Sunday, August 21, 2011
Post-PAO Golf Test Passed!
just got back from playing 10 rounds of golf in two weeks in scotland. walked every round and no pain at all! no soreness or creakiness whatsoever. it's magical! i almost think i should be able to run too. 9-mo post update: numb spot is still large (groin to knee) tho there seems to be a little more sensation, like i can actually scratch an itchy spot and feel it. still feel like there's tendonitis in the hip flexor but i don't notice it ever--i think it would be an issue if i wanted to try to do stationary row. have tenderness on incision that hurts when pressed. but overall, i think i'm pretty much back!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Muscle tightness causing hip pain
i went to chiropractor to get my gait and alignment checked. my chiro also does myofascial massage. i am extremely tight in gluteus medius, lateral/medial quad connected to aais (outer side of thigh), ITB (side of thigh running from hip to knee), and muscle and tendons in hams. the worst are gluteus medius, tensor fascia latae (TFL), iliotibial band (ITB), which was same areas they found at dr visit too. i got trigger point massage (it was very very painful) and some myofascial release. chiro also did some traction on my hip but no adjustment (where he actually tugs the joint to pop). i have been very scared to do anything with my operated hip and scar area but i should probably be stretching more. i was told to ice and foam roll my quads, hams and ITB. i'm hopeful this will fix my pain since i did feel much better after the chiro session. my feet pronate too so chiro suggested orthotics with arch support which might be causing new issues post-surgery. i think it's funny that medical dr's are happy to see normal xrays and MRIs and rarely recommend other therapies to help alleviate pain if they can't explain it.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Unscheduled Pain
a few weeks after going boxing (2x/wk), golf (at least 1x/wk), and strength training (2x/wk), i started having pain in my groin, similar to pre-PAO pain. it hurt while i walked. i iced and took aleve. a few days in, the pain traveled to the outside of my hip trochanter area. it hurt a ton to walk and was probably the worst pain i felt besides the incision pain post-screw removal. i really thought i would need to take a crutch out to walk cuz i was limping a lot and had to walk really slowly. i stopped going to the gym after i had to stop mid-session in boxing b/c i couldn't do any type of footwork from the pain. even jump rope impact was hurting. we ended up practicing left hooks on heavy bag and i overdid it and my shoulder got messed up. so i had ice packs on my hip and shoulder for a couple days. i went swimming a couple of times (i'm learning how to do front crawl) and nothing hurt after swimming.
i kept bugging nurse triage to try to get an answer from the hip team. when i finally got a call back from Dr Millis he admitted he dismissed my emails thinking the pain would go away but my complaints lasted for 2wks. the pain was improving but Dr Millis put me on his calendar fairly quickly and i got xrays at the appt. xrays showed good space between bones in the joint. i also had some heterotopic ossification HO in the muscle on the outside of the hip where they made one of the bone cuts. hip team said the joint looked good so probably have some tendonitis (rectis) and muscle fatigue, and maybe some irritation from the ossification. so i'm supposed to rest and take it easy. PT said i shouldn't swim either, which could aggravate the tendonitis. i think the pain stemmed from rotation/pivoting movement used in boxing and golf. i didn't feel any discomfort from my regular strength training.
Dr Millis was planning on taking another MRI at month 9. this unscheduled visit was just shy of month 8. we got a lucky same-day dGEMRIC appt at the Waltham location so we drove out. did the contrast injection and was in the tube for about 45min. the movie goggle helmet wasn't working but i fell asleep with headphones on (i'm always afraid of being bored during the MRI since the only thing to read in the tube is the manufacturer's serial and model number). Waltham looks pretty new and seemed to be renovating some wings. it is very quiet and parking is free.
the MRI results showed improvements all around but also an abnormal signal in the anterosuperior acetabulum which was there pre-PAO. Dr Millis has no explanation for this abnormal signal and doesn't seem to have any plan for it. i have pain in the top left hip area which might match up to this anterosuperior spot. it's getting better since i haven't done any gym stuff in almost a month (but i've been cheating and going to swim class). hopefully my lack of activity will help my hip be 100% pain-free as we have a 2-week golf vacation in scotland coming up.
just got a suggestion, that my gait might be messed up from being on crutches and post-surgery in general, and the messed up gait is causing some pain. also maybe the fascia in that area is tight. so i can try to get my gait checked (physiatrist or chiro) and get a massage to loosen up the fascia. will see if these help!
i kept bugging nurse triage to try to get an answer from the hip team. when i finally got a call back from Dr Millis he admitted he dismissed my emails thinking the pain would go away but my complaints lasted for 2wks. the pain was improving but Dr Millis put me on his calendar fairly quickly and i got xrays at the appt. xrays showed good space between bones in the joint. i also had some heterotopic ossification HO in the muscle on the outside of the hip where they made one of the bone cuts. hip team said the joint looked good so probably have some tendonitis (rectis) and muscle fatigue, and maybe some irritation from the ossification. so i'm supposed to rest and take it easy. PT said i shouldn't swim either, which could aggravate the tendonitis. i think the pain stemmed from rotation/pivoting movement used in boxing and golf. i didn't feel any discomfort from my regular strength training.
Dr Millis was planning on taking another MRI at month 9. this unscheduled visit was just shy of month 8. we got a lucky same-day dGEMRIC appt at the Waltham location so we drove out. did the contrast injection and was in the tube for about 45min. the movie goggle helmet wasn't working but i fell asleep with headphones on (i'm always afraid of being bored during the MRI since the only thing to read in the tube is the manufacturer's serial and model number). Waltham looks pretty new and seemed to be renovating some wings. it is very quiet and parking is free.
the MRI results showed improvements all around but also an abnormal signal in the anterosuperior acetabulum which was there pre-PAO. Dr Millis has no explanation for this abnormal signal and doesn't seem to have any plan for it. i have pain in the top left hip area which might match up to this anterosuperior spot. it's getting better since i haven't done any gym stuff in almost a month (but i've been cheating and going to swim class). hopefully my lack of activity will help my hip be 100% pain-free as we have a 2-week golf vacation in scotland coming up.
just got a suggestion, that my gait might be messed up from being on crutches and post-surgery in general, and the messed up gait is causing some pain. also maybe the fascia in that area is tight. so i can try to get my gait checked (physiatrist or chiro) and get a massage to loosen up the fascia. will see if these help!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
7-mo post-PAO & 1-mo post-screw removal
my hip gets tired while walking around. i don't see why this should be this case since the screw removal didn't bother anything inside...unless the bone itself is tired. i've replaced most of my steristrips after 1mo. the scar looks good. i feel a little tenderness around the incision area. possibly bone holes where the screws came out. the area where i fractured my butt bone continues to be sensitive still while sitting. while i may be clinically healed (i.e. the bone is grown in per x-rays), i probably won't feel 100% until a year. same with the hip.
at least with crutches, i was still getting daily upper body exercise. while waiting for my screw-removal incision to heal, i really didn't do much. i started doing light exercises 3wks post-screws, trying not to stretch out incision. pushups, shoulder raises, lats, rows, planks, crunches. squatting feels weird perhaps from being tight. lunges are ok. full-range situps and leg raises for abs still don't feel good. went boxing for the first time again 1mo-post screws. cardio/endurance is way down but hip held up fine. hip actually felt no pain jumping rope on one leg, so that's an improvement from a month ago. my boxing trainer (one i haven't seen since pre-PAO) said i looked fatter. on my way home, my UPS guy said it looked like i was limping. so, i'm fat and limping.
i'm back with my old trainer! hurray. his workouts cause me more fear than getting PAO. we're working on rings again, kettlebells, bodyweight stuff. i'm very sad that i can only manage 3 pull-ups now. technically chin-ups cuz i have to do them underhand grip for now. i was regularly doing 5x5 in early april and regained my personal best of 7 pullups (overhand) in mid-Feb. my trainer suggested i'm having a hard time with pull-ups too b/c of my weight gain (probably about 8-10lb). all my other strength doesn't seem to have diminished that much. we did trap deadlifts 65lb 5x3. trap deadlifts use quads more than the hip but i'm still squatting very cautiously cuz i feels things shifting and clicking. my trainer also noticed my lordotic curve looks straighter than before, perhaps my hip is still tight in front. also started golfing again regularly.
at least with crutches, i was still getting daily upper body exercise. while waiting for my screw-removal incision to heal, i really didn't do much. i started doing light exercises 3wks post-screws, trying not to stretch out incision. pushups, shoulder raises, lats, rows, planks, crunches. squatting feels weird perhaps from being tight. lunges are ok. full-range situps and leg raises for abs still don't feel good. went boxing for the first time again 1mo-post screws. cardio/endurance is way down but hip held up fine. hip actually felt no pain jumping rope on one leg, so that's an improvement from a month ago. my boxing trainer (one i haven't seen since pre-PAO) said i looked fatter. on my way home, my UPS guy said it looked like i was limping. so, i'm fat and limping.
i'm back with my old trainer! hurray. his workouts cause me more fear than getting PAO. we're working on rings again, kettlebells, bodyweight stuff. i'm very sad that i can only manage 3 pull-ups now. technically chin-ups cuz i have to do them underhand grip for now. i was regularly doing 5x5 in early april and regained my personal best of 7 pullups (overhand) in mid-Feb. my trainer suggested i'm having a hard time with pull-ups too b/c of my weight gain (probably about 8-10lb). all my other strength doesn't seem to have diminished that much. we did trap deadlifts 65lb 5x3. trap deadlifts use quads more than the hip but i'm still squatting very cautiously cuz i feels things shifting and clicking. my trainer also noticed my lordotic curve looks straighter than before, perhaps my hip is still tight in front. also started golfing again regularly.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Prep for Screw Removal Day Surgery
*stop fish oil/aspirin etc 2-weeks prior to surgery (any blood-thinners)
*pain meds (the strong stuff) from PAO for the first day or so. it will hurt a LOT.
*bathing wipes, in case too lazy to shower the first day
*extra pillow or two to put under knee of operated leg for a couple of nights
*extra steri-strips and tegaderm if want to help scar heal pretty (won't need right away)
*freeze gym membership (incision should close in 2wks, extra time off to avoid stretching skin)
*think of wearing dress or something very loose upon discharge (your incision won't want to be touched)
*granny undies for discharge (Dr Millis put on a huge roof insulation padding bandage that probably made me 4 sizes bigger)
*crutches (for the first few days)
*pain meds (the strong stuff) from PAO for the first day or so. it will hurt a LOT.
*bathing wipes, in case too lazy to shower the first day
*extra pillow or two to put under knee of operated leg for a couple of nights
*extra steri-strips and tegaderm if want to help scar heal pretty (won't need right away)
*freeze gym membership (incision should close in 2wks, extra time off to avoid stretching skin)
*think of wearing dress or something very loose upon discharge (your incision won't want to be touched)
*granny undies for discharge (Dr Millis put on a huge roof insulation padding bandage that probably made me 4 sizes bigger)
*crutches (for the first few days)
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Weeks 21-24 & Screw removal
the acupuncture dr suggested that the sessions will help with my bone health more than the numbness. he thinks the numbness comes back naturally when the body feels like it. so i stopped getting acupuncture since i was trying to treat numbness. that's kinda disappointing news.
i added back box jumps to my gym activities. i don't think it's so bad as long as impact is absorbed properly when landing on the box.
SCREW REMOVAL
a few days before screw removal, a pre-op nurse called me to go over health history etc. the business day before screw removal, i called pre-op to get my screw removal day surgery time. it was set for 1:30 and show up 90 min ahead. i didn't need to go in for xrays or labs. day surgery is typically scheduled after the more complicated/longer morning cases. not all dr's take out screws but as a pediatric orthopod, i think Dr Millis prefers to take out hardware. i find them bothersome and poking out at times and Dr Millis also wants to take more images so it's probably better to have them out.
we flew up to boston the day before screw removal. i ate a late dinner, around 9:30, of vietnamese pork chops on rice with a runny fried egg on top. and an avocado shake. i had to follow the same NPO guidelines as PAO, so no solids after midnight and no clear liquids 2hr before surgery. i snack and eat all the time so i was really scared about being hungry all the way until my 1:30pm surgery time. i got some apple juice to get some calories in the morning. i asked about coconut water (since it's high in electrolytes) but it was dinged b/c it's not clear.
i had to stop fish oil 2 wks prior to surgery. other preparation i did was bring my no-rinse bathing wipes, my cough pillow and some of the pain and nausea meds from PAO. luckily it's warmer now so i brought dresses to wear so i wouldn't have to deal with pants around my wound. and i packed my granny undies again.
the morning of screw removal, i actually went to flour bakery to pick up some pastries. they're famous for their sticky buns and the almond croissants are tasty too. i didn't eat them, just looked at them fondly. i got a call from an OR nurse asking me to come in earlier if possible. i was mostly restricted by my last liquid intake. this day surgery (hardware removal cpt code 20680) did not require pre-authorization from my insurance carrier.
at day surgery pre-op, check-in was signing some consent forms and producing a urine sample. a nurse went over my health history and took vitals. Dr Millis and his fellow Dr Novais came in to check on any questions i had, and i signed more consent papers. my main concern was having my incision scar heal prettier this time around so Dr Millis suggested keeping steri-strips on for 4mo and to really try not to over-stretch that area for a month or so. he said upper body exercises while seated should be fine, but to really try to lay low for the first 2 wks. we decided not to do general anesthesia and opted for conscious sedation. i did conscious sedation for my impacted wisdom teeth and remember hearing them wrangling my teeth out. both dr's said this would be much easier than that. they take the screws out manually(!) with a screwdriver. i was afraid if i was "awake", i'd hear power drills going and have bone chips flying in my face.
anesthesiology Dr Sethna and his resident started poking stuff into me. i got woozy then was rolled into the OR. i remember a little more this time around. they showed me on the TV screen. i started spotting this AM so i left my panties on and they pull them down in the OR. i remember hearing lots of voices and then they gave me my screws in a baggy and i was clutching onto them. when i came to, the first thing i said was "i played golf twice". very random.
i was pretty alert and felt good in recovery. i had a huge foam bandage on, from mid-thigh to belly. not quite like the Millis diaper but still pretty puffy. good thing i had loose undies and a dress cuz there's no way i could get pants over this roof insulation padding. Dr Millis checked up on me and the nurses went thru discharge. had some apple juice and oyster crackers. the only thing that hurt was the huge IV in my hand. they gave me crutches again. i think i was wheelchaired out in less than an hour. Dr Millis suggested i eat light first and might have difficulty being comfortable sitting at a restaurant, so we went straight to pick up peking duck and lobster with ginger&scallion sauce. i ate heartily back at the hotel, including my pastries from this AM, then got sleepy and dozed off.
i woke up from pain after my post-op morphine wore off, even tho i also took 1-2mg of dilaudad. it felt like a really really bad burn and intense stretching. walking around to the bathroom and standing up straight was also uncomfortable and the whole area feels sore. i didn't bathe the first night but used my no-rinse wipes. luckily i don't have any nausea this time. i slept with a pillow under my knees b/c lying flat seemed to stretch the incision area. sleeping on the unoperated side caused much discomfort in the incision area.
the following morning i removed the puffy protective bandage and the gauze underneath was pristine (no blood leakage). i was reminded that the painkillers may cause constipation but didn't have a problem. i showered and was going to visit Dr Millis but since there was no bleeding he said not to go in. i didn't think i'd need crutches but i'm glad they gave me a new pair cuz it's difficult to stand up straight and it's nice to take pressure off the operated side. i took the T (boston subway) and got lunch but had to walk really slowly. i should probably be eating my pain meds more frequently b/c i have much pain but can tolerate it. i guess i didn't feel any of this during the PAO cuz i was on epidural for 3 days.
i'm getting a lot of itchiness again, on my belly and upper back. same as after PAO, most likely from the pain meds. plane ride back to NYC was fine. i still have to crutch slowly b/c i feel like the incision is stretching a lot or something but i didn't opt for the wheelchair. i don't think i need the cough pillow this time around. it doesn't hurt to sneeze which is good b/c of allergy season.
i ended up using crutches for 6 days after getting the screws out, 2 crutches for the first 2 days then using 1 or 2 crutches depending on how far i was walking. Dr Millis made the screw removal incision the exact same as my PAO one because i wanted to clean up some blobby scarring. usually i think the screws can be removed with just a ~2in opening (vs the 5in PAO incision). i think scar tissue was cut out which made my skin feel more tight, which is why i think i had trouble standing up straight for a while. it felt like i might split open my incision.
i added back box jumps to my gym activities. i don't think it's so bad as long as impact is absorbed properly when landing on the box.
SCREW REMOVAL
a few days before screw removal, a pre-op nurse called me to go over health history etc. the business day before screw removal, i called pre-op to get my screw removal day surgery time. it was set for 1:30 and show up 90 min ahead. i didn't need to go in for xrays or labs. day surgery is typically scheduled after the more complicated/longer morning cases. not all dr's take out screws but as a pediatric orthopod, i think Dr Millis prefers to take out hardware. i find them bothersome and poking out at times and Dr Millis also wants to take more images so it's probably better to have them out.
we flew up to boston the day before screw removal. i ate a late dinner, around 9:30, of vietnamese pork chops on rice with a runny fried egg on top. and an avocado shake. i had to follow the same NPO guidelines as PAO, so no solids after midnight and no clear liquids 2hr before surgery. i snack and eat all the time so i was really scared about being hungry all the way until my 1:30pm surgery time. i got some apple juice to get some calories in the morning. i asked about coconut water (since it's high in electrolytes) but it was dinged b/c it's not clear.
i had to stop fish oil 2 wks prior to surgery. other preparation i did was bring my no-rinse bathing wipes, my cough pillow and some of the pain and nausea meds from PAO. luckily it's warmer now so i brought dresses to wear so i wouldn't have to deal with pants around my wound. and i packed my granny undies again.
the morning of screw removal, i actually went to flour bakery to pick up some pastries. they're famous for their sticky buns and the almond croissants are tasty too. i didn't eat them, just looked at them fondly. i got a call from an OR nurse asking me to come in earlier if possible. i was mostly restricted by my last liquid intake. this day surgery (hardware removal cpt code 20680) did not require pre-authorization from my insurance carrier.
at day surgery pre-op, check-in was signing some consent forms and producing a urine sample. a nurse went over my health history and took vitals. Dr Millis and his fellow Dr Novais came in to check on any questions i had, and i signed more consent papers. my main concern was having my incision scar heal prettier this time around so Dr Millis suggested keeping steri-strips on for 4mo and to really try not to over-stretch that area for a month or so. he said upper body exercises while seated should be fine, but to really try to lay low for the first 2 wks. we decided not to do general anesthesia and opted for conscious sedation. i did conscious sedation for my impacted wisdom teeth and remember hearing them wrangling my teeth out. both dr's said this would be much easier than that. they take the screws out manually(!) with a screwdriver. i was afraid if i was "awake", i'd hear power drills going and have bone chips flying in my face.
anesthesiology Dr Sethna and his resident started poking stuff into me. i got woozy then was rolled into the OR. i remember a little more this time around. they showed me on the TV screen. i started spotting this AM so i left my panties on and they pull them down in the OR. i remember hearing lots of voices and then they gave me my screws in a baggy and i was clutching onto them. when i came to, the first thing i said was "i played golf twice". very random.
i was pretty alert and felt good in recovery. i had a huge foam bandage on, from mid-thigh to belly. not quite like the Millis diaper but still pretty puffy. good thing i had loose undies and a dress cuz there's no way i could get pants over this roof insulation padding. Dr Millis checked up on me and the nurses went thru discharge. had some apple juice and oyster crackers. the only thing that hurt was the huge IV in my hand. they gave me crutches again. i think i was wheelchaired out in less than an hour. Dr Millis suggested i eat light first and might have difficulty being comfortable sitting at a restaurant, so we went straight to pick up peking duck and lobster with ginger&scallion sauce. i ate heartily back at the hotel, including my pastries from this AM, then got sleepy and dozed off.
i woke up from pain after my post-op morphine wore off, even tho i also took 1-2mg of dilaudad. it felt like a really really bad burn and intense stretching. walking around to the bathroom and standing up straight was also uncomfortable and the whole area feels sore. i didn't bathe the first night but used my no-rinse wipes. luckily i don't have any nausea this time. i slept with a pillow under my knees b/c lying flat seemed to stretch the incision area. sleeping on the unoperated side caused much discomfort in the incision area.
the following morning i removed the puffy protective bandage and the gauze underneath was pristine (no blood leakage). i was reminded that the painkillers may cause constipation but didn't have a problem. i showered and was going to visit Dr Millis but since there was no bleeding he said not to go in. i didn't think i'd need crutches but i'm glad they gave me a new pair cuz it's difficult to stand up straight and it's nice to take pressure off the operated side. i took the T (boston subway) and got lunch but had to walk really slowly. i should probably be eating my pain meds more frequently b/c i have much pain but can tolerate it. i guess i didn't feel any of this during the PAO cuz i was on epidural for 3 days.
i'm getting a lot of itchiness again, on my belly and upper back. same as after PAO, most likely from the pain meds. plane ride back to NYC was fine. i still have to crutch slowly b/c i feel like the incision is stretching a lot or something but i didn't opt for the wheelchair. i don't think i need the cough pillow this time around. it doesn't hurt to sneeze which is good b/c of allergy season.
i ended up using crutches for 6 days after getting the screws out, 2 crutches for the first 2 days then using 1 or 2 crutches depending on how far i was walking. Dr Millis made the screw removal incision the exact same as my PAO one because i wanted to clean up some blobby scarring. usually i think the screws can be removed with just a ~2in opening (vs the 5in PAO incision). i think scar tissue was cut out which made my skin feel more tight, which is why i think i had trouble standing up straight for a while. it felt like i might split open my incision.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Weeks 18-20 slow going
i've had 4 acupuncture sessions (1x/wk) for my numb spot and haven't noticed any improvement yet. the needles go in different spots each time and the 3rd&4th sessions, the dr put needles in my non-operated leg, shoulders and scalp too. my insurance doesn't cover acupuncture. the dr cannot say how many sessions i will need but i'll continue to go until i get my screws removed.
my hip joint is feeling less and less discomfort with different movements at the gym--boxing rotation/pivoting and squats. there's still lots of snapping/clicking/popping that my (new) trainer is "amused" by, but i'm annoyed by them so they better go away. i'm starting to think that the discomfort i have when i tuck knees to chest (while upside-down) is not due to the bone being blocked, but something more strength or flexibility. i can squat all the way to the floor without any trouble but it's problematic lifting my knee into chest. hip flexion moves like full sit-ups and keeping the leg straight and lifted off the floor are uncomfortable too. i started doing leg raises while lying down with ankle weights to help strengthen that. it's not pain-free when i do it.
while sleeping, my bad knee does not bend flat to the side (figure 4) comfortably; the knee will not drop all the way down. sometimes i try to sleep with my bad side bent in different ways to do sleeping stretches/PT!
the first time i tried to jump rope and did fine on 2 feet. once i tried to skip rope, my brain turned off and i kept tripping, probably out of fear. i only tried for like 5sec tho b/c my hip area actually did hurt on impact on the operated side. i jump rope regularly now including double-unders but landing on the bad leg alone is still causing pain. double-unders are fine. i can do stairclimber 2 steps at a time w/o any issues but cardio machines are so boring for me, i only do it for 5mins. i haven't tried running yet but i can "run" sideways fine, which is a common boxing drill (running around in a circle or ring).
played golf for the first time at 5-mo post. our club is walking only and kinda hilly so i've been scared to go out but the forecast was mid50s so i gave it a go. plus i'll be out again for 3-4wks after my screws come out. surprisingly i didn't top or shank any shots and managed to break 90. i tend to use my upper body more, even before surgery (i have the same problem with boxing), and today i def felt that i was using my lower body even less. i probably had more winter rust issues with my swing than i can blame on my hip. it was great to be out again and i look forward to my next round.
my hip joint is feeling less and less discomfort with different movements at the gym--boxing rotation/pivoting and squats. there's still lots of snapping/clicking/popping that my (new) trainer is "amused" by, but i'm annoyed by them so they better go away. i'm starting to think that the discomfort i have when i tuck knees to chest (while upside-down) is not due to the bone being blocked, but something more strength or flexibility. i can squat all the way to the floor without any trouble but it's problematic lifting my knee into chest. hip flexion moves like full sit-ups and keeping the leg straight and lifted off the floor are uncomfortable too. i started doing leg raises while lying down with ankle weights to help strengthen that. it's not pain-free when i do it.
while sleeping, my bad knee does not bend flat to the side (figure 4) comfortably; the knee will not drop all the way down. sometimes i try to sleep with my bad side bent in different ways to do sleeping stretches/PT!
the first time i tried to jump rope and did fine on 2 feet. once i tried to skip rope, my brain turned off and i kept tripping, probably out of fear. i only tried for like 5sec tho b/c my hip area actually did hurt on impact on the operated side. i jump rope regularly now including double-unders but landing on the bad leg alone is still causing pain. double-unders are fine. i can do stairclimber 2 steps at a time w/o any issues but cardio machines are so boring for me, i only do it for 5mins. i haven't tried running yet but i can "run" sideways fine, which is a common boxing drill (running around in a circle or ring).
played golf for the first time at 5-mo post. our club is walking only and kinda hilly so i've been scared to go out but the forecast was mid50s so i gave it a go. plus i'll be out again for 3-4wks after my screws come out. surprisingly i didn't top or shank any shots and managed to break 90. i tend to use my upper body more, even before surgery (i have the same problem with boxing), and today i def felt that i was using my lower body even less. i probably had more winter rust issues with my swing than i can blame on my hip. it was great to be out again and i look forward to my next round.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
What to bring for hospital stay
this is a little out of order chronologically but might be helpful.
i put the outfit i wore to surgery in a paper bag after changing into the johnnie. this is probably all the clothes you need for your whole stay, and you can wear it home upon discharge. wear a loose pair of pants because you will probably be swollen (surgery fluids, trauma) and the incision area will be tender.
if you're not a beauty queen, all you probably need is lip balm. CHB had toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, comb. i probably would have preferred to have my own hairbrush. they also had baby wipes which i used for everything (face, underarms, hands). i have an unhealthy addiction to my nailclipper, so i brought one to snip off hangnails and things.
i probably wouldn't have worn any underwear b/c it's an ordeal to get them off to use the toilet. but i got my period and the hospital gave me these funky gauzey panties and pads. PT was all women, which was the only time i was standing up, so i didn't care much about them seeing my gauze undies. plus i was too drugged out to care. otherwise, some loose-fitting undies might be useful if you don't want to wear the hospital ones.
i had my blackberry with me for emails, phone calls, pictures and taking notes. headsets are good for long calls (like more than 2min long) cuz i was too tired to hold up my phone usually. blackberry charger.
camera, for snapping pix for the memory pages. (make sure battery is charged).
i didn't bring any books or other forms of entertainment. never turned on the TV either. magazines were too heavy to hold and too many words to focus. i was kept plenty busy with nurses, drs, and my own visitors. plus sleeping.
if you have an itch cream you think works for everything, you might want to bring that. otherwise you are in a hospital so they can get anything you need. rubbing alcohol felt great on my super itchy areas.
i didn't wear shoes or slippers, just the grippy socks they gave me.
there are plenty of blankets at the hospital if you get cold.
i put the outfit i wore to surgery in a paper bag after changing into the johnnie. this is probably all the clothes you need for your whole stay, and you can wear it home upon discharge. wear a loose pair of pants because you will probably be swollen (surgery fluids, trauma) and the incision area will be tender.
if you're not a beauty queen, all you probably need is lip balm. CHB had toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, lotion, comb. i probably would have preferred to have my own hairbrush. they also had baby wipes which i used for everything (face, underarms, hands). i have an unhealthy addiction to my nailclipper, so i brought one to snip off hangnails and things.
i probably wouldn't have worn any underwear b/c it's an ordeal to get them off to use the toilet. but i got my period and the hospital gave me these funky gauzey panties and pads. PT was all women, which was the only time i was standing up, so i didn't care much about them seeing my gauze undies. plus i was too drugged out to care. otherwise, some loose-fitting undies might be useful if you don't want to wear the hospital ones.
i had my blackberry with me for emails, phone calls, pictures and taking notes. headsets are good for long calls (like more than 2min long) cuz i was too tired to hold up my phone usually. blackberry charger.
camera, for snapping pix for the memory pages. (make sure battery is charged).
i didn't bring any books or other forms of entertainment. never turned on the TV either. magazines were too heavy to hold and too many words to focus. i was kept plenty busy with nurses, drs, and my own visitors. plus sleeping.
if you have an itch cream you think works for everything, you might want to bring that. otherwise you are in a hospital so they can get anything you need. rubbing alcohol felt great on my super itchy areas.
i didn't wear shoes or slippers, just the grippy socks they gave me.
there are plenty of blankets at the hospital if you get cold.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
PAO Timeline - Prep & Recovery
here is a rough timeline of my PAO preparation and recovery, per Dr Millis and CHB instructions.
Pre-surgery
*give 2 pints of blood (some patients may require more or less). check with your blood center for how long before surgery, how close to surgery and how far apart you can give blood. CHB would take my blood 6wks before and no later than 1wk prior to surgery. 1 blood giving per 7 days. remember to tell them if you've been sick or if you've eaten any NSAID anti-inflammatories (72-hrs).
*if you have to give blood, follow the iron supplement guidelines and when you should stop taking them pre-surgery (i think they want to make sure you're not constipated prior to surgery)
*Dr Millis's preferred dGEMRIC MRI for checking cartilage health
*stop birth control pills (resume 1mo post) and any blood-thinning supplements (aspirin, fish/flax oil) 2wks prior
*remove nail polish (get toenails trimmed too cuz you won't be able to reach them for a while!)
Hospital stay
Day 1: pain meds (the strong stuff) and Lovenox anti-blood clotting shots (daily). PT ankle pumps, glute squeeze, quad extension.
Day 2: remove wound drainage, cut off Millis diaper (mummy gauze wrapping my whole mid-section), replace Tegaderm over incision steri-strips, start very remedial PT in bed (limb movement with help of PT; adduction/abduction, bend knee and slide foot to butt, pronate knee).
Day 3: turn off epidural, take out catheter, get out of bed and into wheelchair. hang out in sofa recliner. walk parallel bars for PT.
Day 4: first real shower. parallel bars for PT still very difficult since hip flexor does not let my foot advance. learned how to use crutches. 1/6 body weight on bad leg. keep bad leg in front of good leg at all times.
Day 5: did stairs for PT. managed to not fall face down and passed PT on 2nd try tho still very difficult to lift bad leg down steps. discharged.
Week 2
*preferred wheelchair until Day 9, miraculously could do stairs w/crutches without looking crippled
*Dr Millis replaced Tegaderm over steri-strips Day 9
*switched to 650mg Tylenol on Day 13; stopped all pain meds 2-weeks post-op
*calcium, vitamin C, and iron for bone-healing; meat protein for incision to heal
Week 3
*put away commode
*lift leg off couch w/o using hands to aid it
*steri-strips all fallen off incision
Week 4
*cured my torso itchiness finally w/coconut oil (after using sarna, gold bond, curel, benadryl cream)
*energy improving; no more catnaps
One-month post-op
*Dr visit
*no more hip bending restrictions
*40% body weight on bad leg
*can walk with normal gait with 2 crutches
*no more pillow under knee while sleeping, can sleep on side with pillow between knees as support
*PT: butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch, theraband leg raises
*gym: bike 0 resistance, gentle swim, upper body and anything that doesn't engage hip movement, calf press, ham curls
*stop lovenox shots, move to 81mg baby aspirin for 60 days
*massage scar with coconut oil to make it heal prettier and reduce keloid formation
Week 6
*able to raise leg while standing and sitting and keep it propped up comfortably
*can vacuum with one crutch
Week 8
*not using crutches while home and walking fine (not sanctioned by Dr Millis) but never leave home w/o them
Week 9
*managed to clip toenails of bad foot with some discomfort since cross-legged sitting hurts at the hip and knee doesn't drop to ground
10-week post-op
*Dr visit
*stress fracture near ischium surgical cut (so be careful cuz i didn't feel any pain!)
*graduate to 1 crutch
*PT: figure-4 hip flexor stretch, hip flexor stretch over edge of table, theraband leg lifts w/stiffer band, balance on left leg, no more L/R weight-bearing restriction
*return wheelchair (tho probably could have returned 1-mo post)
Month 3
*knee continues to feel weak and un-secure; Hip Team says this is due to quad weakening
*starting to notice screws thru my skin
*don't need to be sitting to put on socks and pants anymore as much (had discomfort at hip bend before)
4-months post-op
*Dr visit
*no more crutches
*bone filling in well, fracture healing well but not 100% yet
*can do any physical activities except impact (jumping, running--at least not yet); golf and boxing ok
*cross-legged sitting is 97% discomfort-free
*small triangle wedge below incision has some sensation back but numb spot is still very big (just below groin to knee, whole front half of thigh)
*start acupuncture for numb spot
4.5-months post-op
*jump rope on 2 feet (skip rope is too much impact landing on operated leg alone)
5-months post-op
*played first round of golf
Week 24
*screws out in day surgery
*painkillers for 24hrs
*crutches for 3-5 days as tolerated
*wound should be closed 2wks post
*started light exercises 3 weeks post-screw removal
*went boxing 1-month post-screw removal
Pre-surgery
*give 2 pints of blood (some patients may require more or less). check with your blood center for how long before surgery, how close to surgery and how far apart you can give blood. CHB would take my blood 6wks before and no later than 1wk prior to surgery. 1 blood giving per 7 days. remember to tell them if you've been sick or if you've eaten any NSAID anti-inflammatories (72-hrs).
*if you have to give blood, follow the iron supplement guidelines and when you should stop taking them pre-surgery (i think they want to make sure you're not constipated prior to surgery)
*Dr Millis's preferred dGEMRIC MRI for checking cartilage health
*stop birth control pills (resume 1mo post) and any blood-thinning supplements (aspirin, fish/flax oil) 2wks prior
*remove nail polish (get toenails trimmed too cuz you won't be able to reach them for a while!)
Hospital stay
Day 1: pain meds (the strong stuff) and Lovenox anti-blood clotting shots (daily). PT ankle pumps, glute squeeze, quad extension.
Day 2: remove wound drainage, cut off Millis diaper (mummy gauze wrapping my whole mid-section), replace Tegaderm over incision steri-strips, start very remedial PT in bed (limb movement with help of PT; adduction/abduction, bend knee and slide foot to butt, pronate knee).
Day 3: turn off epidural, take out catheter, get out of bed and into wheelchair. hang out in sofa recliner. walk parallel bars for PT.
Day 4: first real shower. parallel bars for PT still very difficult since hip flexor does not let my foot advance. learned how to use crutches. 1/6 body weight on bad leg. keep bad leg in front of good leg at all times.
Day 5: did stairs for PT. managed to not fall face down and passed PT on 2nd try tho still very difficult to lift bad leg down steps. discharged.
Week 2
*preferred wheelchair until Day 9, miraculously could do stairs w/crutches without looking crippled
*Dr Millis replaced Tegaderm over steri-strips Day 9
*switched to 650mg Tylenol on Day 13; stopped all pain meds 2-weeks post-op
*calcium, vitamin C, and iron for bone-healing; meat protein for incision to heal
Week 3
*put away commode
*lift leg off couch w/o using hands to aid it
*steri-strips all fallen off incision
Week 4
*cured my torso itchiness finally w/coconut oil (after using sarna, gold bond, curel, benadryl cream)
*energy improving; no more catnaps
One-month post-op
*Dr visit
*no more hip bending restrictions
*40% body weight on bad leg
*can walk with normal gait with 2 crutches
*no more pillow under knee while sleeping, can sleep on side with pillow between knees as support
*PT: butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch, theraband leg raises
*gym: bike 0 resistance, gentle swim, upper body and anything that doesn't engage hip movement, calf press, ham curls
*stop lovenox shots, move to 81mg baby aspirin for 60 days
*massage scar with coconut oil to make it heal prettier and reduce keloid formation
Week 6
*able to raise leg while standing and sitting and keep it propped up comfortably
*can vacuum with one crutch
Week 8
*not using crutches while home and walking fine (not sanctioned by Dr Millis) but never leave home w/o them
Week 9
*managed to clip toenails of bad foot with some discomfort since cross-legged sitting hurts at the hip and knee doesn't drop to ground
10-week post-op
*Dr visit
*stress fracture near ischium surgical cut (so be careful cuz i didn't feel any pain!)
*graduate to 1 crutch
*PT: figure-4 hip flexor stretch, hip flexor stretch over edge of table, theraband leg lifts w/stiffer band, balance on left leg, no more L/R weight-bearing restriction
*return wheelchair (tho probably could have returned 1-mo post)
Month 3
*knee continues to feel weak and un-secure; Hip Team says this is due to quad weakening
*starting to notice screws thru my skin
*don't need to be sitting to put on socks and pants anymore as much (had discomfort at hip bend before)
4-months post-op
*Dr visit
*no more crutches
*bone filling in well, fracture healing well but not 100% yet
*can do any physical activities except impact (jumping, running--at least not yet); golf and boxing ok
*cross-legged sitting is 97% discomfort-free
*small triangle wedge below incision has some sensation back but numb spot is still very big (just below groin to knee, whole front half of thigh)
*start acupuncture for numb spot
4.5-months post-op
*jump rope on 2 feet (skip rope is too much impact landing on operated leg alone)
5-months post-op
*played first round of golf
Week 24
*screws out in day surgery
*painkillers for 24hrs
*crutches for 3-5 days as tolerated
*wound should be closed 2wks post
*started light exercises 3 weeks post-screw removal
*went boxing 1-month post-screw removal
Friday, March 18, 2011
Week 17, trying to get back to normal
my first day off crutches at the gym, i did some kettlebell swings and snatches with 12kg. the swings were a bit uncomfy on the hips at first with clicking feelings but it went away. 2nd day at the gym i did wall balls with 10lb ball. wow, my legs were so sore, i think i was walking worse after these workouts than after surgery! i almost needed to pull out my commode chair again cuz i couldn't sit. nothing hurt otherwise. lunges surprisingly don't bother me at all. with squats i need to modify how deep i go cuz it doesn't feel stable and i feel myself shifting to my good side.
i started boxing again too and feel some discomfort when pivoting/rotating on the lead leg (my operated left leg). i feel fine the next day however so hopefully my leg just needs to get used to the movement.
practiced my golf swing with a wooden stick. rotation/pivoting felt fine but i wasn't making any impact on the ground. will be interesting to see where the ball goes when i get back out. this is def the longest stretch of time i've gone w/o playing golf.
from month 2 to month 4, i'd say i put on maybe 8lb of unwanted weight. probably a combo of being mobile but not able to do real cardio. plus i sought out maybe 20 different cupcake and pie shops and fried chicken joints for taste tests in that time.
for PT, i continue the figure-4 and hip flexor stretch over the table. i think i might add ankle weight full leg raises (while lying down) to help strengthen the hip area.
after walking for a while, i feel like i start walking funny. it's not really pain. maybe it's being cautious and a little tired. or is my operated leg longer now?
i tried acupuncture for my numb spot. the dr ran electrical pulses thru a few of the needles, including one on the top of my foot. the needle in my numb spot i didn't feel at all. i don't notice any improvement after 1 try and will go again next week.
i've started training again, boxing 2x/week plus a boxing class, and strength 2x/wk. my former trainer has decided not to make me strong anymore but would rather make me chubby and meet for burgers and toasted marshmallow shakes instead. so i met a couple new trainers to see who could rebuild my lower body and bring PAOer back to my hips! we're taking it slow as they're learning about limitations just as much as i am.
my screw removal is set for may as a day surgery at CHB, roughly 6 months post-op.
i started boxing again too and feel some discomfort when pivoting/rotating on the lead leg (my operated left leg). i feel fine the next day however so hopefully my leg just needs to get used to the movement.
practiced my golf swing with a wooden stick. rotation/pivoting felt fine but i wasn't making any impact on the ground. will be interesting to see where the ball goes when i get back out. this is def the longest stretch of time i've gone w/o playing golf.
from month 2 to month 4, i'd say i put on maybe 8lb of unwanted weight. probably a combo of being mobile but not able to do real cardio. plus i sought out maybe 20 different cupcake and pie shops and fried chicken joints for taste tests in that time.
for PT, i continue the figure-4 and hip flexor stretch over the table. i think i might add ankle weight full leg raises (while lying down) to help strengthen the hip area.
after walking for a while, i feel like i start walking funny. it's not really pain. maybe it's being cautious and a little tired. or is my operated leg longer now?
i tried acupuncture for my numb spot. the dr ran electrical pulses thru a few of the needles, including one on the top of my foot. the needle in my numb spot i didn't feel at all. i don't notice any improvement after 1 try and will go again next week.
i've started training again, boxing 2x/week plus a boxing class, and strength 2x/wk. my former trainer has decided not to make me strong anymore but would rather make me chubby and meet for burgers and toasted marshmallow shakes instead. so i met a couple new trainers to see who could rebuild my lower body and bring PAOer back to my hips! we're taking it slow as they're learning about limitations just as much as i am.
my screw removal is set for may as a day surgery at CHB, roughly 6 months post-op.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Four-months Post-Op Appt
i have been cured of my crutches! hooray! i had my 4-mo post-op appt and i was prepared to hear that my stress fracture was not healing because i haven't been sitting at home quietly like a good patient. PA erin showed me xrays from today and a month ago and said everything is healing well. the main bone part where all the screws are is healed in fine. the cuts in the bottom part still need some time. i sometimes have a dull ache/bruise feeling in my butt crease. PA erin said this is normal even tho the fracture is healing. i have been cleared for golf and boxing (lots of rotational/pivot motion but ok). i still can't do impact activities, so no jump rope, box jumps, running stairs etc. i can squat with light weight (10lb should be fine) so i might try to do wall balls again (squatting and throwing a medicine ball against the wall).
i will probably get my screws taken out in the next couple of months. i'll need a couple weeks for the incision to heal again before being active so the scar will heal smoothly. Dr Millis suggested i don't need to get general anesthesia, just some sedation and no intubation. it takes maybe half an hour and i'm on my way. i'll try to schedule it so it won't interfere with golf season (which seems so far away in this cold weather). screw removal is done mon/fri, usu after major surgery cases are completed.
PT jamie gave me a pilates move to do. lying down, press lower back into ground and march feet up and down with knees bent. this helps core. she suggested some other hip strengthening exercises. i asked her if i really need to do them since my hip is quite strong as is and i never really did those types of things pre-surgery. she didn't think i'd have to, but if i get bored maybe i will. i will continue with my stretches (pinformis figure-4 and hip flexor off edge of table) b/c i think i'm still tight in these areas.
my cross-legged sitting position is getting more comfortable. i can bring knees to chest (tucking) while upside-down a little easier now too. there will be some limitation there now since the surgery makes my femoral head bump into the acetabular roof more.
a small triangle-shape area below my incision has gained back full sensation in my large numb spot. there is a patch that feels bruised and is a little sore when i walk, around mid-thigh. otherwise my numb spot is still very large, which i'm told is normal. Dr Millis commented that he inserts the screws in such a way that the nerve doesn't need to be fussed with when he removes the screws.
i didn't realize...that may have been the last time i saw my hip team! unless my right side decides to act up.
i will probably get my screws taken out in the next couple of months. i'll need a couple weeks for the incision to heal again before being active so the scar will heal smoothly. Dr Millis suggested i don't need to get general anesthesia, just some sedation and no intubation. it takes maybe half an hour and i'm on my way. i'll try to schedule it so it won't interfere with golf season (which seems so far away in this cold weather). screw removal is done mon/fri, usu after major surgery cases are completed.
PT jamie gave me a pilates move to do. lying down, press lower back into ground and march feet up and down with knees bent. this helps core. she suggested some other hip strengthening exercises. i asked her if i really need to do them since my hip is quite strong as is and i never really did those types of things pre-surgery. she didn't think i'd have to, but if i get bored maybe i will. i will continue with my stretches (pinformis figure-4 and hip flexor off edge of table) b/c i think i'm still tight in these areas.
my cross-legged sitting position is getting more comfortable. i can bring knees to chest (tucking) while upside-down a little easier now too. there will be some limitation there now since the surgery makes my femoral head bump into the acetabular roof more.
a small triangle-shape area below my incision has gained back full sensation in my large numb spot. there is a patch that feels bruised and is a little sore when i walk, around mid-thigh. otherwise my numb spot is still very large, which i'm told is normal. Dr Millis commented that he inserts the screws in such a way that the nerve doesn't need to be fussed with when he removes the screws.
i didn't realize...that may have been the last time i saw my hip team! unless my right side decides to act up.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Weeks 10-13...not much going on
back at the gym and with my new hairline fracture, i'm trying not to move my lower body so i'm taking a break from lazy bike and swimming (actually kicking with a kickboard) for now. doing some weighted pull-ups, front dips, normal push-ups, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, handstands, speed bag and double-end bag in the boxing studio (to get some cardio back in!). the first time i did the new PT moves, the figure 4 was very tough for my left hip. the hip flexor stretch with my left leg hanging off the table, it felt like my femur head and knee were gonna pop out of their sockets. the thera-band leg lifts and left leg balance went fine. i'm keeping crunches, abs with side-swing medicine ball, side-to-side for abs on pulley machine, quad stretch and added plank.
since i'm supposed to continue taking my crutch out for a walk, i can still cut to the front of the line at Whole Foods to the handicap register. makes grocery shopping so much more bearable! i actually find crutching with one stick more tiring than with 2 sticks.
my 60 days on baby aspirin ended (after 30 days on lovenox shots--for blood clotting) so i'm not on any more PAO-related drugs. i wonder if my leg doesn't have good range of motion because of flexibility or if the surgery changed how my bones fit together and so the "hinge" is obstructed now. i can cut my toenails a little better now but i have to make an effort to keep my foot close to me. and sitting cross-legged still isn't so comfortable. i'm thinking about getting acupunture for the huge numb spot on my thigh which isn't really getting smaller. i started noticing my screws when i wore normal pants once. i was wondering why that area was tender/sore. also, sometimes feel a dull ache in my butt where Dr Millis says my ischium is cracked. hope the bone is healing!
since i'm supposed to continue taking my crutch out for a walk, i can still cut to the front of the line at Whole Foods to the handicap register. makes grocery shopping so much more bearable! i actually find crutching with one stick more tiring than with 2 sticks.
my 60 days on baby aspirin ended (after 30 days on lovenox shots--for blood clotting) so i'm not on any more PAO-related drugs. i wonder if my leg doesn't have good range of motion because of flexibility or if the surgery changed how my bones fit together and so the "hinge" is obstructed now. i can cut my toenails a little better now but i have to make an effort to keep my foot close to me. and sitting cross-legged still isn't so comfortable. i'm thinking about getting acupunture for the huge numb spot on my thigh which isn't really getting smaller. i started noticing my screws when i wore normal pants once. i was wondering why that area was tender/sore. also, sometimes feel a dull ache in my butt where Dr Millis says my ischium is cracked. hope the bone is healing!
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
10-week Post-op Appt
since i was away and Dr Millis was away, my 2-month post-op appt was scheduled closer to the 10-week mark. i re-read one of Dr Millis' old emails and it suggested that i could be off crutches after 8 weeks. so i possibly coulda chucked those things a long time ago! will i get post-crutches depression?
unfortunately my post-crutch depression will need to wait. we flew up to BOS for my 2nd post-op appt. Dr Millis opened the xrays i took that day and said, looks good--did we really do surgery on this hip? then he pointed out that there's a new hairline fracture where he made a cut on the ischium. he explained that he doesn't put screws everywhere so the piece down in the back can wiggle around with different activities and potentially crack. it's neither common nor uncommon and someone earlier in the day found a hairline fracture too. i feel no pain from this fracture, which would literally be a "pain in the ass", somewhere in the middle of the butt crease. he had me walk across the room unaided and commented that my gait was completely normal...but i should be using one crutch until the next appt. PT jaime said it'd be ok to walk around the house unaided. i'm going to return my wheelchair, which i haven't used since week 3 on a shopping mall field trip.
so, no more rowing for me but i can still swim and do stationary bike. i have to avoid hamstring and adductor motion, and any movement where i push against my left foot. my new PT moves are: 1) figure 4 stretches for both legs (ankle on opposite knee) and pull towards chest. 2) hip flexor stretch by hanging left leg over edge of table/bed and bringing right knee to chest. 3) leg lifts to front, side and back with blue theraband (graduated from orange band!). 4) stand on left leg and do right leg lifts w/o resistance (works on left leg balance). i can still do ab crunches and quad stretches but no more butt bridges (works hamstring/adductor). there is no more right/left weight-bearing restrictions, i can stand/crawl on knees, do toe push-ups, plank.
i have 4 screws in which Dr Millis wants to take out when my bone is healed. my pre-op MRI showed abnormal cartilage near the labrum on the medial side of the femoral head, some sort of cysts.
most people feel 95% back to normal around 6 months and it probably takes about a year to be back to 100%.
unfortunately my post-crutch depression will need to wait. we flew up to BOS for my 2nd post-op appt. Dr Millis opened the xrays i took that day and said, looks good--did we really do surgery on this hip? then he pointed out that there's a new hairline fracture where he made a cut on the ischium. he explained that he doesn't put screws everywhere so the piece down in the back can wiggle around with different activities and potentially crack. it's neither common nor uncommon and someone earlier in the day found a hairline fracture too. i feel no pain from this fracture, which would literally be a "pain in the ass", somewhere in the middle of the butt crease. he had me walk across the room unaided and commented that my gait was completely normal...but i should be using one crutch until the next appt. PT jaime said it'd be ok to walk around the house unaided. i'm going to return my wheelchair, which i haven't used since week 3 on a shopping mall field trip.
so, no more rowing for me but i can still swim and do stationary bike. i have to avoid hamstring and adductor motion, and any movement where i push against my left foot. my new PT moves are: 1) figure 4 stretches for both legs (ankle on opposite knee) and pull towards chest. 2) hip flexor stretch by hanging left leg over edge of table/bed and bringing right knee to chest. 3) leg lifts to front, side and back with blue theraband (graduated from orange band!). 4) stand on left leg and do right leg lifts w/o resistance (works on left leg balance). i can still do ab crunches and quad stretches but no more butt bridges (works hamstring/adductor). there is no more right/left weight-bearing restrictions, i can stand/crawl on knees, do toe push-ups, plank.
i have 4 screws in which Dr Millis wants to take out when my bone is healed. my pre-op MRI showed abnormal cartilage near the labrum on the medial side of the femoral head, some sort of cysts.
most people feel 95% back to normal around 6 months and it probably takes about a year to be back to 100%.
Monday, January 24, 2011
9 weeks already--when will I be normal?
i have been trying to find more things to do at the gym and have been attempting to hit the double end bag and heavy bag. i'm not sure if this causes too much pivoting and twisting in the hip so i stop after a little bit. plus i'm standing a bit upright cuz i'm not sure if i should be bending at my hips yet. i'd probably move around the bag more too but i probably shouldn't be doing the quick movements either. nor have i been cleared to get off crutches! now that pull-ups are bothering my still-healing neck, i threw in bench press and rows to kill time. also rowing was bothering my hip a little so i went back to bike. i'm falling apart! amazingly i haven't missed a single day of PT. they're so boring but i know they will help.
i finally got the courage to get on a scale. i'm pretty much the same weight. i heard stories of people gaining 15-30lbs while on crutches and was very fearful cuz i love to eat. PA erin said that healing burns calories, but i don't think my healing can keep up with my eating.
i was able to clip a couple of toenails on my left foot quickly without causing too much discomfort. i'm still cautious about standing on my left leg alone while putting on pants or socks or washing my feet.
my numb spot remains quite large; the whole left front half of my thigh from knee to groin. i massage it with a soapy buf-puf in the shower everyday, per PT jaime who says stimulating it can help the nerves wake up. my hip flexors are still very tight whenever i stand up. i wonder when i won't notice any residual from surgery--tightness, clicking, no restrictions on physical activity...
the whole foods near me is notorious for long lines. there are 35 registers, 10 or 11 queues and it's not unusual to see the line wrap all around to the entrance. one trip i waited in line and the cashier said next time i could go straight to the the handicap register #35. that really is handy, esp for the times when the checkout line is super long. the handicap card works for airport security lines too. i haven't really noticed much special treatment otherwise (after all here in NYC, cars honk at me in the crosswalk when i have a walk signal). one other time, we went to stephanie's on newbury in my wheelchair 1-wk post-op. that restaurant is always super crowded (but mediocre food). when my guy asked how long the wait would be for 2, he was told 20-30min. then the maitre'd saw me and said, oh, we'll get you right in; just wait a minute.
i finally got the courage to get on a scale. i'm pretty much the same weight. i heard stories of people gaining 15-30lbs while on crutches and was very fearful cuz i love to eat. PA erin said that healing burns calories, but i don't think my healing can keep up with my eating.
i was able to clip a couple of toenails on my left foot quickly without causing too much discomfort. i'm still cautious about standing on my left leg alone while putting on pants or socks or washing my feet.
my numb spot remains quite large; the whole left front half of my thigh from knee to groin. i massage it with a soapy buf-puf in the shower everyday, per PT jaime who says stimulating it can help the nerves wake up. my hip flexors are still very tight whenever i stand up. i wonder when i won't notice any residual from surgery--tightness, clicking, no restrictions on physical activity...
the whole foods near me is notorious for long lines. there are 35 registers, 10 or 11 queues and it's not unusual to see the line wrap all around to the entrance. one trip i waited in line and the cashier said next time i could go straight to the the handicap register #35. that really is handy, esp for the times when the checkout line is super long. the handicap card works for airport security lines too. i haven't really noticed much special treatment otherwise (after all here in NYC, cars honk at me in the crosswalk when i have a walk signal). one other time, we went to stephanie's on newbury in my wheelchair 1-wk post-op. that restaurant is always super crowded (but mediocre food). when my guy asked how long the wait would be for 2, he was told 20-30min. then the maitre'd saw me and said, oh, we'll get you right in; just wait a minute.
Insurance fun
anyone in the hospital that talks to you, touches you or even looks at you is probably billing you. i'm fortunate to have insurance that has good coverage. insurance paid my billed charges at 90%+, so i'm sure all the providers i had are happy too. here's some of the charges i racked up at CHB (billed charges, not what i paid thankfully!). my abacus broke halfway thru so i'm not gonna try adding it all up.
initial consultation
dr visit: $944
xray: $367
radiology: $86
dGEMRIC&blood donation
MRI: $3124
blood: $286 (i wasn't able to actually give blood)
radiology: $508
pre-op
labs: $915
xray: $367
ekg: $135
PT: $171
radiology: $140
anesthesiology consult: $374
hospital stay (cpt code 27299)
semi-private room (5nt/6 days inc late check-out): $10,830
medical services: $4764
supplies: $2430
labs: $509
xray: $1886
OR: $16,424
blood admin: $1205
PT: $1447
recovery room: $2431
pain: $1356
OR anesthesiologist: $3400
radiology: $201
MA State service charge: $638
wheelchair: $25/mo rental
commode: $46 (non-returnable)
1-mo follow-up
radiology: $86
PT: $171
xray: $372
6-wk follow-up
radiology: $86
PT: $170
xray: $372
4-mo follow-up
radiology: $86
millis: $355
pt: $168
xray: $367
i was billed for a pelvic x-ray radiology fee while hospitalized. it came back as out-of-network and i was responsible for the charge. i called insurance and they first said it was my OON deductible but then said that i should only have my inpatient admission copay since the procedure was done while i was hospitalized. the charge was resubmitted and should be covered.
Screw removal day surgery (cpt code 20680)
anesthesiology: $2148
genl med: $179
supplies: $117, $403
lab: $23
OR: $4457
anesth: $1407
recovery: $1014
fee: $105
surgery: $2142
initial consultation
dr visit: $944
xray: $367
radiology: $86
dGEMRIC&blood donation
MRI: $3124
blood: $286 (i wasn't able to actually give blood)
radiology: $508
pre-op
labs: $915
xray: $367
ekg: $135
PT: $171
radiology: $140
anesthesiology consult: $374
hospital stay (cpt code 27299)
semi-private room (5nt/6 days inc late check-out): $10,830
medical services: $4764
supplies: $2430
labs: $509
xray: $1886
OR: $16,424
blood admin: $1205
PT: $1447
recovery room: $2431
pain: $1356
OR anesthesiologist: $3400
radiology: $201
MA State service charge: $638
wheelchair: $25/mo rental
commode: $46 (non-returnable)
1-mo follow-up
radiology: $86
PT: $171
xray: $372
6-wk follow-up
radiology: $86
PT: $170
xray: $372
4-mo follow-up
radiology: $86
millis: $355
pt: $168
xray: $367
i was billed for a pelvic x-ray radiology fee while hospitalized. it came back as out-of-network and i was responsible for the charge. i called insurance and they first said it was my OON deductible but then said that i should only have my inpatient admission copay since the procedure was done while i was hospitalized. the charge was resubmitted and should be covered.
Screw removal day surgery (cpt code 20680)
anesthesiology: $2148
genl med: $179
supplies: $117, $403
lab: $23
OR: $4457
anesth: $1407
recovery: $1014
fee: $105
surgery: $2142
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Weeks 8&9
at the gym, my rowing pace increased to a 2:30-2:45 pace for 2000m without any issues. i switched to the orange theraband for PT, which has more resistance.
one day we were walking around a bunch and i ended up crutching around 2 miles. i was completely fatigued and almost couldn't make it home. i thought i may have overdone it but turns out i had minor flu. since i'm taking aspirin still, i had to make sure not to take anything with nsaid (e.g. theraflu). i slept a bunch and a couple days later, i had an appt in midtown east and decided to wander around, and 3 miles later i was home. i felt fine crutching but perhaps the activity caused my hip to have some minor pain when weight-bearing.
i tend to have tight shoulders/upper back from boxing and i think i still have the problem from crutching all the time now. one night i turned from my side while sleeping and i got a bad neck kink. i put a heating pad on my neck and later used tiger balm. i couldn't use salonpas patches because they have nsaid.
i spontaneously crossed my legs and didn't think anything of it. i was on a bed tho, so the puffiness probably made it easier. i've been having increased popping and clicking action in my hip. Dr Millis suggested it's b/c i've been pretty active. i hope it's not anything bad.
i was in the SF area for 10 days. this is usually our mid-winter golf trip...but of course i was not able to participate. i didn't feel like using my crutches while home at all. i think i can handle short stints around the house but i never leave home w/o the sticks. in the city, i still walked a lot but avoided the hills and stayed on flat streets. i'm not sure how i would have done on crutches on some of those big hills. my neck started feeling a little better but i messed it up again while doing pull-ups.
shortly after my PAO, i tried to set up a wheelchair rental for my trip to SF. it seemed it wouldn't be a problem; my insurance said it was fine, one of the NY apria reps said they would do it and i just needed a new prescription for it. i got transfered to the NY travel rep and she said she couldn't do it, that they only do travel DME for oxygen tanks. she asked why i couldn't bring my own chair and i explained that it would be very difficult for my guy to bring his suitcase, carry-on, travel golf bag, my suitcase and push me. i called the menlo park (SF) branch and they told me they could do it for me and just needed NY to set up my travel profile. NY wouldn't do it so menlo park tried to work it out with them. i called a CHB case manager if she could help, and she reported back that it was a payment issue, that NY didn't want to share the fee with menlo park. after a few days, menlo park called me back and said they'd send the wheelchair for me free of charge. my SF trip rolled around and my wheelchair didn't show up. they called me a few days later asking if i got the chair. i was doing fine w/o it and realistically, the wheelchair was most useful in the first month when i moved painfully slow with the remedial half-step crutch walk. i was also a good shopping cart in my wheelchair.
one day we were walking around a bunch and i ended up crutching around 2 miles. i was completely fatigued and almost couldn't make it home. i thought i may have overdone it but turns out i had minor flu. since i'm taking aspirin still, i had to make sure not to take anything with nsaid (e.g. theraflu). i slept a bunch and a couple days later, i had an appt in midtown east and decided to wander around, and 3 miles later i was home. i felt fine crutching but perhaps the activity caused my hip to have some minor pain when weight-bearing.
i tend to have tight shoulders/upper back from boxing and i think i still have the problem from crutching all the time now. one night i turned from my side while sleeping and i got a bad neck kink. i put a heating pad on my neck and later used tiger balm. i couldn't use salonpas patches because they have nsaid.
i spontaneously crossed my legs and didn't think anything of it. i was on a bed tho, so the puffiness probably made it easier. i've been having increased popping and clicking action in my hip. Dr Millis suggested it's b/c i've been pretty active. i hope it's not anything bad.
i was in the SF area for 10 days. this is usually our mid-winter golf trip...but of course i was not able to participate. i didn't feel like using my crutches while home at all. i think i can handle short stints around the house but i never leave home w/o the sticks. in the city, i still walked a lot but avoided the hills and stayed on flat streets. i'm not sure how i would have done on crutches on some of those big hills. my neck started feeling a little better but i messed it up again while doing pull-ups.
shortly after my PAO, i tried to set up a wheelchair rental for my trip to SF. it seemed it wouldn't be a problem; my insurance said it was fine, one of the NY apria reps said they would do it and i just needed a new prescription for it. i got transfered to the NY travel rep and she said she couldn't do it, that they only do travel DME for oxygen tanks. she asked why i couldn't bring my own chair and i explained that it would be very difficult for my guy to bring his suitcase, carry-on, travel golf bag, my suitcase and push me. i called the menlo park (SF) branch and they told me they could do it for me and just needed NY to set up my travel profile. NY wouldn't do it so menlo park tried to work it out with them. i called a CHB case manager if she could help, and she reported back that it was a payment issue, that NY didn't want to share the fee with menlo park. after a few days, menlo park called me back and said they'd send the wheelchair for me free of charge. my SF trip rolled around and my wheelchair didn't show up. they called me a few days later asking if i got the chair. i was doing fine w/o it and realistically, the wheelchair was most useful in the first month when i moved painfully slow with the remedial half-step crutch walk. i was also a good shopping cart in my wheelchair.
Weeks 6&7
i go to the gym almost every day and take the weekends the off. i added pushups to an elevated bar and front dips to my strength days. instead of bike, i decided to try the rower. my first time i did 2000m at a 3' pace to be careful. Dr Millis said it was ok as long as i listened to my body. i tried to invert and do a skin-the-cat and do leg raises on the dips/leg raise chair. neither one of those went well. tucking my knee to chest is very uncomfortable and causes pain.
i tried to go see the christmas displays in midtown on christmas day. it was such a zoo cuz all the tourists were out even tho nothing was open. i thought i could walk home but then we hopped on a bus back. NYC also got hit with a big blizzard. i had an appt and the office wasn't closed so i went ahead to my appt. i got a lot comments out in the snow on my crutches but it really wasn't that bad. just walk slowly and watch your step.
i am able to lift my leg up and prop onto stuff easier. i can't really sit cross-legged comfortably yet. my knee doesn't drop down and i have to hold it up so it doesn't hurt.
i've tried to take a few steps w/o crutches and it really is scary. i think i'm afraid of damaging something. after a few days of trying, i can do it but am very gimpy and probably shouldn't be doing it. i also finally can vacuum! using one crutch for safety. i felt that i could do almost anything on my own except vacuum so i feel like i'm completely self-sufficient now.
Week 5 & One-Month Post-op Appt
we flew up to BOS for my one-month post-op appt. i decided not take the airport wheelchair but they let you thru priority on crutches. i wasn't sure if i could walk thru the metal detector unassisted so i got treated to a full body pat down. my crutches got sent thru the bag scanner. the flight was uneventful and i was greeted with a wheelchair in BOS airport so i took it. on the way back to NYC, i went thru security by hopping on my good leg so i wouldn't have to get pat down.
PA erin was away this week so the appts were running really late. i didn't get into an exam room until 2hrs after my appt time. i had xrays done and Dr Millis was very pleased with my new pelvis/femur angles. the gap between the bones on the side of my hip where the cut was made is still 9mm wide! i didn't realize there was a real gap. other areas of the cut bone were growing in well. my left quad looks scrawny compared to my right. when i wear pants, the material on my left thigh is wrinkled funny while the right is taut...but they didn't do any girth measurements at the appt.
i have no more restrictions on my hip bending angles, i don't need to sleep with a pillow under my knee, i can sleep on my side (with a pillow b/w my knees) and stomach, and i can do a normal gait with my crutches while walking--so no more keeping bad leg in front of good leg at all times anymore. i can walk much faster! and i am to put 40% weight (up from 16%) on my left side. the only way i can really mess up my hip is by having a bad fall.
my new PT moves are butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch while lying on belly, and theraband leg raises. jaime gave me a yellow band to start with and i move up to the orange band when i feel stronger. the theraband leg raises def felt weird.
i also was cleared for the gym! i can do bike 0 resistance for 5min, upper body that doesn't engage lower body, gentle swim, calf press, quad ext and ham curls.
i also can stop my lovenox shots (hurray) and switch to 81mg aspirin for 60 days. what a productive trip!
the day after my 1mo post-op, i went to the gym and did 19' (3mi) on upright stationary bike. our gym has expresso bikes where the screen shows a video of bike path graphics, so it's like going for a "real" bike ride with scenery. i don't think i'd survive on a bike otherwise. i also hit the speed bag, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, overhand pull-ups, and quad extension. i was able to do 7 OH pull-ups pre-surgery and i seem to have lost 2 in the hospital. i'll have to work on that. i mentioned to jaime that my knee felt unstable and she explained that with quad dis-use, the muscle that connects to the knee gets weak.
i alternate my quasi-strength day with gentle swimming with a kickboard and walking in the pool forward and sideways for around 30min. i was very tentative my first time in the pool and barely made any ripples in the water while kicking. i started taking the bus to the pool b/c it's less stairs than going into the subway. but then i decided just to crutch back which is just under a mile.
my itching has stopped completely. i started to massage my scar with coconut oil, perpendicular to the scar with a 2 fingers. PT jaime and PA erin both said it didn't really matter what i use to massage. i am prone to keloid formation and there is some bumpiness on one end of my scar. i feel the massage is helping to break down the collagen there. my scar isn't very pretty and has some extra blobby parts instead of just being a thin line. there's a nubbin poking up on one end and parts of it seem folded over funny. i wonder if some inexperienced resident sewed me up. i want a plastic surgeon next time!
PA erin was away this week so the appts were running really late. i didn't get into an exam room until 2hrs after my appt time. i had xrays done and Dr Millis was very pleased with my new pelvis/femur angles. the gap between the bones on the side of my hip where the cut was made is still 9mm wide! i didn't realize there was a real gap. other areas of the cut bone were growing in well. my left quad looks scrawny compared to my right. when i wear pants, the material on my left thigh is wrinkled funny while the right is taut...but they didn't do any girth measurements at the appt.
i have no more restrictions on my hip bending angles, i don't need to sleep with a pillow under my knee, i can sleep on my side (with a pillow b/w my knees) and stomach, and i can do a normal gait with my crutches while walking--so no more keeping bad leg in front of good leg at all times anymore. i can walk much faster! and i am to put 40% weight (up from 16%) on my left side. the only way i can really mess up my hip is by having a bad fall.
my new PT moves are butt bridges, ab crunches, quad stretch while lying on belly, and theraband leg raises. jaime gave me a yellow band to start with and i move up to the orange band when i feel stronger. the theraband leg raises def felt weird.
i also was cleared for the gym! i can do bike 0 resistance for 5min, upper body that doesn't engage lower body, gentle swim, calf press, quad ext and ham curls.
i also can stop my lovenox shots (hurray) and switch to 81mg aspirin for 60 days. what a productive trip!
the day after my 1mo post-op, i went to the gym and did 19' (3mi) on upright stationary bike. our gym has expresso bikes where the screen shows a video of bike path graphics, so it's like going for a "real" bike ride with scenery. i don't think i'd survive on a bike otherwise. i also hit the speed bag, shoulder rotator cuff conditioning, overhand pull-ups, and quad extension. i was able to do 7 OH pull-ups pre-surgery and i seem to have lost 2 in the hospital. i'll have to work on that. i mentioned to jaime that my knee felt unstable and she explained that with quad dis-use, the muscle that connects to the knee gets weak.
i alternate my quasi-strength day with gentle swimming with a kickboard and walking in the pool forward and sideways for around 30min. i was very tentative my first time in the pool and barely made any ripples in the water while kicking. i started taking the bus to the pool b/c it's less stairs than going into the subway. but then i decided just to crutch back which is just under a mile.
my itching has stopped completely. i started to massage my scar with coconut oil, perpendicular to the scar with a 2 fingers. PT jaime and PA erin both said it didn't really matter what i use to massage. i am prone to keloid formation and there is some bumpiness on one end of my scar. i feel the massage is helping to break down the collagen there. my scar isn't very pretty and has some extra blobby parts instead of just being a thin line. there's a nubbin poking up on one end and parts of it seem folded over funny. i wonder if some inexperienced resident sewed me up. i want a plastic surgeon next time!
Week 4
my numb spot still covers the whole front half of my thigh, from groin to knee. i can feel pressure when i touch it but i don't feel anything on the skin. the heel of my hands hurt from crutching and it's uncomfortable to start crutching again in the mornings. my right butt often gets sore from supporting more weight but it recharges overnight without any lingering effects. we drove to NJ to a shopping mall for a wheelchair field trip. it was friggin' freezing and since it was a mall, we didn't bring coats. this is when i decided i should try to get a temp handi parking tag.
i'm still battling my itchy disease. i tried benadryl one night, didn't help. my friend said curel helped her a lot so i got some curel. then i decided to try coconut oil b/c i heard people with shaved heads use it for their bare scalps. coconut oil might be the magic potion!!! my itchiness improved dramatically overnight. can it be? i still had a little itchiness but it was no where near as intense.
my toenails are getting claw-like. i can't reach my toes and i don't think i can get into a pedicure chair. i searched for a house-call nail service and had someone come over. i think she may have been afraid to injure me cuz it wasn't a very good pedicure. while she was cleaning my feet, i noticed that my fourth toe was red and swollen. i couldn't tell if there was a cut on it. the next day my middle and 2nd toes were itchy and my foot was slightly red. several days later my calf looked swollen too. my guy tested my leg for pitted edema. the swelling went away when i sat down and the CHB nurse didn't think it was PAO-related. someone else suggested it was from dis-use and Dr Millis and PT jaime decided that it was probably because i wasn't putting enough weight on my left side while walking.
i took my first subway trip! i only did it because the subway entrance is across the street and the store i wanted to go to was a block from the subway. when i got to the store, i thought i could crutch forever. but there were a ton of stairs and i came home exhausted.
i'm still battling my itchy disease. i tried benadryl one night, didn't help. my friend said curel helped her a lot so i got some curel. then i decided to try coconut oil b/c i heard people with shaved heads use it for their bare scalps. coconut oil might be the magic potion!!! my itchiness improved dramatically overnight. can it be? i still had a little itchiness but it was no where near as intense.
my toenails are getting claw-like. i can't reach my toes and i don't think i can get into a pedicure chair. i searched for a house-call nail service and had someone come over. i think she may have been afraid to injure me cuz it wasn't a very good pedicure. while she was cleaning my feet, i noticed that my fourth toe was red and swollen. i couldn't tell if there was a cut on it. the next day my middle and 2nd toes were itchy and my foot was slightly red. several days later my calf looked swollen too. my guy tested my leg for pitted edema. the swelling went away when i sat down and the CHB nurse didn't think it was PAO-related. someone else suggested it was from dis-use and Dr Millis and PT jaime decided that it was probably because i wasn't putting enough weight on my left side while walking.
i took my first subway trip! i only did it because the subway entrance is across the street and the store i wanted to go to was a block from the subway. when i got to the store, i thought i could crutch forever. but there were a ton of stairs and i came home exhausted.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Week 3
back at home i got off all pain meds this week and was fine. i had a few restless itchy nights where i actually got out of bed, wiped down and re-applied all my itchy creams (sarna and gold bond). i don't know what's causing my itchiness. opiate withdrawal? night sweats? it's mostly my upper back and belly area. i am having issues adjusting my sleeping pillow for my knee appropriately. my heel was resting on the bed once and i woke up cuz my heel was hurting. then i thought i had to keep my heel off the bed, but then there was too much pressure under my knee and my calf and foot would get really cold and numb.
we went out in the wheelchair our first day back and i realized i won't be able to go for wheelchair strolls on my own. for one thing, i can't get out our front door unassisted. and then NYC sidewalks are not smooth, paved streets of gold. even getting pushed we had trouble getting over some curbs. i got cursed at by a guy on a bike for getting in his way. oh well. another time a guy came running after me to tell me i was crutching wrong. i asked him what injury he had and said i had hip surgery, and then he went on his way.
my energy has been really low and i've been taking catnaps. i'm probably still anemic. i wake up normal time and prepare hot bfast and go out every morning on my crutches. the farmers market is right across the street MWFSa so it makes for some decent browsing. i can't get very far however, maybe 2-3 blocks at most, and then i got kinda exhausted. if i buy anything, my heavy bag is hard to deal with.
i can prep and cook ok but it is tiring having to shuffle back and forth from the fridge on crutches and not having hands to carry stuff. then i have to stay on my right leg for a long time and it gets tired and sore. i don't mind cooking but it's taxing to do it everyday. we received some frozen meal deliveries which taste ok but are convenient. our church has a meals ministry where volunteers deliver food for a 2wk time period. that was really helpful too.
for bone healing, i am supposed to eat calcium, vitamin C and iron. i stocked my fridge with OJ and soy milk and started taking Caltrate 600mg and a multi-vitamin. meat protein will be good for my wound.
showering is still a chore and tiring. our bathtub lip is knee-high and the sliding doors open just wide enough for me to sit on the ledge and swing my legs in one at a time with a split second where i have to overbend at my hip. our walk-in shower is 26 stairs away. i haven't used my 3-in-one commode at home and just hope that i don't slip and fall in the shower.
my steri-strips have been falling off and the incision is scabby in some spots. my belly has seemed quite puffy since surgery. i don't know if i'm eating more or still retaining fluids. or possibly lack of exercise has made the area less contained. i'm too scared to get on a scale and i haven't tried wearing real pants yet.
i went out with friends a couple of times, all within one block of home. it takes me like 3x's as long to get anywhere but i'm fine once i get to the restaurant. i had dinner one night with a friend and called my guy to take me home in my wheelchair. i learned that i couldn't cross park ave in one stop light. i just couldn't even think of trying to crutch back and it was too cold out. i tried wearing a winter coat once but my crutches get caught in the puffy material and i can't crutch properly so i haven't been wearing heavy jackets. NYC streets are dirty and full of fecal stuff so i got a can of clorox wipes to clean the bottom of my crutches every time i come home. eeeewww.
the strain in my hip during PT is getting better. i notice new found strength every 2-3 days which is exciting! i was able to lift my leg off the couch w/o using my hands and i could raise my leg while seated!
we went out in the wheelchair our first day back and i realized i won't be able to go for wheelchair strolls on my own. for one thing, i can't get out our front door unassisted. and then NYC sidewalks are not smooth, paved streets of gold. even getting pushed we had trouble getting over some curbs. i got cursed at by a guy on a bike for getting in his way. oh well. another time a guy came running after me to tell me i was crutching wrong. i asked him what injury he had and said i had hip surgery, and then he went on his way.
my energy has been really low and i've been taking catnaps. i'm probably still anemic. i wake up normal time and prepare hot bfast and go out every morning on my crutches. the farmers market is right across the street MWFSa so it makes for some decent browsing. i can't get very far however, maybe 2-3 blocks at most, and then i got kinda exhausted. if i buy anything, my heavy bag is hard to deal with.
i can prep and cook ok but it is tiring having to shuffle back and forth from the fridge on crutches and not having hands to carry stuff. then i have to stay on my right leg for a long time and it gets tired and sore. i don't mind cooking but it's taxing to do it everyday. we received some frozen meal deliveries which taste ok but are convenient. our church has a meals ministry where volunteers deliver food for a 2wk time period. that was really helpful too.
for bone healing, i am supposed to eat calcium, vitamin C and iron. i stocked my fridge with OJ and soy milk and started taking Caltrate 600mg and a multi-vitamin. meat protein will be good for my wound.
showering is still a chore and tiring. our bathtub lip is knee-high and the sliding doors open just wide enough for me to sit on the ledge and swing my legs in one at a time with a split second where i have to overbend at my hip. our walk-in shower is 26 stairs away. i haven't used my 3-in-one commode at home and just hope that i don't slip and fall in the shower.
my steri-strips have been falling off and the incision is scabby in some spots. my belly has seemed quite puffy since surgery. i don't know if i'm eating more or still retaining fluids. or possibly lack of exercise has made the area less contained. i'm too scared to get on a scale and i haven't tried wearing real pants yet.
i went out with friends a couple of times, all within one block of home. it takes me like 3x's as long to get anywhere but i'm fine once i get to the restaurant. i had dinner one night with a friend and called my guy to take me home in my wheelchair. i learned that i couldn't cross park ave in one stop light. i just couldn't even think of trying to crutch back and it was too cold out. i tried wearing a winter coat once but my crutches get caught in the puffy material and i can't crutch properly so i haven't been wearing heavy jackets. NYC streets are dirty and full of fecal stuff so i got a can of clorox wipes to clean the bottom of my crutches every time i come home. eeeewww.
the strain in my hip during PT is getting better. i notice new found strength every 2-3 days which is exciting! i was able to lift my leg off the couch w/o using my hands and i could raise my leg while seated!
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