This is a picture of a rainbow from my window at the rehab hospital, the evening before I left to come home.I had surgery on May 12 to repair my fractured, impacted hip with great results. I had a bone graft done and a total hip replacement. I had to wait 9 months to get the surgery, and I am now feeling like it was worth the wait. When I stand now (although I'm not supposed to) I don't lean anymore! Both of my legs match in length again.
I don't remember much about the first several days post op. I do have a couple memories of them getting me out of bed and how heavy my leg felt and how much pain I was in. They got me out of bed every day and I was faithful about doing breathing exercises every 2 hours. By the 5th day they were ready to send me on my way and off I went to a rehab hospital. By this time, my hip was already starting to feel better than at any time since I had broken it!
My six days at rehab were great. I went kicking and screaming but soon found myself enjoying it very much. The staff made me feel welcomed and good about any progress that I made and there was lots of laughter and work. They even incorporated elements of their pulmonary rehab program into my PT and OT programs. This particular hospital actually has an inpatient pulmonary rehab program and if I should have an exacerbation and need pulmonary rehab, I will certainly do that.
I had PT and OT and nurse visits for about 3 weeks after I returned home. The nurse would check my vital signs and assess my suture line, which was healed by the time I got home. PT and OT did exercises with me and just a couple of weeks ago, put me on hold until I get permission to progress with weight bearing. So I spend about a half hour to 45 minutes each day doing exercises on my own.
I don't remember much about the first several days post op. I do have a couple memories of them getting me out of bed and how heavy my leg felt and how much pain I was in. They got me out of bed every day and I was faithful about doing breathing exercises every 2 hours. By the 5th day they were ready to send me on my way and off I went to a rehab hospital. By this time, my hip was already starting to feel better than at any time since I had broken it!
My six days at rehab were great. I went kicking and screaming but soon found myself enjoying it very much. The staff made me feel welcomed and good about any progress that I made and there was lots of laughter and work. They even incorporated elements of their pulmonary rehab program into my PT and OT programs. This particular hospital actually has an inpatient pulmonary rehab program and if I should have an exacerbation and need pulmonary rehab, I will certainly do that.
I had PT and OT and nurse visits for about 3 weeks after I returned home. The nurse would check my vital signs and assess my suture line, which was healed by the time I got home. PT and OT did exercises with me and just a couple of weeks ago, put me on hold until I get permission to progress with weight bearing. So I spend about a half hour to 45 minutes each day doing exercises on my own.
So that is my journey so far. I hope to be walking by fall, but that's getting ahead of myself and I will continue to exercise so that I'm ready when the day arrives!
~Eileen
