Day thirty five

Almost there! Well, actually, I'm realizing that while I expect to be "released" to normal activities at 6 weeks, it will be an ongoing process. 

In the past two weeks, I've had my most significant setback and the most advances in activity. (Enduring contrast -- go figure.)

Early in my fourth week, I had a really awful day. I was achy. It hurt to walk. I was ready to reclaim my walker and actually alarmed that something might be wrong. My activities in the previous couple days had not been unusually strenuous or different. I had no fever, so I tried to calm down. I remembered nursing staff's advice to listen to my body. I gathered up my laptop and current novel, took more Tylenol, went back to bed and spent most of the day there. Disappointing, but an appropriate move.

Later in the day, I felt better, a little. Not great, but better. I stayed quiet. Took more Tylenol. The next day, I was not miraculously back to my previous "high," but continuing to climb back to that level. I was cautioned that this could happen, but I didn't like it.

In the past week, I've felt that range of motion has slowly but gradually improved. Nice to be able to realize this. I can comfortably reach below my knees -- though not my toes yet (a pedicure is becoming a major priority). While I still need my grabber to gather pants around my right foot and the extended shoe horn to put on my right shoe, I've figured out how to put a sock on by externally rotating my right knee and reaching behind my back (an interesting maneuver). Small accomplishments, but genuine advances.

Mostly, my hip is starting to feel like it belongs to me. My walking stride is longer and smoother. If there weren't snow on the ground and ice on the sidewalks, I'd be starting to power walk again.

So, what's my short term future look like? 

I have my follow-up appointment with my surgeon next week. At this point, he expected to be able to release me from the positional restrictions (I'm really looking forward to sitting down in the bathtub and doing my stretches again, the latter probably the greater challenge). While I might have hoped to be "normal" at this point, I'm realizing I'm probably not ready for cross country skiing (really, there's that much snow left), my usual outdoor bike ride over hills or tennis yet. However, I'm getting pretty clear encouragement that my body is progressing and that we'll get there soon. Plus, I'm not willing to take any significant risks right now. Not so bad.

While I'm not the type that usually needs or welcomes the proverbial pat on the back, the continued encouragement (in some cases, amazement) from staff, family, friends has helped. Just when I'm wishing I could walk faster or snatch something from the floor without thinking about it, someone cheers me with a "look at you!" or "you look terrific!" (Well, then there's my friend that captions all her emails "new hip, old lady.") That network of personal community support makes a huge difference -- don't go into this without circling the wagons.