I have never been so happy to drive! Today I had to drive myself to the chiropractor and then later to PT. It was glorious! I love the simple blessing of being able to drive again!My first appointment today was with the chiropractor. He was surprised about the big leg length difference but he had a better shoe lift than what PT was offering. Well he didn’t have my size so it is on order and it’s coming from a company that is only about 20 miles from here in Cuba, MO. I like supporting local businesses! And now they will be supporting me quite literally! 😆! This lift will lift my whole foot not just the heel. It will be much better for my right foot itself. He also adjusted the rest of me. He has been so instrumental in keeping my pain bearable before the surgery and I am happy he can keep helping me afterwards! If you need a good chiropractor I can give you a recommendation!PT went well too. I don’t need the cane much except for long excursions and my therapist said I need to take it with me everywhere in public if only to keep people from josteling me amd making me fall! They did a goals assessment for my doctor and me and themselves of course. I think my goals are almost halfway met. I am off the walker and almost not dependent on the cane. But still have swelling and the LLD. I also have very little endurance and strength. It is progressing slow and steady. I have to be pleased with that.There is no more agonizing hip pain which is a huge blessing. If you have been waiting to do this surgery, I recommend you go do it before you lose all of your strength in that hip and leg like I did.As always please pray for me – especially for patience through this slow recovery. If you want any prayers, just leave a comment below!

I think these socks represent some of what I am feeling in my leg now. Well my thigh anyway. Splotches of zings and zaps. Occasional muscle spasms that can be short and isolated to spasms that quake my whole leg. I also get the wierd sensation that water is running down my leg. It’s. The weirdest thing – my leg is dry but I swear something dripped down my leg!I am now just about 4 weeks post anterior left total hip replacement. Things are going well except for the swelling and the things I mention above. The swelling is much improved though. I am no longer using the walker at all and I only use a cane if I am walking longer distances or in the gravel. It is kind of my security blanket! If I feel wobbly, I can stabiloze myself with the cane easily. If the swelling would just go away, I think the leg length discrepancy wouldn’t be as noticable. I got a new lift for my shoe and when the swelling is down it is great. So I sit and ice my thigh and wear compression stockings!PT is going great. No more “shocking” experiences – at least in the negative sense! Every time I go, they add on a new exercise. I am doing well they say! I have come a long way since I statted there! I just need to be patient. Before long I will be ready for some more action. I need to build up endurance. Slow and steady right?This is going to be a hard week for my extended family. We are laying my Aunt Cecilia to rest. She was a great woman. I loved her a lot. I wish I could be there for my uncle and cousins. But its a long way away and there is no way I could drive or even fly there right now. Please say a prayer for the family if you are the praying type.

I had a shocking day at PT this morning. All was going well and as usual at the end I get a relaxing session with electro-stimulation and icing. Well I couldn’t feel one set of the pads at all turned all the way up and the other set was wonderful way down low. Turns out the first set wasn’t plugged in correctly. When someone noticed and plugged it in right – WOWSERS! It about sent me through the roof! Holy moly that HURT! He quickly turned it down after my scream shook the whole room! He couldn’t have been more apologetic! Poor guy felt so bad. I laugh/cried for a few minutes. I am still tingling….On the bright side of things, I am now using a cane not the walker! Yay! Walking is getting easier and exercising it feels good. My blood sugars have been really great lately too. My daughter has been feeding me very well and building muscle certainly helps. Can pain cause your blood sugars to increase like it can your blood pressures?To relax, I have started watercolor painting again. I did these two little bookmarks the other day. I will be giving them to some friends who brought me some gifts during recovery. Need to laminate and add a tassel. How do you relax?

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Orthopedic surgeons really do have a different mindset don’t they? When I saw mine 13 days post surgery, he said my scar was beautiful. Umm, not so much doc. It’s big and ugly to me but I know eventually it will lighten up and be just fine. Here is a picture.

It actually looks better today than it did two days ago but it is still jarring to see. The swelling at my hip also bugs me but at least the swelling below the scar is getting better.

Today I start outpatient physical therapy. I am using a different company than the hospital amd home health company that started my therapies. Probably some negatives in that decision but the surgeon did say I could choose either place (and he is at the hospital). I just like the billing practice at this facility better than the hospital. At the hospital you can’t pay your co-pay at the time of service. They bill you later and you end up with a huge bill. At the other place you pay as you go. I much prefer that. And parking is better there too! My daughter used to go there and we liked them. I will let you know how it goes. I am looking forward to getting healthy and strong.

Goals

My ultimate goal is to be walking without a limp and to be pain free. I want to be able to hike in the woods for work without fear of needing to be airlifted or otherwise rescued because I can’t make it. Before the surgery, I was in so much pain that field work that would require a mile or even less hiking was just out. Trips to Wal-Mart were even horribly painful. I am looking forward to being able to exercise to lose weight also.

If you have had a THR, what are/were your goals and have you achieved them? How long did it take?

#anteriortotalhipreplacement #hipreplacementrecovery #THRscar #leftTHR

It is 1:30 am and I am awake. I should be sleeping but I made the mistake of thinking I didnt need to take a tramadol tonight. I just corrected that mistake and also brought a hot water bottle with me. They tell you not to let the pain get ahead of you but gosh I just want to be done with it!The doctor took the last dressing off yesterday. I am so happy because ripping those things off hurt like hell! He is pleased with the way my scar looks. I think it is ugly but it will look better soon right?The thing that bugs me the most is leg length difference. He assures me that it won’t be so bad before too long but in the meantime PT will help with that and get some inserts for my shoes. Might have to get sandals with a built up sole for hot weather coming! Any recommendations?Ok I think the meds are kickingin. Must rest up and heal.#anteriortotalhipreplacement #hip #hipreplacementrecovery