tergal

If i was paying you, you would be fired ... out of a cannon.


Good to hear Neil has been moved that means he is beginning the next step to recovery.

Homeyba

There, fixed it for you! Yep, definite progress.

JonnyHK 

WHAT? None of the aforementioned cute nurses are giving you a foot massage?

Tom Stormcrowe

He's not doing it right, then!

Hell, I had to almost chase off my cute nurses with a club.

avmech

Very good news!!!!!

Neil_B

Yes, and the first thing to progress was removing the laxative from my drug cocktail. I feel so much better.

Today I stood up and walked 40 feet with a walker, used a wheelchair, and started PT exercises. I also hit it off with my therapist, who now lurks on the Adaptive Cycling Forum.

Neil_B

Needed to be done for surgery. It was done a half hour before I was put under.

TrojanHorse

They Naired my leg last time I had surgery, less chance of a cut I guess. Then they gave me the bottle, I wonder what I did with it. Hmm.....

Neil_B

Yes, that's going to be something to retrain. For instance, my right hip wants to put my right leg out in a duck-footed stance. I need to deal with the fact my leg is now straight and faces forward. But the leveling of my hips and reducing my stooped posture can only be a plus. One reason I take so little pain medication here is that I cycled through it for years. As you might recall reading my 2011 tour was scrubbed when I put my back out. That was partly because my tight hamstrings pulled my back muscles out of shape. Part was because I twisted my hips every time I walked. Now that will be reduced.

Biggest immediate challenge aside from the recovery from surgery is the nerve damage in my right foot. It could be a couple of months before I don't have a droop in the foot. I'm going to be evaulated for a brace.

BTW, two big thank yous to ziroj and Sayre Kulp. Ziroj gets credit for yelling at me and getting it to sink in that I should "imagine what I could do if I didn't hurt." Sayre pushed me both in person and by example.

RobertL

Good to see you on line again. Hoping for a quick and complete recovery.

SFGary

Its good to hear that you are in rehab, Neil_B. When do you head back home?

Neil_B

Bryn Mawr Rehab will evaulate my progress by Friday and come up with a date. I expect some time next week.

chefisaac

James, another BF member, and I are visiting Neil on Saturday. Doing a 50 mile ride, getting food and making the drive. Yum Yum!

Neil_B

Yes, the noted chef who promised to cook for me brings me takeout hoagies. :-)

chefisaac

Until you get moved back into your place, then I will cook for you. Not keen on cooking and taking it an hour away.

JonnyHK 

It's the beard Tom - you know that chicks dig it!

indyfabz

One less thing to deal with. When I had my hear surgery, they shaved everything except my head and arms. No hot nurses but two rather burly orderlies with ratty hospital razors and cheap shaving cream. Of course, my arms are where they taped all the tubes and wires after I was put under. I told them that if I had known that was going to happen, I would have asked them to finish the job.

Get weell soon.

contango 

Don't knock it, that's more than he brought me

CACycling

The brace would be a good idea. My father had some nerve damage in his left leg and, before getting the brace, had issues with tripping because his foot drooped. Don't want to take a chance on tripping and going down on those new knees.

chefisaac

If I come visit, can I stay with you?

I used to have a great grandma who would ***** about everything regardless of everything you did for her.

avmech

Chef, that is awesome!!

Great to hear you are doing as well as can be expected after the operation Neil. Keep up the work, do all they tell you to do in therapy, but do not overdo it either.

contango 

Depends if you're bringing gourmet cuisine or take-out hoagies

Neil_B

Its not quite as evident when I have shoes on. BTW, the expensive orthotics I got last year are now on the scrap heap.

Neil_B

To an Englishman, any decently prepared food is "gourmet."

Neil_B

Just an update six days out....

Two days ago I was transferred to the rehab hospital. I've gone from being bedbound to spending nine hours in a wheelchair or walker. Flexion is at 85 on the right, 83 left. Extension is at ten on each. It was 10 right 15 left prior to surgery. When you consider I've gotten taller because my legs are now straight my extension improved even if the number didn't change - the hamstrings stretched to match the new knees.

I still need help dressing, undressing, getting into and out of bed, bathing and eliminating.... but less each time. My pain relievers are Celebrex and Percoset. Pain, aside from the numbness, is in the calf muscles, not the incision or joint.

I'm taking physical therapy and occupational therapy, spending four hours a day in CPM machines, and wearing a boot on my right foot at night to keep the nerve damage from becoming a new normal. My hunger has returned, I'm eating without digestive problems and I have regular stools. In short, I feel like I should be suffering more. Or is this much improvement so soon normal?