I never expected to be skipping along or roller skating or even running from a potential bear attack after hip replacement surgery. I did hope however
- to be more mobile
- to be able to carry laundry from the hamper to the washing machine
- to get down on the floor to play with Elsa-the-Dog
- to stand long enough to peel six cucumbers for cucumber salad and not feel exhausted
- to walk without a limp or a gimp
- to wear pretty little shoes to accentuate my pretty little feet.
- And more.
Such is life however, that after a total right hip replacement done July 16th none of those wishes came true.
Oh, the right hip is pain-free! Let me tell you, it is a miracle of modern medicine. I consider it my “good leg” now! Kudos to my cute young surgeon who did an exemplary job.
I LOVE my right hip now. And I LOVE my cute young surgeon even though I wouldn’t recognize him on the street.
The problem though is my LEFT leg! The BigFoot leg. The one that had been causing problems since 2015.
Maybe in the process of preparing for the right hip replacement surgery, I forgot about BigFoot?
And now that the right hip is happy, my brain needed to send out reminders that all is not well on the other side.
At any rate, I am still gimpy.
The family doc said he is thrilled at my progress “considering your age and underlying factors.” Not flattering but probably true.
Why didn’t anyone warn me about the great bowl of perilous problems that arrive uninvited with the onslaught of age?
Ah well. “Such is life,” said my once aging Mom who transferred all her wisdom to me except her secrets for aging with a smile.
I will see my cute young surgeon for the last time this month. I met him once before surgery when we talked for about 20 minutes. Then I saw him through a haze as I was awakening from the operation. The extent of our conversation at that time was him saying, ‘You have a brand new hip.” He had a mask on so I am not sure it was really him.
“HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR SURGEON?” MY FAMILY DOCTOR ONCE ASKED. “I DON’T KNOW”, I SAID. “HOW WOULD I KNOW IN JUST 20 MINUTES?”
The next and last visit (unless I get knee surgery on BigFoot) will be an opportunity for another 20 minute conversation. WilI I then recognize my cute young surgeon on the street? Doubtful.
But the goal now is to walk normally. Bill went out and bought me a full length mirror to lean on a door at the end of a long hall. I can see myself coming if not going and try to correct my gait.
“Practice makes perfect” but Bill says ,”You still walk like a duck!”
Such is life and the miracles of modern medicine.
Virginia Views 