Just Keep Moving.

Woot woot! Feeling good today! 2 km walk, all in one go, with only a quick stop to get a tea at Tim's! Also, the first km was a post surgery speed record! 

Also, I've been able to get the yoga mat out and get some stretching done on the floor! Man the hammies like to protest on that left side!! I even managed some downward facing dog to stretch he backs of legs and shoulders!! Felt good. I found lefty stays in the correct position and I can get a good stretch his way.  

Rewarded myself with a nice long soak too! It is a gorgeous day out! (I can even get more stretches done in the hot tub! )

I hope everyone is enjoying the weather! Stay warm and keep moving!

One more thing, this week's walk report! 

Progress!

Yesterday felt like a banner day at my athletic therapy appointment for many reasons. I left feeling on top of the world.

1). I was able to walk up the stairs to the second floor using opposite legs,  I did not single leg up the stairs. It felt good. Soooooo good.  

2). the bike ride was smooth and it took less time to work out the kinks. I got a good sweat going and I forgot to check the tension so it was a pretty good leg workout.

3) While the deep tissue massage portion was ouchie, and I do swear at and may even have threatened to pinch him back, he gets the knots out and gets that leg mobilized. Let me clarify the pinching part, apparently it is part of the work on the scar tissue.... He is breaking up the scar tissue from the giant incision made to replace my parts. Small price to pay to get someone to touch your butt....I mean glutes.

4) The stretching (with lots of help and pushing by my therapist) went well. We did a stretch we haven't done in ages and he even added a new one. To be honest, I accused him of making it up because I was pretty sure a body shouldn't be stretched or moved like that. He pushes me and I need it because I punk out. I actually said 'ease up' on one stretch and he said 'meh, it's titanium now. You're good.'  He was right. There's no pain in the hip, we are just stretching muscles that aren't used to being stretched. 

5). This is a new thing for lefty!

6). Deepest wall ball squats ever.  Athletic therapist came to check on me in the gym and told me to go further to the floor. I verbally protested in the most polite way possible (😜) but did it. Holy shit did I ever surprise myself.  I swear I thought I would end up on the floor and get stuck.... I was gently reminded that I could just roll over and get up if that happened. See? He gives me the push I need. 

7). I used the treadmill for the first time since before surgery and it felt awesome. I figured that since I generally walk for a good half hour each day, and it was chilly, I may as well use the treadmill too.  I can work on a longer stride and just focus on walking. 

8). It was a hot tub day! I rewarded myself with a good old Canadian style hot tub soak! Canadian style?

A swim suit and a toque on a snow covered day!

Stay warm and keep moving! 

New X Ray Day!

This morning was my follow up appointment with the surgeon.  I am happy to report things are coming along just fine! The prosthetic is fusing properly with the bone and is working just the way it was meant to!

Woot woot!

Of course I have my x rays to show you! What kind of hip replacement blogger would I be if I didn't have x rays to show off?

TA da! 

Dr Surgeon did remind me that I will continue to have some frustrating times during rehab. He remembered how bad my hip was before he got at it and knew I had severe mobility issues. He even pulled up my old x Ray and said 'that was bad!'.

This one..... Is no more!

I am walking better than I have I years, still with a cane, but that is temporary. The surgeon was right, I do have lots of work ahead of me. There are days muscles on that left leg yell at me. They complain about the 'new work' and 'new movements' now available to them. Lefty is finally moving as she was meant to, she just protests every now and then. It will take time for my muscles to change and get used things. 

This is how my left leg was before surgery.... Off to the side!

Here's my leg 6 weeks post surgery.

What. A. Difference. 

Knees pointing forward!  To me these are huge changes! I am feeling muscles stretch that haven't stretched in years!  Yay me!

Walking, as I mentioned, is going well. I make it to the Tim Horton's and back with my tea in the mornings. This works because the sidewalk on Main Street has been cleared of snow so I can easily walk. I wish my neighbours would shovel the city sidewalk in front of their houses so I could venture out after it snows. (Most Canadian said I've said lately!)

Woot woot! Keep warm and keep on moving!

Pat On The Back!

Pardon me while I brag for a minute. 

It dawned on me that I should be using the Map my Walk app again to keep track of what I'm doing. All my psychology training tells me that seeing your progress on a chart or some other visual form is rewarding enough to keep going. Since I started using the app this week, this is what I've done:

Not too shabby at all. 5 weeks post total hip replacement, with crutches.  Mind you, my pace is slow but the point is, I'm able to actually do this. No pain in my hip.  Not even in the rain! I will slow down a bit more when I fully transition to the cane, but again, I will still be moving and I will keep going! 

I even braved a couple of craft sales with an awesome friend and had a great lunch outing with her today! 

Woot woot! 

Bragging is done, thanks for bearing with me!

Two Steps Forward, One Step Back

Being sick sucks at the best of times but it sucks even more when you are recovering from major surgery. Your body is already working hard to repair itself but wait, let's throw in a cold virus too! Don't get me wrong, I love to nap, but I also want to get out and get my walks in and keep this hip moving! 

Here's the biggest problem when sickness strikes post hip replacement.... If it morphs into an infection of any kind, it can also infect your prosthetic hip. Infections can travel via the blood stream and since my hip is healing, extra blood is circulating there, the infection can actually collect around the prosthetic and infect the bone that is supporting it.... Holy. Shit.  

Two Fridays ago. I woke up with a cold. I was so paranoid, I called the doctor, and went to have it checked out. He was so good about not making feel stupid for calling him over a cold. He checked me out and sent me on my way with the knowledge that he was on call that weekend should things get worse. 

Last Friday I woke up and could not hear out of my right ear. There was also intense pressure and pain in the right ear. Soooooo, I definitely called the doctor again and this time, he said my ear was gross and full of puss.... Yuck! 

I have been on antibiotics ever since. The most ginormous pills. Ever.  That's my one step back.  

I have also been napping more and whining about my ear....the boys love that.... My only issue now is my paranoia about the hip and infection. Every time I feel a twinge of pain (just regular post surgical stuff) I panic....

Now for my 2 steps forward: On the awesome side of things, I have been walking 1 km, 2 times day! Still using the crutches on those long walks, a choice supported by the Athletic therapist! Especially since it has been raining making everything wet and slick. Around the house I use the cane or I just hobble! 

Today's session at athletic therapy felt good. Really good. I squirm lots, and complain about the massage, but have you ever has scar tissue worked on? Scar tissue needs to be broken down and it hurts. I also worry about moving my new hip too much but seriously, some of these muscles haven't moved that way in years! A proper hamstring stretch where my leg actually goes the way it is supposed to is huge! I still get suprised when I see my left leg doing what it was meant to.... I think my athletic therapist gets a kick out of that. I know I do!