Posted by Clawdan on Saturday, March 9, 2019
Hipster report!
Hi folks. For those of you who have missed the last few weeks I had a bike accident 2 weeks ago resulting in a fractured femur ball and hip. The break was clean but painful. The Dr. in the ER was quite confident in recommending a full replacement since I am in such good shape and I want to ride and hike again. That meant waiting a bit since it was the weekend. So, after two days the surgeon did a total hip replacement Monday afternoon. I was so well treated at Tucson Medical Center, the operation was so well done (just over an hour in surgery) and my recovery so steady that I went home Thursday afternoon – just 3 days post surgery – and was walking with a walker and on minimum pain meds.
Don’t get me wrong, I did hurt and it has been a frustrating and painful experience. But with the help of my sweetheart Emmy T. I am healing and making exponential progress daily. Emmy has first hand (first hip?) experience and knows what to look for and knows when I am getting off the program. And she’s not afraid to let me know! I know that without her this would be WAY worse and difficult to navigate. She has stayed by me from the beginning, even staying in the hospital with me as I went through this.
SO, here I am, 2 weeks after the accident and just 12 days post surgery. I am mostly able to take care of myself (though it is quite comforting having Emmy right here with me), have started my students back up here at the house and am “walking” with a cane. That may be a bit of a stretch since PT is teaching me to walk again while working with me to keep the strong muscles strong and re-strengthen the ones that were cut and moved as the bone grows back into the implant and the muscles and such reattach to everything. Going out of the house over last week has just meant Physical Therapy and a few errands (shopping and such to get me out and keep me moving), but today we finally got to go out for some time in nature. We took a couple of short “hikes” at Saguaro East National Monument to get some air, see some beautiful landscapes and just try to feel “normal”. It all still wears me out pretty quickly but as I mentioned, each day gets better.
I see the surgeon Monday for my 2 week follow up and look forward to continuing a lengthy but steady recovery. I do want to get back on that bike and I do want to hike again.
Finally, thanks to all of you who have sent well wishes, cards, calls and yes, contributed to my GoFundMe campaign (Dan’s Hip) set up be the wonderful Tucson Music Community (thank you Claire and Andrea for getting it going) to help with all the unknown medical costs beyond what insurance covers. I am grateful and humbled by your outpouring of love and healing thoughts.
I’ll keep posting the updates on the garden, birds and our walks in the parks. You keep living life to the fullest and as I always like to say...
Play Nice,
Dan
1 comment on “Spring breakdown aka Hipster Report”
Texasbanjo Says:
Sunday, March 10, 2019 @4:44:35 AM
Sorry to hear about your accident but glad the surgery went well. Hope you heal quickly and get back to normal quickly.
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