My “support person” and “coach” who has been Wonderful through this whole process! |
I called United Health Care this morning and learned that I have unlimited physical therapy appointments available with a $25 copay. So that will not be a reason to end PT! But I felt yesterday that I was able to do almost everything at home without having to go in to the busy site two or three times a week. So tomorrow I will talk to Jennifer about a plan going forward. My suggestion will be to check in once a week for a while and I will see what she has to say.
Plus I am counting down the number of pills I have to take daily. There are five days worth left of the anti-inflammation pill. There are about the same of the 81 mg aspirin for clot prevention. I have cut back on Tylenol taking two at night only instead of the nine originally recommended. So I have felt free to have a small glass of wine again with supper or happy hour.
I am walking with the walker in the house but beginning to walk without it. I have figured out how to avoid the early morning deep pain in my hip by getting out of bed and walking around a few times during the night—a few trips to the bathroom or kitchen has been enough for the last three mornings. May it continue! I had to figure that out on my own—when the PA offered another opioid (which I have successfully avoided!) and PT agreed that I needed to cut back on the exercise when it was making things worse.
My life has been consumed with this surgery since March 3 when I asked Dr. Delacruz what to do and he sent me for the x-rays which were diagnosed as “severe arthritis in left hip.” I am eager for a more normal life!
May 29. Jennifer thought once a week check-in would be great for PT so that is what I will do from now on. Progress!
May 30. And more progress! We went to Target together and got all our favorite Target bargains. It was no harder than usual pushing a shopping cart. I was glad to be home again but I always am after a big shopping trip. And it was one more big step towards our normal lives.
May 31 And another step forward. I shopped at McCaffrey’s with Jim today—our regular Saturday shopping trip and I did it. Always happy to be back in car sitting down again but we did it together. Not sending Jim alone. Hooray!
June 3. No more morning and evening drugs to take and record. Progress! Jim says I am “bustling about in the kitchen” more—not a lot but taking charge of meals more.
June 12. It has been six weeks since surgery so I no longer have to sleep on my back which I did not do or keep a pillow between my legs if I sleep on my side. I substituted a rolled up blanket but will be so glad not to do that any more either—always readjusting it if I turned over.
The bad part about no more drugs (including Celebrex) is that my right hip started hurting and I can’t bear the thought of another surgery. I am taking two Aleve a day and hope that helps. I fell two days ago again—for no good reason which also concerns me. I was plugging in my phone and found myself on the floor. With difficulty Jim got me sitting in a chair and then up and around again. I need to do those chair exercises and strengthen my legs!
July 4 I have celecoxib to take once a day and I was cautiously optimistic for three days and now not so much again. I dread the idea of another surgery but that may be the answer. No decision needs to be made tonight!
July 14 I had a two month follow up appointment at Princeton Orthopedics today. I had told them earlier and gotten an OK that I would also ask about my right hip. Cory, the PA, checked my mobility and said yes, the left hip was great and the right hip was not. He went to check my x-rays and get Dr. Culp. We felt good about the care and advice we got which was to try a cortisone shot and if that doesn’t work, then consider surgery again. The risk for me is that cortisone is a problem when one is pre-diabetic which I am but Dr. Culp said that was less risky than long term use of the Celebrex. He said to get the shot and then be real careful about diet for a while. So that is the plan for now. July 22 will be the next appointment for the cortisone shot with a different doctor in the same office. I am glad to do something because my mobility is not good and I would like to walk with greater ease again.
July 16. A very strange thing is that I have become aware that I do not need a hair cut two months after my last one. I googled surgery and hair growth and yes, the trauma of surgery can stop hair growth. This concerns me a lot, but at least it is not falling out or thinning. I guess I am saving money but it is scary how one thing can affect another. I hope it returns to normal soon. If not, I am not sure who to ask for help. Guess I would start with my primary care practice. One more reason to be glad I don’t have another surgery scheduled..