Walking back to health...

Day one.

Published on September 5, 2005 By dharmagrl In Misc

I went for a proper walk today.

Not a stroll, but a proper, pace-yourself and get into your stride walk.

I tacked up with my Camel-Bak and ate a banana before I went, then Dave, the kids, Henry and I set off.

It went well. We walked close to 2 miles, and I wasn't in pain at the end of it. I'm still not hurting.

I'm so glad to get out of the house and be active again. I'm going to try and walk every day this week...I think that Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays are going to be 2 mile days, and Tuesdays and Thursdays are going to days off. I'm scared of doing too much....but I'm equally scared of not doing enough.

I'm on my feet again, and it's awesome!

Comments

Dr Guy

on Sep 05, 2005

You Mason, and Trudy should start a Support club. I think Mason should be the DI since he is the farthest along (and he is a tough SOB!). Congratulations! Look forward to your 20 miler soon!

dabe

on Sep 05, 2005

Good for you, dharma. I am jealous. I'm still sitting here with my leg up and rather miserable. My dog is bored to death cuz I haven't walked her in two weeks (she has the run of the yard), and I'm still hurting.

I see the orthopod tomorrow, and we'll see what he has planned for me. I really hate this.......

TasT

on Sep 05, 2005

glad to hear that your up and moving!

Remember work your way up slow and you'll be back to your normal activity level in no time!

dharmagrl

on Sep 05, 2005

Remember work your way up slow and you'll be back to your normal activity level in no time!

Thing is, I don't even know what 'normal' is anymore. I've been out of commission for so long because of my back that 'normal' is...well, nothing.

I can't do much yoga yet, but what I can do, I have been doing. Walking is the best way for me to exercise and, more importantly, ensure a good, solid fusion of the vertebrae. So, I'm walking. My rule of thumb has been (and will still be) that if I start to hurt on the walk (even if it's only slightly) that I stop and go home to rest, and not walk again for another 2 days. If I can walk the same distance 3 or 4 days in a row without hurting, then I can slowly start to increase.
I started out the week before last by strolling to the store about 5 blocks away. That went well, so I started pacing myself up there and back. Then I walked the dog 4 days last week, and that went equally well so I undertook the 2 miler today. I'm going to see how a mile feels tomorrow...and if that goes well, I'm doing 2 miles on Wednesday.
I'm getting there....

Moderateman

on Sep 05, 2005

good on ya D.. be gentle with yerself.

MM

Moderateman

on Sep 05, 2005

#2 by dabe
Monday, September 05, 2005

did not know you were hurt dabe, a thought going out for the best.

MM

dabe

on Sep 06, 2005

did not know you were hurt dabe, a thought going out for the best.

Broke my ankle. I've been home for two weeks, with my leg up, taking pain pills. I see the orthopod tomorrow, and we'll take it from there. If all goes well, I'll go back to work on wednesday. I hate crutches. Alot.

dharmagrl

on Sep 06, 2005

Broke my ankle. I've been home for two weeks, with my leg up, taking pain pills.

Aww, chickie! I'm sorry. I know that it sucks to be laid up and not able to do much of anything. Hopefully the doc will have some news for you today and you'll be able to go back to work this week...or at least be back on your feet again.

How'd you do it this time? I know that you said that you'd broken your leg a coupla times before....

good on ya D.. be gentle with yerself.

I am, MM,and thanks!

dabe

on Sep 06, 2005

How'd you do it this time? I know that you said that you'd broken your leg a coupla times before....

This time, I had just returned from work (two weeks ago tomorrow), let my dog out of the house, and was playing with her in the yard, like I do every day. Well, I was running and cutting and expecting her to jump up on me, so I turned away, like I always do, and in the process, my ankle just collapsed.

I lay there for a moment, saying to Zuki, "Zuki, I'm in trouble." Zuki is a 110 lbs German Shepherd cross, so I used her to help me get up. I've trained her to respond to the command "hold", which means be still and strong, and let me lean on you. I live alone, so I called a friend, who came over, who then called an ambulance. High drama, for sure.

I suffered a hairline fracture of my fibula, but worse really is that my ankle has sustained a severe, as in Grade 3 sprain.

Previous fractures include:
dislocated fx of left tibia and fibula, just below my knee
dislocated fx of fibula just above my left ankle one year later
Avulsion fx of my right big toe
dislocated fx of my 5th metatarsal on right foot
compression fx of 10th thoracic vertebrae from a boating accident
Other injuries include:
concussion
torn ligaments in right thumb, requiring surgery
so many sprains of left and right ankles, I've lost count
I know I'm missing something.........

I dunno. I just play and work hard. And, I'm kind of clumsy, I guess. Now that I'm 54, I even have some osteopenia (not quite osteoporosis), to make matters worse. And, on top of that, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in 1983, then the dx was changed to psoriatic arthritis in 1998. I'm an orthopedic's delight, I suppose, though I look at it as an orthopedic disaster. This is getting really old, for sure.

Thanks for your thoughts, and thank you MM for yours. Means alot.

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