the same as pre-op.

Docs told me to cool it a little bit.  It's a tricky balance between feeling well and going for it, and backing off and letting the healing happen on its own pace. Have to remember this is a solution for years, not months!

Happy New Year!

Jon

[Aerial]

Glad to hear that things are going well.  I am having the same problem wanting to do too much!  Be careful, you come so far and don't want to have a set back!

[jon]

Please tell me this is real...

1.5 hours on the road today at good tempo.  One crutch.

I like this a lot...

Does this turn out well?

[Aerial]

Please tell me this is real...

1.5 hours on the road today at good tempo.  One crutch.

I like this a lot...

Last time I had a sense of the road like this was in Kona...

Does this turn out this well?

Sure hope it turns out this well.  I havent enjoyed walking in a couple years, now it is actually a joy!

[jon]

Will be four weeks post-op on Tuesday.

So far, so good.

Have stuck to a conservative PT plan and dropped the long walks until restrictions lifted.

Operated hip is now almost same size as other.

Standing with both feet together for the first time in seven years.

Mobility better each day.

Went back to work right after New Years so meetings and flying a little bit of a pain (same position for too long...).

Colleagues laugh when I drop to floor and start exercises!

[hernanu]

Very cool, Jon -- sounds like you're doing the right things. Happy to see you're shocking your coworkers!

[Two4One]

Standing with both feet together for the first time in seven years. - Jon

Amazing, isn't it?  I knew my OA was gone when I first awoke post op, and my feet were pointed straight up vs. my pre op feet that lay pointed outward and flush with the bed!