👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️ Hips and knees Part 5 👯‍♀️ 👯‍♀️

A 4 mile walk for me is a very distant memory. I can manage 1/4 mile with some stops and that gets me to the nearest bus stop.

Our nearest bus stop is. 3/4 mile away Charleygirl, there’s just one bus, supposedly half hourly, but totally unreliable. You never know if it’s coming or if it has been or if it’s late.
It can be freezing in the wind, once I waited over an hour.
Glad I have the use of a car.
Hope your service is better than this.

silverlining I live in the suburbs of London and 2 buses are on my route. It is one of the best services because I rarely have to wait more than 3 minutes and a bad day would be five. As stated my problem is getting to the bus stop.

Charleygirl5

A 4 mile walk for me is a very distant memory. I can manage 1/4 mile with some stops and that gets me to the nearest bus stop.

Is it some problem other than hips or knees, Charleygirl? I really sympathise.

Those of us who can regain free and painless movement after hip or knee replacements must remember that we are very lucky to be able to achieve that.

Maizie I think old age is slowly catching up as I am now 81. I have had both knees replaced. One ankle has been pinned and plated, I have dry Macular so am partially sighted and now have a benign brain tumour which has changed hearing from acute to profound but that is slowly improving.

I remain as independent as possible.

Oh for the joys of a London bus service! I remember it well, if you missed a bus there would be another one in a few minutes.
I’m like silverlining, one unreliable bus every half hour! And sometimes the drivers forget which bus they’re driving, and sail along the main road, missing out the four stops in the village entirely! Good thing I can still drive - when the hip has recovered sufficiently to enable me to do an emergency stop.

The downside is that some bus drivers think they are at Brand Hatch, and when I sit down, I sometimes have to grab hold of something or I will be catapulted down the aisle.

Well., I did my 4 mile walk today and, apart from a bit of tiredness, absolutely no ill effects😆

It wasn't even affected by the fact that forgot to put my lovingly cleaned and dubbined walking boots in the car and had to do the walk in trainers. White ones at that, which got a trifle muddy...

Don't speak too soon MaizieD! I always feel it the next couple of days after more than usual exercise.

Well done, but as Aveline says, don’t overdo things tomorrow Maizie. I always had a rest day in between longish walks when I had my new hip.

You all seem very chipper today! Congratulations MaizieD on completing your walk, that must make you feel so good. Charleygirl5 you sound an absolute marvel and inspiration, I’m in awe. All I have to report is a slightly better night sleep wise and I’ve set myself a new project - to try to get around the house just using one stick thus forcing me to use my operated leg more. Is this a good move, do you think? Will it work?

Glad you had a better night.
I think one stick is a good idea grammargran, you will be indoors, so can hang onto furniture etc if necessary and can sit down anytime you want,

Yes. Try just one stick in the opposite hand from your new joint. With good supportive shoes boldly go!

That’s good enough for me - I will boldly go. Just one more short set of exercises to end the day.

Forget the exercises just walk up and down the hall. One stick and really using your operated leg. Sing as you go!!

Well done maizied something for me to aim for eventually!
grammargran pleased you had a better sleep last night. I saw the physio today for the first session, very low key, he just wanted to see the exercises I’ve been doing, and how I walk with one or two crutches. I’ve been using one crutch indoors for a week or so now and am comfortable with it. If I go outside I use two crutches, and used two for the route March round the hospital to the physio department. I’m not doing many exercises and he didn’t seem bothered about that. Just take it slowly to start with and you’ll be fine.

I did not realise I had walked too much yesterday because today I had mega problems getting out of my computer chair. Admittedly I have to be extra careful because the wheels whiz around my kitchen.

I can imagine you spinning around Charleygirl.

Shower and hair wash day after nearly three weeks - absolute bliss but totally, totally exhausted!

It's a lovely feeling to have clean hair again. Very tiring though. It's the logistics - planning what needs to be where and in what order etc.

I remember my first shower and hair wash taking 90 minutes because I moved slowly. I lived on my own, and I did not want to have an accident. It was rather faster the next evening.

I found my walker really useful to help me into and out of the shower (a small step) as well as to hang my towel and clothes onto it.

I used my walking stick to help me get in the shower. It's an adjustable one with holes all down the sides. Needless to say it filled up with water which spouted out very neatly like a watering can!

I use my walker in the bathroom, like silverlining it’s useful as a towel rail!
I’m really lucky because my DD1 has put a heavy Perspex chair in the shower and has washed my hair once a week since my operation. I aim to do it myself this week now I’m feeling stronger. No doubt I’ll be exhausted afterwards!

Thank you for all your shower experiences. I expect to be a little quicker today with hair washing out of the way. A question for all you experienced hipsters: how long does the no 90 degree bend decree last for? I find I have to make a real effort to stop myself doing this quite a lot & wondered how soon I can ease up on it.