Can you believe it’s been 12 weeks since my Hip Replacement? Those that read the blog will know it’s been difficult, the leg length difference to me is a HUGE hindrance.

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With being away it’s easy to forget you are making progress.

When I saw my Micats therapist who does my steroid injections in the hand, she saw my Leg length difference and was shocked I’ve been left for a year. And proceeded to give me 2 small (only 1.5cm) shoe lifts, one soft and one hard. To try a relieve the lower back pain I’m getting, as it’s horrendous.

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The green is the soft one.

I tried this one for 1 day in Glastonbury and though that day I felt ok, the pain in my other hip was greatly increased so I opted to remove for the following 2 days on Glastonbury. As Micats did say to start slowly to get used to them. So 2 days of total rest at home, then it was our York getaway. So back into the right shoe only went the green one, and this time it felt normal, like it wasn’t even there. I walked straighter, and more relaxed, which in turn relieved my back pain and rib pain.

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The blue one is stiffer and more supportive.

Yesterday on a gentle woodland stroll I tried the blue one for the first time, and it felt awful, really hurt my back. And I could feel it under each step. But thinking back to the first time I used the green one I felt like this, so it could get better over time. However I did feel more confident to use a walking stick instead of a crutch, so that’s a silver lining.

I have a quick getaway booked (so many little getaways all at once, timing is because so many Halloween events are on) in Northumberland with my Daughter and her family, next week so I will be testing this theory out, and taking both shoe lifts. I’m really hoping ultimately the blue will feel more normal and allow me to walk with more confidence as less of a up and down action, as that’s really annoying me.

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Aches are annoying but grateful that rest and hot water bottles can help so much.

Hospital Bag Packing

I have 2 bags I pack, sounds greedy but I promise it all makes sense.

Bag 1 is a rucksack, and a small cloth bag.

In these I have the dressing gown in the cloth bag as soon as I go into theatre. But the rucksack is to hold.

• Toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrush. Mirror, muslin cloth, cleanser, moisturiser, lip balm, deodorant, dry shampoo, micro towel and hair care such as a brush and nibbles, or headband.
• Nighties 1 or 2
• Knickers x 2
• Phone charger (extra long) Power bank, Headphones, and Phone.
• Flossys as my slippers

Obviously I put my arrival clothes into this bag when I put the hospital gown on, and my dressing gown. So I technically have day clothes available too, they will be just a tshit and leggings, with bra and pants.

Hospital Bag 2

This is a packed bag kept in the car in case I have a more prolonged stay, so inside this I would have,

• Snacks ( boiled sweets, crisps, bars)
• Squash
• Tablet and Charger
• Leggings x 2
• Knickers x 4
• Bras x 2
• T shirts x 2
• Nighties or Pjs
• Socks x 2

Thankfully I didn’t need this bag last time as I only stayed in 1 night, I aim for the same this time. But better to have it all at hand, so it’s easier for my husband should it not be possible to go home quickly.

Now it’s just to arrange the test kit to come, ring courier, take test and get the courier to collect. This part is giving me the most anxiety at the moment.

Back Snapped like an elastic band

What can I say except OH MY GOD that hurts!!

I think I threw my back out as they say, ie I bent down to do some washer loading, and I heard, and felt some thing twang snap, and suddenly I couldn’t stand up straight anymore.

What Does it Mean to Throw Out Your Back?

Throwing out your back is a old fashioned term used to describe what happens when the muscles in your back have been strained. This can happen due to lifting a heavy object incorrectly, overworking, stretching too far or awkwardly, ( probably how I did it, over extending due to Ehlers Danlos Syndrome ) and improper posture.

While the muscles in your back take the brunt of the pain, damage to blood vessels, tissues, or ligaments occur as well. Usually, the problem happens in the lower back. And oh my goodness you will feel it, and hear it go.

Symptoms of Throwing Out Your Back

When you throw out your back, it can be excruciatingly painful, but there are other symptoms to watch for as well.

• Stiffness
• Inability to move
• Tightening of the muscles
• Pain
• Muscle spasms

Typically the pain shouldn’t last for more than 10-14 days, but if it does, check with your doctor to make sure there’s no serious damage. I’m seriously hoping it doesn’t last this long as surgery is only 9days away. What rubbish timing!!

What to Do When Your Back Goes Out

Experiencing back pain can be debilitating, and you’ll want to be back on your feet soon. To do that, there are steps to take to make sure your back heals and you’re back to normal.

1. Get Rest

One of the best things you can do when you throw out your back is to rest so the muscles have time to recover. Use pillows to support your back to reduce the strain on your muscles.

Lying flat on your back is the ideal position, but do so on a hard surface.

2. Treat The Pain

It’s hard to rest when you’re in so much pain. Treating the pain so you can get adequate rest is important and can be accomplished in a few different ways.

Try applying ice packs locally for up to 20 minutes. Taking over-the-counter medicine like ibuprofen reduces inflammation and can make you more comfortable as you rest. Applying heat can also have the same effect.

3. Exercise

Exercise might seem like the last thing you want to do when you’ve thrown out your back, but easing back into exercising keeps the muscles working. If you don’t move at all, your muscles may become weak or stiff.

After a couple of days of rest, slowly begin going back into your normal activities, but only do what you’re comfortable with. Start by doing some gentle stretching for short periods. Refrain from doing any sort of heavy lifting, twisting, or other intense physical activity until you’re back to normal.

Even after you’ve started feeling better, it’s important to take it easy, and if you start to feel discomfort, rest!

4. See A Doctor

If your pain is persistent or is not responding to Over the counter (OTC) medications, visit your doctor to see if there is a large problem at play.

Here are some reasons you might consider seeing a doctor:

• Inability to stand
• Numbness
• Fever
• Abnormal bowel movements

Your doctor may prescribe different treatments to get you back on your feet or may order x-rays, CT scan, or MRI. They may also suggest steroids, stronger pain medications, more rest, or physical therapy.

5 Week Countdown to Surgery

Well it’s been 2 weeks since I’ve heard I’ve got a date, and in that time we’ve been helping out family move house.

I’ve needed the dentist (quite important before hip surgeries) But this is before the infamous tooth breaking in the next blog post!!) So I will need to go again!!

We’ve been Wild Camping (see next blog post) And of course real life has a habit of filling each day, even if mundane.

But now it’s getting closer I think I need to start to get myself prepared, get the right sleepwear, knickers and phone charger wires etc.

First up I bought these from Chelsea Peers

I have some Pjs by them, and they are 100% organic and the softest things ever. So to lounge about the house I now have these. Saving them for my birthday (27th July) and post surgery.

Next week is pre op time, and I think I have to arrange for bloods a week before my date too. It’s all go go go.

As I will need compression stockings on too, I have bought the cutest knee high socks ever!!

Little cute Bull skulls on, a nod to my bone collecting ways.

And why not, a bit of bone humour. I have full skeleton leggings too from years ago.

And a nod to my gothic alternative ways I have Bats and Ghosts too. So my 6 weeks of wearing compression stockings will look cuter at least.

Scared Myself

I’ve had to stop some physio, in fear that the replaced hip isn’t liking it.

Had an awful Friday 14th May, where my hands and elbows and shoulders were in a world of pain, and I was sat contemplating actually how many body parts I need!!

But the following morning I got my 1st Replaced hip incident. I hinged at the hips and bent to put rubbish in the bin, felt a shift (But no noise or pain) and then suddenly it felt like giving way.

Now I have visions that it’s loosening or has moved.

I can’t walk, it feels like lightening like sciatica so gives way. I’m nursing it for now with rest rest rest and hot water bottles, with a view to ringing the Hospital if it doesn’t improve.

Hippie Woes

Still having untold issues with the left hip, I’m forever trying to keep it in decent condition while finely balancing it with not doing too much.

As it’s so easy to aggravate it and I can barely move. Seem to do more damage just pottering around the house, probably because it involves more bending and twisting.

Some basics I like to do, to keep legs moving are.

Ankle Pumps

Sit or lie with legs supported,Pedal your ankles up and down. Keep the knee as straight as possible, do for 1min

Thigh Squeezes, push down

Lie on your back, with legs as straight as possible. Pull toes and foot up towards you, while pushing the thigh muscle down, feel the stretch at the front of hip. Hold for 5 seconds and repeat for 10 reps.

Heel raises in lying

Lying down with supported legs, place a rolled up towel under one knee. Pull the foot towards you and straighten the knee as much as possible. Hold for 3 seconds and repeat for 10 reps.

Heel slides (use a bag or magazine)

Legs fully supported while lying down, keep the heel in full contact with the bed. Slide the foot up towards the buttocks, bending the hip and knee. Hold for 3 seconds and go down slowly. Use Some thing to reduce friction and use of glide under foot.

Buttock (Butt) Squeeze

Lying or standing up, gently squeeze the bum cheeks together, Hold for 3 seconds and repeat for 10 reps.

Bridging

Lie on your back, knees bent and feet flat on the bed. Squeeze your buttock muscles together, and gently lift yourself upwards, off the bed and as high as you can. Hold for 3 seconds and slowly lower, repeat for 10 reps. (Still my most hated)

Luds Church Adventure

Now and again you stumble across a walk, or place that just feels super magickal, and part of the faery realm.

Luds Church is such a place, along with Danesbridge. You have woodland, streams, fields and hills, and dramatic rocks too. A little of everything.

We went last year too you can read it here

Barely a soul in sight, we had the run of the place, to really soak in the energies.

And take cheesy photos of ourselves.

We had all seasons nearly, super windy and tiny specks of rain, to warmth and sheltered in the rocks.

Patchwork of colours is a feast for the eyes, and we didn’t want it to end.

Can’t hold a pole for a while due to my hands, so it’s nice to look back at this walk before the steroid injections in the hands.

Thors Cave

Off on more rambling adventures, we’ve decided to try and do it once a week, that way I have a couple of days to plan ahead, ie route, food, clothes prep, the walk day itself which is a whole day out, then a few days of complete rest afterwards.

This time we faced my nemesis walk, the first and only time we’d done it I felt like I was dying!!

Here I am at Freyas cave first, I’m not attempting to climb in, as I need to preserve energy.

Met a bullish sheep, he really intimidated me. I ran off ( well waddled as fast as I could)

Lovely weather though, some moody skies but overall cool enough to not over heat. Only got cold when we sat for food.

more friendly faces, we even saw a few walkers, lots of smiles and chats.

Some things are clearly off limits to me, and rightly so too. But to see others out and about enjoying the countryside was lovely.

Some bonkers folk on the top, I’m glad I’m safe and sound down here.

Me taking photos of the stream, I do love a babbling brook to cleanse my soul. Too cold to dip toes in though.

Glad I did it, but boy it wasn’t easy, loads of mud and so tiring. But it’s no longer my nemesis and I can tick it off my list.

Replaced hip had a golf ball sensation after this, but thankfully eases off with complete rest and hot water bottles. The other hip is just so grinding and white hot pain, it’s hating me and life right now.

Rambling minds and rambling

I’m grateful I can get out and about, to focus on each step which indirectly clears the mind of all other worries I’m so focused on where to put my foot next, and to stand straight, that other worries get no look in.

Blue skies, but chilly air welcomes us, the rocks standing proudly ahead. It’s the perfect antidote. So Ramshaw Rocks and The Roaches it is.

Sarnies and Scotch egg treats in a field just is a pleasure that can’t be beaten. The farms around are glorious to watch, and listening out for bird calls.

Stunning views for miles around, no people really, just open space and fresh air. And some friendly farm animals.

To think it’s getting harder and harder to bend, and stand after sitting, I’m forever mindful it’s getting worse, I’m getting slower, and I’m taking more and more pain relief to purely exist each day. Days like this are hugely important, even if they do cost me many many days of recovery.

This llama legit terrified me, never walked away so fast!! Thought he might spit on me.

Physio, Physio, Physio

It’s dull, I dread it, and I do miss my physiotherapist so so much. To be able to ask, adjust and have support is so incredibly valuable.

Alas it’s not to be. Well not yet, so we must continue alone.

I’ve noticed I’m extremely stiff, getting stiffer all the time. Simple exercises just don’t feel as simple anymore, and getting in and out of positions are getting longer and longer in time.

But I’m ever hopeful that this will pay off eventually.

Number 4s seem to be the best stretch for me, as I suffer a lot from piriformis.

Hamstrings are so tight and I’ve tried doing lying down, but standing up gives me a better result.

This one I can barely do, my flexibility has gone, which feels weird as I’m Hypermobile type of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. So I twist as I can, and hold.

Physio will feature heavily now this year to help me feel productive, and proactive now I know I have a long wait for surgery.