Re: Any more preparatory exercises?To Margaret in Israe

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret, Those last few weeks pre-op are the toughest. I know. I';m now 6 weeks post op and slowly regaining my walking legs and my energy. I found the full flight of steps in my condo townhouse to present no problem. I now go up and down several times a day. I spent a total of 9 dys in hspital and rehab unit in the same hospital, and I was able to get up and down the steps twice a day from my first day at home, and now I can do it more feaquently. I had several months of PT before my surgery which might be contributing to a good recovery. Good luck to you!! Charlotte in CTMargaret Hayon <margaret@...> wrote:

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

Truth be known, I have seen many a nurses aide exceed all the contraindicated positions when giving bedpans to total hip patients, so probably its not as horrible a thing as we were taught, but I sure wouldn't want to be the one who found out the hard way that it dislocated a newly operated hip.

On that same vein, I should admit that I've seen virtually every contrindicated motion violated again and again on nursing home patients by nurses aides..... Most of the time, the hip DOESN'T dislocate, so we probably don't need to be quite as paranoid as we are about the contraindications.

Dear y,

With my total hip operation just over a week ahead, I'm very grateful for your down-to-earth professional comments.

I'm sure the Hadassah nurses are thoroughly competent and well-trained....

but I have to admit I'm still feeling somewhat scared......

especially about the 3-hour ambulance-ride home... (which I still prefer to the other options... which are not as luxurious as Stan's in France...)

When I went up to Jerusalem recently for a day of instruction for upcoming hip-patients, they made it clear to us that Hadassah's policy is to discharge post-op hip-patients directly home whenever possible - they believe that the patient recovers best, both physically and psychologically, in their own home environment.

I'll no doubt feel much happier in 3 weeks time, when hopefully I shall be back in my own home, with my faithful cat, (like Stan and Sue, I live alone with an animal, and am a bit of a "hermit"....I value my space and my privacy....) hobbling around on my walking-frame, with friends and neighbours from my community dropping in to bring me food and make sure I'm okay... Luckily my bathroom is right next to my bedroom, so as long as I can get myself out of bed and to the bathroom alone, I'm sure I shall manage fine. I have 12 steps (with handrail) up to my apartment - once I'm upstairs, everything's on one level, including outside verandah and balcony, so plenty of room for walking.... and if I can get down those steps to my garden, that'll be a bonus!

Margaret in Israel

[Guest guest]

Thanks Charlotte, that's encouraging to know!

I'm a bit disappointed that none of my doctors here thought to recommend PT or any other physical preparation before the surgery. Had I thought of it earlier, I could have asked them. I have been swimming several times a week since the weather got warm enough, so that must be helping my hip-muscles and general fitness. My general health isn't bad (though some of my blood-test results are marginally high - calcium, and a couple of the liver-function things - but hopefully nothing that will threaten the surgery). Luckily my upper body - arms and shoulders - are still strong. I have got rather flabby and overweight during the past couple of years - lack of exercise due to pain. When I was younger I used to keep quite fit and active - enjoyed hiking, horse-riding, cycling... so hope I shall be able to recover some of that fitness after the surgery. I'm hoping to start Pilates exercises as soon as I'm able to.

Margaret in Israel

Re: Any more preparatory exercises?To Margaret in Israe

Hi Margaret, Those last few weeks pre-op are the toughest. I know. I';m now 6 weeks post op and slowly regaining my walking legs and my energy. I found the full flight of steps in my condo townhouse to present no problem. I now go up and down several times a day. I spent a total of 9 dys in hspital and rehab unit in the same hospital, and I was able to get up and down the steps twice a day from my first day at home, and now I can do it more feaquently. I had several months of PT before my surgery which might be contributing to a good recovery. Good luck to you!! Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

Hi Margaret in Israel, I meant to mention in earlier correspondance, I have a cousin who lives outside Jeruselem (I think that's misspelled), and 2 of my 4 daughters sp

ent several months there during various stages of their education. One of these days, I'd like to visit.

Keep up your exercising, and your spirits. Anything you can do to improve the way you feel about yourself will contribute to your ease of recovery. Lots of good luck!! Charlotte in CT.Thanks Charlotte, that's encouraging to know!

I'm a bit disappointed that none of my doctors here thought to recommend PT or any other physical preparation before the surgery. Had I thought of it earlier, I could have asked them. I have been swimming several times a week since the weather got warm enough, so that must be helping my hip-muscles and general fitness. My general health isn't bad (though some of my blood-test results are marginally high - calcium, and a couple of the liver-function things - but hopefully nothing that will threaten the surgery). Luckily my upper body - arms and shoulders - are still strong. I have got rather flabby and overweight during the past couple of years - lack of exercise due to pain. When I was younger I used to keep quite fit and active - enjoyed hiking, horse-riding, cycling... so hope I shall be able to recover some of that fitness after the surgery. I'm hoping to start Pilates exercises as soon as I'm able to.

Margaret in Israel

Re: Any more preparatory exercises?To Margaret in Israe

Hi Margaret, Those last few weeks pre-op are the toughest. I know. I';m now 6 weeks post op and slowly regaining my walking legs and my energy. I found the full flight of steps in my condo townhouse to present no problem. I now go up and down several times a day. I spent a total of 9 dys in hspital and rehab unit in the same hospital, and I was able to get up and down the steps twice a day from my first day at home, and now I can do it more feaquently. I had several months of PT before my surgery which might be contributing to a good recovery. Good luck to you!! Charlotte in CT

[Guest guest]

Hi Charlotte - that's interesting to know! If you get to visit, please get in touch with me. I live in Tzfat (Safed), a small and very scenic old town up in the hills in the north. It would be great to meet! I so rarely get a chance to meet face-to-face with people I chat with on the internet.

Best wishes,

Margaret

Re: Any more preparatory exercises?To Margaret in Israe

Hi Margaret in Israel, I meant to mention in earlier correspondance, I have a cousin who lives outside Jeruselem (I think that's misspelled), and 2 of my 4 daughters sp

ent several months there during various stages of their education. One of these days, I'd like to visit.

Keep up your exercising, and your spirits. Anything you can do to improve the way you feel about yourself will contribute to your ease of recovery. Lots of good luck!! Charlotte in CT.