Up and Cruisin'

This post is late. I wrote it over the weekend but for some reason it didn't post: 

Thursday was long day of pre-op appointments. I met with PT in the morning. I have a long list of excercises to start on ASAP. The first two weeks are primarily passive range of motion therapy. I'll need a helper to rotate and stretch out my hip joint. I'll also be using a continuous passive motion machine six hours a day. My leg sits on it and the machine flexes my hip joint. Every hour I increase the degree from 40 to 90. 

After physical therapy I met with the short stay team to make sure I didn't have heart conditions, airway problems, or anything that might make surgery exciting. Last stop was my surgeon's physician assistant. She reviewed everything with me and I signed away my life. 

Friday I had to check in at 600am and was first up at 730. I was nervous because I don't have much expirience being on the receiving end of the knife. Overall I was just excited to finally be getting better. 

The nurses and anesthesiologists were wonderful. I opted to for the nerve block and was worried it would be as bad as the cortisone injection. Before I could get myself into a tizzy they gave me happy drugs. I'm a cheap date and 15 seconds later I was cracking jokes and telling them they could do anything to me. My vaguely remember watching the nerve block on an ultrasound screen and being wheeled into the OR. I do remember I was still laughing and thinking I was pretty much the funniest thing alive. 

Two hours later it was all over. The only pain I had was my back. During surgery they put my op leg in a boot then hang a weight off it. This stretched my hip out just enough to fit the camera and tools in my joint. I have two small incisions that are currently covered by a waterproof bandage. Sunday I can peel that off and shower. 

I spent Friday high as a kite between the anesthesia and dilauidid for pain. I had almost no pain and would have been cruising if I wasn't so drunk. I hopped up right away out of surgery and was sure I could have driven myself home. Thank god my girl loves me even when I'm drunk on pain meds and sassy. I cruised up the stairs alone when she turned her back becuase I'm INVINCIBLE on pain meds. 

Between my girlfriend and our little dog I've been in the best hands. I've been spoiled rotten. I could get used to this. 

Soaking up the Sun

I neglected the spotted beast a bit last week. I was trying to get my life in order before the big day next week. And I must admit a few days I locked myself inside with a book. I'm half extreme extrovert half hermit. I love having friends and tend to be one of the most outgoing in a group. However, I go nuts if I can't spend time being completely antisocial. After a day of reading and watching Xena warrior princess I made sure the ponies got some love. Dickie hasn't had a relaxed pony walk in a long time so we went exploring. Luckily the fates were smiling on me because it was warm and sunny. Every nice day feels like it might be the last before the mud hits. I'm praying it's nice every day this week since Friday is surgery day! 

One side if the water jump has especially green and yummy grass. He always tries to balk in that corner under saddle not because he's scared but because he wants to get to the grass. Today I left him have his way. At one point I left him there to get a drink of water. He was happy as a clam to hang out in the water eating. 

The blackberries are ripe and taste like candy. My step mom came on our walk to pick some for a cobbler. When Dickie figured out how yummy they were he kept begging. I tried to show him how to pick his own but he wasn't having it. He wanted us to do the work for him. 

Squeezing in A Ride

I'm gearing up to be out of the for almost five months. I've been out to see the ponies and usually bring a minion to do the heavy lifting. Yesterday was a rare day when I felt good enough to ride. I've been really careful about bending. I always get help tying shoes and putting socks on. I have cut out walking up/down hills. I wear yoga pants or breeches every day because I can get those on w my left foot and a grabber. 

I'm thrilled that my horse can go weeks not under saddle and he will let me hop

on. He throws in the occasional hop in and spooked a bit when he thought a deer was a horse eating monster but he's still more solid than most horses twice his age. His spooks are limited to head shakes and snorts. He's such a good boy!!  

Since I'm sure you don't want to hear me whine about my hip here are happy pics of the pony. 

Some Good News

Dickie's loose stifles resolved with the appropriate work but circumstances prevented us from continuing (crazy barn owner followed my own hip problems). Even out of shape he remains a far more forward and eager participant in the riding process. 

I've done my homework in loose stifles and his seems to be a mild case. A less saavy horse person (I'm referring to my trainer not me) probably wouldn't have even caught it. More than one person thought his attitude about turning or going forward was just him being opinionated or a baby thing. And it's not unheard of for Dickie to be very very opinionated. He's overall agreeable but when he has something to say he wants to be damned sure someone listens. 

I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing but in my research I noticed that most people got films to rule out a bone chip. His symptoms made it highly unlikely but it's been in the back of our minds. Since I'm going to be out with an injury this would have been a good time for Dickie to recuperate too. Did you catch the would have been. That's right. NO BONE CHIPS! He doesn't have any signs of joint dysfunction in either stifle. The vet was really happy with the films. His joints are so dang big that it was easy for even me to see what she was pointing out. YAY! 

I didn't realize how worried the recesses of my mind were until I heard to vets verdict. She said looks like an immature 4yo (not joint wise but muscle wise) so he still has a lot of room to fill out. 

I feel pretty confident we will come back from this time off with a vengeance. Five months will let him fill out more. He's solid in his training so I'm not worried about a nut ball when I get back on. He can sit for two weeks then pack injured out of balanced me on a trail ride without lunging. He's still like driving a drunk at times but he's not stupid and he has all the basics. It's not like he won't get handled. As soon as I'm steady on my feet he can go walking with me and I'll start a lunge program. Maybe I'll actually do some serious longe lining since we have beautiful trails. 

* Photos aren't me. They are my friend'a adorable daughter who I steal to go riding. 

On The Bench

I can't remember where I left off with my hip. Back in may I finally found a good doctor. She diagnosed my problem as femoral Acetabular impingement. Basically my femur head is malformed so a bone spur creates friction on the cartilage in my joint. My primary care doc injected my hip with cortisone and lidocaine. The lidocaine works for four hours and wiped out the pain. That meant my pain was coming from the hip. Sadly the cortisone didn't work. 

Things have continued to go downhill I had to go on disability the end of July because I can hardly function for a few hours let alone a 12 hour shift. The next step was an MRI. Dye was injected into my joint before the MRI. I met with the surgeon yesterday. I have a torn labrum (like a suction cup around the ball), thinned cartilage on the ball, and extra bone. The plan is for surgery. I will know a date sometime next week. 

I am looking forward to surgery. I know that sounds crazy. I have detoriated to the point where I'm in pain 24hours a day. It hurts to stand and sitting is even worse. I've had to borrow my moms SUV becuase driving my little car is excruciating. I have been dealing with back and hip pain for years and the end of finally in sight. I know there can be complications but at this point anything has to be better. 

The bad part is the recovery. I won't be able to drive a car for a few weeks and I've been the main driver for my family. I had to go in disability after FMLA started and I'm really scared what will happen with work. Nursing is a physically demanding job. It is hard to be finally fixing a problem that has affected my life for years but knowing that "fix" could risk my job. There really isn't a choice though becuase I can't work as things stand. 

I am sure you are wondering "WHAT ABOUT RIDING?" The answer really really sucks. My surgeon said I will be out of the saddle for 4.5 months. That is unreal to me. I won't ride a horse until 2015!! I haven't been out of the saddle that long since I started riding. Even if it was just a bareback ride on Bre during nursing school I at least got on a horse. I will be able to ride again. Next summer Dickie will be 5 and ready to do more and I'll be better than I am today. Remind me of that when I get frustrated!! 

We Still Exist

The good news:

Dickie is doing great at the new barn. We've been there over a month and everyone really is as nice as they seem. The barn owners have are incredibly responsive to my requests. Dickie is so happy. I didn't even realize how stressed he was. He loves his big pasture and playing with his buddies. He used to plant his feet when I would try to take him out to the pasture. Now he doesn't want to come in!!  We've been enjoying the trails and he splashes through the water jump like a pro. 

The bad news:

My hip has taken a quick turn for the worse. I may have had my last ride on Dickie until surgery :( I have had nagging pain for years but I was sore enough I might get hurt if he was silly. 

The worst news:

My step dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May. My mom is disabled and isn't able to take him to medical appointments. He's pretty worn out so I have been driving. It has been bittersweet. I am loving getting to spend time with him. I've known him since I was little and he has been a second dad. He's an amazing person and every second we spend together is a privilege. My time and energy will be directed to my mom and Chuck for the next few months. 

If you don't see me here I will be back I promise. 

Back on Course

The second day we arrived I took Dickie for a spin in the outdoor. The giant amazeballs outdoor. It was windy and I hadn't been on him in a month so it wasn't my wisest choice but he was a good boy. He snorted and wanted to look everywhere but where he was going but I can't blame him. The place is gorgeous and I keep gawking myself. 

Today it was hotter than hell. Those of you in hot parts of the world wouldn't care but I'm a delicate flower. I spent my summers in Alaska growing up and most of my free time in an ice skating rink. If it hits 80 I feel like I might pass out. I decided to hit the trails rather than swelter in the arena in the hopes we could find a little shade. 

The property is on 80 acres and most of it is for riding. There's a gravel access road around the property so the footing is great at all speeds.

The first part of the loop runs along a huge grassy field that was just mowed. It was killing me not to go the long way around the far side of the field but I didn't want to over do it on a hot day. 

The loop ends in the prettiest fruit orchard. I picked an apple and fed it to Dickie from his back. I realized I've never fed Dickie a treat that way. Bre and I used to ride along the Oregon trail remnants were there were old cabins and apple orchards. She was so used to me feeding her that way she'd slam on the brakes and eye ball me if I even leaned over to check my girth. 

We were both sweaty by the end but he still had tons of gas. He was spunky and asking to trot and canter the whole way. He's turning into such a fun horse. Last year just getting him around the arena was an accomplishment. These days I can hop on without even lunging. He strides out on the trail by himself brave as can be. I'm such a lucky horse owner.