Milestones - Knee & Hip Problems Message Board

Ripanco · 07-19-2005, 07:05 AM

It's funny how some of the littlest things are such a big deal when you are a new hippster

Last night, after pool workout, I put on my socks, sneakers and tied my laces all by myself with out the sock thingy!! I was so proud and couldn't wait to get out of the locker room to show Jerry what I did! It isn't all great, cause I can only do that by bending from the waist, but I still can not bring my knees up very far, especially the left one.

My big milestone was the dog show last weekend. My original goal when we planned on the replacements was for me to be able to watch. Well, smash that goal!! I showed not only 1 but 2 dogs! Both days with no problems. My gait was very smooth to all that watched and it felt fine. We won the puppy dog class and the open ***** class and I took reserve winner's *****. Not bad for a gimp. Youngest son won Winner's Dog for 2 points with his dog and also showed and did some winning with an Airedale, Newfie and 2 other Siberians owned by friends. So he was a really busy boy!

I was exhasted after the weekend but feeling pretty good about things. We had company staying with us from Thur pm till Sun pm and the show was Fri, Sat and Sunday. Lot of work, lot of visiting.

Had my first PT visit with my gait specialist PT since surgery last week. I was surprised to learn my left leg is almost 1/2" shorter! (9mm). That is borderline to being a problem, but since it does not seem to bother me so far, we are not going to do anything about it for now.

He was surprised at the lack of ROM in my left leg too. It may be a combination of the left hip being worse than the right to begin with and taking much more work in the original surgery as well as the second surgery to fix the 'mistake'. It is still far behind the right leg. But all in all, he was amazed at how quickly and far I have come in less than 8 weeks.

What are some of the milestones the rest of you remember as being biggies? Some of my others are: no raised toilet seat
no more shots in the belly
first time driving

Balleteach you must have plenty since you have had the most time to get the most milestones!!

mini2 · 07-19-2005, 05:56 PM

Ripanco please tell me how to find a gait spec. I have done pt and still limp. My leg is 3/4 inches to short. I have a lift on the inside of my shoe.

MrsLinda · 07-20-2005, 05:38 AM

Oh lets see....I have a few. I know a big one for me was getting into the tub for a bath. I was a bath person prior to the surgery and always managed to find a little time for a nice relaxing bubble bath! But you know; it's funny. I just realized sitting here typing, that since the surgery, I've taken just 3 baths! DON'T BACK UP FROM THE SCREEN.....I DO SHOWER DAILY! I guess I just got use to the shower. Hummmm...I know what I'm doing tonight. Oh... and then being able to bend to put on my socks and tie my sneakers was a biggie. I still can't bend the knee up as much as I use to when I "pull the sock up" but I developed a way that's less stressful on the new hip. And no gadgets needed!

Another milestone for me was being able to lift my leg up onto the bed unassisted. My hip is doing great. But...I'm having some issues lifting and stepping over things. It's not as "flexible" as I would want and the surgeon has no idea why. He thinks it's the flexor muscle. But that's another story.... But just the idea that I can lift it onto the bed while standing on the other foot for me is wonderful. Now if I can do it without that straining pain then I've really made progress.

But like Ripanco said...it's the little things that we all took forgranted that now are big milestones for us "hippy folks". Who else has something they'd like to share???

Linda

hip2it · 07-24-2005, 08:10 AM

Here's a good one... sleeping on my side after surgery without pain. Another is sleeping on my stomach! I used to do that so many years ago. After I got pregnant and had to sleep on my side I just kept the side thing going. Then the arthritis hit and it was side sleeping with a pillow.

Just recently I can sleep without a pillow (don't really need it but it's a habit now). I'm now going back to sleeping on my stomach and it feels so free to not have that big bulky pillow to move around every time I have to turn over!

Another milestone that I had early on was the range of motion in the THR side. Just lifting my leg out to the side to do a side kick was absolutely amazing!!!! And it's now higher and more flexible than my other hip (you know, the original real hip that doesn't have any problems).