April

Well long time no update. Primarily because there was not a lot to say and still isn’t really.

I had my 7 week check up and he said 90 degree prohibition for 6 months. No gym or cycling till after 12 weeks.

No stick or anything as using that caused damage to the radial nerve in my right hand and I had to have physio and Gabapentin neuro painkillers. Also nerve damage from the injection in my back. Nerve pain is horrible, like a mega electric shock and burning, really made me squeal on a number of times. It seems to be easing off now though.

We are just back from holidays where walking was no problem, I am still so appreciating being pain free. I intend to start back at the gym and get out on the bike now. I don’t think that breaks the 90 degree rule.

Medication wise I take Ibuprofen and Paracetamol for the arthritis else where but not for the hip. Oh we didn’t set the alarm off at the airport either.

I don’t foresee many more updates to the blog as it will be more like a diary then. If you have any questions feel free to get in touch and ask.

Hugs, Wendy x

 

Friday4th March

Well since my last post there have been good bits and not so good bits. The hip goes from strength to strength. I have ditched the crutch and take the stick out with me only ‘just in case’. I lie on both sides in the night, more comfortably on my non operated side and I use a pillow – till it falls out. I don’t limp or waddle but the farthest I have walked is about a mile. that is due to weather and the face that because of the crutch I now have a problem with the radial nerve in my right hand (non operated side)

I first noticed it after our trip to Cwmbran, I felt like cramp in my right thumb then later a searing electric pain well over the 1 – 10 threshold in my right forearm, somewhere about 11. I have ditched the crutches and the stick. The less I use my right hand/arm the better. Every time I stretch my arm down it hurts like hell. Putting on or taking off a coat etc. There is no respite from the initial pain and no way of getting comfortable.

I saw the doctor who put me on Gabapentin (an epileptic drug) dirty old drug with lots of side effects but if it takes the pain away I don’t care.

When I saw the physio again it was supposed to be for the arthritis in my elbow but as that isn’t hurting I persuaded her to deal with the radial nerve instead, apparently it should have been referred again (bureaucracy) she gave me two exercises to do and a splint thing to wear. No relief as yet but I live in hope.

So it’s a lot forward but a new and unexpected pain to put up with. I am sleeping well, trying to walk more when weather allows. The big black cloud still seems to have lifted from me and I am defo more cheerful – I even thought about sex the other day!!

Anyway that’s all for now, if you have any questions get in touch- assuming anyone reads it of course!!

 

Tuesday 23rd Feb.

Well I haven’t blogged for a few days, primarily because there has been nothing to blog about.

We went to Cwmbran last Friday and had a good old wander around, my hip was fine. I used one crutch, stiff in the thumb of my non operated side after though along with that searing pain of the radial nerve. Bloody ouch.

We have removed the old lady toilet seats from the loos and the shower. Yeah, brilliant. I am walking in the house without a crutch and trying not to wobble, heel, toe, invisible book on my head!

Sleep had been disturbed though, not because of my hip but because the puppy has her first season and our other dog is love lorn. They take it in turns in the crate and Stevo has been sleeping downstairs to prevent undue barkage and howling!

I did ring the physiotherapy department about this radial nerve business but over the phone she wasn’t able to help much. She suggested visiting my doctor in case they can prescribe more neuro type painkillers (not something I am keen to do). She agreed that going back to two crutches may help and that rest would help too.

It was easier on two crutches though my hip could have done more walking than my wrist!

I don’t know about anyone else but I regularly find myself breaking the rules. Over bending, twisting etc. It doesn’t hurt though so I guess I have got away with it!

Thur / Fri

Stevo was out most of the day so it was an admin day. Swapped gas/electric and saved almost £700 per year. Insured the dog. Sorted meds at the Doctors. Sorted Dental Insurance. Put a casserole in the oven for tea.

Not a lot else happened. Slept fine till 03.30 hrs.

Friday – 19th Feb.

While I was awake for a good few hours in the night for no good reason. Anyway, we went to our local town, Cwmbran. Did about 1700 steps or 0.80 of a mile according to fitbit. No probs. Be glad to get rid of the crutch though – they are uncomfy on the arm/hand though handy for poking young children who fail to look where they are going 🙂 I intended to buy deck shoes from M&S but while 5.50 was fine on the left foot it was too tight on the right. I was walking out of a six. I guess the design is just not suited to my feet! I did buy a nice bag in House of Fraser but failed to get the leggings I wanted in Primark though – should have bought two pairs the last time. They are just nice and thick and feel nice. Morrisons after for wine and a few bits and pieces. I did have a small moment in the one aisle, it was empty apart from me and I had, er, wind. I didn’t hold it and walked on, then a lady appeared – oooops. I beat a hasty retreat 🙂

Not sorry to get home, one crutch is better than two but my back aches after a while and my right wrist was cramping.

Cooked a lush curry tonight, I think the difference was using passata and some lemon juice with the chicken.

No aches, pains or anything right now. Whatever is going on in my wrist is painful if I turn my wrist various ways – Carpal tunnel? Plus still get shooting pains and numbness in my lateral thigh on the non operated side. What’s that all about? Left over nerve damage from the spinal? Meralgia paresthetica? I will have an awful lot of questions the next time I see the surgeon!

Wed 18th

Worst nights sleep for a long time. Everything except the hip hurt. My wrist kept shooting searing pains up my arm, my back was aching, I wanted to stretch my legs, bend my legs, lie on the hip side, lie on the other side, two pillows, one pillow. I had dozed off ok initially but when Steve came to bed our lovelorn dog started barking at the crate the in season puppy is in. He is normally quiet if he can see her – not so this time. He did settle after being told off by his Dad. The damage was done then though and I couldn’t sleep. I dozed off eventually but then puppy wanted a pee  and the noise started again, eventually Steve went downstairs to control things – I did volunteer!

Steve is out all day today so I am just pottering about. Oh I have lost some weight! 11st 8.75 lbs. Another half a stone and I will be happy (I am 5’9″) I’m not using the crutch today to try and give the wrist a rest and I notice that it is easier and that I am not doing a drunken sailor wobble so much.

It is nice and peaceful here today, apart from pining dog! I have been doing admin work, changing gas/electric suppliers and saving £700 pa in the process. Insuring the puppy. Checking out new dental insurance. Boring and time consuming but necessary!

Think a bit more retail therapy and escape from house arrest may be in order tomorrow!

Tuesday

Nothing interesting about the morning. It is nice to shower without the seat in there though!

Went to the local hospital physiotherapy unit – no for the hip but for my right elbow which also has arthritis in it, along with the scaphoid bone in the thumb. Lots of questions and testing. I pointed out that at the moment the main pain is in the scaphoid (I think) using the crutch, most movements cause a searing pain  in the wrist towards the elbow, that got ignored though! I go back in a fortnight.

 

Tuesday 16th

Went back over to Bristol to pick our dog up. He was pining – whether it was for us or Crumble we will never know. So for the next three weeks segregation is in force! Morse is being very good actually and not whining too much – yet! We have squirted smelly stuff on her and she didn’t like that! Tweaked a muscle somewhere on the operated side, not a problem, I can just feel it now and again. I must not get too cocky about this recovery!!!

Still on one crutch. I have ditched the shower seat and the seat on the bog upstairs. They have served their purpose and need to go.

One thing about leaving my DVT socks off last night in bed – my feet were bloody freezing! I have been finding the cold more anyway – must be the blood thinning tablets. I’m also down to one codeine a day – in the night – just in case. One Dulcolax to counteract the effects of that – well plus a few prunes – and everything is hunky dory.

I did crash out this afternoon for an hour. I had finished the one book – The Scribe book one in the Irin Chronicles. Pure fantasy.

Monday 15th Feb

Went into Abergavenny for coffee. One crutch. Walked around – no sweat! Bought a skirt (a nice pinkish silk, reversible, Indian jobby), gave the crutch to hubby to hold while I browsed. Up to the butchers then, still no problem. Almost tripped in the butchers when the crutch caught on their non slip mat. Luckily I was being careful but it just goes to show how easy things can go wrong.

Read a book all afternoon – bliss.

Oh I was naughty today – left the sexy DVT socks off. I’m sleeping flat in bed and I turned on my side too – so there!

Valentines Day

We had a bottle of prosecco last night. What more do we need? Sure don’t need to line the pockets of the card manufacturers and sweetie merchants!

We took the dogs around the block, I had Watson the old dog and one crutch, Steve had the pupsky. I was fine, chilly wind but it was the longest I have walked and I felt really pleased with myself. Came home and fell asleep!

I am still easily emotional. Growled at hubby, cried at ‘Call the Midwife!!’

 

 

 

Thur-Fri-Sat

Nothing new to report. Easier each day though sometimes I feel like I’m sitting on something hard! Lots of sleeping. I got up on Friday and we had decided to go into Abergavenny for a coffee but I fell asleep in the morning! We did go for a coffee later, well a hot chocolate actually as I needed a sugar rush.

I do find I’m still not enjoying my food much though. Not a bad thing I guess but I just find it a bit bland. Nothing to do with the food or the cooking. I have cut down to one codeine tablet at night and the Ibuprofen/Paracetamol as normal in the day.

Where my scar is I now have a dimple in my thigh at the bottom of the scar. I wonder will it fill out in time?

I’m still getting mood swings, not because I’m in any particular pain. I JUST AM, RIGHT?!!! Watching Doc Martin and I wanted to cry, hubby asks an innocuous question and I want to rip his throat out! Guess it will go, I sure hope so!

Had fish and chips from the local chippy, naughty and tasty!