I got a new hip

[Kulindahr]

You are doing amazingly well, Kuli.

Tanks.

I just have to be careful not to push it.

 

[Kulindahr]

Even now, 5 years on from the first op, I still get cramps when I sit in the car driving for too long

Did they cut any muscle or ligaments in your operation?

 

[Kulindahr]

Kuli, glad to hear you are doing better.

Tanks.

I thought maybe I was doing well enough to drive again.

Not even CLOSE! It's just too much to get my left foot on and off the clutch dependably.

 

[LeicsDom]

Did they cut any muscle or ligaments in your operation?

Not as far as I know.

 

[LeicsDom]

Tanks.

I thought maybe I was doing well enough to drive again.

Not even CLOSE! It's just too much to get my left foot on and off the clutch dependably.

I was driving after 6 weeks, even though the hospital told me 12 weeks.
Bear in mind I had my right hip done first and over here we use the right foot for the accelerator

 

[DonQuixote]

We use the right foot for the accelerator, too. It's positioned just off center of the vehicle.
Kuli has a manual transmission in his truck.

Gotta make sure the wound is completely healed there, bud.

 

[Keeland]

Tanks.

I thought maybe I was doing well enough to drive again.

Not even CLOSE! It's just too much to get my left foot on and off the clutch dependably.

If the truck will start without the clutch down and in gear, you might be able to drive it without using the clutch. Turn the ignition off, put it in first and start it. Then shift into second and the rest of the gears at the right time.

I had two rear-wheel-drive cars with hydraulic clutches, and with each one the exhaust pipe, just off the exhaust manifold, broke off and burned through the hose.

I drove each one without the clutch for about a week each, then forever after, just to show off.

 

[Kulindahr]

If the truck will start without the clutch down and in gear, you might be able to drive it without using the clutch. Turn the ignition off, put it in first and start it. Then shift into second and the rest of the gears at the right time.

I had two rear-wheel-drive cars with hydraulic clutches, and with each one the exhaust pipe, just off the exhaust manifold, broke off and burned through the hose.

I drove each one without the clutch for about a week each, then forever after, just to show off.

They've got the tolerances on the clutch tighter than they used to -- I've tried driving it without the clutch and it's a lot tougher than with older vehicles.

But it won't start without the pedal all the way to the floor.

Though at the moment it won't start at all -- the AC clutch froze up today, stopping that wheel, which then burned through the belt. My after-surgery helper is out playing with it right now; the idea is to see if someone makes a belt the right length to bypass the AC. (Yeah, it's one of the ridiculous rigs with one belt for all the different toys under the hood.)

 

[Kulindahr]

I thought I'd posted here....

yesterday Bammer was a but in the way when I tried to turn on the bed, so I took a tumble -- fortunately, I landed on the bed, but it still banged up the hip a bit. The impact wasn't too bad; the real problem was that my leg got thrown out to the side farther than it really should yet.

Now I need to hear from the doc... I think they stitched up the ligament capsule that encloses the top of the femur, but I'm not sure; I need to know if I could have torn something.

Meanwhile, the sutures are falling out! That means within the week I should be able to soak in a tub again -- and go to the pool for some horizontal, gravity-reduced exercise.

 

[DonQuixote]

Kuli,
Good luck finding a serpentine belt that fits bypassing the AC - unless the vehicle was available w/out AC.

Sorry to hear about your fall from Bammer being a bit too comfortable.

I hope everything works out OK.

 

[LeicsDom]

Meanwhile, the sutures are falling out! That means within the week I should be able to soak in a tub again -- and go to the pool for some horizontal, gravity-reduced exercise.

Hurrah! I found water based exercise most beneficial, once you get in the water, of course

 

[Kulindahr]

Kuli,
Good luck finding a serpentine belt that fits bypassing the AC - unless the vehicle was available w/out AC.

Sorry to hear about your fall from Bammer being a bit too comfortable.

I hope everything works out OK.

I really shouldn't blame Bammer; he was just being close to his papa. But now I make sure I have a full two-and-a-half foot clear zone before coming in for a landing.


No reply on my inquiry about the stitches yet.

 

[frankfrank]

Didn't you say somewhere, Kuli, that you're now less painful than before the surgery? You have reached a milestone!

May you keep noticing improvements, too.

 

[Kulindahr]

I rode my regular bike today, four whole blocks!

Getting on definitely works best from a high curb, even with the dropped top frame bar. And I have no climbing power at all -- even the hump crossing the recently re-paved highway was a challenge.


But I'm in an interesting situation now: after a little work outside, my left hip wants ice, but my right hip wants heat! I could generate electricity from the temperature difference . . . .

 

[borg69unimatrix]

I rode my regular bike today, four whole blocks!

Getting on definitely works best from a high curb, even with the dropped top frame bar. And I have no climbing power at all -- even the hump crossing the recently re-paved highway was a challenge.

But I'm in an interesting situation now: after a little work outside, my left hip wants ice, but my right hip wants heat! I could generate electricity from the temperature difference . . . .

Katy Perry's got you pegged !

You're hot then you're cold
You're yes then you're no
You're in then you're out
You're up then you're down
...

 

[DonQuixote]

Does that mean your third leg is "just right" or totally confused - or, enjoying the benefits of the "tingly sensation" from the charge it's getting from being in the middle of all that generated electricity?!

 

[LeicsDom]

I rode my regular bike today, four whole blocks!

Getting on definitely works best from a high curb, even with the dropped top frame bar. And I have no climbing power at all -- even the hump crossing the recently re-paved highway was a challenge.

I got into that habit and can't break it now!
A tip - alternate the legs which you lift over (when you can) otherwise you get stuck doing it just one way.

 

[Kulindahr]

I got into that habit and can't break it now!
A tip - alternate the legs which you lift over (when you can) otherwise you get stuck doing it just one way.

LOL

I can barely lift the left leg to get my thigh horizontal; there's no way it's getting up over the bike.

And when I get full use again, I'll just put that foot in the pedal, push off, and swing my other leg over as I start moving.

 

[Kulindahr]

Every time cold wind hits that hip it starts to ache, and if I stay out in it long the ache will reach clear down to my foot and into my lower back. Can I count on this going away with time????

 

[DonQuixote]

Have you been down by the sand bar since the operation - either as a passenger or whatever?