two weeks report

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

Well this " anterior " approach has been wonderful for me.

I also had swelling in the operated leg for a week but it's pretty

much gone.

I was in the hospital for 3 days and rehab for 5. They said I could

go home after 4 but I live up a lot of stairs (16, the first day it

looked like a mountain to climb!) and didn't want a walker and I felt

I needed more practice with the crutches. The food at St Marks

Hospital was WONDERFUL and they would do special things I asked for

(like when there was oatmeal I'd put " please a banana and some

raisins to put in " and there they were!).

I saw the Dr yesterday for my first post op appt. He had me walk back

and forth a few paces without any crutches or anything. It did not

hurt, I felt a little stiff, but he said I could use just one crutch

for a week and then begin to wean myself to nothing.

Yesterday I walked (with both crutches) at a mall for about the

equivalent of 3 blocks. That was fine, but on the way back up the

stairs I got too arrogant and did the last stair putting up my

OPERATED leg and bearing all the weight going up and that was a BIG

mistake. OUCH ouch ouch all evening (took a tylonol) and this a.m. my

groin hurt. My own fault. I'm not ready for that kind of stair

walking.

I can dress myself (except for the right foot Teds and shoes I need

those helper things you get), shower, walk (one crutch) about 1/2

block, cook easy things, pretty much anything I want within the

apartment (which is very small).

I do NOT sleep well and I don't look forward to the nights. I take a

nice nap during the day. The Olympics are on late so that's helping

me now but I hope I start sleeping well again some time. (I still

can only sleep on my back or unoperated side).

Good luck to all.

I'm hyped up now: will consider knee replacement as my right knee

looks awful, but is not yet painful.

Lynn