December 29, 2008
Feeling better
I’m feeling a little more mobile each day. The self-administered shots of blood-thinner still hurt just as much as they did the first time. But otherwise I am doing better all around. I called the Dr’s office and his medical assistant assured my that Tylonol is fine (warning with prescription blood-thinner suggested avoiding it). They had me come into the hospital for another ultrasound, just to be sure the swelling wasn’t a real problem. It was fine. It turns out that the ultrasound technician was a serious gymnast as a youth and is now (in her mid/late-30’s, I would guess) feeling a lot of pain in her hips. Talking about it in more details during my exam, it seems she may have FAI. I recommended she see my first Dr, which she seemed like she would. The physical therapist came over late this afternoon and showed me a few exercises that I was already doing or planning on doing, gave me a little advice, etc. Very basic. The one important thing he told me was that the swelling was most likely due to inactivity; that I should move around MORE (my mother had been advising me not to do so MUCH until she heard that). The most important thing, by far, is to continue to watch my “precautions.” These are the rules of movement that I must adhere to or risk dislocation of the new hip. Don’t bend the hip to less than 90 degrees; don’t turn the toe/knee inward; don’t bring the leg to/past the centerline (definitely do not cross the legs). There are a few other minor ones. But these 3 are the most important and if I did them all at the same time I would be putting myself at serious risk of dislocation.