In Appreciation of Walking 05/12/2015

May, 2015

I have a new appreciation for people who can’t walk. Walking makes life so easy! You just stand up and go – anywhere your feet can take you. Whether it’s a cup of water, going to the bathroom, or walking out to your car to take you almost anywhere, it the easiest most efficient form of transportation there is.

So, when the doctor told me I basically wouldn’t be able to us use one of my legs for 6 weeks I was pretty naïve in understanding what this meant. I figured I’d get to build up some upper body strength swinging myself around from here to there, but didn’t really appreciate the time and energy it would take.

Initially I spent a lot of time in my recliner chair. I’d get settled in my “nest” with my water, tea, phone, laptop, remote, pillow under my leg, and then…. I’d realize I forgot my glasses, or the dog will want in or out. So I’d set the laptop off to the side, the pillows for my laptop and my leg to another side, strain to use only my left leg to put the recliner back up, stand up on one leg, hobble over to the door, and let him in. Then go back to get each piece in place again. A simple 15 second walk to the door, now takes several minutes. It may not seem like much, but multiplied by numerous of these ups and downs per day, and it can get pretty tiring.

You might say, just leave the dog out. Well, our dog is a 125 pound lab mix. So when he wants in or out, its’ not a gentle suggestion. He is spoiled, like most beloved family members, and when he is ready to go, he wants it NOW. Fortunately most of the time my husband or son are home, so they are a huge help. Though I still try not to interrupt them in the midst of their work thinking the exercise is probably good for me – since I can’t WALK!

I have now graduated from my recliner to my desk for most of my work and writing. I’m pleased to say that I’m fairly comfortable in upright sitting, at least for a while. This was one of the positions that became increasingly uncomfortable prior to surgery, so I’m hopeful that my sitting comfort will return. However, doing anything away from my desk is still a project. Right now, for example, my water bottle and my coffee cup are empty. Do I bother my men? Or do I start a 5+ min project to refill. (I just asked my sweet boy, Josh, to help – he’s 20 years old and getting ready to go to his classes at OSU Cascade this morning).

And my hands! Will they ever stop hurting? When they got sore after the first few days on crutches I figured I would adjust and the pain would fade. However 3 ½ weeks into it and the soreness is just as bad. It’s the worst in the middle of the night when I have to get up to go to the bathroom. Since I haven’t used them for hours the first few steps are almost unbearable. I can only put enough pressure through them initially to drag my good leg along. I also have to turn my reading light on to see and the whole event to and from the bathroom wakes me up a lot more than it used to. I’ve tried cutting myself off of water earlier in the evening, but to no avail. Fortunately, I’m typically a pretty good sleeper, so am still getting plenty of rest.

Showers are also a bit comical. Overall, I have to stand on my left leg only, with my right leg resting on the floor for balance. Unlike my hands, my left leg is definitely getting stronger and allowing me to stand longer, but probably not long enough (or safe enough) for a shower. We put the over-the-toilet commode in the bathtub sideways so I’m facing out. We finally figured out how to support my leg with a upside down bucket under my thigh and my foot resting on a sideways small cooler on the floor. Fortunately we have a hand-held shower so I hand it off to my husband in between soaping and shampooing. It’s a bit comical, but that’s an image I won’t be sharing on the blog .

I have thought a lot about the many people I’ve met over the years who will never walk on 2 legs again. I think of them often with appreciation, admiration and respect. I regularly teach about the power of appreciation to manage stress and chronic pain. Of all the many things we over look and take for granted, walking is now on my “remember to appreciate” list.

I’ve finally started working on my chronic pain class project – which was my plan during this recovery time. Something I read yesterday suggested a daily writing of 10 things you appreciate. By not stopping at just 3 or 4 you get to dig deep and realize the many little things that are easily over-looked in everyday life. May we all bathe in appreciation for the blessed lives we live.