A final sign off from NGH

An appointment this morning with my consultant at Northampton General Hospital where he gave me a full discharge which means I am not under their immediate care any more - that's wonderful news and means I can get on with life (not that I haven't been getting on with life!).

One year on

It is a year ago today that I broke my hip; a challenging year that is sorting itself out very well now following my total hip replacement in June.

I saw a consultant Orthopaedic man on last Friday; he is very pleased with my progress but does say it will probably take until approximately mid-2017 (a year on from the total hip replacement) to fully 'recover' and get all my strength back in my right leg but at the same time he does advise working (!) and playing normally.

However the purpose of this post is not to talk about my hip but to take the opportunity of saying 'thank you' (in reality two totally inadequate words in the circumstances) to all of you for all the kindness, help, support, taxi services, mothering, counselling and just being there and so on over the last year - it's been a huge help and something that makes me feel so very humble and is something I shall never forget.

On Wednesday (2-November) I helped crew Sculptor - the Canal & River Trust's historic, former working boat, based at the Canal Museum in Stoke Bruerne - back from Weedon where it had been undergoing some much needed maintenance.  It's a year since I crewed Sculptor; I was pleased to realise I hadn't forgotten how to bring her through the 2.8km of Blisworth Tunnel without touching the sides!

And what does the future hold?  Well the lovely Orthopaedic man said that in all probability my new hip will last some time but conversely it may fail without warning. He said it is man-made and we were never as good at putting things together as mother nature.  Live life (just the one life!) as if your hip hadn't been replaced but if it fails just let us know and we'll get the tools out to repair it - wise advice I think.

Thank you all so much and with special thanks to:

• Liz Soames of Working Bodies in Towcester who has persevered with me over the last year.
• Stephanie (Mother) Furniss
• Vicky Martin - who was always 'there' for me in the early days
• Rob & Helen Westlake who made sure I didn't spend last Christmas at home after being discharged from NGH on 23-December
• José Blanco who repaired me (twice!)

It's almost a year since I broke my hip

I had an appointment with an Orthopaedic Consultant today - what a lovely man he is.

He says I am doing very well and that with any luck the new hip will see me out but to be aware that it also may not last - it's just one of those things because the hip is now man-made there is the possibility of it failing.

Well I suppose that's a risk we take in life and where would I be if the NHS hadn't replaced it (after trying so hard to repair it).

He did say that I should try and forget that I have had my hip replaced and just get on and enjoy life which is what I think I have been doing for the last few months so that's what I'll do and unless there is something important to say I'll not update this blog.

Time to close the blog?

Last time I decided to close this blog my hip 'collapsed' but I do feel I am doing so well (my friend Vicky said that I had made an industry of getting back to full fitness) that the chances of any complications are really very small.

The walking continues well - yesterday I accomplished over 4km without going more that 100m from home - it was Village at War weekend in Stoke Bruerne though and very busy!

An odd phone call

My phone rang this morning and on the other end of the line was Northampton General Hospital. They asked me to confirm who I was and that I had recently had a hip replacement - no problem there!

It turns out they thought I had been discharged yesterday and were keen to offer me physio as soon as possible.  I explained that it was about 11.5 weeks since my hip replacement on 15-June. There was a deathly silence and then NGH said they would like to see me anyway!

Can't believe it has taken them that long to call me and even more dumbfounded to be told the earliest they can see me is 14-September!  No wonder the NHS is in trouble.

Still doing well

Sculptor returning David's coffin to Stoke Bruerne
after a trip into Blisworth Tunnel

I am going from strength-to-strength still although my back let me down a little yesterday (Saturday) but seems much better this morning thank goodness.  Liz, my physio, is very pleased with my progress but I suspect the exercises she now has me doing may have exacerbated the issues with my lower back - I'll take life more easily for the next few days!

A huge funeral in Stoke Bruerne this week for David Blagrove - the church, which I understands holds 200 people seated, was reputed to have a congregation of 500!  It was a lovely day all all respects - beautiful weather and a fitting send off for a man who has been at the heart of the waterways for such a long time.

Going from strength to strength

I noticed last Sunday that I no longer think about going up the stairs in my house - despite it being a Georgian design (Victorian built) with eight  inch risers on the treads I seem to be able to do it now without a backward look.  I am sure that is in the main due to my physio (still nothing provided by the NHS despite promises) and I think my walking helps a lot - see graph - the big spike is the day I spent in Woking for the 50th Anniversaries of the Basingstoke Canal Society and the Historic Narrowboat Club. My average is 3.4km (just over 2 miles) a day which I expect is greater than the average of the population.

I am not sure how accurate my iPhone is at recording my walking but I suppose the graph is recording like with like so that's a known quantity/quality.

Back to boating today too - we took Sculptor down to the A508 to wind her (only place we really can) and then I brought her back to Stoke Bruerne. Had the pleasure of passing Owl and Hampton at the top lock (after Jim on Owl had spent some time on the historic mooring in Stoke Bruerne removing a wedding dress from his propellor).

Things still going well

Although I am not back to doing everything I used to do I am still making, what I consider, good progress.  The day in Woking didn't set me back at all and I continue my walking every day - not always a great distance but as often as possible at least just above the long term average if I possibly can.

My physio, Liz, has left it to me to make the next appointment as she feels I am making such good progress but of course she has given me some fairly strenuous exercises to undertake!

Part of me wishes so much that I had been given a new hip all those months ago in November-2015 but I am assured the right decision was made (for me and the NHS) to try and make the Dynamic Hip Screw work.  However there's not much to be gained from looking backwards and saying 'I wish' and the right way is to look forward and take advantage of the work that was done for me.

A Grand Day Out

Went to Woking yesterday to help celebrate the 50th Anniversaries of Basingstoke Canal Society and Historic Narrow Boat Club, both of which I am a member of.

It was just a wonderful day - seeing people I had worked with (and formed long-standing relationships with) over 25 years of living alongside the Basingstoke Canal. Some, of course sadly no longer with us but I hope that wherever they are they too can look down and share the pride of a wonderful day which continues today as well.

I did take my crutches, mainly because I was concerned I may fall over on the rough ground (and of course to garner sympathy) but at the same time managed to walk, according to my iPhone some 8.89km - a record.

Progressing well

Updated 'walking' graph
I am using my iPhone to measure and not sure it is 100% accurate

I seem to be going from strength to strength at the moment.  I managed almost 6km yesterday according to my iPhone. Up very early to facilitate ITV's weather broadcast from Stoke Bruerne in conjunction with friends Steph and Mike. 04:00 starts don't seem to be my most favourite pastime these days!

No consultant appointments until April although I'll continue with my physio with Liz in the meantime as I think it brings huge benefits and has been a great help in my recovery; it's just over seven weeks since the new hip was put in.

I have today received the most positive letter from the registrar to the consultant I have - my friend José.  Although this is mainly for my sister, all those tens of thousands of miles away it just makes good reading.

This lady is doing incredibly well.  I am so pleased to see her running into the room and even able to perform a little dance.  She says that the hip was not particularly pleasant for the first three or four days and then has been gradually improving to the point where she was driving her sports car into hospital today and whilst she is still using a walking stick whilst outdoors her general function and mobility is greatly improved.

I am pleased to say she is Trendelenburg negative although she does feel some weakness and a bit of an ache around the hip abductors and the wound has healed very well.  There are no distal neurovascular deficits and she is very pleased with the outcome.

We had a long discussion as to the biomechanics of her total hip replacement and the longevity of her implant selection.  Overall she is very happy with the explanations given and I am pleased to say that she has a good understanding of what is happening.

She is very keen to get back to her narrowboat and I have explained that while there is a small chance of fracture specifically of peri-prosthetic fracture should she have any falls or tumbles this is low risk and as long as she takes adequate and sensible precautions I would be quite happy for her to get back to doing the activities she enjoys.

I have not arranged to see her any sooner than about 9 to 10 months but of course I would be happy to do so should she run into any problems or you become concerned.

Another Little Milestone

Owl starting up after coming down Buckby
breasted to Sculptor in June-15

This afternoon I walked all the way down to the bottom of the Stoke Bruerne flight of locks where I met friends Jim and Sue with their historic boat Owl and also their son Tim and daughter-in-law Jo with Hampton.

I walked all the way down and then back again - about 2 miles I should think but it is another little milestone on the road to full recovery. I do feel a little bit stiff this evening!

Blood Pressure

My blood,pressure has been all over the place recently from too low to too high.  I have been on some medication for that and today the practice nurse said that all was looking very good at 130/84 - not ideal but definately going in the right direction.

So what with a good report from the consultant on Tuesday and a good report on blood pressure today I feel as if I may be getting out of the (necessary I know) clutches of the medical profession who, on the whole, have done me proud.

Consultant Appointment

A record of my walking for 'physio' purposes

My consultant appointment originally scheduled for Monday was changed at the last minute to 14:00 today.  I saw José Blanco who undertook my original operation back in November 2015.  I walked in, spun around, and looked at him and he said that I could now go home as cured!

I had a lovely chat with José explaining in detail what had gone wrong with the original repair and how they had carried out their 'revision'; he showed me all the x-Rays and how the Dynamic Hip Screw had migrated vertically upwards - quite amazing to see.  We went into all sorts of detail about torsional, compression and shear loads; we seemed to have drawings everywhere of how things had been repaired (that's a revision); I am now very happy that I understand what has been done and the life expectancy of the replacement hip - José is rather hopeful that it may possibly see me into the long box - I don't suppose it will burn very well - but not to hesitate to shout if something doesn't seem to be right.

A Dynamic Hip Screw (bottom) in the
Fracture Clinic 'Museum'

José also explained why, in his opinion, it was right that I was prevented from weight-bearing for so long originally - 7-Nov to 21-Dec and it was all to do with the location of the original break.  He said that if I had been allowed to weight-bear earlier that repair would have failed earlier; preventing me from weight-bearing for the period they did gave, in his opinion, the repair the best possible chance. The fact that it failed was, with hindsight, almost inevitable.

I talked to José about the lack of physio.  He said that I should have been offered physio and a carer.  He kindly offered to arrange physio but as I had arranged my own and as I had made such good progress we decided fairly quickly that the moment had passed as it had for the need for a career.  I am so pleased I have Liz and can call on her to help when needed as it most certainly was when I was discharged from hospital on 21-June.

He finished up by giving me a big kiss and saying that seeing me so mobile after all these months made his job so very satisfying - that's good news. I must say in hindsight it has been a fairly tough eight and a half months.

My next appointment is not until sometime in April-2017 - I must say I am delighted at that because I am slightly heartily sick of being prodded, poked and interviewed by the medical profession.

Lots of walking

I have always had the view that once the surgeons have done their bit responsibility passes to me to ensure their work and expertise was worthwhile. To that end I have undertaken a lot of walking, much the same route here in Stoke Bruerne - up the towpath to the tunnel portal, a quick chat with Bob the Blacksmith, up the Boathorse Road to the intersection with the Woodland Walk, down the Woodland Walk, pausing for a sit down on one of the seats and then back down the towpath to home.  Occasionally I go south and walk down the line of the canal, with all its locks and then back again.

I have been averaging about 3k a day which I hope will meet with the consultant's approval when I see him on Tuesday.  I think I may have overdone it yesterday (4.5k) as I feel a little stiff this morning. I'll sort that out today with a shorter walk or perhaps ask my physio Liz to give my leg muscles a good massage when I see her on Monday.

A date for the fracture clinic

A phone call today whilst sheltering from the wonderful heat - 31c at 15:00 - to say I have a fracture clinic appointment for 14:00 on Tuesday. Another trip to the delights of Northampton and its hospital. I'll be interested to see the X-Rays and know what's been put in my hip!

Not too much walking yesterday as it was so hot but I still managed about 2.5km.

Wednesday is my friend Trevor's funeral - I have decided not to go as my doctor says driving that distance is currently 'crazy' and Trevor's mum agrees so it will be off to a local pub to raise a glass in his memory.

The heat is dissipating a bit now - it was stifling especially as there was virtually no wind to move any air.

Getting better still

Although I still get tired very quickly (my physio Liz says that's quite usual) I really do feel so much better every day.  The internal swelling seems to be going down which allows more movement in my hip.

My doc won't allow me to drive to Bristol (well halfway between Bristol and Bath) tomorrow for my friend Trevor's funeral and I can't find anyone who can 'reasonably' take me.  Hopefully my friend Steph and I will pop down to the pub at lunchtime and raise a glass in his memory.

A lovely warm Saturday

When did we last have a lovely warm summer's day I wonder. Well we had one today and the next few days looks very promising.

I have walked quite some distance today - 5,565 steps according to my iPhone and I know that's at least two return trips to the tunnel portal. Total steps by the time I went to bed was 6,219 or about 4.35km - feeling it a bit stiff this morning so I expect it was too much so I'll take things a little less enthusiastically for the next few days!

My friends Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry are here so we all went to the Boat Inn last night. Today I saw a lovely front door 'bell' in the blacksmiths so after measuring up (it needed that) Bob the Blacksmith is going to come and install it next week.  Adam and Adrian popped in this afternoon and persuaded me to have an ice cream (against my better judgement of course!) so I have enjoyed a very busy day.

Tomorrow Rodney & Valerie, Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry and I are going to Woodward's restaurant and tonight my friend Tim Carter has William in the long pound so we are going to the Spice of Bruerne.  Too much enjoyment really!

Continuing Good Progress

My progress continues well - I can almost sleep on my right hand side but not quite.  It is four weeks today that my hip was replaced and just three weeks yesterday that I came home. I spoke to a lady on a boat going through Top Lock today and she thought I was weeks ahead of where she had been some three and a half years ago; long may that continue.

I saw my GP last night but he didn't seem too interested in the lack of post operative support I have (not) received so my decision to make a formal complaint direct to NGH seems to have been the right choice.

I went for a walk today with Pete Gray from Canal & River Trust to look at places a memorial bench could be sited - that really is getting back to normality. Today is also 'adoption day' in Stoke Bruerne when we try and maintain the land around the canal - I am not quite up to that yet but hopefully will be soon; I have been out to see 'the boys' and check on the work being done!

My iPhone says I have covered 2,243 steps today - not the most since my hip was replaced but it is only lunchtime! I haven't put many steps on this afternoon mainly because I fell asleep in front of the television - probably my mind was numbed by the media fawning over the change of Prime Minister.

Better and better

It seems I am getting better and better day-by-day - trying to take less in the way of medicines - still have to inject myself in the tummy with anti-DVT stuff every evening (it's looking very bruised) but there's only eight more days to go.

Still nothing from the NHS (I have copied in my MP - Andrea Leadsom - but I do think she probably has enough on her plate at the moment)! I am seeing my GP tomorrow evening for a 'post discharge follow up' but just remember that I was discharged on 21-June; the NHS really has to get its post operative care in a much better state than it is at the moment.  My friend Sam who lives just around the corner has had wonderful support from NGH (he sadly had a stroke) but my support is but nothing so perhaps it is not the NHS (or NGH) but it depends on what ailments one has.  Whatever the case I am not best impressed with the 'post discharge' support I have seen.

A quiet day

Can you sew as well this?

We had a quiet day at home yesterday and a very naughty breakfast at the Navigation!

Lots going on a round here at the moment because it is British Grand Prix weekend just up the road at Silverstone so my neighbour James is very busy as he is a photographer and very involved in F1.  There are cars everywhere but as it is James' big weekend of the year whatever happens just happens!

Sue and I watched the semi-finals of the gentlemen's tennis; we are now set for a Murray v Raonic final on Sunday! Neither of us are that keen on women's tennis so today will be quiet.

I was 'doorstepped' by a man called Michael Crick who once lived in Stoke Bruerne who was seeking my views on Andrea Leadsom (my local MP) as a prime ministerial candidate for Channel 4 news.  I think she would be very good but I'd be slightly concerned that her duties may mean restricted access to her as my MP.

Hip doing well - the steri-strips are coming off now but the scar does look good and 'healthy' - assuming a scar can look healthy.

Just back from a walk - have covered just over 2.5km - about the length of Blisworth Tunnel (give or take).  Feeling my age at the moment but I really feel I do need to push at the boundaries a bit.  I was most fortunate in that my very good friend, Sue, who lives in Cardiff, is staying and could accompany me on the walk.