Embrace the Journey: You've Got to Want it!

In Annapolis 2021

It's been almost two years since I fell and fractured my hip. My recovery seems to be complete. I don't have pain anywhere and I feel like I'm close to where I was physically before the fall. Now with the foot operation being successfully completed, walking feels wonderful. 

The fall seems like a long time ago. It was, two years. Last year, 2021 I was trying to do "normal". We traveled, we helped  Liz, Philippe and Loleh move. We played with them for three months before they moved to France. It was a whirlwind year. The elusive "walking" was always lurking as a goal in my mind. This story is really about how I wanted "it" too much too quickly in 2020.

The Covid shut down was another factor. I didn't see my usual team of therapist until mid summer. I did what I thought best, not listening to my body or my doctor. Finally, Body said, "I'm done! Enough of this. You have pushed me over the edge so, I'll just shut down."  

Walker back in action

When Body gets like that, there is no negotiating. Walker was happy to come out of retirement. We became good friends again. Walker made me feel good and safe. My lower body, hips and legs were in too much pain to walk without support of upper body. 

I created this bad place. Doing my own rehab was not good. The short walks were fine. We would drive to the bottom of the driveway to start on the pavement. I needed Donnie’s hand for balance and support. By the end of the summer of 2020,  I had graduated to walking down the driveway. 

Walking up the driveway

Our driveway is challenge under normal conditions. It's steep, long (.01 mi.),  and made of shifty, gravel. When I wanted to go farther, Donnie would always remind me, "Don't forget we have to go back up the driveway." When it's hot and I'm tired, that hill is a demon. Doing the whole route of two miles was my goal. 

Getting adjustment from Dr. Keifer

Walking was fine, but I decided adding weighs would help me achieve my goal quicker. Body probably went on strike when I did one of my usual leg, core, or upper body weight exercises that I wasn't ready to do. Doing hot yoga seemed to be going well, but the weights were too much for Body. The pain factor dictated an emergency visit to my chiropractor.

Suddenly, my life revolved around fixing this pain problem. I was going two and three times per week for chiropractic treatments. At home, I did ice therapy several times a day. I eliminated yoga and walking for a week. Week two I was able to add walking and hot yoga. I didn't try adding weights until I consulted my physical therapist. Finally after a month, I could retire Walker again.

Walking on our usual route

The sad truth is that the whole body has to recover from injuries. I've learned this the hard way. I also acknowledge that age and MS contribute to how long it takes me to fully recover. Two years later, I am close to where I was before the fall. The goal of walking 2 miles has been achieved, but not consistently. It's still elusive. My new trainer Jeanne is giving me exercises and the strategies needed to increase stamina, endurance, and pace. Finally, I feel like I'm going to maybe go beyond that 2 mile goal and do it consistently. The best part is that my hips and legs don't feel exhausted when I finish.

Maybe working toward another goal of seeing grandson Loleh and walking miles and miles around Lyon, France was just the incentive I needed. The body is amazing. Hot yoga teaches that the body is good at healing itself. That's true but, it heals on its own time, not mine.  I wanted "it" quickly and imposed my own rules. What I got was a lot of pain. I know now that Body rules.  I am trying to be more mindful, but in case I irritate Body again, I'm still good friends with Walker.