Week 6

Here we are, arriving at six weeks. Week 6 is the first major stepping stone I’ve been told by my doctors will be a marker for feeling better and making progress. It’s the moment I must throw the crutches down and walk by myself, the time I can start driving a car again, and sit comfortably at 90 degrees. I definitely feel a huge difference in my right hip. It is right on schedule; in fact, I think it’s early in terms of what it’s capable of doing. The left hip is still lagging behind, however, and, like Dr. Sampson predicted, is moving at a much slower pace. 

I’ve been phasing out my crutches in favour of the new ski poles the past week, which is unexpectedly bitter sweet. I thought I’d be happy to say goodbye to them, but the crutches are much more supportive than the light-weight ski poles, and I find myself wishing for the solidity of the heavy-duty crutches. But my leg muscles need to learn how to work again, and it’s great progress to use the poles more. They’re quite easy to move around and less cumbersome. When I use them, I feel like something is missing, but then I remember I need to re-learn how to walk normally, and that I can’t lean on a crutch forever (This is a pun.).

I tried riding the stationary bicycle at PT last week, and it really hurt the left side. It’s just much more delicate and enflamed. I am learning what my limits are. It’s confusing, since my right hip is ready to do much more than my left. I’ve also begun another new exercise called the shuttle board. It reminds me of a Pilates machine: I lie down on a table that’s mounted on a track with my legs up on a flat surface, knees bent. Then I push into the flat surface with my legs, and the table moves away from the surface, up the track, until my legs are extended, and then back down. It’s like I’m doing a squat, but horizontally without gravity. Very smooth.

Hooray, my independence is growing! Pretty soon I won't even need my ski poles! I can now stand at the sink long enough to wash dishes or heat up some food at the stove. I can bend down far enough to pick up shoes (thought I cannot yet put them on myself), and I can put my own bottoms on! This is enormous progress! I can get myself into and out of bed, retrieve my ice packs, and I even lifted my own legs into the car this week! I hope that by Week 7 I will be able to drive myself to PT. My scabs have all finally fallen off, so I no longer need to wear bandaids, which is a relief. The scars are very small, not bad at all. I wish they were bigger so I would have more of a mark to show for the surgery!

Walking down the stairs without help

 

With the poles down the slope

Down the street

 

Without any help!

No crutches