C'est ca. Does that help? Probably not. :)
Following rave reviews from the future Mrs. Tothers (and a free referral from Mr.), I travelled yesterday to Rushford Family Chiropractic in Burlington. Let me tell you it's a little odd to walk past Army and Navy recruitment offices only to open the door to an aromatherapitized, serene-chant-filled center for connecting me with the life force that flows through me. Somehow this made me more nervous than any of my MANY other medical experiences (except the MRI!), but as soon as we got down to the task at hand I could see the benefit of it all.
After writing my name and medical history for approximately the 1 zillionth time, Dr. Matt and I discussed the stresses in my life, both physical and emotional, before he started the evaluation of my spinal function. He started at the top and had gotten about 3 seconds in before discovering two huge bands of stress along the righthand side of my neck and shoulder. He likened these to tree trunks of stored stress, dating the lower band from about 1996 and the upper from about 2002 - "I believe that's the ex-boyfriend band", I told him. :) 1996 was when I was 16, so between my dealings with my parents (and my own brain) and the losses we experienced that year, it makes sense I'd have some tension from then.
The other major area of concern was, not surprisingly, my lower back. Holding my shoulders in place and pushing on the area, he put my range of motion at about 10% of capacity. To be honest, I didn't even remember that part of my spine COULD move, which is kind of scary.
I would be hard-pressed to explain what the actual "adjustment" consisted of, not because it's complicated, but because it's so simple and effective it's mindblowing. You can pretty much throw the chiropractic crack-and-snap paradigm out the window - there's barely any touching involved at all! But somehow it resets the signal your brain's been stuck sending to a particular muscle and allows it to relax, sometimes for the first time in years! It took less than 15 minutes, and immediately when I sat up the right side of my neck and shoulder felt... well, FELT for the first time in I don't know how long. I had a really weird time driving home, because I felt like my head was on crooked! And, suddenly, when Dr. Matt held my shoulders in place and pressed on my lower back, my whole body moved! He estimated it at closer to 25% range of motion. Did I mention my mind was blown?!
The Rushfords have a handy Spinal Exam Results Chart that rates your Range of Motion, Tissue Stress, and Spinal Cord Tension from a soothing blue Wellness/Maintenance Care range to a fiery Critical Care Range. I redlined across the board. Dr. Matt's recommendation was that I make 3 visits/week and reevaluate at 12 visits. Since their office is a ways away and they're only open evenings twice/week, I booked twice weekly for the next few weeks. I don't know how I'm actually going to PAY for it, but it's definitely worth it. Not to be too melodramatic, but when I went to get some food after my appointment, I left my cane in the car - the first time I've walked out in the wide world without some manner of stick in over a month! :O
Tonight I go for my second session and, who knows, may be doing cartwheels come Friday morning! :)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Didja miss me?! DIDJA?!
Augustus sure did. :)
Well, DC was a phenomenal success - I walked at least 2 miles on Friday and didn't have much pain at all (until Saturday!) aside from cane hand pain. Riding the Metro back I sat there watching my right hand vibrating - I surely did some nerve damage, as my pinky still isn't working quite right. Small sacrifice, I suppose, for not having to wield crutches all day. I'm pretty sure that would have been impossible. As it was the biggest challenge was the Metro, more because of the crowds than anything - escalators a-plenty and elevators to boot! But people were by and large very kind to me, and helpful to no end, though perhaps to a fault when trying to get me through the revolving door at the Hirschorn. :D
I definitely felt for Christopher, who even at my normal pace habitually walks 5-7 paces ahead of me - I kept saying "I can't hear you, you're too far away!" Which, at his normal volume, is saying something! ;) He did point out, however, the one saving grace - that with my cane I'm at PERFECT museum strolling pace, so for the bulk of the day Friday I didn't even feel like too much of a pariah. I hit the National Museum of Natural History (walk-through butterfly room and 3D Imax Deep Sea experience!), the American Art Museum (ANSEL EFFING ADAMS! including a new favorite), and the National Portrait Gallery (AMAZING Women in Photographs exhibit and Recognize!, which put a huge smile on my face!).
The day before I left I randomly discovered a Shepard Fairey (my future husband) exhibit at a little gallery, which we hit on Saturday and was pretty much the greatest thing I've seen this year. I LOVE him! We also hit the FDR memorial (at Susan's recommendation) before the torrential rains came down - it was incredibly moving and oddly timely. Funny how history so faithfully repeats itself. We ate a lot of good food, drank a lot of good beer, and generally had an awesome time. Oh and I had Krispy Kremes!!! Can't get THEM around here! And miraculously won 4 pool games in a row, which I would have thought impossible. Sunday we went to Dulles Air and Space, not the most handicap-friendly place I've ever been, but insanely cool. I saw the ship model from Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
By far the best/worst cane-related incident occurred at brunch Sunday, when a small child in line ahead of us exclaimed not once, not twice, but THRICE "Look! That girl's an old man!"
I'll just let you sit with that one for awhile, because it pretty much blew my mind. :) In the moment I decided to opt for laughing and saying "That's by far the funniest thing anyone's said to me since I got this thing!" though of course after a time I got to stewing about it. "Look! That little boy's an asshole!" Harrumph. Funny, though! I guess?
It was really the first time I've felt incredibly self-conscious about my condition, which is actually kind of surprising for how paranoid I am. Honestly 99.9% of the time I'm just so focused on getting from one place to another that I don't even think of it, but his comment was pretty stunning. From the mouths of babes!
This afternoon I'm seeing Ali and John's "Voodoo Doctor", a chiropractic practice that specializes in Network Spinal Analysis - I can't wait to see what my spine has to tell them! Tomorrow back to the pool for the first time in a week and a half - I am DEFINITELY missing it something fierce. And Friday we see if I can still dance with a cane! :)
Well, DC was a phenomenal success - I walked at least 2 miles on Friday and didn't have much pain at all (until Saturday!) aside from cane hand pain. Riding the Metro back I sat there watching my right hand vibrating - I surely did some nerve damage, as my pinky still isn't working quite right. Small sacrifice, I suppose, for not having to wield crutches all day. I'm pretty sure that would have been impossible. As it was the biggest challenge was the Metro, more because of the crowds than anything - escalators a-plenty and elevators to boot! But people were by and large very kind to me, and helpful to no end, though perhaps to a fault when trying to get me through the revolving door at the Hirschorn. :D
I definitely felt for Christopher, who even at my normal pace habitually walks 5-7 paces ahead of me - I kept saying "I can't hear you, you're too far away!" Which, at his normal volume, is saying something! ;) He did point out, however, the one saving grace - that with my cane I'm at PERFECT museum strolling pace, so for the bulk of the day Friday I didn't even feel like too much of a pariah. I hit the National Museum of Natural History (walk-through butterfly room and 3D Imax Deep Sea experience!), the American Art Museum (ANSEL EFFING ADAMS! including a new favorite), and the National Portrait Gallery (AMAZING Women in Photographs exhibit and Recognize!, which put a huge smile on my face!).
The day before I left I randomly discovered a Shepard Fairey (my future husband) exhibit at a little gallery, which we hit on Saturday and was pretty much the greatest thing I've seen this year. I LOVE him! We also hit the FDR memorial (at Susan's recommendation) before the torrential rains came down - it was incredibly moving and oddly timely. Funny how history so faithfully repeats itself. We ate a lot of good food, drank a lot of good beer, and generally had an awesome time. Oh and I had Krispy Kremes!!! Can't get THEM around here! And miraculously won 4 pool games in a row, which I would have thought impossible. Sunday we went to Dulles Air and Space, not the most handicap-friendly place I've ever been, but insanely cool. I saw the ship model from Close Encounters of the Third Kind!
By far the best/worst cane-related incident occurred at brunch Sunday, when a small child in line ahead of us exclaimed not once, not twice, but THRICE "Look! That girl's an old man!"
I'll just let you sit with that one for awhile, because it pretty much blew my mind. :) In the moment I decided to opt for laughing and saying "That's by far the funniest thing anyone's said to me since I got this thing!" though of course after a time I got to stewing about it. "Look! That little boy's an asshole!" Harrumph. Funny, though! I guess?
It was really the first time I've felt incredibly self-conscious about my condition, which is actually kind of surprising for how paranoid I am. Honestly 99.9% of the time I'm just so focused on getting from one place to another that I don't even think of it, but his comment was pretty stunning. From the mouths of babes!
This afternoon I'm seeing Ali and John's "Voodoo Doctor", a chiropractic practice that specializes in Network Spinal Analysis - I can't wait to see what my spine has to tell them! Tomorrow back to the pool for the first time in a week and a half - I am DEFINITELY missing it something fierce. And Friday we see if I can still dance with a cane! :)
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
That's why my philosophy keeps me walking when I'm falling down
Well, I've been entirely crutchless now for nearly 5 days and, aside from a minor setback resulting from trying to maneuver a month's worth of laundry down the stairs, have been doing a-okay! Frankly the biggest problem right now is that my STUPID EMAIL is all screwed up, and I haven't been able to access it since Saturday night. Very annoying. Otherwise, though, I am VERY much looking forward to my trip to DC tomorrow, and am stocked with 2+ hour long movies (and Battlestar Galactica), back issues of Harpers and of course books for the journey. My dear friend Kevin has sent many musics my way of late (along with this FRICKING FANTASTIC Radiohead Sigg!), so I've been rocking Ben Folds nearly constantly, and keep singing "La LAAA la la la la la la Zak and Sara!" incessantly the past few days, much to the delight of those around me, I'm sure! Dean also hooked me up with a sweet theme song, Girls on Crutches from Hawksley Workman's Los Manlicious - I'd never heard him before and he's superrockin'!
I think the biggest lesson of the past 3 weeks (and, really, of being a patient in general) has been something along the lines of "Ask and ye shall receive" - and you know I'm not one to throw Bible quotes around lightly! But nearly all the assistance I've gotten (from starting pool therapy to getting a cane to weaseling free laundry out of Van Deren) has come from simply inquiring about it. I recently read this bit in Salon and it really resonated for me. I see so many woman posting on hip messageboards that are just floating along at the mercy of their doctors, going into surgery not even knowing how long they'll be hospitalized, whether they should do PT afterwards and what's "normal" to expect. Not I! I ask approximately 3 dozen questions at every visit, and even though I've been averaging a doctor's appointment per week for the past 6 months, I'm still voracious to know more and more and more. Modern medicine won't wrest control from my little hands! :) I often find myself thinking of
haha That's me!
I really appreciate folks' responses to my blog (a phrase that still makes me feel more than a bit dorky!) and, especially now that my emailing has been abruptly curtailed, hope they keep on coming! Tomorrow, TO THE CAPITAL!!! :)
I think the biggest lesson of the past 3 weeks (and, really, of being a patient in general) has been something along the lines of "Ask and ye shall receive" - and you know I'm not one to throw Bible quotes around lightly! But nearly all the assistance I've gotten (from starting pool therapy to getting a cane to weaseling free laundry out of Van Deren) has come from simply inquiring about it. I recently read this bit in Salon and it really resonated for me. I see so many woman posting on hip messageboards that are just floating along at the mercy of their doctors, going into surgery not even knowing how long they'll be hospitalized, whether they should do PT afterwards and what's "normal" to expect. Not I! I ask approximately 3 dozen questions at every visit, and even though I've been averaging a doctor's appointment per week for the past 6 months, I'm still voracious to know more and more and more. Modern medicine won't wrest control from my little hands! :) I often find myself thinking of
haha That's me!
I really appreciate folks' responses to my blog (a phrase that still makes me feel more than a bit dorky!) and, especially now that my emailing has been abruptly curtailed, hope they keep on coming! Tomorrow, TO THE CAPITAL!!! :)
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ambulatory Roshambeau
So Cane clearly beats Crutches, though, hard as Cane tries, I'm pretty sure Stairs beats them both. Cane is pretty boss, though - it's nice to be able to maneuver around without having to worry about an extra foot of clearance on either side. At this point the only real hurdle (in addition to the fact that I'm right-handed and have to hold the cane in my right hand [and that it falls down every time I try to casually lean it on something]) is doors that open to the right, but I'm working on it. The past two days I've gone without the crutches entirely and haven't felt any ill affects, so long as I've kept my pace slow. The fact that I nearly topple over if I get going too fast is a helpful reminder. :) I even SHOPPED yesterday! First time I've done THAT in a while - motored around Marshalls for nearly an hour and was only mildly exhausted.
Tomorrow I see Janice, the nutritionist, about my pesky cholesterol problem. Cheese for every meal today! Friday I got my bloodwork back and it turns out I need to get my 3-shot Hep series and that my Vitamin D is low, so I'm taking a supplement for that. Otherwise, looking forward to getting more cane-able over the next couple of days so I can hopefully foolishly defy my PT's orders and go crutch-free to DC!
Tomorrow I see Janice, the nutritionist, about my pesky cholesterol problem. Cheese for every meal today! Friday I got my bloodwork back and it turns out I need to get my 3-shot Hep series and that my Vitamin D is low, so I'm taking a supplement for that. Otherwise, looking forward to getting more cane-able over the next couple of days so I can hopefully foolishly defy my PT's orders and go crutch-free to DC!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Harrumph.
Well, I'm still on crutches and it seems will be supported by some manner of stick for some time to come. Yesterday I ordered myself a cane! (Akin to this guy - that's called a "derby handle", dontcha know! I didn't!) It's collapsible, which means I can keep it with me for whenever I need it, and can put it in my bag for my trip to DC next week. I asked Susan if I would be a fool to leave my crutches at home and she said yes. HARRUMPH!
While I can walk (slooowly) without pain, I'm so cautious about it that Susan said I was "an accident waiting to happen". "I can't say that to anyone but you!" she said. :) It's true, though, I'm so nervous I'm going to mess something up that I probably will! There's also something to be said for giving people around you some sort of visual cue to indicate you need a little extra room and maybe assistance. Wandering the jampacked streets (and public transit system!) of DC in my own tottering way just doesn't seem wise.
Susan also showed me an alternate crutching technique where instead of putting 2 crutches forward and stepping, you move the right crutch with your left leg and left crutch with your right leg. It takes some getting used to and uses different arm muscles, but it feels comfortable (if slow - did I mention I'm slow?!) and also works the muscles of my left leg that've been dormant for nearly 3 weeks now, the ones that make me feel like I'm doing a wobbly circle around my left hip everytime I try to put weight on it to move my right leg. Turns out that's my gluteus minimus struggling in vain to keep me stable and, while my pool excercises do some to help strengthen it, I just lose more control every day I'm off it. Susan also pointed out (which hadn't even occurred to me) that because the pool is pretty much non-weight-bearing, I'm losing bone mass with every passing crutchy day, which is exactly what I DON'T need going into surgery. *sigh*
So I'm going to keep crutching for medium distances and am excited (really? really.) to pick up my cane this afternoon and get working on it - should be ideal for the store tomorrow. Susan thought it'd be good to have 2 canes for times when I feel like I need it, so I'm also hoping to pick up a sweet wooden cane or two now that I know how long they should be. I have to keep reminding myself (and my mother, who for some reason has decided that skepticism is what I really need right now) that this is all NORMAL for dysplastics, and that I'm lucky I haven't been crutching for MONTHS now, or even in a wheelchair! It's impossible to predict how frequently I'll need some stick support, because it really depends on the day, but I'm getting it all lined up anyway. I can tell already it's going to be a pretty "indoors" winter for me this year!
Meanwhile, I went in front of the faculty meeting Tuesday on crutches, so now everybody's curious about it. I entertained the thought that I might put out a memo to everyone explaining the situation so I don't have to keep going over it everytime I walk - or "walk" :) - down the hall, but then I remember that that was my original impetus for getting this blog up, and I still say the same shit a dozen times a day! Oh, best laid plans. I need to work on adjusting my attitude to all these concerned inquiries, though, because people just can't seem to NOT ask and I've found myself starting to get a little curt about it. But people are SO eager to offer any help they can that I feel like a jerk getting annoyed about it. Oh, and to think I used to so love any attention I could get! heh heh
While I can walk (slooowly) without pain, I'm so cautious about it that Susan said I was "an accident waiting to happen". "I can't say that to anyone but you!" she said. :) It's true, though, I'm so nervous I'm going to mess something up that I probably will! There's also something to be said for giving people around you some sort of visual cue to indicate you need a little extra room and maybe assistance. Wandering the jampacked streets (and public transit system!) of DC in my own tottering way just doesn't seem wise.
Susan also showed me an alternate crutching technique where instead of putting 2 crutches forward and stepping, you move the right crutch with your left leg and left crutch with your right leg. It takes some getting used to and uses different arm muscles, but it feels comfortable (if slow - did I mention I'm slow?!) and also works the muscles of my left leg that've been dormant for nearly 3 weeks now, the ones that make me feel like I'm doing a wobbly circle around my left hip everytime I try to put weight on it to move my right leg. Turns out that's my gluteus minimus struggling in vain to keep me stable and, while my pool excercises do some to help strengthen it, I just lose more control every day I'm off it. Susan also pointed out (which hadn't even occurred to me) that because the pool is pretty much non-weight-bearing, I'm losing bone mass with every passing crutchy day, which is exactly what I DON'T need going into surgery. *sigh*
So I'm going to keep crutching for medium distances and am excited (really? really.) to pick up my cane this afternoon and get working on it - should be ideal for the store tomorrow. Susan thought it'd be good to have 2 canes for times when I feel like I need it, so I'm also hoping to pick up a sweet wooden cane or two now that I know how long they should be. I have to keep reminding myself (and my mother, who for some reason has decided that skepticism is what I really need right now) that this is all NORMAL for dysplastics, and that I'm lucky I haven't been crutching for MONTHS now, or even in a wheelchair! It's impossible to predict how frequently I'll need some stick support, because it really depends on the day, but I'm getting it all lined up anyway. I can tell already it's going to be a pretty "indoors" winter for me this year!
Meanwhile, I went in front of the faculty meeting Tuesday on crutches, so now everybody's curious about it. I entertained the thought that I might put out a memo to everyone explaining the situation so I don't have to keep going over it everytime I walk - or "walk" :) - down the hall, but then I remember that that was my original impetus for getting this blog up, and I still say the same shit a dozen times a day! Oh, best laid plans. I need to work on adjusting my attitude to all these concerned inquiries, though, because people just can't seem to NOT ask and I've found myself starting to get a little curt about it. But people are SO eager to offer any help they can that I feel like a jerk getting annoyed about it. Oh, and to think I used to so love any attention I could get! heh heh
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Yay!
Today I walked all the way to the cafeteria and back, including stairs, without my crutches! Nothing popped, nothing snapped, and nothing pinched, really, though I was definitely taking great care to go easy on ol' leftie. More than anything it's my dreaded sciatic that's acting up, along with some referred pain in my knee. I'm looking forward to some ultrasound massage and blessed Kinesio tape tomorrow, then (hopefully!) back on my feet for real! It'll be nice not to spend 8 hours on Saturday sitting on a stool at the store feeling useless, that's for sure. A week from tomorrow I head to Our Nation's Capital - woohoo!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Live on two legs
Or at least sometimes two! The past few days I've been doing short distances without my crutches, and life is pretty good! The twinges and soreness are of an entirely different sort, which to my ever-optimistic mind (ha!) is more evidence of how this setback has actually been pretty helpful. The pool yesterday was really great, and Thursday I'll see Susan to get the all-clear, though I doubt I'll give up the crutches entirely until next week.
The whole thing has slowed me down to the pace that I probably should have been walking at for the past year. For all the changes I've made to my life, I really hadn't curtailed my walking speed (or, to some extent, distance) much at all until now. I do like to STRIDE CONFIDENTLY through life! I may take Chris up on his cane offer if only to a)remind myself to take it easy and b)give people a visual cue indicating that I'm not just a naturally superslow walker. :)
I was at the Health Center for 2 hours last Friday for my physical, and kept thinking "Gah, medicine is so COMPLICATED!" Got my bloodwork back and learned I have high cholesterol and possible indications of a "fatty liver" - when I told my mom (whose 4 siblings also all have lower back and hip problems) she said "Oh, we all have that!" So apparently that's my inheritance from THAT side of the family. From my dad I guess I got... procrastination, puns, and alcohol tolerance? Mixed blessings all around! So I'm going back to the nutritionist to talk cholesterol and add another layer of paranoia - I mean understanding - to my mealtime repertoire. And I had more bloodwork done (I asked if they could use the same hole from Wednesday) for some stuff I don't even really remember. Thyroid and Vitamin D and something... we shall see.
But, more importantly...
The whole thing has slowed me down to the pace that I probably should have been walking at for the past year. For all the changes I've made to my life, I really hadn't curtailed my walking speed (or, to some extent, distance) much at all until now. I do like to STRIDE CONFIDENTLY through life! I may take Chris up on his cane offer if only to a)remind myself to take it easy and b)give people a visual cue indicating that I'm not just a naturally superslow walker. :)
I was at the Health Center for 2 hours last Friday for my physical, and kept thinking "Gah, medicine is so COMPLICATED!" Got my bloodwork back and learned I have high cholesterol and possible indications of a "fatty liver" - when I told my mom (whose 4 siblings also all have lower back and hip problems) she said "Oh, we all have that!" So apparently that's my inheritance from THAT side of the family. From my dad I guess I got... procrastination, puns, and alcohol tolerance? Mixed blessings all around! So I'm going back to the nutritionist to talk cholesterol and add another layer of paranoia - I mean understanding - to my mealtime repertoire. And I had more bloodwork done (I asked if they could use the same hole from Wednesday) for some stuff I don't even really remember. Thyroid and Vitamin D and something... we shall see.
But, more importantly...
Friday, October 10, 2008
6 months ago today...
I was diagnosed with bilateral hip dysplasia. To say I was stunned would be an understatement. Dr. Crose gave me the short version of what I might expect, estimating I'd need dual hip replacements by the time I was 35-40, a mere 7 years away. Seeing my reaction, she said "Well, at least you don't have cancer!" which at the time seemed a bit cavalier. It's taken me months to understand how lucky I am to have something that's treatable, something I can DO something about and not just succumb to. There are definitely still woe-is-me moments where I lose sight of that, but not nearly so many as there were in the first weeks after my diagnosis. 2008 started out hard for me and just got harder, reaching the pinnacle exactly halfway through the year when my beloved Joon had to be put to sleep on July 15th. I just stopped functioning, something that was all too easy while on my summer schedule. But I had to keep going to the pool, and 2 days later I did just that, clearing my mind in a way I just couldn't on land. As often happens, one of the other ladies in the deep end struck up a conversation with me, and asked "Are you in pain?" I don't think my "Yes" could have possibly conveyed just how much - the question got me right in the gut.
In the past 6 months, I've completely changed the way I eat, sleep, and walk. I've spent 2 days a week in the pool for the past 4 months, lost 30 pounds and started taking fluoxetine (Prozac), something I never ever ever (ever) could have imagined for myself. My biggest buzzword has been PERSPECTIVE, and my life is radically different.
Yesterday I got a call from Annette, Dr. Kim's scheduler, that my original surgery date no longer worked for Dr. Kim. We rescheduled a week earlier, June 10th, 2009, 14 months from my diagnosis date and 8 months from today! You can't see it because this is the internet, but I'm making a triumphant air-punching motion just thinking about it - you know, like Prince Harry! :)
In the past 6 months, I've completely changed the way I eat, sleep, and walk. I've spent 2 days a week in the pool for the past 4 months, lost 30 pounds and started taking fluoxetine (Prozac), something I never ever ever (ever) could have imagined for myself. My biggest buzzword has been PERSPECTIVE, and my life is radically different.
Yesterday I got a call from Annette, Dr. Kim's scheduler, that my original surgery date no longer worked for Dr. Kim. We rescheduled a week earlier, June 10th, 2009, 14 months from my diagnosis date and 8 months from today! You can't see it because this is the internet, but I'm making a triumphant air-punching motion just thinking about it - you know, like Prince Harry! :)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Dogs fear me
Well, last night I met Miss Farrah Marie Powers, John and Ali's ADORABLE new Catahoula Leopard Dog! And... she hates me. :( Or at least hates me on crutches - fine and loving otherwise, but couldn't stop growling at me when I was on 'em. Pity, especially given how much time I spend up there... and how much time I'll be spending on crutches!
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Notes to self:
* Getting fasting bloodwork done when you need to take your meds with food is a bad idea.
* Getting any bloodwork done when you're on crutches is a very bad idea.
* Invent device that bleeps out every time John McCain says "my friends".
* Getting any bloodwork done when you're on crutches is a very bad idea.
* Invent device that bleeps out every time John McCain says "my friends".
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Sun is shining, the weather is sweet...
Oh, another crutchy day! I'm getting much better with them, of course, and can navigate most scenarios with relative ease. Nearly tipped myself down the stairs this morning, but only because I wasn't thinking - when I'm paying attention it's really not that bad and I feel superspeedy, though realistically I'm still moving at a snail's pace and attracting pitying looks wherever I go. I need to come up with a better story than the truth of why I'm on them, which is pretty boring - spelunking accident? unicycle crash? legerdemain mishap? Hm...
I can't say enough about the pool, the pool, the pool, and how crucial it is in making my life liveable right now. Yesterday in lieu of 15 minutes each jogging and skiing with floats in the deep end I opted for 10 minutes each with THE BOOTS.
I figured I could use some strength-building in my left leg, which I've found I can put more and more weight on in the past couple days. I'm sore today, for sure, but it doesn't hurt, a distinction that may not make a whole lot of sense to folks who haven't dealt with a bum limb. I hesitate to say it, but I think the snapping pang that put me on crutches to begin with may have panged away the pain I've been experiencing for over a year now. Mostly what I have now is actually knee pain, which Susan thinks is just transferring from my hip. And I'm tired. All. The. Time. Last week I averaged 2-3 napping hours every day after school without even intending to.
Otherwise I'm doing pretty well, though this 600mg ibuprofen 4x a day is insanely dehydrating. I mean, I drink a lot of water normally, but I just can't keep up, and it's only getting drier around here these days - I'm definitely not going to be able to keep taking as much through the winter or my lips will chap right off.
I have a physical on Friday, my annual exam next Wednesday, and get reevaluated by Susan next Thursday. Somewhere in the next two days I also have to make it to the hospital for a bunch of blood work - it's a good thing my job is so flexible! I suspect Susan will let me off the crutches entirely, as even now I can make it short distances (mostly bed to bathroom or kitchen) with nearly full weight-bearing. Frankly, I'm scared to go back to walking on two legs because it seems like the more I do it now the less I'm going to be able to do it in the future. My old friend Sisyphus yet again! I mean, I really don't want to truck my crutches down to DC with me if I don't have to, but what if I suddenly need them? Chris has kindly offered me the cane from his unfortunate skiing accident last year, so I'll at least have that going for me.
*sigh* And somehow, after dropping weight consistently over the past 6 months, I've gained 7 pounds since being on crutches. It's so infuriating! I mean, I know it's likely muscle replacing fat, since I've definitely been eating less and working my arms a lot more than usual, but it's still disheartening. As my dear friend Novel would say, BAH-HUMMUS!
Oh and I got my "Preparing for Periacetabular Osteotomy" book from Children's Hospital yesterday - so exicting! Slash terrifying! :) On first read there were no major surprises (except that I can't leave the hospital til I poop, which is a little intimidating!) and it always feels good for my habitual organizer's mind to get some more ducks in a row. I also heard back from Erin, Dr. Kim's PA, about pain management and it seems folks have had a lot of success with acupuncture, of all things. I'm definitely interested in pursuing it, though of course now yet another Great Insurance Finagle (GIF!) begins. They sure don't make it easy!
I can't say enough about the pool, the pool, the pool, and how crucial it is in making my life liveable right now. Yesterday in lieu of 15 minutes each jogging and skiing with floats in the deep end I opted for 10 minutes each with THE BOOTS.
I figured I could use some strength-building in my left leg, which I've found I can put more and more weight on in the past couple days. I'm sore today, for sure, but it doesn't hurt, a distinction that may not make a whole lot of sense to folks who haven't dealt with a bum limb. I hesitate to say it, but I think the snapping pang that put me on crutches to begin with may have panged away the pain I've been experiencing for over a year now. Mostly what I have now is actually knee pain, which Susan thinks is just transferring from my hip. And I'm tired. All. The. Time. Last week I averaged 2-3 napping hours every day after school without even intending to.
Otherwise I'm doing pretty well, though this 600mg ibuprofen 4x a day is insanely dehydrating. I mean, I drink a lot of water normally, but I just can't keep up, and it's only getting drier around here these days - I'm definitely not going to be able to keep taking as much through the winter or my lips will chap right off.
I have a physical on Friday, my annual exam next Wednesday, and get reevaluated by Susan next Thursday. Somewhere in the next two days I also have to make it to the hospital for a bunch of blood work - it's a good thing my job is so flexible! I suspect Susan will let me off the crutches entirely, as even now I can make it short distances (mostly bed to bathroom or kitchen) with nearly full weight-bearing. Frankly, I'm scared to go back to walking on two legs because it seems like the more I do it now the less I'm going to be able to do it in the future. My old friend Sisyphus yet again! I mean, I really don't want to truck my crutches down to DC with me if I don't have to, but what if I suddenly need them? Chris has kindly offered me the cane from his unfortunate skiing accident last year, so I'll at least have that going for me.
*sigh* And somehow, after dropping weight consistently over the past 6 months, I've gained 7 pounds since being on crutches. It's so infuriating! I mean, I know it's likely muscle replacing fat, since I've definitely been eating less and working my arms a lot more than usual, but it's still disheartening. As my dear friend Novel would say, BAH-HUMMUS!
Oh and I got my "Preparing for Periacetabular Osteotomy" book from Children's Hospital yesterday - so exicting! Slash terrifying! :) On first read there were no major surprises (except that I can't leave the hospital til I poop, which is a little intimidating!) and it always feels good for my habitual organizer's mind to get some more ducks in a row. I also heard back from Erin, Dr. Kim's PA, about pain management and it seems folks have had a lot of success with acupuncture, of all things. I'm definitely interested in pursuing it, though of course now yet another Great Insurance Finagle (GIF!) begins. They sure don't make it easy!
Friday, October 3, 2008
I'm a bad crutcher.
I took yesterday off, which was a phenomenal decision. I went to the pool in the morning and did my regular routine, albeit a bit slower, with some added arm stretching and just plain floating. Rebecca, my original pool PT (though I've been independent in the pool for some time now) noticed that I was struggling with my crutches and, when I got out, had one of the other ladies there give me a little tutorial and fit them better to my height. Yet again I felt a ripple of the dry-land versus aquatic therapy turf war - everything is politics! But I'm definitely glad they took the time to set me right - took the pressure off my ribs and (somewhat) off my shoulders and put it more into my forearms where it belongs. Today at school I made it all the way to the Main Office and back (a distance of approximately 17 miles)! It only took me... a very long time. :)
It seems pretty much impossible for people to not ask what happened - I'd put it at about 7%. As such, I've developed a series of one-liner responses, the easiest of which (that I'd resorted to by the end of the debate last night) is "I have to stay off my bum leg for awhile." Also pretty much the most honest answer I can give - I don't even know what it is that's paining me, really. People have been so so nice, though, offering any sort of help I might need, and for once I'm going to be taking it! My usual staunchly-independent "Oh no, I'm fine" is out the window!
Doing stuff around the house is a real challenge. For the first time I'm cursing the shotgun layout of my apartment, though I'm getting really good at thinking ahead (I've got plenty of time on my hands!) about what I need from where and how I can get it there. My bed has become the way station for everything, since I can toss things onto it from any room. Brilliant! The ladies of hipwomen were kind enough to suggest a walker (which hadn't even occurred to me), which you can hitch baskets and holsters and such to, for stuff around the house, especially meal preparation. I'm looking forward to a non-sandwich-based meal for a change. What I'd REALLY like (and what Van Deren also thought of, since we're both such great minds) is one of these!
Yesterday in the shower I involuntarily made what can be best described as a James Brown Sound (as in, "UNH, git back!") and giggled hysterically for a good 20 minutes. You have to laugh!
It seems pretty much impossible for people to not ask what happened - I'd put it at about 7%. As such, I've developed a series of one-liner responses, the easiest of which (that I'd resorted to by the end of the debate last night) is "I have to stay off my bum leg for awhile." Also pretty much the most honest answer I can give - I don't even know what it is that's paining me, really. People have been so so nice, though, offering any sort of help I might need, and for once I'm going to be taking it! My usual staunchly-independent "Oh no, I'm fine" is out the window!
Doing stuff around the house is a real challenge. For the first time I'm cursing the shotgun layout of my apartment, though I'm getting really good at thinking ahead (I've got plenty of time on my hands!) about what I need from where and how I can get it there. My bed has become the way station for everything, since I can toss things onto it from any room. Brilliant! The ladies of hipwomen were kind enough to suggest a walker (which hadn't even occurred to me), which you can hitch baskets and holsters and such to, for stuff around the house, especially meal preparation. I'm looking forward to a non-sandwich-based meal for a change. What I'd REALLY like (and what Van Deren also thought of, since we're both such great minds) is one of these!
Yesterday in the shower I involuntarily made what can be best described as a James Brown Sound (as in, "UNH, git back!") and giggled hysterically for a good 20 minutes. You have to laugh!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Dude, crutches suck.
I mean, honestly, how the eff are you supposed to do this?! I've only been on the things since 3pm yesterday and already I have massive swollen bruises on my ribs and my arms are en fuego! I had to use two hands to turn my stinking key in the lock!
On the plus side, Susan Kinesio taped up my elbows and left shoulderblade, as apparently it helps with bruising as well - oh how I love the stuff! The shoulderblade is what's really giving me trouble right now, since it's pretty integral to the whole crutching business. That said, being off my left leg feels right, and I'm doing my damnedest to be non-weight-bearing, though it's quite a chore. I'm to be non-weight-bearing-to-tolerable for the next 2 weeks, then will see Susan again to reevaluate before I head to DC.
This is a fairly scary sneak peek of what next summer is going to be like - though then I'm not going to be able to cheat at all, which at this point seems impossible. I have no idea how I'm supposed to do things like laundry, cleaning the litterbox, making myself some damn food, etc. - you know, things that require HANDS! I think I need a fanny pack. :) Thankfully Tucker let me drag along with him to the grocery yesterday, and Chloe lent me a backpack to ferry my wares up the stairs (rhymetastic!). Otherwise I don't know what I would've done.
Harrumph. I'm pretty sure I'll be taking tomorrow off.
On the plus side, Susan Kinesio taped up my elbows and left shoulderblade, as apparently it helps with bruising as well - oh how I love the stuff! The shoulderblade is what's really giving me trouble right now, since it's pretty integral to the whole crutching business. That said, being off my left leg feels right, and I'm doing my damnedest to be non-weight-bearing, though it's quite a chore. I'm to be non-weight-bearing-to-tolerable for the next 2 weeks, then will see Susan again to reevaluate before I head to DC.
This is a fairly scary sneak peek of what next summer is going to be like - though then I'm not going to be able to cheat at all, which at this point seems impossible. I have no idea how I'm supposed to do things like laundry, cleaning the litterbox, making myself some damn food, etc. - you know, things that require HANDS! I think I need a fanny pack. :) Thankfully Tucker let me drag along with him to the grocery yesterday, and Chloe lent me a backpack to ferry my wares up the stairs (rhymetastic!). Otherwise I don't know what I would've done.
Harrumph. I'm pretty sure I'll be taking tomorrow off.
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