6 Week Post Op Visit

[Guest guest]

Today was my long awaited, highly anticipated 6 week post op visit with Dr. Good. I had thought to write down all my questions to ask of him, but unfortunately forgot the list! So I was about to sit down in the waiting room to recreate my list of questions when the x-ray tech called my name to have x-rays taken. Of all the times to NOT have to wait. To lie down on the cold stainless x-ray table was an eye opener but at least I kept my clothes on. I was then instructed to go down the hall to wait in an examination room where I scratched down a few questions on a tear out order form I found in a magazine that was sitting there. No sooner done, when Dr. Good and a medical student entered. He put up my new films on the lighted display board and asked if I brought my camera with me again this time. He explained to the medical student about the carepage online and how when he logged in got to see his picture posted there. He inquired about my progress and comfort level. He noted my legs were the same length and asked me to walk putting more weight on my right leg. At first, I walked much like I had become accustomed to with the crutches, but was told to walk more naturally not limiting the weight distribution. I was timid initially not knowing what to expect but found this was possible without too much discomfort. He took away one crutch and I walked the hall once more still a little tentative. We went back to the exam room where I laid down on the table and my leg was manipulated this way and that remarking about my flexibility. Then I sat back down on a chair and he answered my questions fully, basically telling me all my restrictions were lifted and I can bear full weight as tolerated first using one crutch then a cane before being entirely on my own. Having been through this before, he did not feel physical therapy was necessary. The only thing I cannot do is allow my right leg to cross over to my left side (so I can abduct, but not adduct, I think are the terms). When asked when I could go back to work, was told whenever I'd like so he wrote a note using 6/5 as the official date. I see him again in another 6 weeks. Dr. Good said he likes to tell his patients as they leave the waiting room to hold their crutches up over their head so his other patients will feel encouraged. As I stood at the desk to make another appointment, I did just that. When I returned home, I called my nursing agency to schedule my work assignment and the scheduler was incredulous that I was so anxious to return to work not being able to walk fully on my own accord. So we set up a shift on the 13th and I am fully confident by then I'll be up to snuff needing neither a crutch nor a cane. After this increase in activity level, here I sit in my recliner writing this journal entry as I rest having my feet elevated. Overall, this procedure was a definite success and I would recommend anyone that requires a joint replacement to go for it. The hardest part of the convalescence was to refrain from doing things. It is not easy to NOT do the things that you want to be able to do. Now that this is all behind me, I can resume my normal activities of daily living as long as I'm able to tolerate these activities without over doing. This is my next challenge, to pace myself. I want to thank all those of you that came along for the ride. I am one of the fortunate ones that had a treatable, fixable disability. I am indeed blessed to have recovered without any major set backs and to have had the expertise of my wonderful surgeon, hospital staff and rehab facility.

Sue in PA

P.S. A friend from England sent this to me from her step daughter in Canada: Canadian Health Care Two patients limp into two different Canadian medical clinics with the same complaint. Both have trouble walking and appear to require a hip replacement. The first patient is examined within the hour, is x-rayed the same day and has a time booked for surgery the following week. The second sees his family doctor after waiting a week for an appointment, then waits eighteen weeks to see a specialist, then gets an x-ray, which isn't reviewed for another month and finally has his surgery scheduled for a year from then. Why the different treatment for the two patients? The first is a Golden Retriever; the second is a Senior Citizen.