Well, my PAO (periacetabular osteotomy) was two weeks ago today. I am still in a pretty large amount of pain. Honestly, the pain hasn't decreased all that much since surgery...well, it probably has, since I had an IV, narcotics and an epidural. I just haven't noticed. It's amazing what kinds of things you take for granted until you find yourself using a walker and wheelchair.
Two weeks after my surgery, I find myself able to put on all flats without help, which is, for me, kind of a big deal! I can finally put my shoes on by myself!! I also took my first shower in two weeks. May I just say that it was much better than sponge baths and my parents washing my hair for me in the sink. I was finally really clean! I have to sit on one of those shower benches, and it's kind of difficult, but I can do it! On a good day, I can get out of bed by myself and I can walk longer distances. Unless I'm having a really bad day, I can (finally) bend my left leg 90 degrees when I'm sitting in bed.
I can't get into bed by myself yet. I sit on the edge of my bed, and a member of my family picks up my leg by my ankle and just below my knee and slowly brings it to my bed. I help rotate myself by gently pushing off with my good leg.
Feeding myself is hard. Correction. I can pick up a fork, slide food onto it and put it into my mouth without a problem (except that all the medications make me lose my apetite.) Getting anything out of the fridge or cupboards is hard, because I'm supposed to use a walker around the house and so I have no free hands. This means that I also can't put my dishes in the sink or dishwasher. The only way I can get food for myself is if I can carry it to the table in my mouth. for example, I bite the end of a bag of tostada shells or cereal or an apple and carry it to the table in my mouth. It's annoying. My family takes care of me pretty well though.
Dressing myself is still not possible. I can put on shirts and dresses and what not, but any bottoms my mom has to help me put on. I'm getting used to the whole no privacy thing. I also can't put socks on.
I still get tired really easily. I curled my hair, and before I was finished was completely exhausted. Thankfully my mom finished my hair for me. And not to get all personal and awkward of anything, but I can't shave my legs, so my mom has do that for me. My poor mother.
Getting in and out of vehicles is one of my least favorite things in the world. Actually, I really hate it. I can finally sit normally in the vehicle, but I feel really bad because I take the front seat from my mom in our Chevy. In our F150, I can sit in the back. Regardless, Dad has to lift me into the car, set me on the seat, and then slide my legs in.
One of the worst things is that I am tired of being cooped up in the house. I would love to go someplace. I'm so used to being busy all the time, and being cooped up in the house (and in the same bed/chair most of the day) is frustrating. I feel really unproductive, and even though I'll be spending the first month in a wheelchair, I can't wait for the next semester! It's time to learn and be busy again.
The thing I want more than anything is to be able to sleep on my side. I almost cry just thinking about it. I have to sleep the way a person would if they were sitting in a reclining chair. It doesn't produce much sleep. I miss laying on my side so so much. I tried to do it the other day - even to lay on the good side. But my "wounded" hip is no longer strong enough to stay up.
It's amazing what we take for granted: being able to get in and out of bed or a vehicle, put our shoes or socks on, get a box of cereal out of the cupboard, walk, dance, bend our knees, sleep on our side and so on.
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