Tomorrow marks 6 week post surgery. I am learning to walk again--I walked (with a major limp) with no crutches or cane yesterday; I'll need to return to them now and then, but hopeful to leave them behind soon. I returned to work for 1/2 days in the office last week and my body collapsed in exhaustion and ache at 5pm each day. I am icing often in hopes of avoiding the bursitis I've accrued on my left hip.
Physical therapy starts on Tuesday morning; Dr. Maiers from Methodist Sports recommends a hip/athletically focused PT at Clarian.
I went and sat next to the POOL yesterday and revealed all my scars to the pooling world. Nate says they are not as obvious as I imagine to be; he's so sweet. They are of course gigantic and oh-so-obvious to me; they are battle wounds. We finally had a Saturday with decent weather, so we took full advantage and laid our bodies in the sun (SPF 50). I swam around and found the non-weight-bearing water felt very comfortable to my joints. I think I'll go back this week for some pool therapy.
We are forging on. Our last benevolence meal comes this week, I am trekking upstairs to sleep in my own bed again, and I can finally look out at the garden and envision the day is near when I can join Nate in the labor--just in time for our beans and heirloom tomatoes to pop!
We know there is a lot of work ahead. I look forward to the day I don't need pain pills or Tylenol to get through the day. We know that we won't feel in the clear until several months from now when I am pain free on the right hip and Clohisy gives me the thumbs up (we see him again in August).
Bless you for your care, for coming to read, for continuing to pray as we have healing ahead and yet another (hopefully just 1!) surgery still in front of us.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Next Steps!
On our way to St. Louis on Monday night I told Nate that I didn't know if I can handle bad news or news of setbacks from my surgeon. After a month homebound, new pains, vulnerable, and sometimes irritable, I asked God for particularly good news for Tuesday's appointment.
We received great news.
Clohisy says my bone is growing back quickly and my repaired impingement looks to be a drastic difference from my left side. (side note: He is very methodical and orderly, in fact, so much so that my screws are in perfect order side by side) My scar looks really pretty this time around, less risen and more natural looking. It is healing well. My mobility is ahead of schedule and after a very conservative first month, he is lifting almost all of my restrictions, as I feel able. I can begin to drive (as I feel able), get on the bike at the gym and swim, begin physical therapy (gait training, but no big range of motion stuff quite yet) at Methodist Sports, and return to work 1/2 days next week. I can also bend over the 90 degree angle (I have cheated a few times, but now I can fully bend down when my coffee spills or to tie my shoe) as he has lifted this restriction as well.
He had me get out of the wheelchair and walk to him on my own. I felt quite unsteady but his exact words were "oh yeah, you are going to do very well, Megan." I will need assistance walking with crutches and then a cane for the next few weeks, working towards no assistance at all in a few weeks. Wow. In comparison to my left surgery, I am way ahead of schedule whereas last time it wasn't until the 3 month mark until I left my crutches behind. Right now, I'm at 4 1/2 weeks post surgery.
Tonight Nate and I will go for a test drive to feel out my muscle control. I will hopefully get a swim in this weekend as I so anticipate physical activity. I'm starting to move around a bit more in the house, slowly learning to walk again (with assistance).
On a personal note, I have hit significant low points these past few weeks. In some moments, I have wondered if good news would come again. And in my better moments, I remember Christ as my "good news" and I take heart.
We have waited on this tangible good news from my surgeon as well. We know the battle is still ahead; for now, we will draw a line in the sand, mark this day and thank God for his kindness.
We received great news.
Clohisy says my bone is growing back quickly and my repaired impingement looks to be a drastic difference from my left side. (side note: He is very methodical and orderly, in fact, so much so that my screws are in perfect order side by side) My scar looks really pretty this time around, less risen and more natural looking. It is healing well. My mobility is ahead of schedule and after a very conservative first month, he is lifting almost all of my restrictions, as I feel able. I can begin to drive (as I feel able), get on the bike at the gym and swim, begin physical therapy (gait training, but no big range of motion stuff quite yet) at Methodist Sports, and return to work 1/2 days next week. I can also bend over the 90 degree angle (I have cheated a few times, but now I can fully bend down when my coffee spills or to tie my shoe) as he has lifted this restriction as well.
He had me get out of the wheelchair and walk to him on my own. I felt quite unsteady but his exact words were "oh yeah, you are going to do very well, Megan." I will need assistance walking with crutches and then a cane for the next few weeks, working towards no assistance at all in a few weeks. Wow. In comparison to my left surgery, I am way ahead of schedule whereas last time it wasn't until the 3 month mark until I left my crutches behind. Right now, I'm at 4 1/2 weeks post surgery.
Tonight Nate and I will go for a test drive to feel out my muscle control. I will hopefully get a swim in this weekend as I so anticipate physical activity. I'm starting to move around a bit more in the house, slowly learning to walk again (with assistance).
On a personal note, I have hit significant low points these past few weeks. In some moments, I have wondered if good news would come again. And in my better moments, I remember Christ as my "good news" and I take heart.
We have waited on this tangible good news from my surgeon as well. We know the battle is still ahead; for now, we will draw a line in the sand, mark this day and thank God for his kindness.
Dear God,
Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner noises of my fears
keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there
even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
"Come to me, you who are overburdened,
and I will give you rest...
for I am gentle and humble of heart."
Let that loving voice be my guide.
Amen.
Monday, June 13, 2011
1 month post-surgery
We leave in 1 hour for St. Louis in hopes of good news tomorrow morning as we re-enter Barnes-Jewish Hospital for my 1-month post-op check up...
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Place
We have entered the fourth week of recovery and glad for this approaching marker. I had intensified amounts of pain this past weekend as I think I crutched around more than I should have. Simply moving in and out of the house to the front porch and back can still take my breathe away, but I feel my energy rising again and we're hopeful for good days ahead.
I am "dressing free" as Clohisy's nurse Madelyn has given me permission to strip the wound from all the dressing and let it begin to heal.
When you are forced homebound for an entire month, you count on the small wonders to keep you oriented. Here are a few pictures of my "place": peonies in bloom, my anti-gravity chair, a picture of Grandma and I a few days before she went to heaven, and then, a few pictures from a surprise anniversary trip Nate and I had the week before surgery.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Day 17
It is hot and humid in Indianapolis today. I'm longing for days at poolside and hopeful Dr. Clohisy, when I see him next, will tell me my wound is ready to be in the pool and beginning water therapy. On June 14th we'll make the trek back to St. Louis for our one month post op check-up. I'm anxious to see the xrays and to know if my bones are growing back in as we hope.
Regarding medication, we are weaning off of hydrocodone so as to not have it become habit-forming. I only take it at night right now which means I'm pushing through greater pain during the day. My left side is beginning to feel the full effects of weight bearing...because it's unhealed from the last surgery, my nerve pain and joint pain are difficult and yet manageable most days.
I continue on my mobility machine each day and we're hopeful this will help avoid scar tissue. I have much scar tissue from my last surgery so we're glad to have this option this time around.
I am angsty and ready to "fly this coop" but I know my orders (one month home bound) and we've surrendered to them. My front porch is my haven and though the humidity is present, I'm grateful the sun is out this week. It helps keep spirits alive.
Regarding medication, we are weaning off of hydrocodone so as to not have it become habit-forming. I only take it at night right now which means I'm pushing through greater pain during the day. My left side is beginning to feel the full effects of weight bearing...because it's unhealed from the last surgery, my nerve pain and joint pain are difficult and yet manageable most days.
I continue on my mobility machine each day and we're hopeful this will help avoid scar tissue. I have much scar tissue from my last surgery so we're glad to have this option this time around.
I am angsty and ready to "fly this coop" but I know my orders (one month home bound) and we've surrendered to them. My front porch is my haven and though the humidity is present, I'm grateful the sun is out this week. It helps keep spirits alive.
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