Tales of the Troublesome Hip

Bad is good and good becomes bad.

2011-11-17T16:46:00.003Z

Well, here I am again just over a year since my last post. The good news is that the new hip continues to perform well and causes no problems whatsoever. It is so good that I now describe my right leg as my 'GOOD' leg.

However the bad news is that the left hip has now decided it also needs attention. I suppose I expected this to happen, but definitely not so soon. What was my GOOD leg is now known as my BAD leg.

A difficult few weeks have led me to the doctor's surgery too many times. Distant memories of aches, stiffness and graunching have flooded back, finally culminating with a session of physiotherapy this morning. Having been told that I might have to wait 2/3 months for an appointment I feel very fortunate to have been scooped up by the NHS so quickly. The assessment was carried out by Sam....yes you've guessed it....young, handsome and so professional! I now have exercises to do to try to strengthen the already weakened muscles as well as do's and don'ts about sitting, standing and walking. Another appointment beckons in two weeks, so until then I have some hard work to do if I am going to impress Sam!

What more can I say except watch this space.

One year on....

2010-11-01T11:15:00.007Z

I can't believe that a whole year has passed since I became bionic, but I do know that the troublesome hip is now a thing of the past. It was a similar sort of day a year ago, sunny and bright, and I was extremely nervous and very apprehensive. All the awful waiting was over and I knew that the Nuffield Orthopaedic Hospital was a centre of excellence. But I had probably read too much about possible post op complications......and spent too much time thinking about them. Signing the consent form was a definite leap of faith. How thankful I am that I took that leap!
So how best to celebrate my new hip's first birthday? A quick Rosemary Conley workout followed by a lunchtime swim at our local pool. In between lengths as I caught my breath, I chatted to a friend who asked after my new hip.
'Does it click?' she asked.
'Not at all', I replied.
'What make is your hip?' she then queried.
'Goodness, I didn't know there were different makes', I said.
'Oh yes', she continued, 'my son makes them. Some of the replacement hips click so loudly you can hear the person coming!'

I have heard of 'the Birmingham hip' but suddenly I found myself thinking of potential designer labels, such as

zip hip and yippee hippee

and possible strap lines for those marketing replacement hips.

'Clip into this hip - get back on your feet'

'Strain and pain? No more gyp with our new hip.'

I know that my high impact polyethylene and cobalt chrome stainless steel hip has transformed my life.... or should I write My trusty bounce has transformed my life?

A bientot France

2010-10-18T18:48:00.025+01:00

Having returned from France just over a week ago, my photos are now sorted. Le Batut is 725 miles away, closed and secure for the Winter after the excitement, noise and fun of the Summer. The mighty oak will be dropping its leaves to carpet the drive whilst the geraniums sit inside, safe from the chills and frosts. The log pile, food for the woodburner, is ready and waiting for February, thanks to some good friends, WPH and my brother.

Our final night in France was spent at a logis close to Hardelot with its spectacular beach.

The following morning the pretty beach huts were empty and there were few people around. Those taking advantage of the warm October sunshine were out for fitness and exercise, as were WPH and I.

The outgoing tide had made wonderful patterns in the sand and the gulls were taking advantage of the many watery dips.

We stood and stared as a sand yacht sped along the waterline and after completing our brisk walk I took advantage of a quick sit down on a buoy.

What an amazing finish to our French summer! The new hip is now so reliable that I hardly give it a thought. Perhaps all the wine and good food of la belle France has something to do with that?

Which reminds me....I have a French quince crop to sort out. Maybe some quince jelly and quince cheese beckons.

Three months without a blog.

2010-09-21T16:37:00.018+01:00

Where have the weeks gone? A long busy French summer and a wonderful time with the family.

What were the highlights? Seeing two of my grandchildren learn to swim.

What surprised me this summer? The glut of fruit.

What was the highest temperature? 40C whilst we were looking after our three youngest grandchildren.

What was the favourite game of the summer? Uno extreme, closely followed by Happy Families.

Did I have time to knit? Yes

Did I bake anything new? Yes, inspired by my son in law's peach tart, I made one too...yum

Who had a birthday? William and me.

How is the hip? Fantastic!

Seek and ye shall find.

2010-06-25T13:21:00.015+01:00

During the past week WPH and I have enjoyed four eye opening walks. Massive caves, supersoft lichen and fast flowing streams have all contributed to the sensory stimuli, as well as a friendly hound, two startled stampeding deer, a friendly grass snake and a stupendous black woodpecker. Nature has a way of being noticed here.

Yesterday's walk though, turned out to be longer than expected. Our friends A and P and their dog Tessa often join us and suggested a moderately challenging petite rondonee; challenging because it involved a steep climb down a valley to a river bed by a ruined mill and it also meant leaving one car at the start of the walk and a second at the finish. We were well prepared with sticks, following our confrontation with the stampeding deer earlier in the week, and went down the valley in single file. The path was narrowed by recent deluges and in some places deep gulleys had formed where stones had been washed away but the hip coped admirably. Safely down we crossed a river via wobbly stepping stones, passed uprooted fallen trees and saw wonderful ferns normally found in garden centres. Over the next hour there were frequent mini streams to stride over and muddy boggy patches to negotiate. Finally emerging back into sunlight, with a further mile to A's waiting car, I glanced down at my wrist to check the time on my watch. It was one of those stomach churning moments as I realised my watch was no longer where it should have been. What were we to do? Even Tessa was tired so you can imagine how the humans felt! We all decided food was essential and I tried to be philosophical about my loss as we eventually went our separate ways.

Over lunch WPH and I discussed the options. We could try to forget the watch.... after all the odds of finding it were incredibly slim, or we could retrace our steps, without A and P and the use of their car and do the walk twice more. Parking our car at the finish we would walk to the start and then from the start to the finish again! Mmm, a difficult choice, on a warm sunny afternoon. But never ones to shirk a challenge you can guess which option we chose!

At 4.30pm our second walk began. We had to walk quite slowly with eyes down to stand the best chance of finding the watch. Our optimism waxed and waned as stones glinted in front of us. We recalled conversations of the morning as we passed various landmarks and of course the further we walked we reminded each other how the odds were lengthening. Never mind we thought, at least we had tried. Having finally reached the ruined mill we paused before the steep climb to the top of the valley. Imagine our surprise as an untidy looking black bird with a red crown to its head rose up in front of us, before flying to a nearby tree landing in the characteristic woodpecker pose. How I wished I hadn't left my camera behind. This is the best I can offer

Perhaps this was an omen? No, probably not we thought . Up the steep and gulley ridden path we climbed. Hot and tired we reached the start but still with no watch found. It was now 6.20pm. We had to brace ourselves for the descent, summoning up all our energy reserves. Halfway down WPH called out behind me 'hey, look at that!' I turned expectantly, to see him pointing to a motionless grass snake. We stood and watched as it gracefully slid quietly away. The ruined mill was approaching and the path, now seeming more familiar, was particularly tricky as we balanced on a grassy mound to avoid a deep rut. I glanced down to my left and there it was, glinting slightly.... MY WATCH. We were almost at the black woodpecker tree and after a congratulatory hug we decided that yes, the black woodpecker had undoubtedly been a lucky omen. We almost scampered home from that moment. With the watch safely in my pocket we knew the light in the wooded area was fading quickly. Reaching home at 8pm we relived the adventures of the lost and found watch and the highs and lows of our amazing day. The celebrations were pretty good too!

A celebration for WPH!

2010-06-17T15:03:00.032+01:00

Strictly speaking Father's Day is still three days away but we decided to celebrate today. WPH has been extremely busy here over the past few weeks.... tree felling, grass cutting, painting and repairing have all featured on his 'to do' lists. Time then to take a much needed break.

Le Carre des Gourmets, newly opened in St Antonin, was our choice for a special lunch. Choosing a new restaurant may sound a bit risky but not when you already know the reputation of the owners and their chef.

Frederic and Veronique Raffi moved their business to this vacated riverside hotel during the winter. Builders and decorators have transformed the old 'pink hotel' into a stylish and attractive restaurant. Once the scaffolding disappeared it was placed on our must visit list. Today was not really warm enough for eating on the terrace but the views from it were still amazing.

WPH and I chose the menu decouverte, a set menu offered at weekday lunchtimes. For any foodie readers the actual menu can be seen on their website http://www.carredesgourmets.fr/mets.fr/

I had of course taken my camera but forgot to take a photo of the mise en bouche until I had nearly finished it....my apologies. However the crevette ile flottant was as tasty as its name suggests.

Other courses followed and believe me they were all delicious.

as were the liquid additions.

Happy Father's Day WPH!

Oh my goodness!

2010-06-06T12:00:00.007+01:00

Yes, I really ran for my camera when I saw this amazing sight yesterday.

These are two western whip snakes (non venomous!) in an amorous clinch.

'Let's go for a walk'

2010-06-04T08:17:00.011+01:00

Over the years WPH and I have enjoyed discovering many of the 'petites randonnees', (round walks), which abound in this area of France. Needless to say I am thrilled to be back in my walking shoes this summer and able to tackle some of the longer promenades. Last Sunday was perfect walking weather, not too hot, dry and with a gentle breeze. We chose a local walk we had done before, taking in two substantial hills which offer wonderful views.

Wild flowers, including orchids, were everywhere and my camera was soon clicking away.

We heard golden orioles, summer visitors from Africa, with their tropical throaty birdsong and WPH was lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the golden flash as one flew past. Two and a half hours later and we made it home. I was very gratified when I glanced down at my pedometer.

6.8 miles is my longest walk for quite some time!

The things I do in France....

2010-05-23T17:56:00.007+01:00

I've always been keen on the great outdoors and here in France there's always something outside demanding our attention. Today, having looked at the weather forecast, WPH decided he needed to cut the grass in the field before 'les orages' (thunderstorms) rendered the long grass saturated. The sit on mower, WPH's boys' toy, has had a dodgy battery for at least two years now. This hasn't been too much of a problem with jump leads and some assistance from yours truly, transferring revs from car to mower. Normally I sit in the car on the very steep hill adjacent to our garden, while WPH does the clever bit with the jump leads through a fence. Today however was different. Maybe I am becoming protective towards my new hip but I found myself suggesting we push the mower up the very steep hill and into the drive, so that I didn't feel so precarious sitting in the car, totally blocking the lane, but vulnerable to speeding Frenchmen, whilst revving the car. There is no photographic evidence of us pushing the mower but believe me it is a steep hill and the mower is very heavy but we finally made it!

Some expert revving and soon the mowing was underway.

Yet again I find myself thinking how lucky I am to be able to do crazy things like pushing a heavy mower up a very steep hill with la nouvelle hanche. I know of two people who are having major hip operations today and I hope their outcomes are as positive as mine. One is Beth, aged 8, and the other is J's friend. I wish them both well and hope they are also doing crazy things before too long...

She who dares ......

2010-05-11T12:45:00.004+01:00

I realise that almost a month has passed since my last blog. No reason really but it may reflect the way life has settled down as a hipster. However significant improvements continue to take me by surprise and therefore others, facing a hip replacement, may be encouraged by my recent log of achievements.

The other day I ran indoors spontaneously as it began to rain. I contemplated running a marathon too...not for long BUT the thought was there!

When I rose from a chair yesterday I no longer needed to stand for a few seconds to collect my muscular strength before walking.

Getting in and out of the car is a doddle and I managed the long drive down to our French home with minimal stiffness.

I can now lift quite heavy items and carry them without pain.

But best of all is what I managed to do this morning. I was feeling a bit daring do... WPH says he is glad to see this aspect of my personality re-emerging. I decided to throw caution to the wind and handed him the camera....

And here is the evidence. I can SQUAT! Yippee.

Some intensive hip physiotherapy

2010-04-12T16:25:00.017+01:00

Last week we returned from a wonderful six days in Venice where we had been celebrating our Ruby Wedding. This perfect romantic venue was planned last November, when I was newly bionic; the medieval part of the city, without cars, would provide plenty of walking opportunities.

After surviving a full body scan (fellow hipsters beware!) at Heathrow....despite my protestations about having a hip replacement and producing a card from the hospital to confirm it, I decided I was up for anything. Just as well. Standing, let alone balancing in the high speed water taxi, which transported us from the airport to Venice proper, tested all of my leg muscles.

But the first sight of St Mark's Basilica from the water was unforgettable.

And my first cappucino confirmed we had chosen the perfect destination.

The canals are never far away when walking around this special place and getting anywhere involves crossing the water several times. With more than two hundred bridges to go at there is plenty of choice for pedestrians! The Rialto bridge bustles with tourists, shops and vendors and once negotiated, leads to the vibrant fish market.

'Step ups' and 'step downs' were literally the order of the day as each bridge was traversed. Wasted muscles gathered strength daily as the intensive bridge therapy began to take effect.

And climbing fifty steep steps up to the balustrading on San Marco provided views of the Doge's Palace and a real sense of achievement, as well as terror for those more vertically challenged.

Full marks to the hip then....and what memories we have.

Back on the bike

2010-03-19T17:29:00.005Z

I have really forgotten when I last cycled, but it was probably about a year ago. To coin a phrase, it became too difficult to get my leg over and too dangerous to stop and put my right foot to the ground, as the old hip steadily declined. The bike languished in the shed throughout the winter, gathering dust and cobwebs but with Spring beginning to appear and my improved hip confidence I decided to give it an airing last weekend. Cycling is an approved activity for hipsters like me as it is non impact and uses the wasted muscles in the hip and thigh very effectively. Time then to put myself to the test....

WPH kindly pumped up the tyres, the frame was wiped down and I managed the leg over bit without a twinge. Fantastic! Imagine my surprise though, when I glanced down into the bike's wicker basket....

.......there was a beautiful nest, literally nestling at the bottom of the basket, composed of leaves, moss and hair, but now forgotten. Cobwebs suggest it had been there since last summer, a wonderful hideaway for one of our garden visitors. Out came the bird books and the following description seems to fit.

'the nest, usually with a frontage of dead leaves, is made of moss and lined with hair, and is placed in some sort of hollow: in a bank, wall, tree-stump, old tin, and in many curious places, even in occupied houses.'

I feel very honoured that our friendly robin made such good use of my inactivity in such a curious place!

Bionic gardening

2010-02-26T17:13:00.012Z

I now know that life is definitely returning to normal after spending two afternoons sorting out my veggy plot. The contents of the compost bin were forked onto the raised bed and then followed plenty of digging.... something I struggled with before I became bionic. When I created le potager three years ago, assisted by kind son and WPH, I thought a raised bed would be sensible, as the hip was already giving me gyp. Today I clambered on and off the oak sleeper edges with ease and enjoyed every minute of my workout.
I was planting onion sets, a staple vegetable for any cook, particularly in France. The sets are easy to grow, as you just push them into the ground and then wait for them to take root....in my experience a hassle free crop. The birds can mistake the tops of the sets for nest building material but the sets are easily pushed back into the soil. I planted 250 grammes, enough for three rows and look forward to harvesting them later this summer.

I then moved on to broad beans, one of my very favourite vegetables. I brought this packet, a dwarf variety from the UK , as the French seem to prefer the giant sort. These are an easy crop too and the dwarf varieties seem less prone to blackfly. I can't wait for the first tasting....

Once everything was planted I emptied the water butt, gently watering the veggy plot, before finally hanging my watering can on its branch for the next time....I have a feeling that I will find an excuse to plant something else tomorrow!

Out and About with 'la nouvelle hanche'

2010-02-24T15:37:00.019Z

La nouvelle hanche had to walk uphill today to catch this view in the Aveyron Gorge.Our aim was to walk up to the 12th century castle at Bruniquel. Wandering through the village streets the castle looked as imposing today as it must have seemed when the heretic Cathars were rampaging in the Languedoc against the Catholics all those centuries ago.

The unexpected sunshine was a bonus, warming the natural colours of the massive stone buildings. We walked without coats enjoying this hint of Spring. As I looked back at the castle I couldn't help thinking 'if only walls could talk'.
What had life been like in there?
How many people did the castle house?
How did they keep warm in winter?
What did they eat?

And of course our minds then turned to finding our dejeuner....
No problem....

Actually the roti de porc was just one of five courses! Not for the faint hearted or anyone in a hurry I hear you say...well we are in rural France where everything stops for a lengthy lunch break. With these wild beasts looking down on us it also seemed imperative not to argue with the status quo.

Some time later we headed for home....driving rather slowly. A surprise awaited us as we went round one bend.

This particular lama was not impressed by the appearance of my camera and spat with significant attitude to let me know!

Happily I didn't encounter any problems when I took this final photo of the day's expedition - a treeful of mistletoe.....

Greetings from South West France

2010-02-17T14:08:00.018Z

Faithful followers of this blog may have been perturbed by the recent absence of posts. Don't worry, the new hip is absolutely fine. My silence has been entirely due to lack of broadband provision, caused by transfering from one provider to another. I won't bore you with the details except to say I have discovered that internet cafes are fascinating places. Happily we are now in France where France Telecom have restored our faith in the internet.

So earlier this week with WPH's forthcoming birthday to celebrate and in glorious sunshine we thought we would check out our favourite restaurant in a nearby village and book for Dimanche dejeuner. A theraputic walk could be achieved at the same time, following one of the many local promenades, and taking in a gentle hill or two.

We soon arrived outside the restaurant, a lovely old building with its foody credentials suitably noted on a gate post.

But imagine our disappointment when we read the following notice....

I suppose things could be worse....at least Veronique et Frederic are opening up a new restaurant in another nearby town in April. However the quest is now on to find somewhere for Dimanche dejeuner!

A new friend

2010-01-24T16:05:00.010Z

I have recently bought a new walking stick......well a trekking pole really. Following my test drive of a friend's Leki stick I took the online plunge and my purchase arrived this week. It came from headtothehills.com, is fully adjustable and with the option for using different tip attachments, including a snow 'basket'. Some Leki enthusiasts walk with two sticks as if training for the Winter Olympics. I have decided to stick to one! Holding the pole requires a new technique as the handle grip is totally different to my conventional walking stick. The pole has to be angled to optimise its effect; as a trekking pole then it will be useful when I take to the byways or head for the hills and a great addition as a walking friend.

Oxford has few hills so its maiden walk was on the level to the University Parks. I set off looking for signs of Spring. The bulbs outside our front door are up but flowering is still some weeks away. The snowdrops in Kew Gardens have been flowering for some time now, apparently the earliest sign of Spring ever and used by some as evidence of environmental change.

Last week's thaw meant the river Cherwell, which borders the Parks had begun to flood nearby fields.

A lonely coot, standing on a muddy patch of grass, looked bereft as it preened its feathers.

Whilst two noisy geese rushed towards us expecting titbits of food.

We walked further and finally, just as we thought Winter was keeping them hidden, we saw what we had come to find, a wonderful clump of snowdrops, protected by leaves. Spring can't be far away....

The new hip travels to Cambridge

2010-01-17T16:36:00.014Z

The past week saw me in Cambridge spending time with A, (daughter no 2). I travelled there alone with my new hip and the continued icy conditions meant most of my stay was spent indoors. I was under strict instructions from all members of the family to BE CAREFUL! Honestly sometimes I think they don't trust me....but, like everyone, sooner or later self preservation kicks in. My hip would have a restful week and wait for better walking conditions.

It was a good time to be around as there was our son in law's **birthday to celebrate on Wednesday. A special meal was planned. The February edition of the BBC Good Food magazine provided inspiration for the main course; Mango chicken with spiced pilau. We decided that a birthday cake, which would double up as the dessert, would be made on Tuesday. A and I chose a Delia Smith recipe for a moist chocolate and almond cake. It appeared quite straight forward, on first reading...

but of course I am now a little rusty with my cake making and unfamiliar with A and N's kitchen so what should have taken about an hour took me a whole afternoon. It was the grating of the chocolate which really held me up...a job for the Magimix I thought. 15 minutes later, after a close encounter with a cheese grating blade and with the book of instructions covered in traces of blood, I concluded that there was no chocolate grating attachment. Luckily A's first aid kit contained plasters.

Hand grating the required amount of chocolate, beating the rock hard butter and sugar, whisking the egg whites, adding the remaining ingredients and finally assembling the cake ready for baking took quite some time.

But it was all worth it in the end.

and N celebrated his birthday in style!

Welcome to 2010?

2010-01-10T16:46:00.020Z

So far 2010 has been demanding and challenging for everyone I know....but life goes on. It has certainly curtailed my walking schedule. My new pedometer, given to me as a Christmas present, has only had a few outings but, as you can see, I have achieved the necessary 10,000 daily steps on at least one occasion. The hip continues to improve and I am happy to report further progress; I can go up the stairs two at a time (but holding on to the banister), I can walk upstairs carrying something in each hand (and not holding on to the banister!), I can jump off the bottom step of the stairs with a spring in my step (it must be the high impact polyethylene!) and I can run (gently) downstairs. As you can tell most of my exercise recently has been centred on stair workouts, thanks to the snow and ice.

Enough of that I thought to myself this afternoon. After a little persuasion WPH decided I could take a calculated risk and walk in the soft snow along the canal towpath, so that I could test drive a Leki walking stick, on loan from a friend. Not to be outdone WPH took his walking stick too.

The canal community must have been working harder than most of us to keep warm recently . No one was about but the narrow boat chimneys were emitting smoke and fuel was evident on the tow path. There was a gentle hum coming from the generators. Wonderful cooking smells wafted out as we passed by one narrow boat. I wondered about the inevitable washing up and the syphoning of water on board from the frozen stand pipes. A warm cup of tea at teatime with a slice of swiss roll or a bun seemed to be on another owner's mind.

No wonder my friends, the swans, lingered nearby hopeful for a tasty titbit.

This poor snowman sat alone, frozen in time, waiting for the final drip.

and what was the spider hoping to ensnare here?

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan.

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow. Snow on snow.

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

6 weeks on.... 'Tis the season to be jolly!

2009-12-18T16:00:00.008Z

Well....the great news is I passed my six week check up this morning with flying colours. I didn't see Gandalf (my wizard of a surgeon) but his trusted registrar (who I have called Legolas - a messenger elf, from The Lord of the Rings) who was responsible for stitching me up so neatly! And yes, I am taller than him!

What did I need to do to pass the test ?

The wound, which looks like a zip line now, was scrutinised and declared to have healed very well.

I had to hold hands with Legolas (very nice!) and stand on one leg and balance..each leg in turn.

I said I could walk for 50 minutes. There were pleasing gasps of surprise and much praise from Legolas at this information.

I demonstrated walking without sticks. Legolas said 'That looks extremely normal'.

Legolas, WPH and I reviewed the 'before and after' X rays and concluded the whole operation had been a huge success.

So what can I do now?

I can wean myself off the sticks.

I can move back to 'my' side of the bed. Many thanks to WPH for the temporary lone of his side!

I can have a bath instead of a shower......Oh the joy and rapture of tomorrow morning's bath!

I can drive again when I have shown WPH I can do an emergency stop!

I can sit on a normal height chair

Altogether I feel like a normal person again. I thanked Legolas profusely and offered to give him a hug (I was feeling very excited...even euphoric at this stage!). In the end we smiled and shook hands. And that, as they say, is it. I don't have to go back for any check ups...amazing. My cobalt chromium stainless steel and high impact polyethylene hip joint should see me through for the next twenty years or so....and may be beyond with luck.

I am one very happy Lady Hip and I am going to celebrate my good fortune. CHEERS!

Physical and mental workouts

2009-12-06T12:19:00.013Z

I hope readers will forgive the constant reference to achievements but having undergone major surgery I suspect it's only natural to want to return to 'how I used to be' as soon as possible. Perhaps too, it is the thought of my follow up appointment with the surgeon next week which makes me concentrate on physical milestones. This week I have increased to twenty five repeats for each of my 7 daily exercises, as well as walking round the University Parks (2.2 kms) on two successive days in glorious sunshine. Gandalf (my wizard of a surgeon) has the power to allow me to drive again next week, so not surprisingly that is quite an incentive to do the daily leg therapy. WPH thinks it is like watching a ballet bar workout, although fluffy slippers don't look quite as good as ballet shoes! (NB -no picture here- just use your imagination!)

One impressive student jogger managed to lap me five times during my fairly brisk walk around the parks.....however I couldn't help wondering how his hips would be at my age!?

There have been some mental improvements this week too as the weird after effects of the operation anaesthetic have finally disappeared. I concentrated long enough to finish a diabolical sudoku. YES! Strangely I completed the previous diabolical sudoku during the morning of my operation day...I must have been more focused than I remember!

These knitted Christmas tree decorations are destined for the grandchildren and each took about an hour to finish. Searching on the internet for the patterns took far longer....but I now know there are the most amazing knitting patterns out there!

Finally, having been inspired by a recent post on the Listwriter's blog, and needing sustenance after the mental and physical exertions of the week, I set to work in the kitchen and baked a cake. This was the last slice....mmmmm

Four weeks later....

2009-12-01T16:08:00.015Z

I can hardly believe that four weeks have now passed since I received my amazing 'spare part'. I thought a quick progress check would be appropriate as we enter December and I continue to celebrate the loss of the grinding arthritic pain. I can now

walk around the house with only one stick.

stand confidently with NO STICKS (but only when it is safe to do so)!

stand and iron again with pleasure.

mop the kitchen floor.

walk to the local shops and back again (approximately 1 mile).

No wonder I feel so excited!

Out and About

2009-11-24T11:43:00.008Z

Escaping outside for a daily walk has been more tricky with the recent weather but I was quick to see a break in the clouds this morning and took my opportunity. Having conquered all the nearby bridges (slopes are much more demanding for the new hip) I now have a greater choice of routes. My first stop was down by the canal to see the narrow boats at their moorings. I was able to admire the hardiness and ingenuity of the owners... solar panels, bicycles, plant pots full of herbs and winter fuel, amongst other things, are stored on the tops of the boats. WPH, detecting a glint in my eye assures me life would be difficult for someone with a dodgy hip on one of those!

Moving on I couldn't resist pausing by the bullrushes, which provide hiding places for so many birds, in the wildlife corridor which runs behind our house. There were birds around ....but all too quick for my camera!

I was also glad to see there is more than enough natural food around to keep the tits, finches, robins and occasional sparrows happy this winter. The seeds and berries together with nuts and fat balls in garden feeders suggest the birds of ox2 could soon be fighting the flab!

Before returning home I walked up onto one of the main bridges over the canal. From there I could look down on some ducks who were admiring a new piece of canal bank reinforcement. In the Spring water plants will emerge from these sausages of sacking and soil. Meanwhile they provide a handy perch for the ducks!

What a day!

2009-11-17T16:04:00.008Z

When I first started this blog I hoped that others, who might have to undergo hip replacement, would glean some useful information and encouragement from my experiences. Today has been such a good day, :-), full of firsts and so much better than yesterday.

I had been warned about 'good days' and 'bad days' and yesterday certainly belonged to the latter. I won't dwell too much on why or how I felt...suffice to say I had my 23 wound staples removed at 9a.m. by the practice nurse and on Sunday morning I had decided to stop taking the powerful pain killers I was given during my hospital stay (and for as long as I needed them when back at home). Having spent some time on the web this afternoon I now realise yesterday's 'roughness' was caused by the classic withdrawal symptoms from an opioid. What a relief!

So back to today. :-)

I woke up feeling refreshed, (always a good sign). I no longer needed prunes for breakfast (apologies to those who feel 'too much information!'), my daily exercises were less arduous and WPH suggested that as the sun was shining we would have another outing. This called for a change of clothing. I discarded my 'nursing home' baggy trousers and put on my slimline Gerry Weber jeans (a first). What a great feeling!

Having decided to visit the newly extended and refurbished Ashmolean Museum we made an early start. As we came out of the house the winter jasmine looked stunning in the morning sunshine. We drove into Oxford promptly and managed to get a parking slot right outside the entrance.

WPH was in charge of my wonderful cushion (essential to ensure any chairs are the right height for me when sitting down...) Have cushion, will travel.

We meandered slowly through some of the galleries in the Ashmolean, including those with beautiful Renaissance Art and musical instruments. I used the new lift and amazed myself by being on my feet for just under an hour, before we sat and enjoyed a coffee in the basement cafe.

We exited via the excellent shop and were home in time to phone our friends, Alan and Pat, for an update on la vie Francaise. The latest news is....wait for it.... all fosse septiques in France (septic tanks to les Anglais) are being inspected to see if they conform to new EU regulations. 'Oh joy' we said to each other and burst out laughing!!!

For Francophiles I can recommend, as essential reading,the following book (kindly sent to me last week by a good friend) Talk to the Snail - Ten Commandments for understanding the French by Stephen Clarke.

Lunch was an excellent mackerel pate made by chef WPH. Delicious..mmm.

After the mandatory daily rest on the bed, I then decided to take a second walk of the day, (another first) having counted my visit to the Ashmolean as walk number 1. I decided to walk solo, (yet another first) without my minder WPH, as he needed to do some shopping. Walking solo was rather reminiscent of driving solo for the first time.

Q Which route would I take?

A The one I took yesterday.

Q Would I do anything daring along the way? You know me!

A Yes, I decided to extend my walk and take in an extra 100 metres.

Q Would I get home in one piece?

A Yes - the feel of returning independence was fantastic!

Today has been a really good day.

A weekend of outings

2009-11-15T16:54:00.006Z

It is great to feel I am returning to normal life, (whatever that may be). I took my first car journey as a passenger yesterday morning when we went up to Headington to Waitrose. Although I sat in the car while WPH went to purchase Greek yoghurt, the outing provided me with a welcome change of scene as well as an opportunity to people watch. I even spotted two former parents from school in the car park!

It was also good to use my coveted blue badge for the first time. I applied to the County Council for the badge in October having filled in a lengthy form, downloaded from the internet. One of the questions which I had to answer was to estimate the time it took me to walk 100 metres. My GP was contacted to verify my statements and then I waited to hear if my application had been successful. It seemed appropriate that the badge came through the post on the day following my operation...I know that I will appreciate the benefits of the blue badge to enable me to access otherwise inaccessible places during my recuperation.

In the afternoon we went to see and cuddle baby Ben. He is thriving and seems to be settling into a good routine of waking and sleeping. He is a month old today and life would seem strange without him now.

I have managed two walks today; the first this morning around the block and the second meandering slowly through the streets of Woodstock after enjoying a cup of Earl Grey and a toasted teacake in the Blenheim Tea Rooms. Life is definitely returning to normal at last!

Helpful Housekeeper

2009-11-14T14:51:00.005Z

On Thursday evening we said goodbye to our younger daughter, Alice, who had kindly spent four days helping her 'old folks' following my return home from hospital. She arrived with a box full of organic vegetables, (full of healing properties), from Abel and Cole and soon took over the kitchen. I could hear plenty of laughter from upstairs as she and WPH put the world to rights and the meals on the kitchen table. Her lamb tagine with pomegranate couscous was a triumph, as was the chicken soup with chunky vegetables and pork with mustard and cider sauce. Cooked breakfasts suggested WPH and I were staying in a 5 star hotel.Life has quietened down since Alice's departure....we certainly realise how much we appreciated our energetic temporary housekeeper! However WPH has returned to full time kitchen duties with renewed enthusiasm...as they say 'a change is as good as a rest'.

The Daily Walk

2009-11-12T11:40:00.005Z

'Begin by pottering around the house and by taking a short walk each day, trying to avoid uneven ground.' This is a key piece of advice in the leaflet I was given on leaving the NOC. Like most people I had taken walking for granted, but a hip replacement suddenly focuses the mind on this basic human skill. Initially co-ordinating sticks and feet was tricky but after a week the left stick, right foot, right stick, left foot sequence now comes naturally.

I look forward with excitement to my daily walk. I fill my lungs with air and conclude that the quality of the Oxford air is better than I ever thought possible! Reluctant, unused muscles are slowly returning to life, particularly the gluteous maximus...(buttocks to you and me).

The walks began last Saturday when I ventured as far as the pavement. Each day I set myself a new target as I have a goal of walking a mile by six weeks post operation. This morning I have walked 300 metres in the welcome sunshine. Fantastic. Now for some inside pottering....

Bionic Lady Hip is back!

2009-11-08T19:32:00.024Z

Since I returned home on Friday morning the time has simply flown by....but one thing is for sure - it was wonderful to be home on Day 4!

I have nothing but praise for the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (NOC) and feel so fortunate to have benefited from the expertise and skill of my surgeon and the dedicated nursing staff there. This was definitely the NHS at its best. The NOC has a fascinating history and the following link illustrates its gradual development.

http://www.noc.nhs.uk/aboutus/history.aspx

A recent investment of £42 million has seen the NOC transformed yet again into the modern hospital you can see in these pictures. Patients come from a wide surrounding area. In my four bay room on Ward E were Patricia from Abingdon (total left hip replacement), Ann from Islip (total right hip replacement) and Enid from Halton, near Wendover (total left knee replacement). A cameraderie soon emerged amongst us as we encouraged each other to take those all important first steps. However for Enid the recovery has been slow. She had her first operation five weeks ago followed last week by a second. I hope she continues to make good progress and returns home to her much loved Stan very soon.

The moment when I returned to my feet was indescribably good; the feeling of returning independence and progress is very sweet! More followed and even though I am seen here in a wheelchair my face reflects my delight as I am about to be wheeled by 'dishy John' the physio, to do my test on the practice staircase. This was to be my second try as I had fainted at my first attempt (which the family maintain was more a case of swooning over John than my low blood pressure!)

And that as they say is all history now. The brain seems to have slowed down somewhat but the hip is working brilliantly and the posts should speed up now that I have plenty to blog about!

Final Preparations

2009-11-01T14:48:00.018Z

I thought I needed to write a final post before I say farewell for a few days....

The anti MRSA medication precautions have been used and I am ready for hospital life from 7.30am tomorrow morning.

My suitcase is packed and holds essentials as well as Treats!

'Treats?' I hear you ask.

My secret is out....I wonder if they are allowed?

Something to while away the time (when I am not doing physio of course!

And some very special home made cards from Livvy and Alex....

The phone calls and emailed messages of support from family and friends have been a fantastic help. Thank you!

As for WPH, (seen here having some much needed R and R, before he cooks pasta and meatballs tonight), what would I have done without him?

I'll be back soon!

Fresh Optimism

2009-10-20T21:19:00.003+01:00

I feel the time has come to concentrate on the matter in hand and so blogs will probably cease now until I return home with my new, improved, high tech, artificial hip joint. For those born this week the future looks good for worn out body parts. You may like to look at the following link for a glimpse of how science and technology will improve the quality of life for ageing people across the world. More power to their replacement elbows!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/6376017/Grow-your-own-body-parts-could-herald-in-the-age-of-the-active-centenarian.html

A new spirit of determination has possessed me this evening...no boudoir for me. I'll be climbing the stairs to bed on my return and improving my mobility at the same time. Nice blinds though in the dining room. Huge thanks to WPH. He and I will enjoy entertaining in our 'boudoir ' salle a manger!

Bye for now......

A new little cherub

2009-10-18T17:35:00.002+01:00

Well worth waiting for ....this little cherub looks very content and happy to have joined the family. We wish him a long, healthy and happy life.

Hideaway

2009-10-14T17:32:00.006+01:00

When hurt, animals instinctively hide away to lick their wounds. I understand perfectly as HR day draws nearer. Maybe today's fixing of new blinds in my temporary 'bedroom to be' suddenly gives the room a sense of being apart from the real world; somewhere for me to retreat to as I find my feet again on my return home from hospital. At the moment the room is home to three wine racks - is this really appropriate for a convalescent?- an oak dining table and eight oak chairs. Temporary storage space has been found but final conversion to bedroom status is still two weeks away. At the moment the room lacks warmth and not just because the radiator is turned off. It needs family photos, books, subtle lighting and much more. WPH will come up trumps I know.... in his head he tells me he has a vision of a cosy boudoir!

A Useful Diversion

2009-10-09T17:33:00.003+01:00

I have knitted since the age of six and will always be grateful to my mother who taught me the basic skills so effectively. She kept a stash of unused wool in a massive chest of drawers and would occasionally pull out the heavy bottom drawer to let me choose from its hidden scented depths. In the 1950s knitting was also included in the 'craft' repertoire at my primary school. Plenty of practice on Friday afternoons, using big needles and thick wool, resulted in tea cosies (shapeless but effective!) and endless dolls' blankets. Reading simple patterns followed, shaping became more adventurous and the production line has continued ever since.

At the moment knitting provides a welcome way to fill my sedentary way of life as I sit and wait for Hip Replacement Day (now referred to as HR Day). We are also waiting for our fifth grandchild to make an appearance so unusually I have several completed projects keeping me company. I hope the little cherub won't keep us waiting much longer....

This afternoon I completed a sleeveless sweater for grandson number 2. He asked for the scottie dog pocket and I can only guess as to what he will keep in it! I have decided though that the next project will be for me....a pair of socks to keep my feet warm after HR Day. That reminds me that post HR Day, as one of his duties as my official 'carer', WPH will need to assist me in dressing. The prospect of him wrestling with compression stockings doesn't bear thinking about! Socks should therefore be a doddle. I'll keep you all informed....

Masterchef in training

2009-10-04T11:42:00.007+01:00

As the date of my hip replacement operation draws nearer WPH and I have been considering the practicalities of my recuperation. WPH has kindly offered to take on the catering during the initial few weeks. Normally he acts as chief bottle washer with some occasional vegetable preparation and I know that he would agree that his cooking skills have been somewhat neglected in recent years.

Where to start then? Firstly we are making a provisional list of 'possible' menus so that some essential practice can take place! The list so far seems to be dominated by pasta, bacon, cheese and meatballs. A limited repertoire but already new dishes are being added; this week WPH has mastered mackerel pate, and a delicious lamb hot pot. Quoting Gregg Wallace and Michel Roux from the current BBC Masterchef series I can say the lamb dish was 'bursting with flavour' and 'up to the standard required'. I finished everything on my plate!

Well done to WPH. It is not easy having Lady Hip perching next to you on her new kitchen stool, watching your every move whilst you are trying to refine those latent cooking skills!

PS. Daughter number 2 is very kindly coming to relieve WPH from kitchen duties for a few days when I return from hospital so the plans are coming together.

A diversionary pastime

2009-09-27T17:16:00.008+01:00

The wonderful late summer sunshine has seen me busy in the garden during the past week. Having a small paved patio garden is wonderful when quick results are needed; completed tasks give wonderful satisfaction and the prospect of next year's colours and leafy combinations excite the creative spirit in me. As usual WPH's help has been invaluable with the lifting of pots as well as the carrying of compost and bark. Weeding, pruning, raking, planting and watering are now complete and we can look forward to some new surprises next year.

I feel sure there will be more visits to the garden centre during the Autumn!

In Limbo

2009-09-23T15:57:00.007+01:00

Those who may have been following the exploits of The Troublesome Hip may be forgiven for assuming that I had recently lost the will to blog. Since my last post I have been through a strange limbo like state, as the longed for appointment with the orthopaedic consultant gradually drew nearer. My mind has been preoccupied with too many thoughts and speculations such as

Are my painkillers really addictive?

Is one of my legs now shorter than the other?

How far will I be able to walk in six months time?

Will I like the consultant?

Everyone I meet seems to have had either a hip replacement, know the consultant, be a physiotherapist (scary!) or have sorry tales of woe to tell about others' experiences. I even spoke on the phone with someone whose wife had two hip replacements done at the same time and didn't recover for eighteen months. I think this is what is known as 'information overload'!

Finally yesterday arrived; I kept my appointment and finally emerged from my state of limbo. I have new bedside reading material and my thoughts are now on limbo dancing!

The Perfect Partners

2009-08-30T12:53:00.004+01:00

This is the amazing pillow speaker

The three essentials for whiling away time in the small hours

And who would know what lies beneath the pillow?

An Unexpected Bonus

2009-08-30T12:03:00.001+01:00

Waking in the middle of the night or in the early hours is par for the course with a troublesome hip, so it is very important to develop strategies for passing the waking time. There is of course a limit to the number of cups of tea which can be made and consumed quietly and also the frequency of the requisite trips to the bathroom which follow....

I used to turn on my Roberts radio at low volume to while away the time but this wasn't always ideal. Hearing it was rather hit and miss depending on the programme and which ear I had near the radio. BUT now I have found a wonderful solution thanks to daughter number 1. She recommended I bought a pillow speaker and having tried hers for a night I was soon online to Amazon! This amazing device can be used with a radio or MP3 player and it means you can really hear a discussion, news bulletins, music, podcasts or whatever takes your fancy without disturbing the person who is sleeping peacefully next to you.

What a bonus! I now know so much about the Great Bustard which has been reintroduced to Britain after a gap of 177 years....

Alternative Therapy

2009-08-16T13:39:00.003+01:00

Having plenty to do and think about is excellent for diverting the mind away from the troublesome hip. During the last month all our three adult offspring, their other halves and all our four grandchildren have spent time with us in our French house, so there has been endless activity and laughter as well as loads of cooking, washing, ironing and cleaning! It is particularly wonderful though to see how agile and energetic the grandchildren are; running rather than walking, jumping and leaping in preference to stepping, whilst chasing seems far more exciting than walking side by side. Meanwhile the accompanying adults step steadily behind, including the one with the stick.....

'Watch me, Granny. I can do this!' can be heard at regular intervals.

'Fantastic' I reply. ' Do it again!'

No problem with climbing into the hammock for them. Hmm....there must be a way.

And so that is why I have developed a new technique for my hammock manoeuvres:-

bottom in first, at right angles to the hammock

swing the flexible left leg in next

lastly assist the troublesome right leg in

lean back and enjoy!

'Fantastic,' they shout 'Let's swing you!'

I have to admit it is very gratifying to see their admiring looks and to feel like a child again.

What's in a name?

2009-08-09T17:15:00.002+01:00

When I was a child I was given Rose Hip syrup for its vitamin C content. When I became a mother I gave it to my children too. It went down well.
A few months ago I began to see and read articles about a new potential benefit of Rose Hips. Scientists have discovered what the indigenous people of the Americas discovered centuries ago, that the extract from a wild variety of Rose Hip called Rosa canina, offers effective pain relief. More effective apparently than paracetemol in the treatment of osteoarthritis.
Worth a try I thought, as I hurried round to my local branch of Holland and Barrett. As I took the plastic container to the checkout I glanced again at the label. I read 'ROSE HIP' in pink script. But why 'HIP'? Those indigenous Americans must have known a thing or two!

Joint Awareness

2009-08-05T10:28:00.004+01:00

Our joints are hidden hinges and include ball and socket joints. When they work efficiently it's easy not to think about them. We can check up visually on other working bits of our body but our bones fortunately remain concealed. A worn out bone can only communicate through pain and loss of flexibility and I suppose that is how it gradually dawned on me that I was developing an arthritic hip.

It all began six years ago....but how was it possible when I was only 54? Surely I was far too young to have arthritis. Not so, according to my doctor and the inevitable Xray. I immediately began to try to pinpoint a cause. Could it have been the

ballet lessons I had as a child?
much loved horse riding?
jumping from high walls, when dared by my older brother?
carrying of three babies perched on my right hip?
bending and squatting when teaching small children?
digging my veggie plots?
walking?

But the list was pointless. It was no good thinking 'if only I hadn't done'........

This was something I needed to accept. I could exercise and maintain my general fitness but ultimately I would need help to resolve this frustrating problem.

Peach Kir

2009-07-31T14:51:00.004+01:00

Relaxing over an evening drink with the remains of a peach kir in one hand, the conversation turned once again to the troublesome hip. Suddenly I announced to my wonderful, patient husband (now known as WPH), daughter number 1 and our son in law,

'I know, why don't I write a blog about it?'

'Good idea, it can be the journey of your hip' our son in law responded quickly

'Why not? I can help you set it up and get you started' said daughter, who is an impressive and experienced blogger with over a year's experience.

WPH looked slightly bemused and nodded in agreement.

So here I am writing my first blog and all because dear daughter's hand slipped when making my peach Kir! The overdose on alcohol is totally responsible for me ending up hoping a positive can emerge from the negative aspects of the troublesome hip.

As for the hip....more of that later.