I got a new hip

[DonQuixote]

I remember using those at one point or another - not sure what the "event" was - maybe part of my lifesaving course?

Not sure, but I do remember having them around.

 

[LeicsDom]

They're not so much for buoyancy as they are to 'lock' the hips in place. They're also known as pull buoys:

Nope, not something I have ever seen or heard about

 

[Kulindahr]

They come in a variety of shapes and sizes:

And can be used in different ways:

The farther back you put it, the harder it makes your arms work.

 

[Kulindahr]

My stupid "smart" phone app gave me screwed-up tide tables yesterday, so what should have been a two hour jaunt became twice that. I ended up having to push my bike (with trailer) back through mostly dry sand instead of riding it. Happily, there were some people partying at the point where I cross the foredune to get back to the road; two of them knew Bammer! So I took a break there and then three of them helped me get back over that dune.

They said it was only fair in return for the conservation and trail work I do out there.

Back at the house, I needed crutches to get indoors, but the culprit was my right hip, which didn't want to hold me up; the operated one just ached.

 

[LeicsDom]

Back at the house, I needed crutches to get indoors, but the culprit was my right hip, which didn't want to hold me up; the operated one just ached.

You will find the unoperated hip will deteriorate quicker than you expected now due to you unconciously favouring it
My consultant said he wanted to do the other hip, ideally, after about 6 months. It turned out to be 14 months due to other considerations. But by then I was well ready to complete the double

 

[Kulindahr]

You will find the unoperated hip will deteriorate quicker than you expected now due to you unconciously favouring it
My consultant said he wanted to do the other hip, ideally, after about 6 months. It turned out to be 14 months due to other considerations. But by then I was well ready to complete the double

The bloody thing collapsed under me while out shopping today -- PTL I was holding the cart and had Bammer at my side!

From the kinds of pain, the femur there must be starting to flake like the left one did: I can be walking along with no hip pain on either side, when suddenly with every step it feels like I'm being zapped by an electric fence inside the right hip... or a pointed sharp pain that hits hard enough to make my vision start to tunnel... or just a sort of grinding feeling reminiscent of crushing something underfoot.

Meanwhile, the left hip only hurts now if it gets pinched or gets hit with a sudden lateral strain. My stride is longer on that side than it has been in over two years! And I discovered yesterday that even if my foot lands on an uneven surface and tilts sharply sideways the hip is fine (unplanned experiment with happy ending).

 

[DonQuixote]

Keep up the good thoughts, Kuli.

 

[LeicsDom]

I can be walking along with no hip pain on either side, when suddenly with every step it feels like I'm being zapped by an electric fence inside the right hip... or a pointed sharp pain that hits hard enough to make my vision start to tunnel...

I always likened it to having a 6 inch nail hammered into the joint!

 

[Kulindahr]

I always likened it to having a 6 inch nail hammered into the joint!

I've had a nail through my foot. The pain when I start to black out is worse.


Today I learned I still can't bike up hills. But I did do a few hours of conservation work -- stayed off the beach because of a cold wind -- and within a half hour of returning home (after a nap) the hip was just a little stiff, no ache or anything!

Tomorrow's supposed to be really warm, so I plan to do what I originally set out to today: take supplies out to the conservation native tree planting zone and see if the flyboys screwed it up (again).

 

[LeicsDom]

But I did do a few hours of conservation work -- stayed off the beach because of a cold wind -- and within a half hour of returning home (after a nap) the hip was just a little stiff, no ache or anything!

Yeah I get that. But it soon loosens back up the minute you start to move around again
Until you have experienced the continuous pre-op pain you can't begin to appreciate that a little stiffness is a tiny tiny price to pay

 

[Kulindahr]

I had some weird pains today in the operated hip, sort of electric-shock-like twinges that didn't seem localized to anything. I got to wondering if they were connected to the almost constant pain in the other hip -- which I'm almost certain is stating to flake off little bone chips.

 

[LeicsDom]

I had some weird pains today in the operated hip, sort of electric-shock-like twinges that didn't seem localized to anything. I got to wondering if they were connected to the almost constant pain in the other hip -- which I'm almost certain is stating to flake off little bone chips.

It MAY be that it is just from the unbalanced way you are now walking. No matter how hard you try, until you get the other one done, there will be an inequality in your balance

 

[Kulindahr]

It MAY be that it is just from the unbalanced way you are now walking. No matter how hard you try, until you get the other one done, there will be an inequality in your balance

I have to adjust the lift a couple of times a week. No matter what material I use, it compacts. Yesterday I slipped in a 1/16 inch half-heel; walking felt better immediately.

 

[Kulindahr]

Got so hot today (yeah, we're breaking records) a friend and I headed for a river. The water wasn't much warmer than straight out of a refrigerator, but at least we could wiggle toes in it. But the trip down the trail and back established quite clearly that the hip is not ready for rough ground. Also, unlike at the beach where I can just let myself fall on the sand, that option isn't available among rocks and brush.

Ninety days they said till rough ground hiking -- I believe it!

 

[LeicsDom]

I have to adjust the lift a couple of times a week. No matter what material I use, it compacts. Yesterday I slipped in a 1/16 inch half-heel; walking felt better immediately.

I go to the Pound Shop and get some gel lifts. They don't compact and are just the right size for me

 

[LeicsDom]

Got so hot today (yeah, we're breaking records) a friend and I headed for a river. The water wasn't much warmer than straight out of a refrigerator, but at least we could wiggle toes in it. But the trip down the trail and back established quite clearly that the hip is not ready for rough ground. Also, unlike at the beach where I can just let myself fall on the sand, that option isn't available among rocks and brush.

Ninety days they said till rough ground hiking -- I believe it!

That sounds about right. I was told that as soon as I got my all clear at 12 weeks I was free to try anything I wanted.
I have to admit that, coward that I am, I still use my new hips as an excuse not to return to some activities

 

[Kulindahr]

That sounds about right. I was told that as soon as I got my all clear at 12 weeks I was free to try anything I wanted.
I have to admit that, coward that I am, I still use my new hips as an excuse not to return to some activities

One of my problems is I keep thinking of activities I want to return to, but shouldn't yet.

Right now I'd really like to run off my anger, but I'm not even allowed to jog -- no jarring movements! I'm even cutting back on what I've been lifting; I've got some pain and a touch of swelling that may be from a bit too much weight doing that conservation work this last week (I really ought to post an ad asking for volunteers...).

 

[LeicsDom]

(I really ought to post an ad asking for volunteers...).

Great idea!

Re activities - frustrating, I know, but best to keep to the Dr's orders. In the long run it will, hopefully, prevent unnecessary problems in the future

 

[Kulindahr]

Great idea!

Re activities - frustrating, I know, but best to keep to the Dr's orders. In the long run it will, hopefully, prevent unnecessary problems in the future

Well, the hip is getting a lot of rest: my lungs feel sort of dry today (started last night), and after the nausea and vomiting the other day I figure I could afford just reclining around, drinking lots of fluids and spoiling Bammer.

 

[DonQuixote]

Pampering yourself a bit isn't such a bad idea, either.