Pain #2 – the hips don’t lie

Not going all Shakira just yet. Think my disco days will have to wait until 2025 🕺🤩

Just over 2 weeks on from surgery and over a week since I got home so time for a quick (hmmmm) reflection on where I am with pain now – certainly improved from last week.

Still on the paracetamol and codeine cycle though moved down Co-codemol. Using ibuprofen in the gaps as well as oramorph. I even have my own pills basket now. .👍

The nights are much better though I still need to get up every 2-3 hours.

The raw pain from the coccyx is so much better. Avoiding sitting up has given it time to improve. I still see it like a troll lying under the bridge waiting to cause chaos if I wake it up. A good reason to take my recovery slowly 🧌👹

The wound at the back still needs managing. Much less intense but still some way off sitting up comfortably. First thing in the morning there is a sharp pain that subsides to a dull ache during the day. Occasionally feels heavy if I am on my feet too long. Stops me extending my stride length.

The other surgery wounds are fine. The key hole marks in the tummy are clearing away. The stoma is settling with no pain.

So to Shakira. A new aspect is managing the law of unintended consequences. As I now lie propped up my hips are getting leant on more. Mostly not a deep pain but creates an ache in the hip muscles and joints. Changing position helps, movement helps. Similarly the right shoulder and left knee are taking the strain from not sitting up.

Looking back to last week I have dropped the intense pain – having a good structure to pain relief is helping. I am having to get used to low level aches and pains throughout the day. Maybe that’s a sign of my age as much as my recovery 👨‍🦳

That I am this far is amazing. As the consultant said last Friday, some people would only just be getting out of hospital. 💪 . I still look forward my midday nap and will continue to take it slowly. 🐢