Two Weeks After The Surgery

[crokett]

And I am more or less back to normal, except being able to lift stuff. Couldn't take the Christmas tree outside yesterday, FIL had to do that. We split about a cord of wood yesterday, all I did was move the handle on the splitter back and forth Stacked a few pieces till he yelled at me. He picked logs up onto the splitter and then stacked everything. There are 1001 things to do in my shop, most of which involve lifting heavy things - like reassembling the PM66. That all has to wait. I hate waiting.

[Uncle Cracker]

I hate waiting.

Do you hate hospitals? Giving yourself the needed time to heal is not too steep a price to pay, most times...

[crokett]

Do you hate hospitals? Giving yourself the needed time to heal is not too steep a price to pay, most times...

I hate hospitals too. I know, I know. You sound just like my wife. I will wait, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[Richard in Smithville]

Take it slow Davey. You'll be back at it again soon enough. I went through similar last year when I hurt my back. It sucks feeling useless.

[JimD]

I'm a week ahead of you but my surgeon has me at 20 lbs at least until my last visit Jan. 28th. I weigh things with a fish scale to make sure I stay within. I planned ahead and had another window's worth of plantation shutters ready for finish when I had the surgery. I figured out that my spray gun, even with the air line attached was less than 10 lbs so I was able to do that late the first week. Then my gun quit on me. So I finished with a brush. I weighed the individual parts to figure out that each shutter was about 15 lbs assembled. So I was able to install them over the weekend.

There are lots of other things I can't do, however, but my 27 year old son lives with me and helps. He had to get the extension ladder down so I could caulk a window last week, for instance.

I hate it too but am trying to "be good". Having the opportunity to check the weight helped me do more. I have also been walking 1-3 miles daily. I don't know how much it helps but it is something else to do.

Jim

[crokett]

Jim, I am at 20lbs until 6 weeks after the surgery. That would be the 28th for me too, now that I think about it. It was 2 weeks on the 1st. I don't weigh things, when in doubt I don't do it. I can help with the groceries, but have to carry 2 or 3 bags at a time where before I could get almost the entire carload at once. I can't bring in the dog food bag or empty it into the bucket. It was only yesterday that my wife decided I could take the trash out again. I was in my shop yesterday despite the cold and finally got my clamp rack up. Of course I had to load the clamps 2 at a time rather than carry most of them over at once.

[JimD]

Groceries are a hassle. Sometimes I only do one bag at a time. I figure 2, 2 liters of soda is enough, for instance. So I make more trips. Feels silly but taking the chance doesn't seem very wise. I messed up only once I know of. While I was still under the initial 10 lb restriction I purchased a 6 foot fiberglass step ladder. If felt really light but when I got it home and weighed it it was 12 lbs. I had my son put it where it belonged.

If I remember right, the weight restriction will probably come off when we see the surgeon next, kind of. I think last time they told me to be careful and only increase weight very gradually. Like an additional 10 lbs every week or two. I am hoping to be able to go back to my normal pushups and situps. My last surgeon didn't like the idea of situps but we will see what this one says.

Jim