RE: Re: Moving slowly/ To Eleanor, Sunita, ine,Tom/ Turtles Group

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Now it is me who is so-o-o slow in posting. Am glad to hear your pain

is a bit less at night, Lari and that you are able to get to the pool on

a regular basis now. When I talked to you on the phone, it was

difficult for you to bear the pain during the taxi ride there, so

perhaps things are moving just a little? I wonder if they are

understanding yet the reasons for your pain when walking. Does it get

any less?

And ine---just 4 days to go! When do you last sign on here and take

the trip north? You will be in our thoughts.

Sunita---I liked your recipes for massage. Thank you so much.

And thanks to everyone who posted about Tylenol and the different types

and strengths. Lari—found it interesting that it is ok (presumably?)

for one’s kidneys to take more than 500mg paracetemol at one go. As far

as I know we don’t have the Tylenol Arthritis dosage of paracetemol

available here. I guess I could ask my chemist.

Unfortunately, I need to ask because I am still getting, on and off,

more pain at night than I want. In fact, have had much less, but it

seems to have started up again. Now I know why you are reluctant to

post ‘bad news’, Tom. It may be because I am ‘doing too much’, as many

keep telling me. Needless to say, I feel I don’t do much at all. I

have been back at work 2 weeks now, 4 days a week, going in about 9 and

returning about 4. The main difficulty is a drive of usually an hour

with my operated leg moving from gas pedal to brake as I crawl in

traffic. Returning home, my leg or hip can get very sore and stiff when

I am tired. So---I am going to try working only 3 days a week, and may

go in later and leave earlier if I can manage it.

And then I’ve not been neglecting my social life either. Have been to

the theatre twice in 2 weeks and to a movie, but find sitting with my

leg in one position for over an hour gets painful. Also turned 60 on

Tuesday (of course, I don’t look 60!) and have been having extended

celebrations for the whole week. Great fun. Had a wonderful

aromatherapy massage the evening of my birthday, but was tired because

we took the train up to London for a wonderful lunch and a tour around

the El Greco exhibition at the National Gallery.

In lots of ways, I am walking quite well—in spite of the extra ½ cm?

inch? on my leg. The main difficulty seems to be that hip does not

always feel stable. Difficult to explain. When I sit in a certain

position, it can ‘clunk’ and then I can get a shooting pain. It is this

that seems to happen at night if I want to lift the operated leg to turn

myself---just difficult and painful. And I still get a tightness under

the scar which varies according to how tired I am.

I see the OS who did my surgery in about 5 weeks and look forward to

trying to understand it better with him. In the meantime, I will try

to ‘do less’, although it is difficult to know what this should be.

Less driving? Less walking? Less sitting? Hard to know what is best

to be doing. Do you guys find this? Patience, patience, patience, I

guess.

Eleanor

Re: Moving slowly/ To Eleanor, Sunita, ine

Hello, Ladies,

I've not posted in a few days, but wanted to at least let you know

what's happening.

I've been trying to take as much hydro and physio therapy as

possible back at the hospital. The therapists are kind and mostly

caring, although some are definitely more knowledgeable and better

listeners than others. The compassion level also varies

significantly! The pool is so warm and comforting and I do as much

as is comfortable. It's a great excuse to get out of this house.

Today, at almost five weeks, I had a full hour-long assessment by

two therapists. I know that in many ways they're shooting at stars

when they try to diagnose why I have so much pain in my hip joint.

Yes, Sunita, we are the Smart Healers, who move with more

trepidation, let's say, than some of the others who post here. But

like ine, we will get though this.

I'm not having huge pain at night (the kind I experienced for three

weeks), but I am very uncomfortable and awaken about every two

hours. This is the norm, according to this website, I see.

The thing I'm really, really concerned about is the joint pain. I

can't bear weight, and feel even more lopsided and out of sorts on

one crutch (I use one around the house; two on the street). The

therapists feel that I must relearn how to walk properly; I've been

doing such a terrible job of it for so many years. When I attempt to

put my feet together, I sway to the right and lose my balance, but

that's also sorta normal, I've heard (thanks for your input on this,

Eleanor).

Tomorrow, I plan to accompany our babysitter to the market. Let's

see how I do! Never thought I'd be so happy to go grocery shopping--

ever. It's amazing how our priorities and perspectives change

during challenging times, huh? Anyway, shopping for food signifies

progress to me, but will likely put me in bed for most of the

afternoon! I hope that you're all doing well, and that you'll

continue to share your progress (ups and downs, please) with me.

Sunita, by the way, good luck seeking out help with number two. My

heart goes out to you. And, ine, I've replied to your e-mail.

Have you found it?

Cheers,

Lari

> > > > > > > > > Hello, Everyone,

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > I've been a bit hesitant to write, but now

feel a

> huge

> > > > need

> > > > > as

> > > > > > I

> > > > > > > am

> > > > > > > > > seeking someone out there (anyone!) who is

> feeling

> > > > similarly

> > > > > to

> > > > > > > > me.

> > > > > > > > > On Jan. 29 I underwent a left-hip

resurfacing in

> > London

> > > > for

> > > > > a

> > > > > > > long-

> > > > > > > > > standing AVN (we're American expats living

in the

> UK).

> > I

> > > > am

> > > > > 46,

> > > > > > > a

> > > > > > > > > mother of three, and in very good physical

shape

> > > overall.

> > > > I

> > > > > > > went

> > > > > > > > > into the surgery strong, and have come out

far

> behind

> > > what

> > > > > > > everyone

> > > > > > > > > had hoped. My doctor, who is very

experienced in

> this

> > > > > > operation,

> > > > > > > > > says that I'm a " puzzle. " It's been three

weeks

> since

> > > the

> > > > > > > surgery,

> > > > > > > > > and I have huge pain in the hip joint. The

> swelling

> > and

> > > > > > bruising

> > > > > > > in

> > > > > > > > > my knee has come down, but only just

recently.

> For a

> > > > while

> > > > > I

> > > > > > > felt

> > > > > > > > > like I'd had knee surgery! I cannot bear

full

> weight

> > on

> > > my

> > > > > left

> > > > > > > leg

> > > > > > > > > whatsover without the aid of a crutch. I'm

doing

> all

> > the

> > > > > > > required

> > > > > > > > > exercises, but have so much pain day and

night

> and,

> > > > frankly,

> > > > > > > deeply

> > > > > > > > > worry that I'll never regain any mobility--

never

> mind

> > > > > full.

> > > > > > Is

> > > > > > > > > there anyone out there who has not come

through

> this

> > as

> > > > > > > expected?

> > > > > > > > > Can you share with me your experience(s)?

Have

> you

> > come

> > > > > > through

> > > > > > > it

> > > > > > > > > successfully--albeit more slowly than

expected?

> Any

> > tips

> > > > for

> > > > > > > > coping?

> > > > > > > > > I am in serious need of positive

reinforcement!

> > > > > > > > >

> > > > > > > > > Many thanks!

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >

> > > > >