One more note today...
I am truly amazed and blessed to have such a supporting group of family members, friends, boyfriend and co-workers. I appreciate all of the "get well cards", your packages of goodies, your visits, and your thoughts and prayers!
I seriously could not have gotten through this without your encouragement.
I am very fortunate :)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Day 14 -Progress
Today is my 2 week anniversary from the surgery on 3/17/09.
Within these past two weeks, it's amazing to see and feel the progress from Day 1. In the hospital, the nurses had to hold my ankle and literally guide my leg from bed to floor -I had absolutely no strength in the leg at all. In those first 3 days I felt as though my leg would NEVER be the same. It only a matter of a few more days, I was able to move my leg myself from bed to floor. Thank God!
I have been working on all the exercises from the physical therapist several times a day. The leg lift really frustrated me. A simple movement of lifting the operated knee to hip height is so difficult!! In my first attempts, the foot only came about 1 inch off the floor, I'm now up to about 7 inches off the floor. All of these exercises are so frustrating since I'm a former dancer and pilates instructor -I was once able to do all of these with no problem.
I understand my range of motion is still limited because 1) I'm recovering from major surgery and the muscles need to heal 2) For the past 6 years I have shifted my weight onto my left leg ALWAYS. I can't even balance my weight on my right side. Therefore, I need to re-teach the right hip/butt/thigh muscles how to hold my weight.
I'm looking forward to continued outpatient physical therapy to improve my balance, strength, and walk.
The PT is coming today -hopefully he will see an improvement in me too.
Within these past two weeks, it's amazing to see and feel the progress from Day 1. In the hospital, the nurses had to hold my ankle and literally guide my leg from bed to floor -I had absolutely no strength in the leg at all. In those first 3 days I felt as though my leg would NEVER be the same. It only a matter of a few more days, I was able to move my leg myself from bed to floor. Thank God!
I have been working on all the exercises from the physical therapist several times a day. The leg lift really frustrated me. A simple movement of lifting the operated knee to hip height is so difficult!! In my first attempts, the foot only came about 1 inch off the floor, I'm now up to about 7 inches off the floor. All of these exercises are so frustrating since I'm a former dancer and pilates instructor -I was once able to do all of these with no problem.
I understand my range of motion is still limited because 1) I'm recovering from major surgery and the muscles need to heal 2) For the past 6 years I have shifted my weight onto my left leg ALWAYS. I can't even balance my weight on my right side. Therefore, I need to re-teach the right hip/butt/thigh muscles how to hold my weight.
I'm looking forward to continued outpatient physical therapy to improve my balance, strength, and walk.
The PT is coming today -hopefully he will see an improvement in me too.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Day 11 -Saturday, 3/28/09
Today is Day 11 since surgery. I got through the first week! I have to say, each day is getting a bit better and I'm noticing more range of motion and strength in the hip and leg as I continue with my physical therapy and walking. Although, when I push myself too much with the therapy, my thigh gets very stiff and painful.
Let's see, what have I been doing? Watching lots of daytime TV, reading New Moon in the Kindle (love it!), constantly reading and posting on my BoneSmart forum, on facebook, on email, resting, showering, doing physical therapy exercises, having lovely visitors, REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!! That's my day in a nutshell.
The visiting nurse came today and told me my incision looks great -thank god. The PT was here last Friday and we worked on going up and down stairs. It wasn't bad at all.
I'm still struggling with sleeping -I can't get comfy on my back -I HATE IT! I try to curl my head to the side to replicate the feeling of being on my side, but that only works for a few minutes. I can't wait until this restriction is lifted. I also have to sleep with a wedge-like pillow in between my legs to avoid crossing my legs (one of the restrictions during this recovery period).
I couldn't stand looking at my ugly brown cane, so I purchased a "fashionable" cane. I'll post a pic. I know it's a bit silly, since hopefully, I will only be using the cane for another few weeks. Well, I will save this cane for when I'm old and need it again :)
That's it for now!
Let's see, what have I been doing? Watching lots of daytime TV, reading New Moon in the Kindle (love it!), constantly reading and posting on my BoneSmart forum, on facebook, on email, resting, showering, doing physical therapy exercises, having lovely visitors, REPEAT, REPEAT, REPEAT!! That's my day in a nutshell.
The visiting nurse came today and told me my incision looks great -thank god. The PT was here last Friday and we worked on going up and down stairs. It wasn't bad at all.
I'm still struggling with sleeping -I can't get comfy on my back -I HATE IT! I try to curl my head to the side to replicate the feeling of being on my side, but that only works for a few minutes. I can't wait until this restriction is lifted. I also have to sleep with a wedge-like pillow in between my legs to avoid crossing my legs (one of the restrictions during this recovery period).
I couldn't stand looking at my ugly brown cane, so I purchased a "fashionable" cane. I'll post a pic. I know it's a bit silly, since hopefully, I will only be using the cane for another few weeks. Well, I will save this cane for when I'm old and need it again :)
That's it for now!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Day 4 -Home from the Hospital!
Hi!
I am home from the hospital! It is day 4 and I'm very glad to be home. I came home late yesterday and am doing pretty well. I will write more about the surgery and my hospital stay in detail, when I'm feeling more up to it. I'm a little woozy right now, so I'd rather save those details for when I can write. Just took a shower -it felt AMAZING! I did my physical therapy today, got evaluated by the physical therapist, watched about 7 shows, took a shower, went through mail, and now getting ready to get back in bed! I'm not in too much pain -just very swollen and very stiff.
I will post some more this weekend. The pic below is from the hospital. This was taken by either my sister or Chris right after the surgery -once I came out of the recovery room, and was rolled into my "room", they all came running in! It was such a nice feeling to see everyone and know I survived the surgery (yes, I was afraid of dying!)
Chris posted this picture from the hospital for me (don't think I was that with it to be able to get on a computer and post).
Off to bed :)
I am home from the hospital! It is day 4 and I'm very glad to be home. I came home late yesterday and am doing pretty well. I will write more about the surgery and my hospital stay in detail, when I'm feeling more up to it. I'm a little woozy right now, so I'd rather save those details for when I can write. Just took a shower -it felt AMAZING! I did my physical therapy today, got evaluated by the physical therapist, watched about 7 shows, took a shower, went through mail, and now getting ready to get back in bed! I'm not in too much pain -just very swollen and very stiff.
I will post some more this weekend. The pic below is from the hospital. This was taken by either my sister or Chris right after the surgery -once I came out of the recovery room, and was rolled into my "room", they all came running in! It was such a nice feeling to see everyone and know I survived the surgery (yes, I was afraid of dying!)
Chris posted this picture from the hospital for me (don't think I was that with it to be able to get on a computer and post).
Off to bed :)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Surgery Time: 5:30AM!
Yikes! Just got my call for my surgery time. (The hospital does not call you until 4:00-9:00 the night prior). I am the first surgery of the day. I need to be there at 5:30am! I will try to sleep tonight, but not sure if I'll be able to. The hospital is about 45 minutes away -we'll be leaving the house around 4:30am. I'm not a morning person! Now that I received the call, the butterflies are here!
Let's see, what am I most nervous about -the anesthesia -IV, breathing tube. Ah, I hate needles. Can't wait to wake up and hear them say it's all over.
Let's see, what am I most nervous about -the anesthesia -IV, breathing tube. Ah, I hate needles. Can't wait to wake up and hear them say it's all over.
Day before Surgery
Hi All~
I thought it would be a good idea to capture my experience of my hip surgery. Today is March 16, 2009, the day before surgery. After 6 years of hip pain, I have decided to have a right total hip replacement. Here is a little background for you...
I danced all my life -ballet, jazz, modern, tap, broadway, etc. During my college years, I noticed this dulling pain in my right hip. (I was a Dance & Communications major at Montclair State University). I realized both my outward and inward rotation was becoming very limited. Furthermore, I was unable to shift my weight to my right supporting hip.
I began to see many orthopedics, getting various opinions. Most felt I had AVN -Avascular Necrosis. This is when the blood does not get to the bone -which leads to no cartilage. The causes of AVN could be steroid use, excessive alcohol abuse, or just an unknown reason -that's me! I developed AVN for no reason -quite frustrating.
So here I am 6 years later. Through the years, the pain has become increasingly worse. However, some days are just fine -this is why I never knew if I was ready for not. Although, when I think about all of the activities I don't do because I know of the pain that will follow, it saddens me. I'm 27 years old, and would like to enjoy normal activities without the pain afterwards. After much contemplating, I decided NOW is the time!
I am off to complete some last minute things before tomorrow -oil change, food shopping, cleaning, etc (not that my car is going to be moving for 6 weeks -but I would like it done for when I able to drive).
My anticipated recovery time is about 8 weeks -can't drive till 6 weeks, but back to work in 8 weeks. The full restrictions are lifted at 12 weeks.
Well, that's about it. I will post after the surgery!
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