December 1, 2012
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Follow Up Appointment
Some good news follows what’s been an emotionally spent few days. I met with my ortho and he gave me a few quick range of motion (ROM) tests with my leg and took out my stitiches.
I am immobilizer free!
I’m supposed to stay on crutches the next couple of weeks but start weaning away from them onto a cane by week 4. I’ll start with 10 pounds of weight on the right leg for 3 days, then 20 lbs for 3 days, 40 lbs, 60 lbs etc. I should be walking by myself by Christmas or a bit after!! Yeah, that’s right. Do the math and you’ll get my weight. At 4’10″, it’s a lot. I have to work on that.
After next week, I can go to the pool and for leg exercises, I can use the kickboard to flutterkick or I can aquajog/walk. YAY!!!! I want to go next weekend. I don’t care what time, I just want to be in the pool. I already have my workout planned –
15-20 min kickboard
15-20 min aquajogging
15-30min freestyle pull, no flip turns.Whee!
The protocol says to add pelvic tilts, quad rocking stretches (sitting in a chair with feet on the floor, slide forward in chair until quads feel a stretch, slide back to original position) and supine bridges (only as far as comfortable for hip).
I’m also stretching the painkillers to 8hrs+ between doses Saturday then only when pain occurs Sunday. These aren’t fun.
I was the second youngest person in the waiting room yesterday. Appears many older folks broke their feet or ankles this holiday season already. It was packed with normally able grandpa aged people talking animatedly in wheelchairs.
Comments (7)
I know it’s going to feel so good to get back in the pool! It’s been constantly on my mind lately. I watch videos of people swimming and daydream about it lol…
I did not do the math on your weight. You’re still probably in way better shape than I am. I haven’t been to the gym in what… a year and a half now? It really almost makes me cry. I can’t sleep at night because my muscles want to go run and lift weights so badly… sigh…
This too shall pass- for both of us.
Get better fast
@oceanstarr - I weigh about the same as some of my friends but they’re 3-4 inches taller so my weight is definitely more compact. It is what it is but what’s important is that it directly impacts the results of my recovery. If I don’t lose the weight combined with bad genetics, a total hip replacement in my 40′s is what I have to could look forward to spending on instead of my grand trip to Europe.
I don’t think I was able to workout until my baby was older, at least 2-3 years old when I had a full time job and was doing this mostly by myself. When my dad would take the baby, I could get walking in but mostly I caught up on other important things. Since you work at home, it’s got to be tough with boundaries of when work and parenting meet. I know it’s tough, you wrote about it! So now it’s a daycare or nanny issue. Expensive but you’ll get a tax break for it (I think) depending on your tax filing, I forget. It’s a tough pill to swallow because it can be cost prohibitive. I hope you can find some help so you can work on your job!
@Lenore_Happenstance -
My mother had a hip replacement about ten years ago I think – she had a car wreck when I was three that messed her up pretty bad. The recovery was no-fun-for-anyone… If you can stave that off by dropping some weight, sounds great… But you work out so much already… hmmm…
I lose weight when I don’t work out. I lose my appetite lol…
I feel a little better about not making it to the gym after your response. If I can just expect it to take another year or so to be able to get back, I can just deal with it. I’m getting my work done in reasonably good time. Commissions get done on schedule and shipments get out. My husband would help more if I asked him to, but I feel like it’s the woman’s job to deal with it and absolutely hate asking for help anyway. We’re just getting to the point with food transition that she can be away from boobie for several hours at a stretch so I’m seeing some changes on the horizon.
So is the prognosis good as far as post-recovery comfort?
i didn’t do the maths either. NO MATHS! husband struggles with his weight, but over the last few years he has lost about 60 pounds. slow, but sure. not an easy task, and he has more to lose, but a worthwhile plan. here’s hoping the pool is FANTASTIC!
@buyit - cheers to Mr.t!!!! it’s a tough road. I know it well. but I’ll just have to learn to get back to that place using a different road.
@oceanstarr - oh it’s the battle of eating for convenience for me. not a thing planted in the garden this year. I can barely make it to the store with 2 working legs so lots of frozen things bought and not particularly most wholesome.
@Lenore_Happenstance -
My brand of convenience food is just skipping the meal lol… Or grabbing just enough crackers to hold me for a little bit longer.