Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery

[Guest guest]

Margaret

Your recovery seems quite similar to mine. Also, I think that we

have similar attitudes.

I drove, as you know, for short distances at the 4-week mark, no

problem. It only got better after that.

I told my French OS that I did, and he thought it was great.

I don't know if the French are crazier or more advanced than the

rest of the world on THR, but I have been given permission to do

almost anything.

France performs about one-third of the THR that the US does, so it

has had lots of experience. France's success rate is outstanding.

Many Brits come to France for their operations.

(Oh, oh. Now I'll get messages saying that I'm anti-American because

I praised something in another country. I AM NOT ANTI-AMERICAN. If I

were, then I would be anti-myself. I love myself. I love myself. My

picture's on my shelf!)

DuPuy is the French company that made my " double mobility "

prothesis. The company was bought out by & , an

American company, so...?

So what?

Anyhow, if I were in your sandals, I would continue doing exactly

what you plan to do. In fact, I did.

Break a leg!

Staninfr

> Today is exactly 6 weeks since my TRHR. Yesterday I went back (by

taxi) to the hospital in Jerusalem for my checkup. The doctor was

very pleased with my progress - my most recent xray was " excellent " ,

and he's removed practically all the restrictions - the 90% etc.

Except he said I mustn't cross my legs, and I should still keep a

pillow between my legs when sleeping. He also didn't recommend bike

riding yet (which I asked about - in particular stationary bike) -

means lifting the leg too high at this stage. Otherwise - I can walk

as much as I like, and swim.....

>

> My big disappointment was about driving - I'm sorry I asked him!

(maybe sometimes it's better not to ask...) He replied " better

wait a bit longer - another 6 weeks " [!!] What I didn't tell him

(and please keep this secret!!) is, I have already started driving

short distances, a few days ago - no problem at all. In fact last

Friday I went drove up to the Golan Heights to visit the

archaeological museum in Katzrin - about 40 min drive each way. No

problem, no feeling of strain - did not tire me at all, and my leg

felt fine - not even muscular ache afterwards. And I felt so good

being able to get out after 6 weeks solitary house confinement!

>

> No way am I going to wait another 6 weeks before driving. I live

alone, I depend on my car, at least for shopping. I have nobody else

to drive me. I *have* walked to the nearest supermarket a couple of

times since my surgery - but it's a very long way downhill (uphill

coming back, in the Israeli summer heat) - I only managed to bring a

few lightweight items, and was exhausted by the time I struggled

back. I don't want to keep asking friends to do shopping for me -

they are busy working people, and it's not convenient for them. I've

been driving for more than 40 years, I've had this particular car

(Renault 19) about 9 years, and I'm very comfortable with it. At

this point I feel better driving than I do walking. I trust my own

judgement - I wouldn't drive if I didn't feel safe and in full

control of the car. **** frustrating!

>

> This doctor doesn't know me, had never seen me before - he just

happened to be the one I was sent to in the outpatient orthopedic

clinic. He didn't ask me anything about my home circumstances - just

looked at my xray and did a quick examination of my right leg range

of movement (which was fine). I was in and out in a few minutes.

>

> Otherwise I feel fine. I walk around inside the house mostly

without a stick - still a slight limp on the right, but if I

concentrate I can walk without a limp. The PT did his last home

visit 2 days ago - had me walking up and down the stairs and round

the garden - very pleased with my progress! I shall be continuing

twice a week at the PT clinic (which is 5 minutes walk from my

home.) I walk about an hour every day around the neighbourhood,

with a stick - but I find I hardly lean on it any more, it's more

for self-confidence and balance, and for managing kerbs and steps. I

still get some muscular ache and nerve twinges. And I feel very

stiff when I've been sitting at the computer too long... it wears

off when I get up and walk around. But I practically haven't used

painkillers for the last month. I am beginning to feel like a

nornal person again!

>

> As for the driving - I am going to use my car for *essential*

short-distance trips - like to the supermarket, the swimming

pool.... Three months without driving? - no way!!! Reminds me of

something I heard once from a French comedy (Moliere? maybe Stan

will know) - I forget the details, but there's this elderly rich man

who is smoking. drinking, whatever.... His butler says to him " you

shouldn't be doing that, monsieur, what would the doctor say? " and

the old man replies " then we shan't tell the doctor, shall we! "

>

> Margaret

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/1/2004 3:08:22 AM Central Standard Time, margaret@... writes:

His butler says to him "you shouldn't be doing that, monsieur, what would the doctor say?" and the old man replies "then we shan't tell the doctor, shall we!"

______

And since you didn't appraise the MD about your circumstances, you got the standard answer that you didn't want. It sometimes does make sense to argue a bit with your doctor about something like this.....or your therapist, or whoever. They are not in your shoes, do not have your experiences, and are just as likely to flip off a standard answer as to consider your unique needs. He said everything was Excellent......what the heck is his problem?

y

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your encouragement, Stan. I intend to carry on driving as far as I feel able to. The doctors here (especially at Hadassah) seem to lay down very strict guidelines about cars. For instance, in the pre-op orientation-day, and also when I was discharged, the instructuions were that that we should not only not drive, but not even travel as a passenger in a car, for the first six weeks. And my PT told me (looking at his printed notes) that one shouldn't drive for 3 months after hip surgery! when I reacted strongly, he modified this to "well... at least 6 weeks.") In fact I was told on discharge that when I came for the 6-week checkup I should travel by ambulance lying flat on my back! (I didn't - I went by taxi. I even thought of driving myself there - the main reason I didn't was that my battery was playing up.) I wonder if it is to cover themselves against liability, given the high rate of traffic-accidents in Israel?

Margaret

----- Original Message -----

From: Stan

MargaretYour recovery seems quite similar to mine. Also, I think that we have similar attitudes.I drove, as you know, for short distances at the 4-week mark, no problem. It only got better after that.I told my French OS that I did, and he thought it was great.Anyhow, if I were in your sandals, I would continue doing exactly what you plan to do. In fact, I did.Break a leg!Staninfr

[Guest guest]

Margaret, good going with the good news and

great progress. You have done well.

Margaret, with 90% of your restrictions

removed, I can't understand what restriction driving would imping upon.

My doctor told me that by 6 weeks post op if I was not taking pain meds

(and I was not by then) that I could drive. If you continue to be

carful I think you will be OK.

Have fun driving to the store (Maybe you should just

rollerblade)

Larry

At 11:09 AM 9/1/2004 +0300, you wrote:

Today is

exactly 6 weeks since my TRHR. Yesterday I went back (by taxi) to

the hospital in Jerusalem for my checkup. The doctor was very pleased

with my progress - my most recent xray was " excellent " , and

he's removed practically all the restrictions - the 90% etc. Except he

said I mustn't cross my legs, and I should still keep a pillow between my

legs when sleeping. He also didn't recommend bike riding yet (which

I asked about - in particular stationary bike) - means lifting the leg

too high at this stage. Otherwise - I can walk as much as I like, and

swim.....

My big disappointment was about driving - I'm

sorry I asked him! (maybe sometimes it's better not to

ask...) He replied " better wait a bit longer - another 6

weeks " [!!] What I didn't tell him (and please keep this

secret!!) is, I have already started driving short distances, a few days

ago - no problem at all. In fact last Friday I went drove up to the

Golan Heights to visit the archaeological museum in Katzrin - about 40

min drive each way. No problem, no feeling of strain - did not tire me at

all, and my leg felt fine - not even muscular ache afterwards. And I felt

so good being able to get out after 6 weeks solitary house

confinement!

No way am I going to wait another 6 weeks

before driving. I live alone, I depend on my car, at least for shopping.

I have nobody else to drive me. I *have* walked to the nearest

supermarket a couple of times since my surgery - but it's a very long way

downhill (uphill coming back, in the Israeli summer heat) - I only

managed to bring a few lightweight items, and was exhausted by the time I

struggled back. I don't want to keep asking friends to do shopping for me

- they are busy working people, and it's not convenient for them. I've

been driving for more than 40 years, I've had this particular car

(Renault 19) about 9 years, and I'm very comfortable with it. At this

point I feel better driving than I do walking. I trust my own judgement -

I wouldn't drive if I didn't feel safe and in full control of the car.

**** frustrating!

This doctor doesn't know me, had never seen me

before - he just happened to be the one I was sent to in the outpatient

orthopedic clinic. He didn't ask me anything about my home circumstances

- just looked at my xray and did a quick examination of my right leg

range of movement (which was fine). I was in and out in a few

minutes.

Otherwise I feel fine. I walk around inside the

house mostly without a stick - still a slight limp on the right, but if I

concentrate I can walk without a limp. The PT did his last home visit 2

days ago - had me walking up and down the stairs and round the garden -

very pleased with my progress! I shall be continuing twice a week

at the PT clinic (which is 5 minutes walk from my home.) I

walk about an hour every day around the neighbourhood, with a stick - but

I find I hardly lean on it any more, it's more for self-confidence and

balance, and for managing kerbs and steps. I still get some muscular ache

and nerve twinges. And I feel very stiff when I've been sitting at the

computer too long... it wears off when I get up and walk around. But I

practically haven't used painkillers for the last month. I am

beginning to feel like a nornal person again!

As for the driving - I am going to use my car

for *essential* short-distance trips - like to the supermarket, the

swimming pool.... Three months without driving? - no

way!!! Reminds me of something I heard once from a French

comedy (Moliere? maybe Stan will know) - I forget the details, but

there's this elderly rich man who is smoking. drinking,

whatever.... His butler says to him " you shouldn't be doing

that, monsieur, what would the doctor say? " and the old man replies

" then we shan't tell the doctor, shall we! "

Margaret

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Larry. Hey, I never thought of rollerblading to the shop! Maybe I should take some lessons from Stan. Would be a problem coming back up hill with a load of shopping though.

Margaret

Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery

Margaret, good going with the good news and great progress. You have done well.Margaret, with 90% of your restrictions removed, I can't understand what restriction driving would imping upon. My doctor told me that by 6 weeks post op if I was not taking pain meds (and I was not by then) that I could drive. If you continue to be carful I think you will be OK.Have fun driving to the store (Maybe you should just rollerblade)Larry