Mood:  not sure

      I've had a hip problem for quite a while. Almost 8 years ago I fell 10 feet from a stone wall landing on my feet. I compacted my knees, hips and ankles. More than 2 years ago, I started having waves of pain in my right upper leg. This year I came to have a constant dull pain in my right hip when I walked. I went to my general doctor. He had me go see an orthopedic specialist.

      I saw the specialist and was diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. My hip socket would keep wearing down until it became bone on bone. Without treatment I would eventually be bound to a wheelchair, unable to work, collecting some sort of monetary assistance far less than what I earn as an active telecom tech. I would lose my home. The worst is I would be cut short on my ability to spend time with my kids and my very sweet girlfriend. I had to make a decision.

     To correct my hip, I was told I needed it replaced with a metal hip. This would be quite a change. I really had no choice. I made plans. I got my insurance in line. I arranged with my work place. I did my best to see that my resources were in line for the down time.

      Here's where I tell you about the sweetest Lady I've ever known. All through my planning she was prepared to support my needs. She would drive me, see to my home care. Be there when I needed her. A guy couldn't ask for a better soulmate.

      I scheduled my surgery. I was told there were risk. I could get a blood clot in my lungs during surgery and never wake up. I would have to forever watch how I positioned myself when squatting or sitting so my new hip would not pop out of it's socket. Infections always find metal in the body before they attach to tissue. Now if I ever had a chance of internal of semi internal infections from a colonoscopy or teeth cleaning, or more, I would have to start anti-biotic medicine to prevent infections. The least is, I might be a centimeter or 2 short in 1 leg.

      The surgery was done. Before the surgery I took precautions to prevent hospital infections. I did a lot of reading. A week after the procedure I already have less pain than before. A nurse come by to check on me. She takes blood samples to check my level of blood thinning. I had to take medicine to prevent the blood clotting. She checks my incision and my vital signs. A physical therapist comes by to see I do exercises to get me back to walking correctly. He tells me what to do and not to do to prevent my new hip from popping out.

      My sweet Lady keeps on me to do all the things I have been advised to do. She is the best. I can't say enough about this Lady I love. If the shoe were on the other foot, I would be there for her. She is wonderful.

     The home health crew tell me I am on the way to a quick healing. In 4 weeks I should be back to work. I won't be able to put myself in certain physical postures to do my work. Over time my telecom job has shifted more from the physical to the mental. Not so much pulling wires as thinking, using logical progression, doing programming. While I am recovering at home, I am providing remote assistance to my work place. It is good to be needed.

     More in my next entry.