When God speaks, I listen.

I can't believe I have a stress fracture in my right tibia (not the side of my wonderful hip replacement, the other one). This is my very busy time at work, and in the beginning of October I was running around like crazy preparing for 3 major events, along with all my normal seminars/classes, personal workouts, swim class, etc; and it overstressed my tibia, so it decided to crack. The pain in my right shin soon became unbearable and after a weekend of swelling and constant pain , I saw Dr. Steven Kulik here at GSH first thing next morning. After my diagnosis, he stressed--No exercise, no swim clases, no tai chi, no driving and light duty work for at least a month, but maybe 6 weeks. And if I did not let this heal this would haunt me the rest of my life! So is this God's way of telling me to slow down or what? That's my take-so I've re-assess alot of things. One of which is the fact that in spite of all my denial, I truly am 56 and my body is not 25 anymore. I'm not ready, AT ALL, for the rocking chair but will pace myself a little differently, work more efficiently, ask for help more often, and take more time to relax a little more. I'm just finishing my second week with this ball-n-chain boot cast, having my husband "drive Ms. Daisy" around everywhere, bumming rides like a hitch-hiker, getting to work with the crowing roosters, and missing exercise like crazy. I feel aerobically dead and my joints are desperately desiring some warm water workouts. I get up to the Good Health Center and spin the windjammer around for 10-12 minutes to work the heart and lungs at bit; lift weights for the upper body every couple days; and do some seated tai chi breathing and yoga as much as possible. I'm sleeping in during my usual workout time each morning and look forward I to my am workout routine once free and clear to exercise again. In the meantime, I'm catching up on alot of my "office work", planning, reading, resting, eating and watching the dust balls grow in my house. This weekend after working the health fair, I'm looking forward to eating crabs with friends, and a long ride out in the country seeking apples and enjoying the beautiful autumnal array of colors. Have I slowed down or what????? Happy Halloween to ALL!

Reply to Anne Re: Hip Incision

The incision length is a frequent concern for potential joint replacement patients. My incision is only 4 inches long which is terrific for a traditional hip replacement. When I first took care of these patients back in the 90's their incision was about 12 inches long. In your research I'm sure you've learned about the anterior, and the 2-incision hip replacement surgery. Here at Good Samaritan Hospital in baltimore, Md., our chief of Orthopedics, Dr. Michael Jacobs is expert with these smaller incision surgeries and also with using the specialized "Hana" table in the operating room which facilitates these procedures very nicely. Hope this helps.

A Little Set-back...Time to Re-Assess

Well last post I talked about my crazy busy fall season and darned if I didn't have a big snafu thrown in my plans. Somehow in these post couple weeks I sustained a right tibial stress fracture and am in a bootcast for 4-6 weeks and cannot drive, exercise, teach tai chi or my arthritis aquatics, golf or do much of anything. I am hitching rides to and from work whenever possible and must be very diligent and compliant with my recovery or this will haunt me the rest of my life. And these stress fractures hurt! This boot really cramps my style, but I gotta stick it out, and I really get irritable if I don't exercise! After my pity party the first couple days, I thought about lots of things, i.e. What kind of shape are my bones in? Why did my tibia fracture...I eat right and exercise all the time? I better start taking my Calcium and Vit D diligently? Am I really getting of the age where I need to slow down? Am I gonna need a lot of help and people to ride me to work for at least a month? WOW!
I have resumed my Calcium and vit D everyday even though I eat right and exercise regularly, realizing that at my age that's just not enough. I've rearranged my schedule, cancelling the events I cannot attend and postponing others until able. Getting rides to/from work remains a creative strategy, but working out. I'm lifting weights to keep my upper body strength up & core exercises while sitting and watching TV, and using the Aerodyne machine in the Good Health Center here at GSH to maintain some aerobic endurance. But I don't have any answer to the "age of slowing down" question yet...that one I'll face later...

Fall Frenzy!

Pretty soon the fall will be over and not one blog have I written...so I took a moment to post. Vacations are bygone now and my busy work season is frenetically here! One health event after another until the Thanksgiving weekend without break...YEP! I am up for it. Trying to eat right, exercise to sustain good energy for the season. I'm happy to be sleeping again! As alway, my hip reminds me when I have done too much.
Really enjoyed the Book club on Sept 14, and look ahead to the next meeting on November 9th @ 7pm at Greetings & Readings. We're reading, "Change Your Brain, Change Your Body" by Dr. Amen. Its quite fascinating...our brains are unbelievable, mysterious untapped organs that have tremendous power over our bodies. Would love to see you all there next meeting.
I'll be at Senior/Baby Boomer Expo this Wednesday & Thursday (Oct 6 & 7) and would love anyone to stop by the Good Samaritan Booth. Remember this year we are all in the cow palace!
Will check in later.