Day 17: physical progress and emotional bumps
progress at PT is going very well. The CPM machine is gone, sofa is reclaimed (the machine took up half the full sized sofa, I can now sprawl comfortably AND have room for another person to sit), and cats are very pleased to have the slow moving, slightly hissy obstacle gone. I'm down to single crutch or cane instead of both crutches. Pro: able to carry things around in right hand. Con: sharing weight only on left hand is tough on that left shoulder and wrist. And I'm left handed. Yesterday was a single crutch day because I forgot to take the cane to PT. Today I remembered the cane and then used it alone for the rest of the day. Right ankle is significantly more sore at the end of today after taking more weight. But the hip isn't bothering much at all! Huzzah.
At PT the first half hour is hands-on mobilization, passive range of motion movements and sometimes a bit of light resistance. Second half hour has moved back to exercises: some bridges, core reminders, leg presses on the pilates machine with a single spring yesterday and up to two today. Standing on my left leg, resting the right shin on a small yoga ball and moving the leg from neutral back into extension, back and forth, going through that anti-sitting range of motion.
Sitting upright is still unpleasant, I much prefer lying down either prone or supine or reclining a bit, but can manage sitting in chair for about 20 minutes or so before I really want to change position. No egg decorating yet :(
It does seem from reading about recovery progress on others who have been through the same surgery that I am up on my feet more quickly than normal, so I guess all that pre-op PT for strengthening was really worth it! Every day I look outside at the lovely weather and desperately want to go for a long walk, even though i know that's out of the question. A few times today I even thought this second round of surgery might have a silver lining of forcing me to really take it easy this next week when I might get antsy enough to push it too hard. Forced easy-taking, I shall has it.
At PT the first half hour is hands-on mobilization, passive range of motion movements and sometimes a bit of light resistance. Second half hour has moved back to exercises: some bridges, core reminders, leg presses on the pilates machine with a single spring yesterday and up to two today. Standing on my left leg, resting the right shin on a small yoga ball and moving the leg from neutral back into extension, back and forth, going through that anti-sitting range of motion.
Sitting upright is still unpleasant, I much prefer lying down either prone or supine or reclining a bit, but can manage sitting in chair for about 20 minutes or so before I really want to change position. No egg decorating yet :(
It does seem from reading about recovery progress on others who have been through the same surgery that I am up on my feet more quickly than normal, so I guess all that pre-op PT for strengthening was really worth it! Every day I look outside at the lovely weather and desperately want to go for a long walk, even though i know that's out of the question. A few times today I even thought this second round of surgery might have a silver lining of forcing me to really take it easy this next week when I might get antsy enough to push it too hard. Forced easy-taking, I shall has it.