Disastrous Walk that Landed me in Hospital ;(

[Jacqui-S]

Phone the ward Helen. They will tell you who should have been contacting you and possibly give the number.

In my experience community physio follow up is pretty short/basic even at the best of times, however, our practice physio is VERY scathing of the private sector who use non-evidence based treatments and do excessive hands on treatments whilst charging inappropriately.
He is very straight down the line and doesn't suffer fools gladly though excellent at his job.
Just be aware of this if you do go for private advice.

Hopefully you can get this sorted out soon Helen, I can imagine you are worrying a bit about whether you are doing things right, and input from an expert really helps.
Be prepared for a Near Me consultation rather than a face to face perhaps. Have you done that before?

 

[Charlie]

Thanks @Jacqui-S I forgot I had a letter Friday copied to the Physio in our local Hospital so maybe she will be touch next week. Just seems a long time between discharge and now. I am very worried I am doing things right, I am following the exercise sheet 4 times a day, 6 different exercises 15 reps each increasing to 20 from tomorrow (it just said regularly on the sheet so doing what I think) and zimmering along the hall way regularly throughout the whole day until I go to "sleep". Just confirmation from a professional I am on the right track would be good right now.

Thanks for the information re private physio. Funnily enough I had a card from my neighbour who is an NHS physio but also runs her own private clinic offering me her services. I am a little worried about her "methods" as she is a little alternative so I declined.

No haven't done a Near Me consultation. xx

 

[Atemas]

thought my family will know I am missing as I have been gone for a long time.

Was reflecting on this @Charlie - do you have a system with the family when you go walking alone in case of emergency? At what point would they come looking? Obviously phone is no good when you have no signal but do they know where you will be walking? I am just curious and mindful for you in future (although I guess it’s not the uppermost thing in your mind at the momen). We are fortunate here that we are not remote and do have a phone signal. We also pretty much know the route each other takes. I have had several falls on my walks (fortunately no broken bones) and I get a bit hung up on safety (more so in these COVID times). When F walks early morning, I start to feel twitchy if he hasn’t returned after a certain point and will make a brief phone call just to check he’s ok and hasn’t fallen in a ditch or something

 

[Beanwood]

Follow through your exercises religiously and you will be fine! When you have your next appointment /x-ray they will be able to evaluate progress and tweak your healthcare plan if necessary.
Physios are an essential part in the treatment Covid patients, so you might find things don't run as smoothly as usual. A well researched physio ( in line with @Jacqui-S comment...) may be a good plan at this stage. Maybe phone your GP and ask if they could recommend one? Take care and good luck, it sounds like you are doing all the right things

 

[Granca]

How lucky that the man came along and found you! I can't imagine how painful and worrying it must have been hauling yourself along the track, only to find there was still no signal! It's often like that round here, even though it's comparatively 'civilised'.

I hope you get some reassurance from a physio soon and your hip heals well. x

 

[Charlie]

@Atemas Silly really but I just go out for my walk, decide where I'm going which can be one of several routes and don't give it a second thought. David and the boys were in town so didn't know where I'd gone or when I had gone out. From now on I am going to write on the white board what time and where I am walking just in case of an emergency. Signal is virtually non existent out and about so I need to start thinking about what I'm doing in future. I certainly don't want any more dramas. I'm going to buy some hiking sticks and get the best walking boots I can find.

@Beanwood Thank you so much. I totally understand with Covid that things aren't running smoothly, I'm just fretting about resuming to my usual self and getting on with my long walks and the things I enjoy. Basically I'm impatient. I am absolutely religious with my exercises even if they become uncomfortable as I want to get back to normal quickly. My appointment with the consultant and x-rays should be in about 3-4 weeks. xxx

 

[Atemas]

From now on I am going to write on the white board what time and where I am walking just in case of an emergency.

Sounds like a good plan.

I'm going to buy some hiking sticks and get the best walking boots I can find.

Yes I invest a lot in my boots and I have wondered about a hiking stick - does anyone use one and find them worthwhile?

 

[M.F.]

Thank you for sharing your story. How frightening. And what an ordeal. So lucky that you have paramedic services that could get you out safely. But surprising they didn’t have any heat sticks. So fortunate your son(?) could get you a hot water bottle.

I often think how funny and strange that we seem to share our dog’s ailments. I forget what Charlie had—a ruptured cruciate? But now you share the same rest and exercise routine. A lovely woman I frequently bump into has had her thyroid removed. Now her dog has hyperthyroid.

Wishing you a speedy recovery back to full health.

 

[Charlie]

@M.F. Yes it was my sons. Charlie had Cruciate Ligament Disease so we make a right pair on restricted exercise xx

 

[M.F.]

a hiking stick - does anyone use one and find them worthwhile?

My mother of 83 finds hiking sticks absolutely essential and incredibly useful for walking on rocky paths. But you must have two for good balance—one in each hand.

I used hiking sticks (borrowed my sister’s) for walking the Camino. They were wonderful. I didn’t really need them for stability, but they help you walk so fast, like having an extra pair of limbs. And they’re great for an upper body workout. However, not sure how one handles a boisterous dog while holding sticks. I’d like to buy myself a pair now, but sometimes I need to grab Snowie quickly on a walk when he gets mounty, so I’ve not yet bought a pair for this reason.

 

[Loraseal]

Crikey what an ordeal! Plus the weather conditions were so bad and cold as well.
It could have happened to anybody as well.
Please push for the physio as the exercises are really really mportant.
My physio does video and a nice app for the exercises. Initially when COVID just started I was seen as an urgent case with a torn ACL. Nothing compared to what you have been through. The impatience of waiting drove me insane. 6 weeks no dog walking or driving.
All the best with your recovery and thanks for sharing with us. It also helps when you write things down.
X

 

[Atemas]

[

But you must have two for good balance—one in each hand.

Yes I suspected as much - won’t work for me then as Red is always on lead the first and end bit of any walk we do from home

 

[Granca]

I'm going to buy some hiking sticks

I asked my cousin which ones she prefers, as she does lots of walking and has tried various walking poles. She recommends the collapsible Black Diamond Trail poles with a click lock function, as they’re easy to lengthen and shorten and have nice handles which are comfortable to hold. Apparently Cotswold gives a 10% discount to National Trust members.

 

[Charlie]

Thank you Carol that's good to know. xx

 

[MrChew]

What an ordeal @Charlie! So glad help found you.

FYI, re: the hip healing, the reason behind all the follow-up imaging is to ensure that the femur has healed up enough to maintain a good blood supply to the bone, otherwise it degardes and you need a replacement. Fingers crossed that all goes well.

 

[Charlie]

@MrChew Thank you so much. That's what I understood it to be. I really hope it heals as the thought of more surgery sends me into a tail spin! xx

 

[MellowYellow]

Goodness, there is quite a difference between the health care follow-up offered in the UK and here in Germany... After hip surgery you get three weeks of physiotherapy, either stationary where you stay 24/7 at a clinic, or on a daily basis, which is what I am going to be doing. They will come and get me and take me back home again each day. That said Helen, I do remember from last time I had this surgery thinking that I would have been ok with just information on what exercises to do, and then just help from a physiotherapist a couple of times a week to check I was doing it right.

 

[Charlie]

Will you get that level of physio this time during Covid Karen? That seems to be the issue here even though we live in one of the least affected Covid areas in the UK. 0-3 cases where we are so it makes me wonder why I haven't heard a thing. xx

 

[MellowYellow]

Will you get that level of physio this time during Covid Karen? That seems to be the issue here even though we live in one of the least affected Covid areas in the UK. 0-3 cases where we are so it makes me wonder why I haven't heard a thing. xx

Yes, all set to start on 01 February... Fingers crossed that the surgery doesn't get cancelled!!!!

Hope you hear from them very soon.

 

[Charlie]

I hope you do. Good luck Karen! xx