Where has the year gone!

Fall...my absolute busiest time of year...and this year I've got the stamina, and good will to get what I need to get done now that my hip no longer hurts. Work is crazy...can't wait to start my new book club, "Better Help by the Book", November 3, 7pm @ Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley Town Center. I've been doing lots of TV/Radio promotions to help get the word out about the club and its been great fun. I'm also real excited about my new Arthritis-on-the-Go seminars that I've been doing at communities libraries. In fact, this past Tuesday was really special mostly because I became reaquainted with an old boyfriend's brother and his wife, who is really hurting because of debilitating hip pain...being quite a young woman herself I really empathized with everything she is going through because of her hip arthritis. I was really touched as she explained that she's been following my blog which led her to the seminar that evening. We were able to get her in to see our expert orthopedic doctor and things will really fall into action. Don't worry, my friend, you will be feeling better soon and I am just a phone call away! Well, I'm off to my arthritis support group and then to teach tai chi class! Till next....

WOW! Six months since the Surgery

Lots of stuff to talk about since last post. I'll start with vacation Sept 4-Sept 10. What a rainy week down the beach! You can only play so many board games with your husband. Once we had our fill we decided to come home early--it seems our weather karma has been rotten. I really missed not bike riding down the beach...it's such a great place to ride and it's such a great diversion from my exercise DVD's. However, I managed to stay fit anyway. I'm also proud that I kept up with my Weight Watchers meeting while on vacation and only gained .4lbs, for a total loss of 6.6 lbs. on September 12. September 10th also marked my half-year period since my surgery. Hard to believe but I most often don't even know I had my hip replaced. Good Samaritan Hospital really did a great job with my surgery and recuperation!

Had tai chi training in Pennsylvania the weekend of Sept 12 & 13. Of course it rained again so I didnt mind so much being stuck in a classromm for 16 hours. I really enjoyed the training and really look forward to teaching an ongoing class at Good Sam to help people with arthritis feel better thru tai chi. It helped me, and still does with my recovery and staying strong and well-balanced both physically and mentally. I also began a new regular 10-week tai chi session at Good Sam and am amazed at the popularity of this class. Thirty-one students are in this session and they are very enthusiastic. I look forward to every Thursday evening now for 10 weeks.

We traveled last weekend, Sept 18-20 up to Albany, NY to a wedding and really had a great time. I did most of the driving up because I found that when I drive I'm less restless and less irritated than when my husband takes the wheel. Albany was lovely, as was the wedding. The best part was the dancing which I have missed for over three years because of hip pain. I danced, and danced and danced...for over 3 hours. All that dancing kept me from eating and drinking too much so I had almost a two lb. loss at Weight Watchers for a total loss of 8.6 lbs. My new hip really has helped me get my life back again, and its working just fine. My godniece is getting married tomorrow...the first wedding in the family, so I'll be busting some more moves I'm sure! The next 4 days will be a tremendous weight management challenge--rehearsal dinner, wedding, Raven's Game and Monday a golf tournament with dinner afterwards. Whew! I hope I have a good report next post!

Back to the Beach...but better!

It's been a long summer and our condo has been occupied by renters all season. This past Saturday morning the last of the renters checked out so we're headed down to enjoy the weekend at the beach, at last! Remember, I spent the last couple weeks recovering from my hip replacement down OC with all of the spring dreariness and performed much of my therapy at Northside Park. I have to say that I returned to Northside Park this weekend and it was most enjoyable. It was great walking 2 laps around the park (without a cane), then bicycling 5 times around the periphery, ending with a little mini boot camp of push-up, pikes and leg raises at my favorite bench where I did much of my seated PT. I smiled inside at the wonderful progress I've made since April when I could barely walk around once even with my cane. I've really been testing out this new hip, lunging, squatting, walking, bicycling---whatever low impact moves I can come up with. It was hard walking on the beach...too hilly due to the storms and eroded beach, so I'll try again next week. I am really giving this new hip a run for its money, sometimes to the point of slight pain but then I stop. I never do any high impact running, jumping, or leaping on land, just slightly in my aquatic classes. I tell myself that I elected for a new hip because of the pain, and to enjoy life again and to return to my active self. Well, you can bet that' s what I'm doing...and am returning to the beach this weekend for some more!

Turning 55!

I'll be 55 this Monday, an official senior citizen in most venues except the US government. Since I've had my hip replaced almost 6 months ago I now feel in my 30's again. I'm back to my energetic self; stamina is great, sleeping very well, continuing my full daily workouts and my presurgical weight training exercises to keep my leg strength up; swimming twice a week and training in tai chi to prepare for my new class session at Good Sam on Sept. 17th...and of course, playing my beloved golf at least once a week. Many folks have called me to talk about their arthritis. Besides being an arthritis nurse I now have the dimension of empathy when talking with them which helps me understand what they are really going through. I am often asked, "How did you know it was time for hip replacement surgery?". Here is my answer: If pain consumes most of your day, especially getting in and out of a car; you feel very unsteady on your feet and fear falling so you walk with a cane; your quality of life is dwindling...FAST, as evidenced by giving up the things you love; in my case, bowling, golfing, traveling, dancing and working out; your sleep is interrupted, either falling to sleep or waking up in the middle of the night due to pain; you become de-conditioned due to inactivity and feeling very, very old; if you can relate to at least two of these criteria then it is definitely time to consider joint replacement surgery.

I'm very excited to start my new book club called, "Better Health by the Book" on November 3 at 7pm at Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley. I really enjoy helping others and look forward to meeting lots of new people who like me, want to learn everything they can about being healthy and aging vibrantly. I took the first step with my surgery and am so glad I did!

New life...New ideas!

Four and one half months since the surgery and it keeps getting better and better. I'm totally off the Celebrex and working out on a regular basis. I'm back to my presurgical hip exercises with weights while lying on the floor to regain full strength in my legs. I also plan on taking a two mile walk this weekend and hoping to go the distance pain-free! I am just amazed how much better I feel. I no longer wake up or go to bed with generalized pain as mentioned in previous blogs. Moreover, I find it harder and harder to understand why so many people wait so long to get a total joint replacement. Arthritis is a chronic disease, like diabetes, heart disease, asthma & depression to name a few. The more a person learns about their disease, the better their confidence becomes is taking control of their activities, pain manaagement and all around medical care. Gaining this knowledge and being able to talk to others with similiar issues would really be great. These thoughts gave birth to a new kind of book club starting in November at Greetings & Readings in Hunt Valley, called Better Health by the Book. Being an arthritis nurse and experiencing first hand how this disease hurts your joints and quality of life I really got excited about being able to help other people especially in my age range, let's say between 45-65. More to come about the book club and my continued reclaimed freedom!

Kickin it up a Notch...at 4months post-op.

Okay, many times I forget I even had a hip replacement so last Sunday I decided to do an hour and 30 minute really tough circuit exercise DVD--and am proud to say that I made it through all but 15 minutes of it and it felt GREAT! Two days later however I did take a Celebrex only because my hands were really bothering me but my hip felt great. Keep in mind that I am not doing any real ground pounding high impact jumping or jogging (that would be really stupid). But the workouts are really tough, with alot of sweataing and I am really testing the waters. I now wonder if there is any movement on that new ball and socket that's gonna get stuck. Does anyone out there with a hip replacment ever wonder the same thing? I got a full weekend planned, topping Sunday off with another round of golf and hope to keep building stamina. I've also decided to go on another Operation Walk Maryland medical mission to Quito, Equador this time and the team will be leaving November 12. Last year on our first mission to Lima, Peru I was in tons of pain because of my bad hip---but really look forward to this year with my new metal and plastic one! Its really cool to be planning and doing, again the things in life that I really love!

Off the Celebrex...Yikes!

Am I stupid or what that I've gone and gotten off the Celebrex...that wonderful little yellow pill that I've been on for over a year that takes all of my aches and pains away, has now gone away. Even though my regularly checked kidney and liver functions have been fine I know its in my best interest to discontinue the drug. Besides, my hip is now new and improved with metal and plastic parts so why do I need Celebrex? On really taxing days like last weekend when I hosted my niece's wedding shower for 30 guests, it sure came in handy. Its quite amazing how the hip replacement has relieved the hip pain, but the arthritis in my hands, knees and other hip are ever present especially without the Celebrex. Each morning immediately when I awake and right before I retire at night I notice generalized achiness since the drug been out of my system. Advil and Tylenol just don't have the same effect that Celebrex does. I've also noticed that when I do not exercise my pain is increased as well. Just another reminder that exercise is truly the majic oil that lubes the joint, muscles, bones and rest of the body.