I have lost count how many weeks post-op I am-that in itself must be a good sign!!
I think I am 15 weeks post-op.
The last couple of weeks have been full of ups and downs. One day I think I am doing well, only the next I have wished I had had a replacement instead! I have had a few issues with hip flexor problems/tendonitis. I haven't had much help from my physio, and even when I told her which exercises were making it worse, she just gave me a variation of the same one! I have been gradually increasing my activity, with that came more pain and soreness from the bone cuts.
Last week I started at the gym. I have been doing the cross trainer, the bike and the treadmill, also upper body weights and swimming. This has all helped the strength in my hip tremendously, and my physio has agreed to let me carry on on my own over the next four weeks. I will see her again, hopefully for one final time, after I have seen Mr Witt.
Today I took my daughter for a look around a University. It was quite a long day, about an hours drive each way, plus lots of walking around, stairs and on/off buses etc. I took some NSAIDS and paras before leaving home as I was a little sore anyway, and didn't want to be slowed down for the day. We had a few opportunities to sit down during the day, so it was better than I expected. I suddenly realised something at teatime... Although my quads, glutes and back were all sore (muscle only),and I had had a few hip flexor moments getting up into the buses, I realised for the first time in YEARS........................ I HAD NO HIP PAIN!!
I can't believe it, sometime during the day, I forgot about my hip, and only remembered when I noticed that it didn't hurt! Hours later , it still doesn't!! Yes I am a bit muscle sore, but today is the first time my joint has felt normal! Its amazing!! Lol!!
So 15 weeks on, I can say, for the first time , I am 100% glad I have had this surgery.
Things can only get better now, and hopefully the good days will continue to outweigh the bad ones.
I am back to work in just over a week, and today, for the first time, I feel ready.
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Thursday, 13 August 2009
3 Months post-op!
Three months post-op already, the time has flown, but at the same time that nerve wracking day in May seems an age away.
I am now about where I expected to be at this point. I have very little pain in the joint itself, and certainly the pre-op dysplasia pain has disappeared. My walking is about at the same level as it was pre-op, perhaps better , as I know I can walk around supermarkets without my leg suddenly giving way, and the horrible feeling of instability that was always present and made me wary of every step I took. Now my joint is still a bit weak, I limp for the majority of the time,but I know that is improving daily, and I would rather have that than the pre-op pain that was getting worse daily. I still have some butt pain, and the muscles get tired when I have been on my feet for too long, but nothing that I can't handle. I think the worst thing I am dealing with now is the soreness and weakness at the front of my hip where the Rectus Femoris tendon was cut to allow access into my pelvis. I still find it gets sore very easily especially when going upstairs, driving and walking uphill. It is a balance between doing these activities and the physio exercises to improve it, and not overdoing things and causing a flare up. I am returning to work in two weeks, and although I am looking forward to things finally getting back to normal, I am also terrified at the thought of having to stand and walk around all day. I am sure it won't be as bad as I imagine though.
I have just returned from a week away, a last minute decision as we didn't book a holiday this year due to the PAO. We had a fantastic time, weather was glorious, and I was able to swim and canoe in the lake, and go for short walks each day in between lots of rest and relaxation. My hip didn't spoil things too much, in fact some days it felt better than the left one (Mmmm, bit concerned about that!), I was limited in what I could do, but obviously I knew that before we went and the change of scenery did us all good.
Physio is still going well. I am there once a week. Today I increased the resistance with the bike and the hamstring curls,my regular physio was on holiday this week so the assistant just followed her programme and didn't add anything extra. I am definitely feeling it now so I have obviously done enough. I am hoping to arrange a gym membership this week so I can swim more, and do the cross trainer as well.
I am now about where I expected to be at this point. I have very little pain in the joint itself, and certainly the pre-op dysplasia pain has disappeared. My walking is about at the same level as it was pre-op, perhaps better , as I know I can walk around supermarkets without my leg suddenly giving way, and the horrible feeling of instability that was always present and made me wary of every step I took. Now my joint is still a bit weak, I limp for the majority of the time,but I know that is improving daily, and I would rather have that than the pre-op pain that was getting worse daily. I still have some butt pain, and the muscles get tired when I have been on my feet for too long, but nothing that I can't handle. I think the worst thing I am dealing with now is the soreness and weakness at the front of my hip where the Rectus Femoris tendon was cut to allow access into my pelvis. I still find it gets sore very easily especially when going upstairs, driving and walking uphill. It is a balance between doing these activities and the physio exercises to improve it, and not overdoing things and causing a flare up. I am returning to work in two weeks, and although I am looking forward to things finally getting back to normal, I am also terrified at the thought of having to stand and walk around all day. I am sure it won't be as bad as I imagine though.
I have just returned from a week away, a last minute decision as we didn't book a holiday this year due to the PAO. We had a fantastic time, weather was glorious, and I was able to swim and canoe in the lake, and go for short walks each day in between lots of rest and relaxation. My hip didn't spoil things too much, in fact some days it felt better than the left one (Mmmm, bit concerned about that!), I was limited in what I could do, but obviously I knew that before we went and the change of scenery did us all good.
Physio is still going well. I am there once a week. Today I increased the resistance with the bike and the hamstring curls,my regular physio was on holiday this week so the assistant just followed her programme and didn't add anything extra. I am definitely feeling it now so I have obviously done enough. I am hoping to arrange a gym membership this week so I can swim more, and do the cross trainer as well.
Wednesday, 29 July 2009
11 weeks- small improvements!
I really enjoyed yesterdays physio session. I got to go on the exercise bike with some resisitance, the stepper, and a stair box to practise going up and down steps. I also did some more exercises including squats and hamstring ones with weights.I even managed to break into a sweat-was surprised how unfit I have become!! This has given me loads of things to practise at home. Some of the exercises I have been doing are getting a bit easier so I have added ankle weights to those, she changed my theraband to a more resistant one and I dug out my old gym ball and have done lots of new exercises on that too. Next week hopefully we can add the treadmill. She told me to go home and take it easy, but being me I went out and walked the dog for an hour instead. I am using a walking stick outside now instead of the crutch, which is just enough to stop me lurching,and definitely uses the muscles more than a crutch. I am hoping to ditch that in a day or two, so next week, by 12 weeks post op I am aiming to be off all aids then can just increase the time and distance.
I was sore after everything I did yesterday, and today have the old 'pain in the butt' back, but am resigned now that that's the way things will be every time I increase something.
New trick of the week-walking up and downstairs normally, leading with alternate legs instead of the same one first all the time. Great excitement at that,lol, ( small things , small minds I know:) ) I still need to hang on to the rail but I am sure now I can do it, that will soon improve. I spent 10mins today going up and down a step to practise, hopefully nobody was watching through the window!
Goals for this week-go out biking at some point if the rain stops long enough, start swimming regularly (only just got the go ahead for this, I know lots of you do it much earlier) and ditch the walking stick.
I was sore after everything I did yesterday, and today have the old 'pain in the butt' back, but am resigned now that that's the way things will be every time I increase something.
New trick of the week-walking up and downstairs normally, leading with alternate legs instead of the same one first all the time. Great excitement at that,lol, ( small things , small minds I know:) ) I still need to hang on to the rail but I am sure now I can do it, that will soon improve. I spent 10mins today going up and down a step to practise, hopefully nobody was watching through the window!
Goals for this week-go out biking at some point if the rain stops long enough, start swimming regularly (only just got the go ahead for this, I know lots of you do it much earlier) and ditch the walking stick.
Tuesday, 21 July 2009
Emotional Rollercoaster
Ten weeks post-op.
Recovery from a PAO is such a test of patience. Over this last week I have experienced every emotion possible. Joy from being able to do the little things that we would normally take for granted, and frustration at not being able to do more.
I am progressing when I look back to what I could do a fortnight or even a week ago but I am still not where I expected to be at this stage. I don't know if my expectations were too high, or if I am not healing as fast as I should be, but either way I know that I can only do what my body will allow and I have to accept that.
I am still in lots of pain at the back of the joint. It is a deep and sharp pain, I don't know if it is bone or muscle and it doesn't really matter at this point except it limits the amount of walking I can do.I am off crutches in the house but keep needing to rest after being on my feet more than a few minutes. I still use one when walking outside.
Physio exercises are going well, and I have been given more this week, to do twice a day. They are getting easier and the joint feels stronger. The limp is still pronounced, but not as bad as it was to start with.
I am focusing on the fact that the pain and instability that I had pre-op has completely gone, which is great news, and makes everything worthwhile as I was so limited before I had the surgery. I am glad I had the PAO because I do feel that once everything heals it will have been worth it- but I am not so sure I would be prepared to have my other hip done unless it becomes more symptomatic.
Recovery from a PAO is such a test of patience. Over this last week I have experienced every emotion possible. Joy from being able to do the little things that we would normally take for granted, and frustration at not being able to do more.
I am progressing when I look back to what I could do a fortnight or even a week ago but I am still not where I expected to be at this stage. I don't know if my expectations were too high, or if I am not healing as fast as I should be, but either way I know that I can only do what my body will allow and I have to accept that.
I am still in lots of pain at the back of the joint. It is a deep and sharp pain, I don't know if it is bone or muscle and it doesn't really matter at this point except it limits the amount of walking I can do.I am off crutches in the house but keep needing to rest after being on my feet more than a few minutes. I still use one when walking outside.
Physio exercises are going well, and I have been given more this week, to do twice a day. They are getting easier and the joint feels stronger. The limp is still pronounced, but not as bad as it was to start with.
I am focusing on the fact that the pain and instability that I had pre-op has completely gone, which is great news, and makes everything worthwhile as I was so limited before I had the surgery. I am glad I had the PAO because I do feel that once everything heals it will have been worth it- but I am not so sure I would be prepared to have my other hip done unless it becomes more symptomatic.
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Turning Point
The last couple of days I have definitely turned a corner. I feel fantastic! :)
I am off crutches completely in the house, only using one when outside. I am doing 2x30mins each day on the bike. The hip could go longer, but it is too uncomfortable to sit on the seat for any longer, the last 5 mins are a real test of willpower. Physio exercises going well, and today I walked the dog along the river for 45mins using just one crutch. I carried the other one just in case, and used it for the last five mins because I was running late and needed to get home to meet someone-next time it stays in the car!
I want to do more!! I can't wait for physio on Monday. I hope she is impressed, and will give me more exercises to do.
I am going to ask her about swimming, also possibly the treadmill and cross trainer.
Would like to hear from anyone, post PAO , (especially by Mr Witt) about which stage you were allowed to try these.
I am in hardly any pain, only when lying and trying to change positions, that is still waking me up lots during the night. Walking on hard ground, eg concrete is uncomfortable but thats all.
I am soo happy things are starting to improve so quickly, and feel stronger each day. I still walk like a penguin, but even the limp is improving a bit each day.
9 weeks has definitely been the turning point for me! :)
I am off crutches completely in the house, only using one when outside. I am doing 2x30mins each day on the bike. The hip could go longer, but it is too uncomfortable to sit on the seat for any longer, the last 5 mins are a real test of willpower. Physio exercises going well, and today I walked the dog along the river for 45mins using just one crutch. I carried the other one just in case, and used it for the last five mins because I was running late and needed to get home to meet someone-next time it stays in the car!
I want to do more!! I can't wait for physio on Monday. I hope she is impressed, and will give me more exercises to do.
I am going to ask her about swimming, also possibly the treadmill and cross trainer.
Would like to hear from anyone, post PAO , (especially by Mr Witt) about which stage you were allowed to try these.
I am in hardly any pain, only when lying and trying to change positions, that is still waking me up lots during the night. Walking on hard ground, eg concrete is uncomfortable but thats all.
I am soo happy things are starting to improve so quickly, and feel stronger each day. I still walk like a penguin, but even the limp is improving a bit each day.
9 weeks has definitely been the turning point for me! :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)