Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery= to Margaret in Israwl

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret, Don't get dicouraged. The aches and pains in tissues, muscles and tendons come and go. From what I've read and heard, three months is about the length of time it takes to return to complete "normalcy", and that's about what it's taken me. Of course, I'm 10 years older than you, and far less athletic in tnedency, but it is so nice to be able to walk again!! Keep your spirits up!! When do you start your classes again?

Charlotte in CTMargaret Hayon <margaret@...> wrote:

Thanks Charlotte! The pillow between my legs doesn't bother me too much - though I have also slept without it during the past week. I also managed to turn over and sleep on my operated side - which I couldn't do before because the scar was still too tender.

I am still not completely without pain when I walk - what particularly bothers me is a sharp occasional twinge in my right knee, and nerve-pain down my left (non-operated) leg (which I've been told will also need to have THR at some stage - though I still have some cartilage there at present.) Some days are better than others - but I'm not yet finally out of the woods. I felt great at 3 weeks - such a relief that the old hip-pain had finally gone, and I was able to walk outside with a stick! But these other persistent pains are disappointing. I'd be interested to hear from other hippies how many weeks after their surgery they were at last completely pain-free and walking without stick and without limp?

Margaret

Re: Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery=reply to Margaret

Hi Margaret, you're doing just fine!! I also tend to trust my own judgement about what I can and can't do. I hate sleeping with a pillow between my legs, so I don't. I took my first yoga class yesterday, and it was great. I just avoided movements which I thought would be a strain. Isn't it miraculous to be able to walk without pain? I'm 3 months post-op now, and I feel as if my energy level has returned to where it was 2 years ago!! I don't want to bike ride as you do, or roller blade as Stan does,.but I never did those things before my OA hit. I went to a pre-semester faculty meeting last night, and it felt very reassuring to be able to walk without a cane and without a limp, and to have my colleagues notice and comment on it. I teach my first class on Sat.9/11, and I'm looking forward to it, despite my usual pre-semester jitters.

Lets keep up the good work. Onward and upward!~! Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlotte, Thanks for encouragement. Sorry for delay in replying - I had a few "down" days when I didn't feel like writing. Happens to us all, I guess (expect maybe Stan? )

I'm realising that progress isn't always "getting better every day" - there are ups and downs and plateaus (or should that be plateaux?) - one day I feel fairly okay, the next day new aches and pains hit me.... The operated right hip joint is doing great - feels normal! I can move it all ways and without pain. The "gremlins" have moved elsewhere: lower back, left hip and sciatic pains down that leg, both knees.... (gives me fears of further surgeries ahead... though I hope part of it is simply normal readjustment of the body.) I feel extremely stiff when I get out of bed or up from sitting position - have to hang on to support until I get my back straight. However, it does ease with walking. I'm now halfway through the 3-month post-op period - hope I shall feel better by the end of it! (unless I fall off a mountain or down a volcano.... see below!!)

On the positive side, three post-op "firsts" to celebrate:

1) a lovely soak in a hot fragrant bath-tub! I've been having showers only since the surgery - I was afraid to lie down in the bath tub in case I couldn't get out again... Anyway it went fine, no problem getting out... and was very relaxing, such a pleasure!

2) managed to cut my toenails, both feet, for first time since surgery. Sat on sofa, put each foot in turn on low stool, and was able to reach them with the scissors. Hi, toes, nice to meet you again! Won't have to pay pedicure fees...

3) went swimming in our local outdoor pool. Wasn't able to get there sooner - couldn't drive, and nobody to take me. Was also worried about managing the pool steps (especially for getting out) - this pool has not even a ladder, just foot-slots cut into the pool wall, and the reach from the top step up to the slightly-overhanging pool edge is quite a stretch - not the easiest, even for a fit person. Anyway - I even managed that! (if I had got stuck, I would have had to call the lifeguard to pull me out.....) It felt so good to swim again! I did a few gentle lengths, and lots of bicycling and kicking exercises at the deep end, and walking backwards and forwards across the shallow end. I intend to make this part of my daily routine now. Thankfully the schools reopened a couple of days ago, so the pool is now quiet!

About my classes: I plan to resume my Jerusalem studies after the Jewish New Year high-holidays (Rosh Hashana - Yom Kippur - Sukkot) - but only one day a week. By then it will be mid-October - I have my 3-month checkup at the hospital on Oct 19th. I already dropped out of the rabbinic program (for various reasons...) but hope to keep up just one class there (synagogue skills), plus my voice-training weekly private lesson (which I love!!)

However - in addition to those, I have just enrolled with the Israel Open University for a completely different course: "Introduction to earth science"! (a geology course - I feel I've done enough intellectual stuff over the years - need to get out and about and in touch with the landscape... and I love rocks and stones...). I don't know whether you have anything like the Open University in the USA? It first started in England many years ago, and the Israeli one is based on the British system. It's distance-learning: the student receives all the study-material and studies alone at home. There is a timetable, and you have to send in written assignments on time, and take an exam at the end of the semester. But otherwise it's very flexible timewise - you choose your own hours to study. No lectures to attend - it's based primarily on written material (plus in some courses videos / tv programs / online material). There are study-centres at various places round the country, where there are periodic class-meetings (for those able to get to them - some are compulsory, some optional); and you have a tutor whom you can contact by telephone or email. It does take self-discipline to study alone - but it's an excellent method for people who for whatever reason can't get to a regular university, or prefer the flexibility of home-study.

My course includes four one-day field-trips: the Judean Mountains, the Dead Sea, the Avshalom caves, and the Hatira volcanic crater! (Interesting challenges for a 60-yr-old hippie..... I shall need to check the physical requirements of these - make sure no scrambling required!)

I told them when I registered that I am not studying for a BA degree, purely for my own pleasure and enrichment - therefore I don't have to worry about passing exams, getting credits, fulfilling attendance-requirements (class-meetings, field-trips). And I live rather a long way from the study-centre for this particular course (which is Tel Aviv). But I hope I'll be able to get to some of them anyway - especially the field-trips! (The course starts 19th September - I don't yet have the timetable for the field-trips.) More later, if anyone's interested.....

Margaret

Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery= to Margaret in Israwl

Hi Margaret, Don't get dicouraged. The aches and pains in tissues, muscles and tendons come and go. From what I've read and heard, three months is about the length of time it takes to return to complete "normalcy", and that's about what it's taken me. Of course, I'm 10 years older than you, and far less athletic in tnedency, but it is so nice to be able to walk again!! Keep your spirits up!! When do you start your classes again?

Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret,

I just wanted to say that I'm glad for you that your taking classes for yourself and I hope everything works out for you and you have a nice weekend.I liked to hear how your doing ok? Susie

Margaret Hayon <margaret@...> wrote:

Hi Charlotte, Thanks for encouragement. Sorry for delay in replying - I had a few "down" days when I didn't feel like writing. Happens to us all, I guess (expect maybe Stan? )

I'm realising that progress isn't always "getting better every day" - there are ups and downs and plateaus (or should that be plateaux?) - one day I feel fairly okay, the next day new aches and pains hit me.... The operated right hip joint is doing great - feels normal! I can move it all ways and without pain. The "gremlins" have moved elsewhere: lower back, left hip and sciatic pains down that leg, both knees.... (gives me fears of further surgeries ahead... though I hope part of it is simply normal readjustment of the body.) I feel extremely stiff when I get out of bed or up from sitting position - have to hang on to support until I get my back straight. However, it does ease with walking. I'm now halfway through the 3-month post-op period - hope I shall feel better by the end of it! (unless I fall off a mountain or down a volcano.... see below!!)

On the positive side, three post-op "firsts" to celebrate:

1) a lovely soak in a hot fragrant bath-tub! I've been having showers only since the surgery - I was afraid to lie down in the bath tub in case I couldn't get out again... Anyway it went fine, no problem getting out... and was very relaxing, such a pleasure!

2) managed to cut my toenails, both feet, for first time since surgery. Sat on sofa, put each foot in turn on low stool, and was able to reach them with the scissors. Hi, toes, nice to meet you again! Won't have to pay pedicure fees...

3) went swimming in our local outdoor pool. Wasn't able to get there sooner - couldn't drive, and nobody to take me. Was also worried about managing the pool steps (especially for getting out) - this pool has not even a ladder, just foot-slots cut into the pool wall, and the reach from the top step up to the slightly-overhanging pool edge is quite a stretch - not the easiest, even for a fit person. Anyway - I even managed that! (if I had got stuck, I would have had to call the lifeguard to pull me out.....) It felt so good to swim again! I did a few gentle lengths, and lots of bicycling and kicking exercises at the deep end, and walking backwards and forwards across the shallow end. I intend to make this part of my daily routine now. Thankfully the schools reopened a couple of days ago, so the pool is now quiet!

About my classes: I plan to resume my Jerusalem studies after the Jewish New Year high-holidays (Rosh Hashana - Yom Kippur - Sukkot) - but only one day a week. By then it will be mid-October - I have my 3-month checkup at the hospital on Oct 19th. I already dropped out of the rabbinic program (for various reasons...) but hope to keep up just one class there (synagogue skills), plus my voice-training weekly private lesson (which I love!!)

However - in addition to those, I have just enrolled with the Israel Open University for a completely different course: "Introduction to earth science"! (a geology course - I feel I've done enough intellectual stuff over the years - need to get out and about and in touch with the landscape... and I love rocks and stones...). I don't know whether you have anything like the Open University in the USA? It first started in England many years ago, and the Israeli one is based on the British system. It's distance-learning: the student receives all the study-material and studies alone at home. There is a timetable, and you have to send in written assignments on time, and take an exam at the end of the semester. But otherwise it's very flexible timewise - you choose your own hours to study. No lectures to attend - it's based primarily on written material (plus in some courses videos / tv programs / online material). There are study-centres at

various places round the country, where there are periodic class-meetings (for those able to get to them - some are compulsory, some optional); and you have a tutor whom you can contact by telephone or email. It does take self-discipline to study alone - but it's an excellent method for people who for whatever reason can't get to a regular university, or prefer the flexibility of home-study.

My course includes four one-day field-trips: the Judean Mountains, the Dead Sea, the Avshalom caves, and the Hatira volcanic crater! (Interesting challenges for a 60-yr-old hippie..... I shall need to check the physical requirements of these - make sure no scrambling required!)

I told them when I registered that I am not studying for a BA degree, purely for my own pleasure and enrichment - therefore I don't have to worry about passing exams, getting credits, fulfilling attendance-requirements (class-meetings, field-trips). And I live rather a long way from the study-centre for this particular course (which is Tel Aviv). But I hope I'll be able to get to some of them anyway - especially the field-trips! (The course starts 19th September - I don't yet have the timetable for the field-trips.) More later, if anyone's interested.....

Margaret

Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery= to Margaret in Israwl

Hi Margaret, Don't get dicouraged. The aches and pains in tissues, muscles and tendons come and go. From what I've read and heard, three months is about the length of time it takes to return to complete "normalcy", and that's about what it's taken me. Of course, I'm 10 years older than you, and far less athletic in tnedency, but it is so nice to be able to walk again!! Keep your spirits up!! When do you start your classes again?

Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

Margaret

I have been going through the same physical ups and downs, plus

stiffness, that you are going through. I haven't had much depression

yet, but its hard to be depressed when one lives on the French

Riviera!

I've never been considered normal, but I feel that my hip-

recuperation process is developing normally.

Cheers,

Staninfr

> Hi Charlotte, Thanks for encouragement. Sorry for delay in

replying - I had a few " down " days when I didn't feel like writing.

Happens to us all, I guess (expect maybe Stan? )

> I'm realising that progress isn't always " getting better every

day " - there are ups and downs and plateaus (or should that be

plateaux?) - one day I feel fairly okay, the next day new aches and

pains hit me.... The operated right hip joint is doing great -

feels normal! I can move it all ways and without pain.

The " gremlins " have moved elsewhere: lower back, left hip and

sciatic pains down that leg, both knees.... (gives me fears of

further surgeries ahead... though I hope part of it is simply normal

readjustment of the body.) I feel extremely stiff when I get out of

bed or up from sitting position - have to hang on to support until I

get my back straight. However, it does ease with walking. I'm now

halfway through the 3-month post-op period - hope I shall feel

better by the end of it! (unless I fall off a mountain or down a

volcano.... see below!!)

>

> On the positive side, three post-op " firsts " to celebrate:

> 1) a lovely soak in a hot fragrant bath-tub! I've been having

showers only since the surgery - I was afraid to lie down in the

bath tub in case I couldn't get out again... Anyway it went fine, no

problem getting out... and was very relaxing, such a pleasure!

> 2) managed to cut my toenails, both feet, for first time since

surgery. Sat on sofa, put each foot in turn on low stool, and was

able to reach them with the scissors. Hi, toes, nice to meet you

again! Won't have to pay pedicure fees...

> 3) went swimming in our local outdoor pool. Wasn't able to get

there sooner - couldn't drive, and nobody to take me. Was also

worried about managing the pool steps (especially for getting out) -

this pool has not even a ladder, just foot-slots cut into the pool

wall, and the reach from the top step up to the slightly-overhanging

pool edge is quite a stretch - not the easiest, even for a fit

person. Anyway - I even managed that! (if I had got stuck, I would

have had to call the lifeguard to pull me out.....) It felt so

good to swim again! I did a few gentle lengths, and lots of

bicycling and kicking exercises at the deep end, and walking

backwards and forwards across the shallow end. I intend to make this

part of my daily routine now. Thankfully the schools reopened a

couple of days ago, so the pool is now quiet!

>

> About my classes: I plan to resume my Jerusalem studies after the

Jewish New Year high-holidays (Rosh Hashana - Yom Kippur - Sukkot) -

but only one day a week. By then it will be mid-October - I have my

3-month checkup at the hospital on Oct 19th. I already dropped out

of the rabbinic program (for various reasons...) but hope to keep up

just one class there (synagogue skills), plus my voice-training

weekly private lesson (which I love!!)

>

> However - in addition to those, I have just enrolled with the

Israel Open University for a completely different

course: " Introduction to earth science " ! (a geology course - I feel

I've done enough intellectual stuff over the years - need to get out

and about and in touch with the landscape... and I love rocks and

stones...). I don't know whether you have anything like the Open

University in the USA? It first started in England many years ago,

and the Israeli one is based on the British system. It's distance-

learning: the student receives all the study-material and studies

alone at home. There is a timetable, and you have to send in written

assignments on time, and take an exam at the end of the semester.

But otherwise it's very flexible timewise - you choose your own

hours to study. No lectures to attend - it's based primarily on

written material (plus in some courses videos / tv programs / online

material). There are study-centres at various places round the

country, where there are periodic class-meetings (for those able to

get to them - some are compulsory, some optional); and you have a

tutor whom you can contact by telephone or email. It does take self-

discipline to study alone - but it's an excellent method for people

who for whatever reason can't get to a regular university, or prefer

the flexibility of home-study.

>

> My course includes four one-day field-trips: the Judean Mountains,

the Dead Sea, the Avshalom caves, and the Hatira volcanic crater!

(Interesting challenges for a 60-yr-old hippie..... I shall need to

check the physical requirements of these - make sure no scrambling

required!)

> I told them when I registered that I am not studying for a BA

degree, purely for my own pleasure and enrichment - therefore I

don't have to worry about passing exams, getting credits, fulfilling

attendance-requirements (class-meetings, field-trips). And I live

rather a long way from the study-centre for this particular course

(which is Tel Aviv). But I hope I'll be able to get to some of them

anyway - especially the field-trips! (The course starts 19th

September - I don't yet have the timetable for the field-trips.)

More later, if anyone's interested.....

>

> Margaret

> Re: 6 weeks after hip

surgery= to Margaret in Israwl

>

>

> Hi Margaret, Don't get dicouraged. The aches and pains in

tissues, muscles and tendons come and go. From what I've read and

heard, three months is about the length of time it takes to return

to complete " normalcy " , and that's about what it's taken me. Of

course, I'm 10 years older than you, and far less athletic in

tnedency, but it is so nice to be able to walk again!! Keep your

spirits up!! When do you start your classes again?

> Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

" Margaret Hayon " <margaret@...>

Subject: Re: 6 weeks after hip surgery= to Margaret in Israwl

On the positive side, three post-op " firsts " to celebrate:

1) a lovely soak in a hot fragrant bath-tub! I've been having showers

only since the surgery - I was afraid to lie down in the bath tub in case

I couldn't get out again... Anyway it went fine, no problem getting out...

and was very relaxing, such a pleasure!

Lovely-that's something I look forward to post TKR.

2) managed to cut my toenails, both feet, for first time since surgery.

Sat on sofa, put each foot in turn on low stool, and was able to reach

them with the scissors. Hi, toes, nice to meet you again! Won't have to

pay pedicure fees...

Pampering yourself is very healing!

3) went swimming in our local outdoor pool. Wasn't able to get there

sooner - couldn't drive, and nobody to take me. Was also worried about

managing the pool steps (especially for getting out) - this pool has not

even a ladder, just foot-slots cut into the pool wall, and the reach from

the top step up to the slightly-overhanging pool edge is quite a stretch -

not the easiest, even for a fit person. Anyway - I even managed that!

(if I had got stuck, I would have had to call the lifeguard to pull me

out.....) It felt so good to swim again! I did a few gentle lengths, and

lots of bicycling and kicking exercises at the deep end, and walking

backwards and forwards across the shallow end. I intend to make this part

of my daily routine now. Thankfully the schools reopened a couple of days

ago, so the pool is now quiet!

About my classes: I plan to resume my Jerusalem studies after the Jewish

New Year high-holidays (Rosh Hashana - Yom Kippur - Sukkot) - but only one

day a week. By then it will be mid-October - I have my 3-month checkup at

the hospital on Oct 19th. I already dropped out of the rabbinic program

(for various reasons...) but hope to keep up just one class there

(synagogue skills), plus my voice-training weekly private lesson (which I

love!!)

However - in addition to those, I have just enrolled with the Israel Open

University for a completely different course: " Introduction to earth

science " ! (a geology course - I feel I've done enough intellectual stuff

over the years - need to get out and about and in touch with the

landscape... and I love rocks and stones...). I don't know whether you

have anything like the Open University in the USA? It first started in

England many years ago, and the Israeli one is based on the British

system. It's distance-learning: the student receives all the

study-material and studies alone at home. There is a timetable, and you

have to send in written assignments on time, and take an exam at the end

of the semester. But otherwise it's very flexible timewise - you choose

your own

hours to study. No lectures to attend - it's based primarily on written

material (plus in some courses videos / tv programs / online material).

There are study-centres at various places round the country, where there

are periodic class-meetings (for those able to get to them - some are

compulsory, some optional); and you have a tutor whom you can contact by

telephone or email. It does take self-discipline to study alone - but it's

an excellent method for people who for whatever reason can't get to a

regular university, or prefer the flexibility of home-study.

I took a course in " scratching rocks " at a local community college-it was

fun. Of course, I was 26 and thought the instructor was hot....

My course includes four one-day field-trips: the Judean Mountains, the

Dead Sea, the Avshalom caves, and the Hatira volcanic crater!

(Interesting challenges for a 60-yr-old hippie..... I shall need to check

the physical requirements of these - make sure no scrambling required!)

I told them when I registered that I am not studying for a BA degree,

purely for my own pleasure and enrichment - therefore I don't have to

worry about passing exams, getting credits, fulfilling

attendance-requirements (class-meetings, field-trips). And I live rather a

long way from the study-centre for this particular course (which is Tel

Aviv). But I hope I'll be able to get to some of them anyway - especially

the field-trips! (The course starts 19th September - I don't yet have the

timetable for the field-trips.) More later, if anyone's interested.....

I certainly am. that sounds very cool.

Carolyn