Larry: On the mend

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October 15, 2009

Anonymous The Randolph Guide Thu Oct 15, 2009, 08:24 AM EDT

I received good news today (Oct. 14) during a scheduled visit to the hospital – I can go back to work.

My cousin and helper, Tom Allen, drove me to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to have removed the 30 staples used to close the wound opened when I had hip surgery on Sept. 29.

Sandy the nurse said everything looked good as she used a special tool to take out the metal pieces. She covered the wound with a thin strip and told me what I wanted to hear: “Now you can take a shower.”

No more sponge baths for me. Tonight I may use up all the hot water while basking in the steamy cascade.

Sandy also said I can wean myself from walker and crutches, using walls and furniture for balance until I feel ready to “solo.” I’ve already tried going it alone and think I’m ready to downsize to one crutch.

According to Sandy, using the muscles around the hip will only strengthen them and she urged me to continue a series of exercises that my therapists had prescribed for me. She said at my six-week doctor visit, on Nov. 11, I’ll be doing tons better.

She said I’m free to do what I will with my pain pills. It’s been nearly 11 hours since my last one and I don’t feel any ill effects.

Oh, and when I asked when I can go to work, she said it’s up to me. I had her write me a note just to make Patricia, my publisher, happy. I’ll start next Monday, Oct. 19.

One negative note: I’ll have to wear the support hose until the six-week visit. Oh well, you can’t have everything.

When Tom and I were leaving, someone spoke to me near the check-out desk. It was Clark and Diane Bell, he on crutches.

Clark, an Asheboro attorney who is running for City Council this year, said he had hip replacement surgery last Saturday. When I told him I’d had hip resurfacing, he said that’s what he had wanted but to no avail.

Both seemed in good spirits as he prepared to check out.

But no more than I was.

Shower, here I come!

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Blogging with Larry

Speaking of running...
It's been a while since Larry Penkava could job. But last Saturday, during the human race, he rejoined the world of the running, completing one mile during The Human Race.

April 2, 2010
I can see the light! It’s been 16 weeks and three days since my hip surgery and I’m beginning to feel almost normal. I'm counting down to the end of March when I will (hopefully) go on The Run.
January 23, 2010
Larry: Brothers joined at the hip The Asheboro attorney and now city councilman-to-be had hip surgery just 10 days after I did. He had total hip replacement while I had hip resurfacing.
November 5, 2009
Larry Penkava - Not so bad being a shut in Since undergoing hip surgery on Sept. 29, I’ve found myself sitting at home at the mercy of others. Being waited on hand and foot isn’t all bad, but it goes against my proclivity to do things for myself.
October 28, 2009
Larry: Three weeks after surgery My recovery has entered the "doldrums" period. For the first couple of weeks after hip resurfacing surgery, I was pretty upbeat while becoming acclimated to life as a semi-invalid.
October 28, 2009
Larry: Whew. It's done. My surgery went really well. At least that’s what one of the team of doctors told me the day after I had hip resurfacing. He also said my arthritis had been pretty bad. No wonder I had hurt so much in my right hip.
October 28, 2009
Larry: On the mend I received good news today (Oct. 14) during a scheduled visit to the hospital – I can go back to work.
October 15, 2009
Larry: Free, if only for a while
October 9, 2009
Larry: Things are looking up
October 7, 2009
Larry: Schedule, Schmedule… Major surgery means a major shift in your everyday schedule of events. Forget setting the clock to get up for work. Now it’s set to correspond with taking medicines, checking wound dressings, having injections and removing or putting on surgical hose.
October 6, 2009
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