I Become Bionic

by wjw on September 10, 2019

Behold my world for the next few days.

Monday morning at 5:30am I reported to the hospital for total replacement of my right hip. Anesthesia came via a spinal, but I slept through the procedure anyway. The surgery was brief and trouble free, and I was alert and chatting in the recovery room, and on into my hospital room. The first physical therapy session was a few hours later, and I nailed it.

I was in considerably less pain after the surgery than before it, although loads of painkillers might have had a little to do with that.

Today, Tuesday, I had a couple more PT sessions and an occupational therapy session, after which I was sent home. (For hips, they want you on your feet as soon as possible.)

I am surprised at how mentally alert I am despite the opioids. I might even do some writing later.

They gave me a walker and told me to use it for the next couple weeks, but I really don’t need it. I walk funny but I’m in no danger of falling over. But still, they told me to use it so I will.

Otherwise, I’ll be alternating TV with various sorts of physical therapy.

So far, so lucky.

Privateiron September 11, 2019 at 1:55 am: Let me wish you a speedy and relatively painless recovery. All the best.
pecooper September 11, 2019 at 10:23 am: I know it is tempting to not use the walker at first, but keep it with you. When I had to use one, I would be fine for a while and then I would suddenly get tired. At that point I really appreciated the thing and I would have been in real trouble without it.
John F. MacMichael September 11, 2019 at 2:31 pm: Wishing you a full and fast recovery!
Minx September 11, 2019 at 3:58 pm: Here’s to your continued good health *raises glass*
Jim Janney September 11, 2019 at 8:52 pm: For what it’s worth, I’ve had both hips replaced (not at the same time) and my only regret is not having it done sooner. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
John Appel September 11, 2019 at 9:10 pm: Echoing the wishes for a speedy and complication-free recovery!
Robert Sulentic September 12, 2019 at 6:21 am: Glad to hear it went well. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Foxessa September 12, 2019 at 7:22 pm: Such good news, Walter. Hooray!
Robert M Roman September 13, 2019 at 2:23 pm: It looks as though age makes hippies of us all…
Etaoin Shrdlu September 13, 2019 at 2:58 pm: As long as you’re confined to the couch, how about churning out a few dozen novels?!

Oh wait, that would be cocaine. Nvm.

Heal well!
Shash September 13, 2019 at 5:46 pm: Heal fast, heal well, and what pecooper said about the walker, no matter if you find it to get in the way most of the time.

Best of health to you.
wjw September 13, 2019 at 11:17 pm: Thanks for all the good wishes, folks. Mostly I’m using my recovery as an excuse to catch up open the last several decades of lost sleep.