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Thursday, September 19, 2013

The Lame Woman's Tale

         
                                     
           
                               
                                                

 Take a seat. This one. It isn't too deep. It isn't too soft. It isn't too hard. It's just right. Made of solid brass, it will not blow away in a wind storm. Indeed, you'd hardly be able to pull it away from the table if we got together for a game of Canasta. 

When I told Ellis I needed solid upright comfort after sleeping on the couch this last week, he had a bear of a time dragging it into the living room. But I'm glad he did. This chair, like my bed, was going to save my back. 

My first night back in my bed,unfortunately,was hell. it wasn't at all what I had hoped for. My knee was aching like it had never ached before. Icing hardly helped. I couldn't find a comfortable position. My head wasn't up high enough. My feet were bound too tightly by the blankets.  I couldn't fall asleep; Ellis was on my side.  My back was happy flat, but my knee was screaming all night till I broke down and took 1/2 a pain pill. The Grandmother clock in the hall chimed four sixteen. 

Morning dawned three hours later. Hung over, but pain free, I got up, dressed and one stepped it downstairs to my spot on the couch. The physical therapist was expected at nine; I needed plenty of coffee and wake up time. As Ellis and I were discussing what we were going to discuss with him, the phone rang. It was my doctor's nurse calling to  ask how I was doing. My hellish night spilled out unedited.

Rhonda was sympathetic, then turned professional.  She told me everything I had done wrong the last week. Fresh out of surgery, I had quit the pain pills way too soon, exercised with too much gusto and traipsed about the house as if the doors from surgery hadn't just swung shut behind me. She confined me to my couch with knees elevated above my heart and said, "Ice, ice, ice."  So there sits my chair, a still life, with no one in it.






8 comments:

  1. I am SO sorry Linda. You probably did too much thinking you were better. I can just imagine the pain that you're going through ... the worst thing is going to bed with pain and looking at the clock... wish I could help you!!
    Feel better!!!

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    1. Thank you so much Hilda. The nurse calling did help a lot. Some of my problem stemmed from my strong dislike of narcotics and what they do to your head and energy. I wanted off as soon as possible. The idea of needing drugs to be able to do the exercises I needed to do right away to regain full motion and flexibility seemed odd to me. I figured when my body was ready, it would perform as it always did. Apparently,I wasn't taking into consideration the effects of age. I also wondered why no professional bothered to explain that to me before or immediately after surgery--also the importance of keeping my knee higher than my heart. Today, was really boring and, while pain-free, I really wish I could be more active. I can feel my stamina ebbing.

      I worry about Ellis too. Having never had to multitask, he is getting stressed out.

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  2. I'm so sorry, Linda. You were too impatient to get up and about, I would too. Take care!

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    1. Thanks Judy. I know this operation and all that is involved reads "avoid at all costs," but I am so looking forward to having a knee that's as close to the healthy one that God gave me as we humans can achieve. I really was sick of it holding me back from where I wanted to go--like China, like plein air painting excursions, like strolling and browsing the mall. In retrospect, these recuperative weeks, the pain and inconveniences will fade from memory, life will return to normal and I will be pleased I did it. Keep this in mind next time you're icing. I am telling you all about it, so if any of you need to do this, you will know what to ask, what to do and learn from my errors and misinformation.

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  3. I am so glad you spoke to the nurse.

    heal well.

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    1. Me too. I finally stumbled into someone who knew the plan.

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  4. good recap--We have to do what 'they' tell us to do. Soon enough you'll be able to tell them that you're not doing this or that...but not yet!

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  5. What a gift you give to your readers. Everything I read will stay put in my mind until I need the information one day...for myself or a friend. Sharing the ups and downs of your experience from beginning to end in a humorous but explicit manner is, as I said - a gift

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