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| Teddy Bear Cove January 21, 2025 |
I didn't realize when I took this shot at Teddy Bear Cove last month that it would be the last hike I would be sharing with so many good Senior friends for awhile, but it was.
I took a very bad fall on the ice and wrote about it in detail here last Sunday, if you want the whole story. For now, I'm being grateful that I am much better than this time last week. But I am still not there. The other part of getting older is forgetting how much longer it takes to get back to normal after an injury. The good part is that I can now make it out of bed by myself and can crawl back in without help. Of course, that doesn't mean I am not truly enjoying being tucked into bed like a baby. I have stopped taking all drugs, even though I have a few set aside in case I really need something. Twice so far I have attempted to do my morning Five Tibetan Rites, which I have done every single day for decades. Until now.
The first time I tried them, I couldn't even get from a sitting position on the floor to standing without extreme discomfort. I managed to spend maybe an hour going from one sitting position to the next. And then I needed to take a muscle relaxer and 2 Advil, and decided it was too soon to try them. Then yesterday, just over a week since the injury, I tried again. I was able to do some modifications but managed a few poses without too much pain. It was only the last Rite that I still cannot do at all. I'm thinking that if I am not well enough to do them next week, I'll order a back brace from Amazon and continue trying. It seems like a long way from where I am today to being able to hike, do my volunteer work, and attend yoga classes once again.
But what else can I do? Just keep on trying and noticing how much better I am with each passing day. I've learned that the SI joint (the right one was shattered back in 2000) is responsible for transferring the weight from my torso to my legs.
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| Red area shows where the pain is |
The x-ray tech was nice enough to show me the x-rays, so I could see the two pins that reside in the joint, and I could plainly see the device that the doctor placed in my back, after he needed to just plug the artery, rather than try to sew it back together. I've managed quite well, all these years later, until I went and re-injured it. Fortunately I am resilient and used to pain, so I am hoping I will once again be back to a semblance of normal. The good thing is that I able to get up and dress myself, careful to pay attention to my movements. I stop when I feel pain. A week later, I am off the meds, able to get out of bed by myself, and even able to do a bit of grocery shopping, with help from SG. So, life is good, if I will acknowledge my good fortune.
Our awful and unusual cold snap has broken, finally. We had more than two weeks of cold where the high temperature for the day didn't even reach the freezing point. But now the rain has returned, along with much warmer temps. I received a bill for last month's electric usage (we have electric heat) and was shocked at the number, more than $100 higher than I've ever gotten before. Another reminder that we are all in the same boat of trying to find our bearings in a changed world. If I compare my situation with many others, I am still blessed with a wonderful partner, relative health, and a place to live that I can mostly afford. Not to mention good food, an internet connection, and lots of virtual family to converse with.
I'm doing my best to navigate the news these days, keeping the most distressing parts on a short leash, as they say. When it gets really bad, I stream a comedy show or something else that will make me smile and gain some perspective.
Keep your face always toward the sunshine, and shadows will fall behind you. —Walt Whitman
This morning, John will not be coming to take me to breakfast. He went out dancing last night and knew he would be staying up later than usual, so he wants to get enough sleep. I am fine with it, although I'll miss seeing him. And it's still too soon for me to attempt my exercises, so I'll snuggle into my recliner with my feet up, and enjoy the world as it is today, not as I wish it to be. I hope that you, dear friends, will find joy and peace in your life. You deserve it, as do I. Until we meet again next week, I wish you all good things. Be well.
14 comments:
Glad you are caring for yourself as you heal (baby steps) much as us of older bodies do. It makes me amazed somewhat to not have had a similar circumstance yet, when so many of my friends have fallen. It almost happened as a shoe caught on a step as I almost reached the bottom of a stairway the other day...but I had my hand near the railing and caught it that time. Fingers crossed for avoiding such. And many virtual wishes going to you for painless healing and that you can be more mobile again as soon as feasible.
DJan, I'm glad you are taking it slow. Your hiking, volunteering, and Yoga will be there when you're mended. Read some good books or start a new hobby - it's amazing how interest can be peaked when you start something new. I haven't sewed or quilted in ages, yet my granddaughter's cat (Harvey) had a birthday and she forgot to get him a gift... so we sewed up a catnip toy for him when she was here. Now... I might start sewing again...
Seriously! Give yourself another week before you try your exercises. You're old enough to know better. 😎
Sending you wishes for quick healing! I find the news quite depressing these days; have to closely monitor my exposure to much of it.
I sure am sorry you're still dealing with this DJan, I know it's difficult for someone as active as yourself to be sidelined. Those older injuries looked pretty severe. I'm convinced you'll get there--your former self--soon enough.
I know it's hard, but please don't push yourself. Baby steps and you will heal. It's just more gradual the older we get.
We are still in the deep, deep freeze over here. Windchills of down to 50 below from today through Tuesday. Been a very cold winter here, so it doesn't surprise me it is colder than usual there, too. Take it easy!! :)
Good to hear that you can do more things and that you are taking it easy. Very cold here/like Rita said and I am 75 miles North of her! I am headed to the grocery store today and we may go out for supper tomorrow night after the kids return from a tropical vacation, but then we will stay put until we have to go out on Thursday.
As you can see from some of the above comments, cold is relative. There's cold and then there's COLD! We are glad that i t is warming up too. I ear our heat bill will be huge, because sitting around so much of the day I get cold so I turn the heat up to 70 much earlier in the day than usual.
Right now I am also snuggled in my recliner, which is still also where I spend the night. My progress is good, if complicated by previous hip and back problems and surgeries, so it sounds like we have much in common right now. We'll both press on.
I admire your resilience and determination to heal at your own pace. It's incredible how in tune you are with your body, knowing when to push forward and when to rest. It sounds like you're making steady progress, and I have no doubt that with time, you'll be back to your hikes, yoga, and daily rituals. In the meantime, I hope you continue to find comfort in the little joys—being tucked into bed, a warm home, and the kindness of loved ones. Wishing you continued healing and strength in the days ahead!
One of my hardest realizations about aging was the length of time it takes to heal, as you said. Patience is hard but essential. My wish for you, Jan, is that this time next week you will have made more progress to recovery! Have a healing week.
When we have a history and pattern of being very active it's hard to be tied down. It doesn't help for me to say ,"Be patient". So enjoy your down time and I hope you recuperate rapidly
February 27, 2025
Sending warmest wishes for a speedy recovery for you Jan. It is good to see that some of my Blogging friends are still blogging. Warmest wishes to you as you recover.
DJan, Just wanted to make sure you didn’t miss the image of Mt Baker in The Seeing Bellingham Group on Facebook. One of the best images I’ve ever seen of the mountain. Enjoy!
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1KMfTiRbsK/
John
Sounds like you`re actually doing well being back to some exercises after only a week. At our age I`d be thinking much more like 2-3 weeks. Try to have patience. As for t he news, the DT sage just seems to go from bad to worse. Canadian are running scared after decades of close friendship.
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