When I went to the doctor two weeks ago to get some relief from my painful hip, the doctor told me that a hip replacement was probably in my future. He prescribed some meds to see if that would buy me a little more time. I had the option of taking one or two of the pills once a day. I started with one pill a day. The first day there was a miraculous difference in the lessening of the amount of pain, but along with that came some nausea. I worked through the nausea and it subsided after a couple of days. However, after two weeks the effects of the pill also lessened. All day yesterday and last night were very painful. Since I didn’t have to work today, I decided to up the dosage to the two pills. I didn’t want to do that on a day I had to work just in case the nausea returned.
In addition, I also went to CVS and purchased a cane. I hated to make that concession, but what a difference those two decisions have made for me today. By using the cane, it takes a lot of pressure off of the hip with each step. I could actually smile instead of grimace as I walked along. At least I got one with bright butterflies painted on it. In my head, using a cane is like wearing one of those beaded things around your neck to hold your glasses. It’s for old ladies. Well, this old lady is here to tell you that you had better behave, or I’ll whack you with my cane!
I felt chipper enough this evening to take Emma for a drive in the car to see what we could see. What a grand time we had.
As we headed down Buffalo City Road, a female bear and her cubs were in the road. Mom quickly headed for the woods, but the youngsters were a little reluctant to follow. They had to sniff around and wrestle a little before getting off of the road.
One youngster came back out to investigate something in the road. It was a miniature canoe paddle that was about two feet long. What a treat is was for Emma and me to watch this young fellow or gal spend some time playing. Just like a little kid with a cardboard box!
Then we were off to stop at the old bridge that goes from Manns Harbor to Manteo across the Croatan Sound. This is the bridge where up to 100,000 purple martins roost each evening. I wanted to experience their arrival before they all head south for the fall migration.
There’s a wonderful public pier with built in benches that offers the perfect view of the bridge with the setting sun behind you. You’ll have to take my word for it that there are about fifty martins in the sky above the bridge in this photo. It was a thrilling experience to watch all of the birds come in from every direction just as the sun was setting.
And what a sunset it was over the Croatan Sound! Hopefully the cane and pills will buy me some more time so I can continue to enjoy these experiences while I’m here.
THE END!!
Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later, Judy
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I have been thinking along the lines of a can too for some of the pain days with my feet or when they get numb.I must say the pain medicine from Germany that those lady bloggers turned me onto seems to be working better than the prescription did, I am going to ask the Doctor if I can just stop taking the prescription.The pills I got are from Germany and are not FDA approved but i can get them mail order.Funny how the doctors in Europe can use something that works, but here the FDA says no.Hey is you cane a stick or an automatic, Donna has an automatic on her broom. Be safe out there. Sam & Donna...
ReplyDeleteGood that upping the dosage and using a cane worked ... just think what you would have missed yesterday otherwise.
ReplyDeleteGlad the cane and meds are giving you some relief. Those bears are the cutest things ever- thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWe hear ya, Judy! we're starting with the knee braces now...whatever works so you can keep moving is GREAT! Nice story about you in Trailblazer Magazine, by the way! I'm so jealous of your bear photos, it would be my luck if we came there next season, we wouldn't see any bears!
ReplyDeleteGreat bear photos Judy! Glad the pills and cane are helping--stylish cane by the way!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous sunset.
ReplyDeleteKeeping you in my prayers for pain relief. What a difference a day makes when that pain is gone.
Look for a medical supply store and try an ergonomically correct cane. The cane will be made for either the right hand or the left. It is my right side that is damaged, so I have one for the left hand. They are great. I find it much more comfortable than the standard canes, be it a shepherds hook or an L shaped cane like the butterfly model you have.
ReplyDeleteIf you are going through Indiana see Dr. Young Park at Westview Hospital. Dr. Park does acupuncture and that is great for pain relief.
Be careful on the road and get well.
Rex
Those bear cub are so cute!
ReplyDeleteHip replacement doesn't sound like fun but it has made a huge difference in quality of life for the few people we've known who've had it done. I would be like you, though, and try to put it off as long as possible. Love that fancy cane.
Glad to hear the pills and the cane worked for you. I had a problem with using hearing aids and thinking it made me appear old, then I realized, I was. ha ha
ReplyDeleteI think your cane is very fashionable! If it helps and buys you some time, I'd get one in every color :) Seriously, a hip replacement does not sound like fun but isn't it wonderful that the possibility exists and, should you choose to, you can do it and move on.
ReplyDeleteGlad the pills and cane are helping. I guess we all are learning to adjust to the reality of advancing age:(
ReplyDeleteyou are so stylin' with your new accessory..sure hope it helps with the pain of walking!..nice bear shots today..right place right time!!
ReplyDeleteBoth of us have used canes; Suzy is using one now as she heads directly into her second knee replacement in a couple of weeks. By the way, she also has a selection of beaded eyeglass holders which she considers a fashion accessory. You should see her with two pairs of glasses suspended at the same time!
ReplyDeleteCanes are far preferable to walkers, but Suzy has a walker also for when things get really bad, as they did a couple of weeks ago.
Hip replacement surgery is not nearly as painful and traumatic as knee replacement, so don't be too slow to go ahead with that.
I have always loved the look of someone walking with a cane. My dad hated having to get and use a cane, but he looks great using it. I'm sure you do, too. If and when I need a cane, I'm going to get a collection of them.
ReplyDeleteLove the bear cub shots. What an experience to sit and watch them play. :)
What a GREAT sunset!!! Sorry you are felling badly, hope the pills & cane work for you.
ReplyDeleteEyeing that cane makes me promise to behave myself next time we come to visit. ;c)
ReplyDeleteMy orthopedic surgeon told me that a hip replacement is much easier on patients than they think. Why put yourself through misery when the pain can be gone forever? Just my 2 cents worth.
ReplyDeleteDo your due diligence before having the hip replaced.
DeleteThis is what James Howard Kunstler had to say about his experience:
Little more than a week ago, I was boned like a Christmas turkey on an orthopedic operating table. This was due to yet another diminishing return of technology. I'd been living with an "innovative" metal-on-metal hip implant that was being pushed for younger hip replacement patients back around 2003 as "longer-lasting" than the old metal-on-plastic joints. It turned out the devices were improperly tested. Huge numbers of them failed. The simple abrasion of the ball-joint assembly parts released cobalt and chromium ions into the surrounding tissues, destroying bone and muscle and inducing metalosis - systemic metal poisoning. I was one of the luckier ones. My tissues were not savaged, but I suffered a bewildering range of systemic poisoning symptoms for more than a couple of years. Such cases run to tens of thousands now, growing each year as the devices age and the failure rate surges.
What a beautiful sunset photo! A cane's o.k., at least you don't have one of those infernal little scooters that zip all over the place.
ReplyDeleteMy doctor was surprised at how readily I accepted the idea of a cane. Quality of life is more important than looking old. Glad you decided to try it.
ReplyDeleteLove the cane...you just need to add a little swagger to your walk now...hehehe
ReplyDeleteSo jealous of the bear photos...we just came back from Jasper National Park where we were warned that a mother bear and her two cubs have been hanging around the campground...we neither saw or heard a peep from them.
After hearing about the Purple Martins and bears Al is wanting to head there. Glad the cane helps.
ReplyDeleteAfter hearing about the Purple Martins and bears Al is wanting to head there. Glad the cane helps.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm my laptop is acting up again so if you get two posts from me it's cause it told me it didn't post the first one. Delete one please.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful header picture........just gorgeous and PERFECT ending shot. Your seeing those cubs playing would make any day a GREAT day! You definitely have good bear karma :-)
Like the look of the cane and am glad it is helping you. I won't have to worry like Paul when we finally meet up, I always behave myself.........HA!
YOU KIDS GET OFF MY WILDLIFE REFUGE!
ReplyDeleteYou know how I feel about the "v" word (not "vagina"), so 'nuff said there. But, would you try fish oil for inflammation? It might be worth trying some stuff before you decide on surgery.
The Good Luck Duck
Glad to hear the cane provides some relief!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom used 2 canes. She had arthritis in both knees and her feet..I don't remember my Mom much without a cane attached to her ....Do what helps...I see a very cool collection of canes possibly ahead...LOVE, LOVE the sunset photo..I am a real sucker for those!!!
ReplyDeleteWhen my Mom passed away I kept a book of hers that I still have. "Old age is not for Sissies!" by Lois L. Kaufman and Lyn Peal Rice (Jun 1, 2002) It contains about the 'only' funny things about aging. The reality is definitely Not funny! But we can continue to find fun in any reality. Shake your cane at any one who gives you a hard time and then go about living your life fully!
ReplyDeleteI think that is a real cool "hiking" stick. Whatever works, you are a very active person. Glad the pills help. What great bear pictures you were able to get.
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes we are just too stuborn for our own good. My dad was the same, he didn't want to resort to a cane but now that he has he wonders how he had managed without it. I think it has saved him from a few falls too. He is also waiting for a hip replacement, his second one actually. Glad you had such and exciting drive being able to see the cubs playing, that would certainly have been a sight.
ReplyDeleteKevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com