Making Positive Progress

Cautiously optimistic, but I think things are improving. Today has been really, really good.

I'm still experiencing pain in my knee and shin, but that pain has lessened with each passing day this week. Today I was able to put more pressure on my knee without it giving out on me. That alone is such a relief.

Last week when I was told my activity is only limited by the amount of pain I can tolerate, I envisioned the rest of my life revolving around constant pain and weakness in my right leg. After not being given any advice for how to manage the pain or how to work to alleviate the pain, I did a lot of reading over the next few days to see what might actually help. I firmly believe a good night's sleep is key, so I found a highly rated OTC sleep aid and started using it. While I still wake up during the night and experience significant pain in my hip during the night, I shift my sleeping position to alleviate the pain and fall back to sleep quickly. That alone has worked wonders. Last night I slept the best yet, and today I've been outside, working in the gardens and taking a walk with Sunny. 

Another change I've made is soaking in a hot bath with lavender Epsom salts. My hip and knee love the heat of the water, and the Epsom salt is good for muscle relaxation. I so look forward to the soaking baths, something I never used to do. I always looked at baths as too indulgent and a waste of water. Now, I'm hooked. I do find it difficult to just sit for the 15 to 20 minutes, but I'm working on that. If nothing else, this whole ordeal is teaching me the value of slowing down. I've come to realize just how fast I used to move through my days. I like the slower pace. There really is no reason to move quickly.

My next move is to begin strength training. My right leg is getting stronger each day, but I have a ways to go to get to where I was. My thigh is visibly smaller than my left thigh, so it's evident I lost quite a bit of muscle. Thankfully I have enough workout equipment that I can do some simple exercises to get started.

The doom and gloom I was feeling just five days ago is now disappearing. In its place is hope. I keep telling myself I got this. I can do hard things. And I can.

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