So, I've hit 4 weeks since last time I posted. I did some errands at home in the rain and it was miserable. Nothing is worse than walking in the rain with crutches and having no choice but to get all wet since you don't have enough hands to old the umbrella! Plus the fact that the shopping cart is a piece of crap and pulls to one side!
Anyway, I've been doing great...no complaints. Yesterday my Mom and I drove back to CT since today was my post-op appointment. As I was sitting in my recliner I realized that I was able to lift my leg by myself! So the exercise where someone helps lift my leg up to a 90 degree angle, I can pick it up basically all by myself! I couldn't believe it. I haven't kept on top of my exercises, but walking 3 flights of stairs in my house all day long REALLY helped strengthen that quad muscle and whatever other muscle is in there so I was amazed that this was so strong.
SO....today was my post-op appointment!! We left first thing this morning for a 10:30am appointment. We got to Boston about 9:45am so we had plenty of time to spare. I went up and checked-in, then got sent down to X-ray....while there we saw Millis because he was holding a leg for an x-ray, he didn't need to stay for me since I'm post. But his first question "are you eating" I'm like uhhh...believe me I am eating plenty! He said "you need to eat so those bones grow"...so that was interesting. So I did my x-rays, one laying on the table so it was of both hips and one standing up of my LPAO. After that we went back to the waiting room. I no sooner sat down and they called me in! We did height, weight and temperature (I've grown 1/2 inch and lost about 3 lbs) haha. Then went right into a room. We were there not even 5 minutes when Erin came in. She showed us the x-rays and I noticed I have 5 screws!! I thought I only had 4. But I have 5 large screws, but no little one like last time to hold the muscle, he sewed that. She showed me how the bone is healing great and the pain I feel in my butt is because the bone still has a ways to go before it's healed. Dr. Millis came in a couple minutes later. They didn't do range of motion this time, but Erin did ask me to walk with 1 crutch and I confessed I had been a little bit. Then she asked me to walk with NONE! I looked at her like she had ten heads! I couldn't really do it because it hurt so she said I can use 1 crutch small distances around the house and stuff. Doc says I'm looking great and said "you're what, 5 or 6 weeks post" I said uhhh, I'm about 4 1/2 weeks! So I'm doing well and so happy to hear that!
After meeting with them I met with Jaime to get new exercises, AND today was her last day at the hospital. That's a huge bummer. Thank goodness I got all this done while she was there because she was so great. So she did range of motion and some stretching to see how I was and because of the nerve pain I had a few weeks ago, she wanted to make sure it wasn't still irritated. She had me lay on my stomach and brought my foot to my butt. Typically, a person at post-op this time can usually bring their leg about 90degrees to their butt, my foot went completely to my butt and she was in shock! So that was super excellent. I'm not sure why the front of my leg is so stretched but I'm not complaining. She then gave me the following exercises (some same as last time):
1) Bridges - lay on back and bend knees. Squeeze a towel or pillow between my knees and lift my pelvis up for a count of 5, then lower. Do 2 sets of 5 a couple times a day. Increase as I get stronger.
2) Sit on a bed, left leg in front of me on the bed flat and right leg dangling off the side. This is a stretch for my hamstring, so I have to keep my knee as flat as possible, then as I get looser I can start to reach towards my foot. Do the same of the other side.
3) Same as last time, stand holding onto something and lift leg forward, to the side, and back 5 times each. I don't have to lift it high, it just has to be fluid and controlled. She then gave me the resistance band for when I got stronger. 2 sets of 5 each direction.
I'm also allowed to go into a pool and walk around in water up to my waist. I can use a noodle or kick board and kick carefully around. I can do exercise #3 holding onto the wall to get the hip joint lose. Also, I can use a stationary bike and a low resistance for 5-10 minutes to start and work up to 30 as I get stronger, but not to rush anything. I can massage my incisions too and break up the scar tissue to help the scar lay flat.
After my appointment, I had to schedule my next post-op for a month from now, so I made it for August 16 which is the day after a fellow hipster's second PAO! I'm so glad I was able to schedule the appointment so I can stop in and see her, even though it'll be day 1!! She'll do great.
We then went up to the 10th floor where my room was after surgery because we took the nurses a thank you card and some chocolates as a thank you for making my hospital stay(s) so pleasant. Luckily Megan, one of the nicest nurses, was there. Mom and I got lunch at Au Bon Pain and we headed home. Everything was right on time, but it was still a VERY long day.
A couple more updates...sleeping has been pretty good. I only have 1 pillow that I use between my legs when I lay on my side (I've been on my op and non-op side and both feel good). I roll over sometimes without waking up, but mostly I wake up to roll over. Unfortunately, I wake Kevin up every time I move. I can't sit indian style yet, but it's not terrible either. I'm maybe 50% there. Sitting in my recliner I can flop my legs both directions and get pretty comfortable. I can also sit and bring both legs up on the chair real close to me. I was reading my blog from last time and I'm definitely a step ahead, but that's also because I know what I can and can't do...so it makes recovery a little quicker. I'm going to also attach a picture from shopping at home when I used the mobile cart. SO EMBARRASSING! But Dad thinks it's funny.
When we got home I jumped right into the pool! I was SO amazing and made me feel so normal. The water was pretty warm too. I walked a lot of laps back and forth...kicked around a bit, and did some exercises. Walking without crutches was great! I plan on doing this a lot to get a lot of motion back quickly. I will post pictures of my incisions as they both look GREAT and here's a pic of me in the pool! 4 1/2 weeks, down to 1 crutch and in the pool. I thought the end was SO far away....but I think I see the light at the end. :-)
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