Re: time on crutches, etc.

December 15, 2001

At 06:06 PM 12/14/2001, you wrote:

>

>I was 100% weight baring from the first day, as was my room mate at the

>hospital who had his done the same morning.

>

>I got an email from him after 2 1/2 weeks to say that he is no longer on

>crutches..... that blew me away......

>

>I use 1 crutch for walking, although i do take 2 with me when i go

>outside...just incase.

Richie,

I have to keep reminding myself that although we all share the common

denominator of bad hips, we have different diseases that got us here and

will heal at different rates. I am 5 1/2 and 6 1/2 months out, and still

using either one crutch or a cane most of the time (except around the

house). I can finally get down the stairs without any assistance, but it

took nearly five months for me to get to the point of being able to get

down with only one crutch. I still can't lift my leg upward while lying on

my side. I am *finally* able to slide my foot out to the side and back (on

the left side), only because I figured out that if I put a garbage bag

under the foot, it gave me a slick enough surface that I could do the

exercise. Take away the garbage bag, and I am just like a turned

turtle-can't get that leg moved for anything! At times I walk nearly

normally. Other times, I can tell that I am lurching, so back to the

crutch or cane I go, certainly for any distance. I've also learned this

week that my lateral motion to the left needs a whole lot of work yet. I

am playing a bell solo in church this Sunday, and the lateral motion is

still not a pretty picture, as well as being a literal pain in the backside

(muscle pain only).

I am actually buying my dog a reflective leash and jacket for Christmas. I

have never been able to walk him any distance, so no need for it. I am

about ready to start taking him out for decent length walks, and since this

time of year it is dark when I get up, and dark when I get home, and with

him being solid black, we need to be seen while walking. Also thinking

ahead to next summer when I hope to be back on the roller blades!!

Keep up the good work. I've had a couple of massages, but nothing as

painful as what you've described. Yikes!

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