The Famous Sock Putter-On-er

My parents seem to be fascinated with this tool so I wanted to share with you... I can't bend the hip more than 90 degrees so I can't reach over to put on socks (or to shave my legs--so I got 'em waxed today). The hospital sent me home with this nifty tool to help with the socks. I also have a grabber to put the sock and tool over the foot to start out, and to take the sock off, pick things up off the floor, etc.

Thanks to Anne for the photo which is great, other than the funny face I'm making (hey, I'm concentrating!).

To answer yesterday's comment, yes, I'm talking with other people who have had the procedure. I found listservs for people with my condition and also for people who have had this surgery. It's very helpful to be able to communicate with others in the same boat, and I've also learned a lot that way. It's nice to be in touch with people who can relate to my specific experience, but really, I think anyone who's ever had to deal with something sucky in life can relate just fine! Besides, just knowing that so many people are rooting for me makes a big difference in my attitude and morale.

3 week video

I'm feeling pretty good... still have pain in the hip. From time to time there are sharp, stabbing pains in the skin, muscles and even what feels like deep in the bone. I think these have something to do with the healing process; I just keep imagining that what I'm feeling are nerves and things sort of stitching themselves back together. And, I'm sore at the end of the day, especially if I've walked or been more active than usual. Doing normal stuff like errands seems to tire me out pretty quickly.



I have been discharged by the home health nurse and have "graduated" from physical therapy! The home health nurse says my incision looks great and my scar should be minimal. (To me it looks horrible, but I don't have a lot of experience with surgical scars--thank goodness.) My PT Tom says there is nothing left to teach me, that I just need to keep doing my exercises until the restrictions have been lifted and I can start doing outpatient therapy. Also he okayed me to walk with a cane, check out the video!

Two weeks down!

Okay really two weeks and one day... I should have posted yesterday. I did film this video of me walking with one crutch yesterday:



I'm amazed at how quickly I seem to be recovering. I'm still sore but getting stronger every day. The nurse came and removed the staples from my incision so I'm now able to take regular showers! Hooray... I've been walking around the neighborhood and increasing the distance by just a little each day.

I've also been enjoying visits from friends. On Wednesday, Danielle came and took me out to Dominick's in downtown Lawrenceville. Other than the unexpected meat sauce on the gnocchi, it was a great first outing! Yesterday Kelley brought this delicious apple pie over, and Cap'n Phil came by to say hi too.

Twelve days out

I'm still doing fine here, no big news. I'm getting around on two crutches but the physical therapist said I could use one from time to time, so I've been making short one-crutch trips for supplies from the recliner to the kitchen. I'm keeping up with my exercises and improving just a little every day. A few nights ago the muscles got really super-sore but seem to be better now. I'm down to just Tylenol for pain meds. If the weather stays nice, I'll try to walk outside this afternoon--but probably after my physical therapist comes by, in case he has something tough up his sleeve for me. I might also try to venture out to the grocery or drug store, because I'm starting to feel kind of house-bound. Tonight is band practice, but I am still hesitant about going. I'm not sure where I could comfortably sit!

Yesterday was great--my good friend Katie came out during the day while mom and dad went to play bridge, and then some friends of my parents brought yummy thai food over for dinner. I really enjoyed having the company.

Saturday Morning at the Watson Rehab Center

Breakfast was divine... raspberry cream-cheese filled french toast! I coudn't ask for better care, or better accomodations.

Yesterday the home health nurse came by to check on me. She had to ask me a lot of strange questions (like if I was a coal-miner), and she wanted to see all my medicines along with my explanation of what I was taking them for. She thinks I'm having a reaction to the adhesives--I have a few blisters on my leg and a sore where I had a band-aid on my hand.

Today the physical therapist is coming. I'm looking forward to getting started. I've been doing some exercises on my own, twice a day.

This virtual hip resurfacing is kind of interesting. It shows, in cartoon form, all of the steps that had to be taken in my surgery. Even though it's a cartoon, it's not for the faint-hearted! I'm glad I didn't do it before the surgery. After I did it, I realized why I'm so sore!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm one week out from my resurfacing surgery, yay! In honor of Thanksgiving here's a list of things I'm thankful for this year:

-I live in Atlanta, where my parents and my sister's family both live. I'm so glad I don't have to travel to see them, and I'm glad I can recuperate with my folks and they can keep doing the things they like to do.

-My parents are retired so they have enough time to take care of me, but still young and healthy and able to take care of me.

-I work with wonderful, supportive people who have really helped me through a difficult year. They have given me tons of advice and support on my health issues, helped me switch to a fellowship with a better health insurance plan, and sent me flowers after both surgeries!

-After a year and a half of worsening pain and more and more limited activity, I'm on the road to getting better.

Here is a picture of my pirate band-aid, next to the longest band-aid I've ever seen. I know it's not the most attractive picture of me--my leg's still swollen, there are some bruises and blisters, and it's still stained with the betadine--but I'm still proud of it.

Below, see video of me walking with commentary by dad. The white socks are NOT a fashion statement--they are the anti-embolism stockings I have to wear to avoid blood clots (for five weeks, ugh).

6 days down

Six days out. My hip is sore, but it's manageable. It's hard for me to move my left leg, although getting easier and easier. At first I had to have someone lift it and move it to get in and out of bed. Now I can get in bed myself, although I still need a little help getting out of bed (I have a leg-lifter and I'm getting pretty good at using it).

I have some precautions I have to follow for about 6 weeks: my thigh can't be less than a right angle to my torso, my leg can't cross the midline of my body, and I can't twist the hip or leg. Basically this means I have to sit in chairs with arms so I can use them to push up, and I can't cross my legs. I have to sleep with this huge wedge between my legs to make sure I don't cross them or twist in my sleep. It looks rather torturous but I really don't mind it, I'd rather have it than worry about moving the wrong way.

Lillian was commenting about Roald Dahl's hip bone. In my case, my scar is the only souvenir because they didn't take as much bone out as with a total hip replacement. They shaved off the top of the femoral head and capped it with an implant. They also put a metal cup in the acetabulum, or pelvic hip. This resurfacing technique preserves more bone for later in life, in case I need a revision. It also allows for more range of motion and once it's all healed, is less likely to become dislocated than a typical total hip replacement. That means I can do yoga again one day, yay!

To the right is a picture of the kind of implant I have. Click on the picture for more information about resurfacing courtesy of Wright, the company that made my new hip.

Today I walked outside a little bit for practice. Stay tuned tomorrow, I'm planning to post a video of me walking with my flame crutches and shiny new bionic hip!