| Back and better |
[Apr. 26th, 2006|09:34 pm] |
Been a while since I updated here; I've moved some of my remarks to http://bionicvalkyrie.blogspot.com/ and I think that's where I'll blog from now on. The interface seems a bit handier to me. But I'll keep this LJ in case I want to move back here, and to make it easy for me to comment on family's LJs.
I managed to recover from my pulled muscle, and go on a two-week road trip; we put about 4000 miles on the car. The first day was difficult, but two days of rest and walking and gentle exercise helped. And that's the pattern we followed -- a long day's drive, then two or three days goofing off with friends and family. Made it easy for me to get in lots of walking. I need to keep that up now that we're home. |
|
|
| More progress after hip replacement |
[Mar. 4th, 2006|11:44 am] |
Noticed another clump of snowdrops as I took laundry out to the line -- first time this year, and first time after my hip replacement. A laundry basket of jeans is pretty heavy, so I made several trips with a few jeans over my arms -- more walking, less burdened, is good.
I'm also using a stationary bike (on the lowest or next-to-lowest tension) at least once or twice a day.
The temp is near 40, feeling warmer when the sun is out. Maybe a stroll outside is in order. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Mar. 2nd, 2006|05:55 pm] |
Snowdrops! No, not snow -- the flower. So spring is on its way after all. Hooray!
And in hip news, I'm continuing to do well. I need to be sure to do the lying-down hip abduction exercises each day; I've done pretty well this week. I'm continuing to go to one of the city pools with Kris twice a week, and I feel better and better each time. I'm even starting to water jog and occasionally swim as a change from just walking.
I had my first post-hip-replacement dental exam this afternoon, and took antibiotics an hour before, just as I should. Good thing my dentist's office calls me the day before to remind me, or I would've had to reschedule. I asked them to call in the prescription and even remembered to pick it up later that day. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Feb. 28th, 2006|09:03 am] |
More progress. I can get into a car with very little difficulty. And I'm walking around the house without a cane quite a bit -- need to be somewhat careful that I do use a cane until I can walk without a limp, so that I don't mislearn how to walk and wind up walking funny.
Just before the hip operation, I felt like the secretary on the Ministry of Silly Walks skit -- those bad old days are gone for good. |
|
|
| More progress |
[Feb. 22nd, 2006|01:29 pm] |
I can get both legs into bed now without having to haul in my left leg. And I have to assist only a little bit when I get in and out of the car.
I do need to find a set time to do the lying-down hip abduction exercises, so that I can get closer to walking without a cane and without a limp.
Putting the exercise bicycle in front of the tv was a good move; I can do something good for myself while I indulge my guilty pleasure of daytime tv. Yay Judge Hatchett and Judge Judy. |
|
|
| More progress |
[Feb. 21st, 2006|07:27 pm] |
Swimming -- well, water-walking and even some jogging -- at Mercer with Kris. And then a soak in the hot tub, which is heaven.
I notice that I still have to help my left leg a bit when I get into a car, but much less. And I can lift my legs into bed now on their own power! |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Feb. 15th, 2006|03:05 pm] |
More progress -- I'm a toddler! I can walk several steps without the cane. Pretty soon I'll be chasing S around the house.
Yesterday I went to Mercer with Kris; she did laps while I walked and did hip exercises in the shallow end. And then we relaxed in the spa -- that felt so wonderful. Tomorrow I go see the doctor for the followup check -- I think he'll be impressed. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Feb. 10th, 2006|06:27 pm] |
Hurray, I've graduated to using a cane! Went out with Kris to get a V-day present for Steve, have coffee and cookie at the Cottage, browse around at Prairie Lights (question: will I wait for Fledgling to come out in paperback, or will I splurge on the hardback? I could justify it by saying that I'll pass it along to Kris, since we're both Butler fans).
Need to dig out a pedometer, and start step-counting so that I can further track my progress. |
|
|
| (no subject) |
[Feb. 5th, 2006|06:45 pm] |
Actually drove today. Just to HyVee and back (about a mile, maybe), but I had no problem. Still have to haul my leg into the car, but I can bend it up to about 90 degrees, and my thigh muscles aren't entirely useless.
I was reviewing some of the info available online -- when you go searching for info on total hip replacement, there's not very much from individuals. There's a lot from medical practices, official sites such as the Mayo Hospital, organization sites (such as American Arthritis Assoc), and manufacturers of hip replacement hardware. I did find a couple of forums, which I'll post when I figure out how to do a hyperlink in LJ. |
|
|
| Exercise |
[Feb. 2nd, 2006|04:30 pm] |
I am continuing to do my set of three exercises (standing knee raises, standing hip abduction, standing hip extensions), 30 repetitions each, three times daily. You can see a diagram and description of these here: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/booklet/view_report.cfm?Thread_ID=20&topcategory=Hip
Today I also tried some stationary bicycling -- a couple sessions of about 10 minutes, very light tension. My thigh felt kind of tight afterwards, so I popped a couple of Tylenol. Other than that, I'm pretty much off painkillers.
And this afternoon Kris took me downtown to walk around -- mailed a card with a flipbook in it to one of my nephews, went to the library, checked out House of Aromas (great blended mocha drinks, lots of students with laptops), and the pet store with the many cats (most of them sleeping).
The temp was up to 50 or so -- I am so incredibly lucky to have such great weather, so that I can take my recover walks outside. Getting actual sun on my face, smelling fresh air -- makes the exercise a reward in itself. |
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| |
|
|
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
bionic_valkyrie's journal
chipper