Finally back 5/20/13

Here it is May 20, 2013 and I can finally say I am back. Oh, there is still a limp, and I'm not as quick as I was, but now the problems are just getting exercise. No longer does the exercise lead to anything more than sore muscles. This means I'll be back to dancing more and boardgaming less, that work on the house and the business will not be delayed because I can't do what needs to be done for pain. It has been a long and interesting journey, one I do not recommend to anyone else, but I have learned so many things - both about myself and the communities I find myself within. I have managed to surround myself with awesome people, intelligent, thought-provoking, stimulating folks. And please don't tell me to listen to my body - all it ever seems to say is "Can we take a nap now?" I love that my life has not been boring, although I could have done with less pain. This is likely the last post here, if you wish to catch up with me then find me at a dance or boardgaming, I'll be glad to say hi and chat a bit.

Current Frustration/Progress

So healing has been proceeding, surgeon was seen on the 16th and seems happy with progress.  We discussed how the leg is sensitive in three spots, where the screws protrude - likely to remain so.  I stated that the sensitivity was not significant enough to consider a surgery to remove the hardware, I suppose we will discuss it again in Feb at our final appointment.

Tuesday saw the PT guys, who focused on myofacial (?) release of the knee area.  At the end of it I was bending the knee 130 degrees, almost where the right knee gets, with no pain.  It was awesome.  Sadly, by the time I finished errands and got home the knee felt as swollen as before and has not really wanted to do such a deep bend again.  I go to PT again in 2 weeks and am really hoping that by then the knee will have recovered to a nice bendy move again.

As a side note, halloween costume this year - yeah, I got one.

New mower assembled and tested, #7 down

The new electric mower arrived Tuesday, I finally took the time today to unpack and assemble it, find an extension cord and give it a try.  It worked well, as did I.  I think this is #7 on my top 10 list, still not half way to recovered but making progress.  Now to start getting the non-working gas mowers to the repair shop to get an opinion on fixing vs freecycle.  I also need to pick up a longer extension cord as 50' only gets me 25' out of the garage.  Why haven't I put in an electric outlet by the front where the light switch is?  I'll just add that to the to-do list.

No update on the Top 10, but not for lack of trying

Well, I was going to start mowing today, put on the grungy clothes, went out, filled the push mower (run it dry each year), added oil - and nothing.  I have now spent more time trying to get it to run than I had planned to spend mowing.  Shouldn't be surprised, this mower is 5 or 6 years old and that is typically when they stop running and I buy a new one.  I now have two non-running push mowers and one riding mower that needs work.  So tonight I will head out and see about buying a new push mower, and try again tomorrow.

Guy says goodbye

Today at 2:30pm Guy died.  He was well loved during his life, but over the past week he had gone downhill in his health.  He was no longer happy here and so I decided it was time to let him go.  Love is hard.

5 Waltzes on Sunday and still moving on Monday

Had a great time being the Dance Chair Minion at the FSGW Sunday Night Contra last night.  Had five great, slow, straight waltzes with partners who were ever so gentle with me.  I did put ice on the leg when I got home that night, and took some ibuprofen.  Got up Monday and while the leg was sore, and stiff, it still moved.  PT went well, they are working on periostalis (?) now, the swelling of the membrane around the bone.  I would swear when he was done today the leg felt better deep down than it has in months.  No pain meds today, probably some to sleep.

Oh and removed the just-in-case chair from the shower - number 9 on my list.

2 Contras and 2 Waltzes were 2 Much

Saturday evening was the Frederick Contra Dance, my home dance and I volunteer.  It was also Summer Tunes which meant a wall of sound to dance to.  So I did.  In the first half I danced a Contra and the Waltz, then repeated in the second half.  Went to the after dance party and was offered ice packs, which I used.  Sadly, the knee still felt as though I had pounded on it all evening when I got up Sunday.

Sunday evening I was shadowing Penelope in training for being the acting Dance Chair next Sunday.  I danced two waltzes and I suspect had my knee not been stressed from Saturday it would not be fussing at me today.

All my dances were great, with wonderful partners who really took care to be gentle with me.

And now a note from Guy, the cat:  All this dancing is getting in the way of her being present and available for me when I wish to be petted, fed fried chicken or simply wish to complain about life in general.  I really think that you folks need to limit this dancing thing, oh and that boardgaming thing as well.  I am fine, although not getting enough hand-fed fried chicken.  If you wish to visit, please bring me some fried chicken and feed it to me, you will still have one hand free to pet me after all.  And all you do with her is talk so you don't need your hands for that.

Okay, so now you know where he stands on the whole recovery process. Firmly in the middle of the forward path.