About a week and a half ago, my wife had a hip replacement. There were some complications that ultimately were a little added problem for her with her recovery. She has been 38 for nearly as long as I have been 39. She ultimately gained speed with the recovery finding the physical therapy group at the rehab center to be most helpful and actually a lot of fun for us to work with.
We brought Brigitte home from rehab on Saturday. I have a funny little tale about that return operation. Sort of funny to tell, but not so funny to be a part of, at least not my part, I guess.
When asked @ rehab if we wanted to purchase a cane and/or walker for when she came home, Brigitte and I decided to get both. Medicare will give okay and pay for only one item, and I figured the best deal was to let Medicare pay for the walker and we could buy the cane. We do have plenty of canes around that are ok for me, but a little too long for Brigitte. (I have sort of a long history of back problems, the causes of which we don't need to get into here)
The next day (Friday), the girl who was lead PT instructor for Brigitte's team asked why we wanted the walker when she would only be using the cane. I suggested it would be good insurance for just-in-case situations. The lady accepted my assertion in a somewhat vinegary attitude. A little backtrack here. The day before, Brigitte had been talking with her about maybe making up a batch of German potato salad to bring up to the PT group for a party when she is fully recovered. I injected my own opinion that my wife's potato salad is the very best, especially since she made it more on the vinegary side. The PT lady said, "Oh I just love it that way." I was not surprised in the least. The woman does have a slightly vinegary edge to her persona. As far as the walker was concerned, she ok'ed it on her final report with a sidelong glance in my direction that indicated a certain disdain for such foolishness. Incidentally, the woman plays hockey one or two nites a week. She is just right for such a rough sport, even if she is not very big. Just in case you think I am complaining about the woman's attitude, NO WAY. We both liked her very much and I told her when she finished with her final round of PT with Brigitte that I really liked her style. She is very good at what she does. BUT, I would not lock hockey sticks with her on a bet. (not without some instructions from Paul M. [wink])
Saturday, we came home with both cane and walker. Brigitte is doing fine with the cane, and even walking without it upon occasion. While fixing up a small piece of cardboard box for her to slide her leg on while doing her exercises, I was wiping dust off of the surface. With such a simple task, I managed to throw my back out. Guess who was the first to need the walker. :-[
Actually, I don't need it for walking, altho it does help to ease much of my pain. I do use it every hour or so to raise my entire body off of the floor to take the weight off of my discs. I can lift up high enough to just let my feet dangle completely off of the floor. It is much easier than walking out to my truck and chinning my self on one of the doors as I have done in the past. :
On Tuesday, I have an appointment with my chiropractor and I expect all to be back to normal. For now, I am very glad we got the walker.
Instead of storing the walker in an non accessible corner of a closet where it will disappear forever, it is resting very comfortably against the facing of our fireplace for my own immediate use. I am sitting and/or walking very gingerly with pain if doing so in any wrong manner. I suppose I could gloat with an "I told you so," to our new PT friend, but I might end up with a big welt on my head from a hockey stick if I gloat too much. [scared] It was going to be my job for at least another week for me to be assisting Brigitte to do any of her chores where she might need assistance, but right now, she is walking better than I.
Tinker
We brought Brigitte home from rehab on Saturday. I have a funny little tale about that return operation. Sort of funny to tell, but not so funny to be a part of, at least not my part, I guess.
When asked @ rehab if we wanted to purchase a cane and/or walker for when she came home, Brigitte and I decided to get both. Medicare will give okay and pay for only one item, and I figured the best deal was to let Medicare pay for the walker and we could buy the cane. We do have plenty of canes around that are ok for me, but a little too long for Brigitte. (I have sort of a long history of back problems, the causes of which we don't need to get into here)
The next day (Friday), the girl who was lead PT instructor for Brigitte's team asked why we wanted the walker when she would only be using the cane. I suggested it would be good insurance for just-in-case situations. The lady accepted my assertion in a somewhat vinegary attitude. A little backtrack here. The day before, Brigitte had been talking with her about maybe making up a batch of German potato salad to bring up to the PT group for a party when she is fully recovered. I injected my own opinion that my wife's potato salad is the very best, especially since she made it more on the vinegary side. The PT lady said, "Oh I just love it that way." I was not surprised in the least. The woman does have a slightly vinegary edge to her persona. As far as the walker was concerned, she ok'ed it on her final report with a sidelong glance in my direction that indicated a certain disdain for such foolishness. Incidentally, the woman plays hockey one or two nites a week. She is just right for such a rough sport, even if she is not very big. Just in case you think I am complaining about the woman's attitude, NO WAY. We both liked her very much and I told her when she finished with her final round of PT with Brigitte that I really liked her style. She is very good at what she does. BUT, I would not lock hockey sticks with her on a bet. (not without some instructions from Paul M. [wink])
Saturday, we came home with both cane and walker. Brigitte is doing fine with the cane, and even walking without it upon occasion. While fixing up a small piece of cardboard box for her to slide her leg on while doing her exercises, I was wiping dust off of the surface. With such a simple task, I managed to throw my back out. Guess who was the first to need the walker. :-[
Actually, I don't need it for walking, altho it does help to ease much of my pain. I do use it every hour or so to raise my entire body off of the floor to take the weight off of my discs. I can lift up high enough to just let my feet dangle completely off of the floor. It is much easier than walking out to my truck and chinning my self on one of the doors as I have done in the past. :
On Tuesday, I have an appointment with my chiropractor and I expect all to be back to normal. For now, I am very glad we got the walker. Instead of storing the walker in an non accessible corner of a closet where it will disappear forever, it is resting very comfortably against the facing of our fireplace for my own immediate use. I am sitting and/or walking very gingerly with pain if doing so in any wrong manner. I suppose I could gloat with an "I told you so," to our new PT friend, but I might end up with a big welt on my head from a hockey stick if I gloat too much. [scared] It was going to be my job for at least another week for me to be assisting Brigitte to do any of her chores where she might need assistance, but right now, she is walking better than I.
Tinker
