Hobbling Around

Yes, I do hobble around. Some days more than others. But yes I do hobble. Why do I hobble? Because of my bursitis in both hips, my arthritic feet, my bad knees, my bad back, and more. (Occasionally I have been known to 'hobble' if I was getting dirty looks because I use my handicapped placard.)

However, hobbling along I get to go lots of places, provided I can rest routinely and amply so as not to stress myself out. As I hobble I get to places like the grocery store, the gym, my knitting group, and, of course, doctor appointments (can't have enough of those).

I sometimes even meet friends for coffee or other stationary activities where I do not have to stand around. I plan to visit a museum with friends next month. What makes me happy is they have wheel chairs there and if I start to get tired, a friend can get me one to use while I am there.

But that is my life and I do not have time to stress about being in pain. Furthermore I don't want any pity. Pity causes stress because it makes me feel bad about myself and my state of health.

Years of work to get to the state I am in

I have worked very hard for many years to get my body into the shape that it is in. Its taken many years of sports - ice skating, skiing (alpine and nordic), snow shoeing, biking, hiking, roller blading, and more - to get to this finely honed 'state'. I get aches and pains all over but now its mostly in my hips.

These days my biggest problem is that I have bursitis in my hips. I have had it in my left hip for about five years. Now I have signs of it in my right hip. What can you do for bursitis? Anti-inflammatories - which I take daily. Ice - which I use regularly. And rest - which I also parttake of. I am happy to sit around and be lazy. I also have had multiple cortisone injections.

And it still hurts. But I (suck it up and) go to the gym and attempt to exercise regularly (because that prevents cancer and all sorts of other good things). It does limit me to three times a week at the gym.  I can't work out without a day off in between. If I do, I end up in a lot more pain.

What is bursitis? It is inflammation of the bursar which are little sacs located in major joints - like your hips. It is caused primarily by over use I think. Sort of what I have done to my knees and ankles as well.

So to round out the back pain which is exacerbated if I attempt to stand up for more than ten minutes at a time, my hips then hurt if I sit in the wrong position, or any position some days. I have to sleep with a pillow behind my knees so they don't pull on my back. I take my pain pills, my pain patch, and ice pack in hand, I am ready to go.

I can say I had a lot of fun getting my body into this state.

Hmmm....

Its a rainy Monday morning. My bursitis is aching. My gall bladder is sore. My butt hurts. Anything else? Yes, I have a headache. Maybe I should go back to bed. But I can't. I have to work today. I have lots of work today. My life is boring.

Yesterday I did find a way to keep the cat inside. He snuck out and it started raining. He instantly wanted to come back in! Now I just have to figure out a way to make it rain when he sneaks out - voila - permanent indoor cat.

Actually, this week I have lots of work to do from home and a doctor appointment, a therapist appointment, and possibly a job interview for more part time work. One of the joys of being self employed is continually looking for more work. Such is life. Well, time to commute in my pjs!