Hi,
LeeApril26!! I have so many things I wanted to respond to you about in your last few days’ worth of posts, so I apologize for the length of this one!
I hope your thumbs are continuing to improve. Glad the culprint is technology
rather than arthritis (which is my problem; need to see “a hand man,” but don’t
have the heart to right now).
Your flowers from your garden are just lovely. I’m so impressed.
As for ironing, I need to iron everything—even those “no-iron blouses” I have
bought—all seasons. I wrinkle easily. All those wrinkle-release products don’t
work, either.
Sorry to grill you on the stairs, but just wondering if you are totally pain-free when
you do them? I am not, but cannot figure out if the pain is just weak-muscle pain
or arthritic pain (on the good side) or post-op surgery pain or what.
You describe pain very well, though I’m so sorry at how terrible it must be. (Your
description of what “putting out your back” feels like. I have been lucky to not have that kind of back pain. Just a lower back throb and ache that is annoying. I do think
moving things, lugging things, leaning over does not help. (I did ask my OS prior to
surgery if my big, heavy tote bag could be the culprit and he said no.)
You have been through a lot … thinking about your son and his casts. You are one
strong person (inside and out). I’m glad to hear you are listening to your PT and then
doing half of what she recommends.
I’m also so glad to hear you are able to make it to the pool! I know how therapeutic
that has meant to you. Do you have to drive in to Manhattan or do you have a local
pool that’s an option? So it’s six weeks till you take the subway? That’s good to know. It helps to have a clue. I keep getting asked why I’m not taking the subway yet. Sigh. People don’t get it. In my case, the stress of the crowds on the platforms and on the train drove me crazy. I could never get up early enough to avoid them—
either parents with kids; or tourists groups. I could not stand it. And I grew to fear
the people sneezing on or near me (because of the surgery). I am darn lucky to have
a bus, and the relief from just getting to sit there without packs of people is a slice of heaven I am not wanting to give up in terms of getting to and from work daily. But I know I will someday want and need to take the subway to other places. Just don’t want to do it twice a day during rush hour 5 days a week. We will have to compare
notes when we take our first train rides!
The groin pain for me was thought to be from a torn labrum; I took few cabs or cars,
but had a hard time getting the leg in. In fact, the car that took me to the hospital was a minivan and I had to be helped into it by the driver and two of my relatives. It was shocking how hard it was. I feel for people who have had to drive with this hip pain. Right now I have groin pain (if that is the right word) that is at the tops of my thighs, where they meet the joint. Not the inner-thigh, lower-area pain that I had pre-op that I describe as groin pain. That is gone.
No … no coffee drinking at 2 a.m.! I drink it all during the day to combat The Energy Drain (and poor quality sleep and boredom and frustration at work).
So happy you are on your fainting couch! Is it comfy? I have now found the right cushions to put onto my low couch and sit there instead of just on the couch. I was wrong to tackle low couches and low toilet seats just because the restriction was lifted. Too painful.
As for that traffic jam with the window washers … the bus driver couldn’t deny me and the others the right to get on the bus. I think he wasn’t sure how long the jam would last and was warning us he wasn’t going anywhere for a long time.
Thanks (I think, says the drunken-sailor-spender in me) for that shoe site! I sighed when I saw those pink (they look pink to me, not brown) ballerina flats. I used to live
in ballerina flats. Loved them to death. But can’t wear them anymore. I have two pairs left in my closet that have fairly supportive soles, which I will wear again someday. But not for a while. How do you like your Keens sandals? They are very cute, but I wonder if my baby toe would fall out. How long are you not supposed to wear sandals, per your OS? Did you show us your burgundy felt ones? I’d love a peek. I keep looking in at EasySpirit stores, but don’t see a thing I think I can wear this summer. Still wearing clodhopper (but spankin’ new, at least) walking shoes, as in sneakers/trainers as our British pals say. So sick of them, but they make me feel secure.
I just got to your PT evaluation! Wonderful news about your ROM! You must feel so good about that. It surely is a load off, and gives you confidence to tackle more things
as you feel able to. I don’t know beans about PT, obviously, but I would think long car rides would contribute more to back pain than scar tissue. But again, what do I know.
I think walking one half mile comfortably is a huge deal. I still have pain when I walk and sit. I could probably walk half mile without sitting, but I would really really want to sit and would need to. When you add that to all of your water work and PT, you are really doing so great and I hope you feel that way too. It must feel good to notice you are stronger and quicker! I was just thinking yesterday how I appear to walk in a slow, lumbering way rather than quick. Quicker is good!
You are doing incredibly well! As I said, a very strong lady (inside and out).
Hope you have a wonderful weekend and upcoming week!
Australia
I hope I have the stamina to shop some this year!
Here is one, but, ho well, I can't buy one this year, they're sold out, according to this web page! (Just kidding... wouldn't think of it right now!) https://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/37019?page=yak-board-package-by-ocean-kayak&subrnd=0
) He also volunteered to take the tape off, after I asked about it, but he was chuckling evilly, so I passed on that. What i can see, where the tape came off at the bottom 2 weeks ago, is white , with two red points as though there had been staples there, probably from some tool~~~~~shudder~~~~I'm not going there
He showed me a circular pattern followed by an across motion. So I don't have any oils at all yet, but I rub it gently several times a day when it's staring me in the face, if you get my drift....
