Exercise Time

by Pamela
(London)

I?ve been doing exercises this week ? mainly stretching and strength training - and they?ve really helped. You may remember I was getting a lot of serious pain in my knee and less, but still sufficient pain to take medication, in my operated hip. Since I?ve started the exercise the pain has been reduced to just about zero! Amazing.

The knee will never be entirely pain free as there?s a chunk missing from the top of the tibial plateau which makes the joint ?catch? quite easily. It only has to do that once to become painful and inflamed. However I think the exercises are strengthening it sufficiently so it ?catches? less often and I?m hoping now to put off surgery for a while longer.

My exercise routine is pretty much the same as when I was discharged from hospitals, knee lifts, toe raises, hamstring curls, squats, abductors and adductors and so on and I?ve added in a few stretches from my karate days. I try to go through the routine every other day ? giving myself a day off to recover in between.

I?ve also started doing water exercise classes and really was surprised how great I felt after the first one. I?ve got to shift my work schedule around a bit to be able to get to my favourite class but it?s definitely worth the trouble.

Aerobic exercise isn?t going quite so well. I find it difficult to motivate myself as find it so boring! I try to swim once a week. But it?s just up and down the pool then up and down some more. However it is slightly more interesting than pedalling on my static bike. I?m going to have to undergo an attitude change to one or both of these if I?m going to get anywhere.

On the weight loss front I?ve managed to lose a kilo this week which is right on target for me. To get to my optimal weight I?d need to lose another 5.8kg but I?m only really aiming to lose about another 3. I like my wine too much.

Doing the exercises has pushed me to start writing the exercises pages for the site. I?ve found a great artist who is going to do the illustrations and I?ve started writing the text. I?m also going to try and make up an exercise diary but I?ll need to test that out on myself before uploading it to the main site. I reckon keeping a diary will help with motivation.

What did you do with your new hip?

My next goal, for the site, is to collect stories (with photos) about what people have done with their new hip. It could be something awesome like climbing Everest or something much more down to earth (but probably more important for most of us) like being able to get out to the shops again or meet friends for a meal or baby-sit the grand-children.

It?s been interesting thinking how what my contribution is going to be and I haven?t quite decided yet. If there was one thing I?d like to get across to people thinking about having the op is how awesome it is not to be in such pain.

If you?re interested in contributing do get in touch with me via the ?Contact Me? form.

That?s about all for this week.

Hugs to you all

Pamela