"Ain't nothing like the real thing, baby...." That was a song from the 60s - and if you are considering a hip replacement, you should be old enough to know that. Most of you, anyway. One thing I have learned, though, is that arthritis and other joint-attacking diseases don't discriminate by age. People in their 20s need joint replacements. Those affected by rheumatoid arthritis often need multiple joint replacements. People suffering traumatic injuries - car crashes, hard falls, stuff like that - can damage a joint beyond salvaging, too. Those things can happen at any age. That's something important I've learned through all of this.
Anyway, the title of this entry refers to the fact that I got a shower today - less than 24 hours after being discharged from the hospital and just over 53 hours after the hip replacement procedure - and it was wonderful. Many precautions were required, including getting secure footing in the shower, placing waterproof bandages over the incision area, lots of range-of-motion exercises, and in general approaching the entire process as a series of carefully-orchestrated steps. I wouldn't recommend approaching something like a shower this soon lightly. Seriously, think hard about it, have a step-by-step plan to avoid disaster, and don't try it alone. The best advice is the old tried and true sponge-bath, but sometimes you just gotta push yourself. This was like taking a dip in the beautiful blue-green Caribbean on a steamy hot afternoon. Well, maybe not - but you get it: I'm happy I was able to do it. Whether it's a shower, being discharged from the hospital, or just being able to sit up in bed, milestones are important in recovery. Don't worry about trying to immitate my timeline - just do what you can do, when you can do it, and recognize the significance of every accomplishment, no matter how small it appear to others.
Anyway, the title of this entry refers to the fact that I got a shower today - less than 24 hours after being discharged from the hospital and just over 53 hours after the hip replacement procedure - and it was wonderful. Many precautions were required, including getting secure footing in the shower, placing waterproof bandages over the incision area, lots of range-of-motion exercises, and in general approaching the entire process as a series of carefully-orchestrated steps. I wouldn't recommend approaching something like a shower this soon lightly. Seriously, think hard about it, have a step-by-step plan to avoid disaster, and don't try it alone. The best advice is the old tried and true sponge-bath, but sometimes you just gotta push yourself. This was like taking a dip in the beautiful blue-green Caribbean on a steamy hot afternoon. Well, maybe not - but you get it: I'm happy I was able to do it. Whether it's a shower, being discharged from the hospital, or just being able to sit up in bed, milestones are important in recovery. Don't worry about trying to immitate my timeline - just do what you can do, when you can do it, and recognize the significance of every accomplishment, no matter how small it appear to others.
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