(kind of like... besides that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play?  ::))

LOL, Everything else seems ok. Fever has not come back, I am tolerating the meds ok, pain is under control, still a little swelling on my leg and at the incision but that is to be expected because of the blood thinners. I am still walking with a walker and still have the restrictions for another two weeks. Can't wait to be able to sit without pain, take a long shower, drive my car, and just plain be normal again.

Regarding your #2 issue...lot's of Raisin Bran and whole prunes was the thing that set me right.

I love rasin bran! I grew up on that ceral so you bet I am going to get some of that ASAP, thanks!!

Sounds like you are on the road to recovery. Hope it goes smoothly and easily for you from here on out.

Luanna

thanks Luanna :)

Hi guys,

I finally started my "in patient physical therapy" where a physical therapist comes over my house and works on some exercises with me. Yesterday was my first day. She checked me out first and I am happy to report that my elevated heart rate has finally come down. Yesterday it was at 70 beats per minute at rest and not the usual 101! My leg is still swelling quite a bit but other than that and a little pain at the hip everything seems much better. I am also able to walk without the walker or a cane but I have a really bad limp as the hip is really tight. The physical therapist told me that it was an indication to her that the muscle that connects from my waist to the hip bone is weak and that is normal for that type of surgery since they had to go through there to fix my problem. I find myself smiling more now and at the little things like being able to sit comfortably while eating dinner or just being able to step outside the house and in the sun for a little while, really nice :).

That's great kajubones, you're on the right track now  ;D.

Sounds like you're farther ahead on strength, but the tightness is working against you. It'll ease away as you work on the PT. You'll start to see improvement, just enjoy and be patient; it'll come. The swelling is normal, ice and ice and movement is what gets that gone. I'd use the cane as much as possible, to let that gait work itself out well. You deserve a good outcome on it.

Real happy you're over the hump and just another hard working hippy now.

Thanks Hernanu :). Like you said, I am getting there but slowly. My next appointment with my Ortho is this coming friday the 18th. I hope I can start working on getting off of these pain killers. I guess the next two long term goals is being able to drive and getting back to work.

By the way I asked my Pt about being able to sleep sideways and she did show me how to do that pillow between the legs thing. I was so happy to get off of my tail bone! Unfortunately I cannot stay in the position for too long because the hip starts to hurt, I think it is from the tightness. I have to talk to her about that to make sure I am doing it safely. I think my five weeks is up already so my Ortho should be lifting the restrictions soon.

I think it took me longer to sleep on my side, but everyone is different. Good news though.

Today was my first day for out patient physical therapy. Everything was good except when the therapist was assessing my muscle strength. He had me press my thighs inward against his pushing and I felt this incredible pain at the hip socket! I was afraid that I dislocated my hip for a second. I was told before that if I felt pain on the outside part of my hip that it was the muscle and that if I felt it on the inside on the leg like near the groin that is the hip socket itself.

Anyway, Everything else was good and I am going to go by the dojo tonight to visit my friends (kind of also to motivate myself to stretch and work out my hip so that I can go back and train.

Hey kajubones, how's the recuperation going?

Hi kajubones,
How was going to the dojo? Hope you are doing well and recovery is going smoothly for you now.

Luanna

Hi guys,

Sorry I have not been on here for a while. I have been struggling through physical therapy and going back to work. Walking is still a bit painful but on my un-operated side. I am hoping it is just because I am still limping. Physical therapy has been slow and painful as my muscles are really weak and some of the exercises are difficult for me right now. This Friday I had a scary episode in the shower where I felt really weak and out of breath. I informed the doctor right away and he called me personally on my cell phone to check up on me! He assured me that my Cumadin levels were good so he does not think it is another blood clot and told me to watch out for racing heart beat and cold sweats on top of the difficulty breathing. He said if it persists to go to emergency. The rest of my Friday was uneventful though and I got to leave early from work because of the Holiday, Yay! I have not been back to the dojo to work out just to see my friends and grandmaster. I am afraid to walk through that door because grandmaster will try to get me to do something and I do not think I am ready yet.

I hope your holidays have been great. hope to talk to you guys later.

Kajubones (Harold)

Good to hear, Harold... Given the troubles you had, this is good progress. I wouldn't worry about the strength, that will come. Good that you're back on, I still had a limp at three months, not bad, just slight but I felt it. It might be good to bring the cane back into play if you need a break for a couple of days.

Good to hear from you, I'd stay back from the dojo until you're ready - it will be a bit.

Hey Hernanu,

Thanks, you guys have been great especially with all that I have been through. I heard about this guy recently at ranch 99 supermarket in Daly City and he is thinking of having the surgery as well. I gave his daughters some info and directed them to resurface hippie. I hope he gets on here so he can ask his questions and get the same support that I had.

As far as the dojo I have been keeping away but I might be visiting next week just to see my friends. I really want to get back and this time I want to do things slow. I love the martial arts and I hope to be doing it for the rest of my life, I hope.

Kajubones (Harold)

You will Harold, just give it time. You'll be there

 :) thanks

I went to the Dojo this past Tuesday to stretch out in the back but got pulled into trying to practice a little. Anyway, the next day I was so sore. I could not do much on the mat and all of the regular stuff that I used to do was beyond my capabilities now :(. If that was not depressing enough on Friday I suddenly had a hard time walking because now my unoperated hip started to bother me. It was strange because it did not really bother me...oh wait, maybe it did bother me after I worked out! I could not tell because I was so sore all over. Just worried that it might also have worn out like the other one. I at least wanted a year or two in between surgeries. :(

Hope your soreness is lessening by now. I am having to take everything really easy right now as well. But - taking it very, very slowly seems to be the best approach for me.

Take care and keep posting.

Luanna

Hi Luanna,

The soreness seems to have gone at least from the rest of by body anyway. My left hip has been bothering me all week-end though. I had to take some painkillers because it hurt a lot. I will take it slowly but I fear that my left side is giving out as well :(.

Just take it easy for a bit, see if that clears up. One thing I did when I did my exercises with one HR, I would do the same exercises on both sides, since that would not only benefit the operated side, but the other side as well. You may have some weakness on that side that is being strained now that the operated side is getting stronger.

Hi Hernanu,

Yeah, I think slow and methodical is the way to go. strengthening both sides sounds like a great idea. I think losing some more weight might help as well, it is just so hard to do that because working out was the only way I was able to keep the weight down before.