I no longer need a chauffeur, that is a very nice feeling. Driving does not seem a problem for the new hip. Getting in and out of the car is still an issue with the hip that's not yet done. At least I'm not so dependent anymore. Since I have been sent now to outpatient PT it's nice that I can drive myself.
When I went to the doc on Wednesday I took "Yoga the Iyengar Way" and pointed to several poses that I had hoped I could do as it's now 6 weeks.He nixed all of them at least for 6 more weeks. In his office I bent forwrd to pick up something on the floor. He was a little upset that I bent so far forward ( he said 90 degrees) so I said it was lucky he didn't see me picking up things at home. Now that my wall ropes are up I want to do rope sirsasana, his comment was "why would anyone want to stand on their heads?" So I gave up and asked my new PT who happens also to be a yoga teacher and she didn't think it would be an issue so I will try.
This is definitely a lesson in patience as I feel myself getting fatter and stiffer with each passing day. the good news is I can walk in the house without a cane. But I use the cane sometimes to relieve some of the pressure on the undone side.I keep the cane on the side that was operated on which is not the normal but this way it helps out the painful side. I'm told this is also normal, but I feel it is holding up my progress some as it flares up often after my PT sessions.
The last of my children, who had all come in turn to help out, left yesterday. I was sad as it was such a treat for a mom to have each one to myself. They were all wonderful helps and I'm so grateful to them for taking time from their lives to help me out. I am indeed fortunate to have such great children.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Sunday, June 21, 2009
balance
My PT exercises this week were about learning to balance on one leg. Used not to be a problem. Now the new hip side has not only to build strength but feel the balance without the feedback from the hip socket- since it is now titanium! the not yet done hip knows where to find the balance but standing too long on this leg with very little cartilage there, sets up a groin spasm that then goes to the whole hip. So I'm trying to find a happy medium between doing and not overdoing. Isn't this what we deal with in yoga? The balance between effort and surrender, the essence of life as well.
I am able to get down into the bath tub for a soak, showers have been the only way up to now. Some people are shower people some are tub soakers I'm the latter. It's been 6 weeks since the last soak, interesting that I don't like the water as hot as before! Also since my tub is short and I'm not supposed to let my leg externally rotate lying with knees up in the air isn't as nice. Complain complain!
I have begun to do supported shoulder stand and that is blissful. My son has set up a new practice space for me with my horse, wall ropes, back bender all in one tidy space so I'm now anxious to get back to rope sirsasana(headstand). My daughter had started the cleaning out process and he was able to finish it.
Wednesday is my 6 weeks appointment with the doc and I hope he will give me the green light for driving my car. I will then go back to teaching. I have enjoyed having extra time to tour my garden but I feel the need for discipline.
I am able to get down into the bath tub for a soak, showers have been the only way up to now. Some people are shower people some are tub soakers I'm the latter. It's been 6 weeks since the last soak, interesting that I don't like the water as hot as before! Also since my tub is short and I'm not supposed to let my leg externally rotate lying with knees up in the air isn't as nice. Complain complain!
I have begun to do supported shoulder stand and that is blissful. My son has set up a new practice space for me with my horse, wall ropes, back bender all in one tidy space so I'm now anxious to get back to rope sirsasana(headstand). My daughter had started the cleaning out process and he was able to finish it.
Wednesday is my 6 weeks appointment with the doc and I hope he will give me the green light for driving my car. I will then go back to teaching. I have enjoyed having extra time to tour my garden but I feel the need for discipline.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
relearning
It is a very interesting process to relearn things that one takes for granted, things like getting up and down from the floor and sitting down on the floor.
I have certain restrictions from the doc because of the anterior approach that he used. I can bend forward all I want (this is a blessing) but cannot take the operated leg into extension(this is taking the leg behind you). I may not cross my leg over the midline of the body so no leg crossing.This means sleeping with a pillow between my legs so during sleeping I don't take my leg over the body. I may not externally or internally rotate that leg. Try getting up and down from a seated position on the floor without dropping your hips to either side!
A PT comes twice a week for an hour of therapy. We have joked that it's my karma to now be the student of the strict teacher! I have enjoyed working with her as she has a knowledge of some yoga so I can have her assess some poses that I long to do. Now that I am working on the floor things like dog pose, utkatasana( which is actually one of my PT exercises), bridge, dandasana are possible. It is surprising to me how difficult dog pose is for me. I have lost both strength and flexiblity. Sitting on my heels requires a pillow behind my knees.
I had hoped that the operation would help my left groin pain but alas it's still there. Obviously there's another hip replacement in my future but I can't think of that just yet. While I have loved the help and attention I have received being an invalid is not my cup of tea.
Tuesday marked 4 weeks since surgery so I have come a long way from there. I do not use the walker any more and can walk a short distance without the cane. I have been out in my garden and walked up the hill to where my normal bed is. The decks have now been cleaned and repaired so they aren't slippery. the day when I can move back to my bed are not too far away.
I have certain restrictions from the doc because of the anterior approach that he used. I can bend forward all I want (this is a blessing) but cannot take the operated leg into extension(this is taking the leg behind you). I may not cross my leg over the midline of the body so no leg crossing.This means sleeping with a pillow between my legs so during sleeping I don't take my leg over the body. I may not externally or internally rotate that leg. Try getting up and down from a seated position on the floor without dropping your hips to either side!
A PT comes twice a week for an hour of therapy. We have joked that it's my karma to now be the student of the strict teacher! I have enjoyed working with her as she has a knowledge of some yoga so I can have her assess some poses that I long to do. Now that I am working on the floor things like dog pose, utkatasana( which is actually one of my PT exercises), bridge, dandasana are possible. It is surprising to me how difficult dog pose is for me. I have lost both strength and flexiblity. Sitting on my heels requires a pillow behind my knees.
I had hoped that the operation would help my left groin pain but alas it's still there. Obviously there's another hip replacement in my future but I can't think of that just yet. While I have loved the help and attention I have received being an invalid is not my cup of tea.
Tuesday marked 4 weeks since surgery so I have come a long way from there. I do not use the walker any more and can walk a short distance without the cane. I have been out in my garden and walked up the hill to where my normal bed is. The decks have now been cleaned and repaired so they aren't slippery. the day when I can move back to my bed are not too far away.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
an update at last!
I have been derelict I know. I have had my children here taking care of me. It has been glorious to have them one at a time and savor our time together. But we have not been idle. They have tackled jobs that I had been unable to do for a while so gutters have been cleaned, deck has been scrubbed,kitchen drawers cleaned, pantry cleaned,giant logs rolled away from the house, etc.. They have made numerous trips to the recycling and giving away shed. I am beginning to feel much lighter as clutter had begun to accumulate to an unwelcome size.
On top of all this labor they prepared delicious healthy meals for me. I have been treated to breakfast in bed with newspaper- such a luxury! I have been queen for many days. I am again so grateful and impressed anew with their generosity of spirit- they worked their butts off!!
I was too tired in the evening to get to the blog so I appologize. the next entry will be more of a report on the hip replacement,what it involves, the restrictions, and my progress in general.
On top of all this labor they prepared delicious healthy meals for me. I have been treated to breakfast in bed with newspaper- such a luxury! I have been queen for many days. I am again so grateful and impressed anew with their generosity of spirit- they worked their butts off!!
I was too tired in the evening to get to the blog so I appologize. the next entry will be more of a report on the hip replacement,what it involves, the restrictions, and my progress in general.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)