A Last Walk With My Old Hip

Every evening this summer I’ve gone out for a 1-2 mile walk around our neighborhood.  With the swimming and walking, I’ve been trying to strengthen my tired old body and prepare for tomorrow.  Tomorrow I am getting a new hip.

For the last 8 or 9 years, I’ve dealt with pain that has finally gotten so bad, I went to see Dr. Clint Wooten last month in Bountiful.  He showed me the x-rays of both of my hips.  The left side is normal and good.  The right side is Bad.  The cartilage is completely gone and the ball and socket are bone on bone.  There are also 2 bone spurs and the ball is irregularly shaped.  No wonder the pain.  Dr. Wooten said “it will only get worse, and you will only get older.”  The sooner we take care of this problem, the better.

He explained the surgery to me–a 35 minute out-patient procedure that will have me up and walking the same day.  I said “I’M IN!”

So this evening, I took my old hip out for one last jaunt around the neighborhood, bidding it farewell.   There are some things about getting older that make me sad.  Having an old body is one of them.  I’m hopeful that this improvement will give me increased mobility without pain.

The last few days, I’ve been getting projects ready to work on while I recuperate and heal.  I’ve got a stack of books to read, a LOT of hand applique projects prepped for stitching, my family history work, and some ideas about shows to watch.  Below are the 4 borders to my Americana Album Quilt, ready to stitch.

Here’s another old project that needs to be finished–I made these English Paper Pieced Grandmother’s flower garden flowers about 20 years ago.  I decided to applique them onto 4-patches, and this project is well underway.

Yesterday I picked up my chopped snake quilts from my dear quilting friend, Penny, and then I sewed 20 years of leftover binding pieces together into one long strip, to sew onto these 4  quilts, so I can get them finished before Christmas.

The quilts are trimmed, and the bindings are now sewn on.  I’m ready to rock ‘n roll!

Farewell old hip!  Let the fun begin!

About Ann Laemmlen Lewis

Thank you for visiting! I hope you enjoy the things shared here.
This entry was posted in Ann Lewis. Bookmark the permalink.

7 Responses to A Last Walk With My Old Hip

  1. David Kenison says:

    I had my right hip replaced 2 years ago. I was mowing the lawn within 2 weeks and climbed Timp after 8 weeks! Miracle surgery. Best wishes for a smooth recovery for you.

  2. Julie Merkley says:

    My new hip also turned out to be a blessing. Good luck!

  3. BONNIE and GAIL MILES says:

    kNew hip here for me in August. Hip is doing great – sewing that I had planned didn’t actually happen, but the hip is good. Had a few more interesting twists in the recovery procedure, but happy with a hip that no longer pains me. Good luc

  4. Dixie Baker says:

    I am happy for you, Ann. My titanium hip has made all the difference.
    We hiked Delicate Arch, not an easy climb. Also my phone pedometer read 76.3 miles during three weeks this past June after we visited France and Germany and went on a pioneer trek four days after returning home.

  5. Iniobong Ikpeti says:

    I am happy that the surgery went successful and also with God’s intervention
    You have relief from pains.

  6. Sheryl Clark says:

    I am somewhat in your place with my right hip. Please let us know how it goes. You are in my prayers.

    • Thank you, Sheryl. I’m 6 weeks out now and walking normally. The first week is rough, the second is better, and by the 3rd, I was walking without a walker. Every day is better. There is NO hip pain, just bone healing that is a little achy. I’m so glad I did it!!

Leave a Reply to Dixie BakerCancel reply