OK I did it again. Something related to "fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. A bit less sympathy than the first time.

April 29, 2011, day zero.
I was out walking the dog. The dog across the street started barking at him. He roared across in front of me, and gave jerk on the leash. Down I went. I lay there for a few tens of seconds contemplating whether I could get up again. The answer was clearly "no". Since I was lying in the middle of the street, it didn't take long to attract some attention. A guy in a uniform labeled "security", what sort I have no idea, showed up. Anyway, he had the communications to call for an ambulance. About simultaneously with the ambulance, a City cop showed up. I persuaded him to dump the plastic bag of dog poop, and to take the dog home, a couple blocks away. The ambulators put me on a stretcher (that hurt!), and took me off to the ER.

So, off to X-ray, back to the cubicle. Thinking, "Yeah, I know the drill, get on with it." I was assigned to another surgeon in the same group as the guy who did the right hip. Seem odd to me that the right hip belongs to doctor A, and the left hip belongs to doctor B, but that seems to be the way it's done.

In retrospect, I was an accident waiting to happen. Several times in the last few weeks I have seriously lost my balance and stumbled. I was either able to recover, or to fall fairly gracefully and harmlessly.

April 30, 2011, day 1.
So, again, arrived in Albuquerque about 1 AM. Settled in to wait for morning, which duly arrived. First stirring was a tech who installed a catheter. Don't quite know why they do that, but they do. Surgeon arrived about eight to say "hi". Told me surgery was scheduled for 10.

Sometime around 11 I was wheeled down to the OR prep area. There I encountered a procession of medical personnel, all of whom asked me the same set of questions. Then came the surgeon, who signed the hip he was planning to operate on, and exacted my agreement that that was indeed the one that hurt.

Then the anesthesiologist showed up. A rather bouncy and energetic type, for somebody specializing in making one inert and unresponsive. I agreed that I did want general anesthesia, as I had had last time.

And that's all I remember until considerably later in the afternoon.

The installation of the pin did have an instantaneous effect. The overwhelming pain of any motion involving the hip just went away, to be replaced by a much less intensive but more extensive collection of particular pains.

May 1, 2011, day 2.
Again a familiar routine. PT arrived, stood me up, I got all woozy. Just to be different, they flung me into a chair. After an hour in the chair, I had enough of that and asked to be flung back in bed.

They pulled the catheter, and expressed serious approval when I was able to pee without problems.

May 2, 2011, day 3.
They came in recommending a transfusion. I resisted to the point of making them talk me into it, which they did, arguing that the red cell formation areas in the large bones might well be shut down in protest at their ill treatment.

There followed the only really good experience I can recall with an opiate. I was hurting pretty bad and asked for pain medication. The gave me two percocet. Before the horrible muzzy-minded feeling could become established, I fell into a deep sleep, and awoke two and a half hours later, feeling refreshed, clear-headed, and pain free.

May 3, 2011, day 4.
Off to rehab hospital. Interesting variant on last time. Then, they dressed me in street clothes, and called an ambulance to transport me. This time they left me in a hospital gown, but transported me in a handicap van with a wheelchair lift.

So spent the day getting settled in rehab.

May 4, 2011, day 5.
Rehab had changed a bit. Then, there were four hours of therapy time a day, now three is standard. In my case, the upper body circuit of exercises has been eliminated. It always struck me as a bit superfluous anyway.

So they evaluated me. I did reasonably well on transfers from bed to wheelchair, a little less well going the other way. My walking range was just a few feet. Asked for a goal, I said walking range to 50 feet within a week. Maybe a bit of bravado.

May 5, 2011, day 6.
I really do not walk very well. A few steps is all I can manage. most of my weight is on my arms, and they get tired. The only way I can get my left foot to swing forward is the process the therapists call 'vaulting'. I rise on my right tiptoes and lean forward, and the left foot follows by gravity.

Rooms here are doubles. My roomie is maybe a decade older than I. He has a lovely Caribbean accent, Trinidad and Tobago. He is getting to walk again after back surgery. A nice roommate - he is almost invariably cheerful.

May 6, 2011, day 7.
I (re)discovered that it pays to keep my crotch well baby-powdered. If it isn't, it gets moist, and then bad things happen. Many times, the pain in the hip was exceeded by that from a badly chapped scrotum.

May 7, 2011, day 6.
Not much goes on here on weekends. They signed me up for a little therapy, probably because I'm such a mess. Managed to walk about fifteen feet. Not far, but I can sure see a change from day to day.

May 8, 2011, day 9.
Back to full time therapy. Think I might have gotten up to twenty feet. Main limitation to distance is first, that it really hurts to swing that left foot forward. Also, I'm supporting most of my weight on my arms as I step with either foot, and they get tired.

May 9, 2011, day 10.
Things are starting to come together a little bit. It still hurts to move the left foot forward, but not as much. Transfers have gotten very smooth. With a wheelchair and a grabber, I'm master of my fate; I can do anything.

May 11, 2011, day 12.
Up to 40, maybe 50 feet walking before I start to get tired.

The organization of the hospital has gotten a bit worse than it was last time. Frequently, one finds out what therapy is scheduled when the therapist shows up, grabs your wheelchair and drives off. While you are gone, the sheet of paper listing the therapy sessions of the day is delivered.

May 13, 2011, day 14.
Managed to get enrolled in Gait Group (also called Leg Group) before the weekend, so I at least had that therapy. Walking range is getting up to something useful, even. For general competence they had me demonstrate that I could make a cup of coffee (instant, microwaved water) from the walker. Coffee is welcomed for any excuse.

May 15, 2011, day 16.
Just Gait Group over the weekend. And another administrative imperfection. Somehow I was omitted from the group roster on Sunday, and was treated as an undocumented alien until the lead PT found time to glance over my chart. I'm up to walking about 100 feet. Starting to feel that maybe I can take care of myself.

May 17, 2011, day 18.
Home. Son Bill here to oversee my settling in. He is not quite what they had in mind, I think, when I reassured them I'd have somebody here. They had in mind a helicopter which would hover over me protectively. What they got is exemplified by the exchange: "I'm going to take a shower." -- "And I'm going to stay out of your way."

I seem to be able to do most self-maintenance things by myself. Most importantly, to get out of the LazyBoy recliner, but also to get myself in and out of bed, in and out of the shower, pour myself a bowl of cereal, and even transport it from counter to table.

May 19, 2011, day 20.
Bill has been good about taking care of the dog. I shall have to organize volunteers to walk him after Bill leaves.

Went out to eat, ate way too much. Justified by the fact that I seem to have lost six or eight pounds in the hospital. But then I was uncomfortably full until bedtime.

May 22, 2011, day 23.
Well, Bill has gone home. I seem to be surviving without him. We went grocery shopping before he left. I think I'm OK for about a week in that department. Took a shower last night, without any assistance from him, so I guess I'm OK there. Made Irish oatmeal for breakfast, which used to be a standard, so working back to my old habits. A few days before I run out of clean clothes, then we see if I can run the laundry. (Although I think Bill hid one of my pairs of pants - can't find them, though I'm sure he washed them.)

Nurse with home healthcare came by and officially enrolled me. PT will come by next week to evaluate me.

May 25, 2011, day 26.
PT came by and gave me a set of exercises. They leave me very tired indeed. I surprised myself by being able to raise the left leg straight from the hip. I had tried it the day before, and no go. First time or two I have to help it with my hand, but then can do OK.

Starting to worry about getting out and going shopping again. Ate the last of the good frozen dinners, and I'm running short of flavored fizzy water.

May 28, 2011, day 29.
Just to try how my stamina is doing, I walked around the block, or rather half block via the alley, with the walker. Took me more than half an hour, and left me hot and tired. I have no plan to try that again anytime soon.

I tried walking a few steps with just a cane. To get it all stable and safe is pretty tiring - not yet good for widespread use.

I think I will order in a pizza tonight, to stave off a couple more days the ordeal of going grocery shopping. But the list of things I don't have is growing longer and longer.

May 31, 2011, day 32.
OK, lots of milestones. Sunday, I demonstrated I could drive the car. I intended to go to the local ice cream store for some soft ice cream, but they were closed for the holiday. I decided I wasn't up to the drive out onto the main drag to go to McDonald's, so just came home again. Yes, running the clutch is a little non-trivial. If I have relaxed the left leg, I have to use my hand to get it back into position again. Fortunately not a safety issue - worse comes to worst, all that happens is that I stall the engine.

Monday, I went grocery shopping, using the electric shopping cart in the store. Even carried the groceries in to the kitchen, at one bag per trip.

Tuesday I went in to NRAO for an hour or so. Enjoyed the greetings of the people there for a while.

June 3, 2011, week 5.
Walking with the walker on the smooth wood or Pergo floors in the house has gotten easy and smooth. Walking with the cane is much less smooth, and rather tiring, but possible. The PT approves of caning. He admits I'm master of the walker, and that I should have new fields to conquer.

I went to see my orthopedic surgeon. He says everything is where he left it, which is good. He says there is a lot of healing to do yet, and pointed to a couple of black spots on the X-ray, which should be filled in with bone before we can call things reasonably healed.

June 10, 2011, week 6.
I'm getting impatient with the walker, but still don't trust myself enough to go outside the house much with just a cane. When the PT was here Wednesday, I caned my way the length of the lot and back, maybe most of a hundred yards, but I was pretty tired at the end of that. This morning I walked out and got the newspaper, a somewhat shorter trip, but with bending over. That went OK.

Went grocery shopping Tuesday, using the electric scooter. The scooter started to beep at me about a low battery when I still had a couple of aisles to go. So I had to go back to the store today for english muffins, summer sausage, and ice cream sandwiches. That last sounds like a bit of indulgence, and I suppose it is. But I've lost ten or twelve pounds over this adventure, and feel like I can afford it.

June 17, 2011, week 7.
Getting about by cane, now. When I first stand up, there are three or four very ugly steps, as the left leg has to be persuaded to accept its fair share of the load. Then I can walk fairly smoothly. I haven't used the walker for three days now. This weekend it goes back in the utility room.

This morning I used the sock putter on device only for the left foot.

Went grocery shopping Wednesday, leaning on the back of the cart. I'm getting about pretty unrestrictedly, but it a lot slower and more tiring than it should be.

June 24, 2011, week 8.
Walking the dog myself now. Around a half-block (that is total distance three blocks) morning and afternoon. Dog thinks that is disappointingly short, but is willing to put up with it. He is extremely insistent, though, that I don't skip one of those sessions.

I'm spending a few hours a day at NRAO, often 9AM to 2PM. Keeps me interested and occupied. Did walk up the stairs once. Tiring and a little painful, but doable. Going down the stairs is pretty much out of the question, though.

Went to the dentist. She is getting out of the business. A bad back is keeping her from spending eight hours a day standing up. I hate to see a routine of 17 years suddenly changing. Gravely fear my doctor is getting out of the doctor business shortly too; he's been my primary physician for 23 years.

July 1, 2011, week 9.
Went swimming. Jeez. My arms are a mess, and even my breathing isn't working quite right. Set 500 yards as a goal for the day. Half of my standard workout should have been easy. Spent most of the time wishing I had set 400 yards.

Walking the dog is starting to feel a little more natural, less of an ordeal. I've been walking the three block route in the morning, four in the evening. I'm very paranoid that he might jerk on the leash. If he takes off, I yell at him, and he usually applies the brakes, but once I just threw down the leash and let him go. He is good about letting me pick it up again after things settle down.

July 15, 2011, week 11.
Recovery is starting to move rather slowly. It seems just as tiring to walk a few blocks now as it did two weeks ago. Did manage to walk the dog for ten blocks, but the whole last half was spent worrying that I was getting so tired that I would do something clumsy and stupid.

Swimming is working a little better. Still only going 500 yards, but not having to take long breaks between lengths any more.

Went to see the surgeon. He says it seems to be healing right along, but I should come back in three months and see if the limp is under control. He says that in my fall the lessor trochanter was broken off, but has now started to reattach. Since this is the anchor point of some of the gluteal muscles, no wonder I'm not walking so good.

July 29, 2011, Month 3.
Still moving rather slowly. A bit over a week ago a new pain appeared, apparently in my upper thigh. So was it a muscle that suddenly discovered it was needed to hold me up, which would hurt until it got strong enough to do its duty (good)? Or was it a little muscle pull which would heal in good time (OK, I guess)? Or was it a referred pain from the bones (bad)? Anyway, it peaked in a couple of days, and made walking quite painful, then slowly subsided. So yes, I can once again walk a few blocks without it being too painful.

I still can't support my full weight on the left leg. There is a good deal of weight on the cane as I walk. And it still hurts a bit to walk. It varies a good deal day to day, and within a day. Evenings are better than mornings, and noons are best of all. But noon is much too hot to do anything but sit in the AC.

I have contracted to attend a granddaughter's wedding. We'll have to see whether I can get around an airport. Or rather how much help I'll have to ask for.

August 29, 2011, Month 4.
Walking is getting a bit less tiring. I went out to the Socorro Nature area and walked around their one mile nature trail. It was OK, though not the pleasure it has been in the past. Also, I'm very slow - just barely breaking one MPH. But mainly, it's been just too hot to get out much; I walk the dog in the evening, but only a few blocks, and I'm pretty sweaty when I get back.

I went to my granddaughter's wedding in Salt Lake City. And no, my pinned hips did not set off the metal detectors in the airport. The hotel I stayed in didn't have handicap rooms, but I did OK in their regular room. I have been in motels with such a low toilet that I doubt if I could get up from it, but this one was OK.

I even managed to betake myself to the Santa Fe Opera when I got home.

I'm back to swimming again, but only for 600 yards, and even that is leaving me feeling pretty tired.

September 29, 2011, Month 5.
Weather is getting cooler, so it is a bit more pleasant to go for a walk. I'm regularly walking the dog for about a mile every day. Couple of days ago, Baxter startled a jack rabbit, just here in town. From the rate the retractable leash was spinning out, I figured I had the choice of letting go or of a major chance of being pulled over. I let go. Chase lasted about a block, with the leash handle bounding along behind. Wasn't good for the leash. Bought a new one today.

Still major problems getting my socks on, especially without the sock putter-on device. Sometimes after swimming, I leave the locker room wearing only one sock, and only put the other one on after resting up for a while.

Mostly I totter around the house without a cane, but always take a cane or stick when I go out.




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