6 weeks post-op left total hip replacement

 Today it's 6 weeks following my total hip replacement on my left side, and I'm doing fine except for my left knee which is now giving me a bit of a problem due to the exercises I have to do in order to strengthen my left leg and new hip.  My knee is a little sore most of the time and is the only thing bothering me.  My hip is healed and I have absolutely no pain there.

I've been released by my doctor to do whatever seems comfortable for me to do.  I started driving just as soon as I came back home from Suzanne's house.  Driving was relatively easy because I drive with my right foot and it was my left hip that was replaced.  By the time I got back home I was walking comfortably and in fact I was walking better than I am today, because my knee wasn't hurting at that time.

I went back to my orthopedic surgeon and complained about the pain in my left knee and he gave me a knee brace to wear and ordered special knee exercises to be added to my normal hip exercises that I do at physical therapy.  But since my knee was added, now I have to go to PT 3 times a week instead of only twice a week.  That's a bummer, but maybe when this is all over I won't have pain anywhere.  That's my goal.

I'm A L I V E.............

I made it!  

I had a left Total Hip Replacement on November 1, 2021 and I'm recovering just fine.  Suzanne took me home to her house the day that I was discharged from the hospital and she took care of me until the day before yesterday, when I finally came home.  I am now 29 days after surgery and I have resumed some of my normal household activities.  I said, "some" because I'm still limited to what I can do, but if I can stand up or sit down to get something done, then I will do it.  I'm not allowed to bend down from a standing or a sitting position, so I use my grabber a lot to pick things up off the floor or that are down low.  I'm using a cane for balance right now, but I should be rid of it shortly, probably after I complete physical therapy. 

Making the most of my existence

 It seems that the only things bringing me pleasure for the time being are my cat Jybow and taking pictures.  I spend a lot of time with my old friend Jybow giving her all the attention she needs.  She was Jimmy's cat and she was used to being cuddled, snuggled and she just loved being his lap cat when he was alive.  Now he's gone and she misses him.    

 I've been leaving the house daily, since I am often left here alone, to explore this great land on my own.  I've been going to places that I have never been before with anyone.  The places are close and so far within my own state of Kentucky.  They are pretty close to home.  I'll share those pictures in another post later on.

Some of the first pictures that I took were just of plants in my own yard.  Not very good pictures, but I no longer can bend down and get close, so I do the best that I can.  

I like taking pictures after a good hard rain, because I love the raindrops that appear on plants and flowers.

These two pictures are of Ricky's mother's succulent.  We have been taking care of it since it only had 4 tiny mounds of petals.  We take it in for the Winter months and set it out when the chance of frost is over in the Springtime.  In the top picture the plant is doing better than it has ever been, and the bottom picture is just a close up of the same plant.

 

Tomas Dennis Diaz

 I had an awesome conversation with my brother Dennis yesterday.  We don't talk on the phone as much as we should, but that's life I guess.  We all have very busy lives and sometimes we take our brothers for granted that they will always be there, so we put off making those phone calls.  

I really should drive over and visit him and Laurel more often.  We are all getting older and we don't have many years left in our lives.  Our days are numbered.  I love my brother very much and I do miss him quite a bit.

Rick asked me why I didn't take my brother's invitation to go visit with them over the 4th of July weekend, but I was having so much trouble walking that I didn't even mention the invite to Rick.  Rick said that we should have gone.  Maybe we will sometime soon when Rick has another break from work.  Rick was off work for 3 weeks, but he went back yesterday and it looks like he will be busy working for quite sometime now.

I missed the perfect opportunity, but I'm hoping that I'll get another chance to visit Laurel & Dennis, and Allison & kids but until then I hope to talk to them more on the phone.  I love and miss all of you!