bye-bye cane

I am 'almost' there...........cane and pain free. It was the first time I was walking around the kitchen getting dinner on the table and I realized that I had not picked up the cane. My gait was sort of normal! Usually, I walk like I am lopsided or have to take one serious dump. I can't believe I am tasting my freedom....freedom from walking funny, freedom from restrictions on what I can do and freedom from the stabbing pain I felt with every step I took. A day didn't go by for the past 2-3 years that I wasn't aware of my disability with every movement. I couldn't lie still at night or sit in a chair for more than 5 minutes without re-arranging myself and then eventually having to get up and move around only to have the pain stay there. It was like a ball of elastic bands being pulled in every direction with a few pins stuck inside that would jab me when I put my weight on it. It would ache...sometimes so much so that I would cry (even with meds) and sometimes it was that dull ache that never subsided. It's as though I am living a dream now....something I never thought possible for myself. I was relegated to practically living a sedentary lifestyle...unable to keep up with my kids or my well-being.

For anyone on the fence about have a total hip..........don't wait. Get the best surgeon and get it done NOW before BHO takes over your medical affairs. My timing couldn't have been better............but I worry that the day will come (as in Canada) that many surgeries such as mine will make sufferers wait many months or even years to have theirs done. I read a book called "Getting Hip" in which a Canadian woman in her 40's had to come to New Jersey to have her hip replaced in a timely fashion. Good 'ol universal healthcare up there in Canada. God I hope this reform does not take place here.

my new mode of transportation....

the cane! Mine even has green plaid, so I am really cool....lol. The hip scar is coming along nicely. I have this awesome PT who is at Live Free Physical Therapy in Groton, MA. She gave me a soft tissue massage to decrease the scar tissue under the incision and help with the elasticity of the skin and movement. I will probably be going about 2x per week for the next couple of months. I still walk with a limp but it is not as noticable. I'm battling allergies now which I never had before in my life.........not sure where they are coming from. I wake up stuffed up and then it drains into my chest and sits there all day. Not fun. I am hoping it's due to all the nasty rainy days with pollen & mold. My biggest fear is that I am allergic to my new titanium hip which would really SUCK. They say that is not at all likely, but with me........anything is possible.

Just found out I will be working less hours in the Fall :( This is due to lower enrollment than expected. I still will teach the PM class and I start teaching art classes at the school as a side job, so I think in the end...I won't be losing out too much. This economy is affecting everyone....I'm just starting to feel the ripples.

While I'm here though...........since it is MY blog and some people don't like that I express my opinions on politics....I just want to say that I am very happy that the Cambridge police officer accused by Obama as acting "stupidly" is getting his revenge. Obama should have recused himself from opening his trap on that issue. Racial profiling? We have a black governor here in Mass and a black president in the U.S. Something tells me the country is not very prejudiced anymore. I am so tired of listening to the ranting of black leaders telling us that they don't have equal rights. I wasn't a part of slavery or injustice. Neither are my parents. Stop the whining and move on. I think the white police officer ought to tell Obama to take the beer he offered him and shove it up his *&%$#. Got that off my chest.

X-Ray Magic!

Tah-dah! Pretty cool, huh? I am now "officially" the bionic woman. The dr. said it looked perfect and all was well at my 6 week follow-up appt. in Boston on Tuesday. I have graduated to a cane now (lovely)....for 4 more weeks to get rid of my limp. A limp is fairly normal after hip surgery and it usally painless and will just go away in 3 months or so. I need to build up my hip muscles to make it remember how to walk normally again and have the strength to do it. I start outpatient PT today. I found a great place a few miles from home and will be doing that 2x per week for the next month or so. Maybe some pool therapy after that. I don't have to go back to Dr. Burke until next year! Yippee!

I'm home now from Vermont for a few weeks now and have been busy carting the kids off to camps. My computer died 2 days ago and Dell came out and replaced my mother board and hard drive the next day (way to go Dell...with all my original programs pre-loaded on). My computer works better than before.......but my old hard drive may be junk and I may be unable to retrieve many of my photos from the past 12 months :( I am having it analyzed now and will know soon what I need to do or pay to get it back.........it's always something!

almost over :(

I am in good spirits and getting better each day! Here I am at my cottage in Vermont :)

I'm still here in beautiful but (rainy and cold lately) Vermont.....and my mini-vacation recoup time is almost up. We are leaving Sunday afternoon. My parents were wonderful to make all my meals and care for my children. They haven't asked for a thing in return. I am trying to think of something they would appreciate from us since they would probably not accept money. I think our leaving is due time and we've outstayed our welcome...that might be gift enough for them....LOL. I am grateful to my parents and husband, my doctor, my kids, .......everyone who has been there for me through this very unique and difficult period in my life. Every day is better than the next! My incision is completely healed and only a pink long line exists. I am limping less each day and can walk further each day. I am amazed that I don't even have an ounce of pain! This is WAY better than I expected to be in such a short time (6 weeks). It is still hard to imagine being able to go back to work in September.....but in one month, I know things will be just that much better.

great to see my friend!

no....I'm not talking about my period. LOL. Debby...my best friend from HS came up to Vermont from Philly this weekend. We went to Clark's Trading Post (photo above is my little guy Brody (age 4) holding his pretend money with the "wolfman" on it) over in Lincoln, NH, mini-golfed at Mr. Puttz, sunbathed, swam (I had to watch because I don't have permisson to swim yet) and had a great lunch right on Lake Champlain at Breakwaters. Super fun and lots of laughs. We're gonna try to do this every year we decided.

I haven't felt any pain in my hip and I walk better each day. I still limp pretty badly and am hoping this is just due to my muscle weakness and over time will improve. I see Dr. Burke at Mass General next week and hope to have my precautions lifted and can just use a cane instead of crutches. I think things will go well as I feel like a new person. No drugs, no pain........wow...I'm still in disbelief this really worked.

quickie update...

I'm still here in Vermont at the lakehouse......the weather has been crap until today. We finally had one whole day without rain. The big fireworks show is tonight here at the lake (the family that puts it every year does it the day after the 4th for money reasons). My hubby Dave left with Joey and the Bogey to go home :( I miss them already. Maddie is sick with a stomach bug :( I am feeling pretty good. I am completely off drugs except for aspirin...yeah! I did go through some withdrawal symptoms...but my hip feels like a million bucks. Not even one tiny twinge of pain! A++++ surgeon and operation. I am very happy I went through all of it.....sometimes you just have to face what life throws at you. I was scared as hell to go through with it....but it wasn't fair to my family anymore or to me. I feel very brave and am proud of myself.