I've gone back recently to read the blog that helped me mentally prepare before my surgery. I'm almost 21 days out and compared to the other blogger, I'm doing much better. I don't want to sound like I'm bragging or anything, but at 21 days she was still having an at home nurse and physical therapist. She was just learning to get in and out of a car. And she was graduating from a walker to crutches. I used the walker the first day. Then quickly graduated to crutches the next day. Maybe I had some sort of advantage because I've had surgery before and I've used crutches before, but I have to give myself props on the daily strides I take. I've been getting in and out of cars since I got home. I even went into my work and visited people.
I am almost 100% off the narcotics. I still take them at night so I can get some sleep. The CPM and Ice machine are gone and I hit all my goals as far as degrees of motion. I do miss the CPM though. It's a little relaxing to have your leg moved but not have to put any work into moving. #lazy? I am also able to lay on my belly (this is good for stretching the muscles in the hip) and I can also sleep on my side. I have only been able to do that for a couple hours each night though because my right leg just feels like dead weight and I can't get totally comfortable. But I have been sleeping better and for longer periods through the night. I can get myself out of bed as well. Getting into bed is still a struggle but every day I get better and need less and less help.
Today I went out and enjoyed the beautiful weather! I'm not too thrilled that we are going from 70s today to almost 90 tomorrow. My dad brushed and bathed my dogs while I sat out on the patio and watched. I also spent time watching the ABC Family Harry Potter marathon. The best part about that is my dear friend who lives in New York was watching too and sent me a video when Dobby was dying. She and I saw that movie in the theater together and cried. Even though she's across the country from me, it was like she was right next to me watching. I miss our Harry Potter marathons.
Physical therapy is also going well. To give you an idea of what PT is like for hips this is what they do: stretch and flex. My main exercises to do at home involve me flexing. Main muscles: my butt and my thighs. This has began the process of waking up the muscles around the hip. Another thing I get to do at home is lay on my belly a couple times a day for 5-10 minutes. Then I am able to get up from that position on my hands and knees and do some yoga like poses. I get to do the "scared cat" and from that lean back toward my heels. So far this exercise has been awkward, but successful. I get closer and closer to my heels every day. This stretches the muscles near my hips and progresses my flexibility and range of motion. At PT they stretch my hip in different directions and move my leg around in circles. It's pretty relaxing, but you never know how sore muscles can get from just stretching. This week I will start on the bike. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Last time I didn't have a broken hip with screws and everything. This time I do, and sitting on the toilet is still a bit of a challenge. But I'm tough and if I don't feel 100% comfortable with it I'll let my physical therapist know.
I'm excited for my post-op appointment tomorrow. And I will be sure to post all the news from the doc.
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