Update:
On Wednesday morning after my
hour-long swim, I showered at that gym.
While getting dressed my leg jammed as I was donning my prosthesis. I couldn’t get my leg completely seated in
the prosthesis but I also couldn’t get the lock to release my leg. My release button has a notch that if you
have a quarter or something similar you can turn it to get the leg seated even
when it is jammed. I didn’t have
anything like that with me in the shower.
I ended up having to hobble from the shower area to the locker room. I had a house key in my gym bag that worked
perfectly in my lock. Unfortunately
walking that short distance without the leg fully seated was painful. In effect, without the leg fully seated, I
was supporting my weight on the end of the stump rather than where it is
designed to support me. For the next
couple of days the bottom of my stump was tender; it finally feels back to
normal now. The moral of the story is
that I should carry a quarter with me wherever I go—even to the shower!
On Wednesday afternoon, I came down
with the flu that kept me at home Wednesday night, and all day Thursday and
Friday. I spent all day in bed on
Thursday. On Friday I was able to
shower, get dressed and put my leg on. I
wasn’t feeling well enough to do much; but it felt good to be up and moving at
least a little bit. And on the positive
note, having the flu helped me lose another pound or two of the weight that
I’ve wanted to shed.
Monday morning (12/15/2014) I have a
doctor’s appointment with my physiatrist to evaluate why my left knee keeps
popping. At times it is painful, which
is a good indication that something is not right. I might be sent for x-rays or an MRI
depending upon what the doctor finds.
Worst case scenario is something that would require surgery. Hopefully whatever is wrong can be fixed with
some physical therapy.
Later on Monday, I am supposed to
turn my test socket in so that my next permanent leg can be built. For the last month, we’ve been adjusting the
test socket trying to get the fit just right so I don’t have any pain or
discomfort. They will take my leg and
use it as a mold for shaping my new leg.
The new leg will be built of sturdier, more durable components. If you have been around me recently, you’ve
noticed that my test socket makes a LOT OF NOISE when I walk. It was made to be more flexible and easily
adjusted. Over time the parts begin to
wear creating a lot of creaking and cracking noise when it is in use. They wanted me to try out the test socket in
my normal routine, so I’ve been out to the woods and working out at the gym
regularly. That has put a lot of hard
wear and tear on the socket.
So I will be back in the wheelchair
for about eight days (Monday 12/15 to Tuesday 12/23) while my new leg is being
built. I’ll get my new permanent leg
just in time for Christmas! I’m not
looking forward to being limited to the wheelchair for eight days but it is all
part of the process. I guess that I will
be easily be able to identify with the kids that cannot wait for Christmas day
to arrive. This new leg should last me
anywhere from one to two years before a replacement will have to be built. I’ve been told that the next leg after this
one should last two to four years. As
time goes by my residual leg “matures.”
All excess tissue is reduced and the unused muscles atrophy. Eventually, there is nothing left that will
change thus allowing a snug, secure fit with my prosthesis for a longer
period. Parts do wear out eventually so
there is no such thing as truly “permanent” when it comes to prosthetic legs.
Thought for the Day:
The one
constant thing in our lives is change.
We grow up. We grow old. We die.
We are single. We get
married. We have kids. They grow up. They get married. We have grandkids. In every area of our lives there is an
on-going process of change. Some change
we look forward to and other changes we dread.
We often try to hang onto the way things used to be or we’ve grown
comfortable with the way things are.
Sometimes we strive to hang on for too long. I like a recent Dilbert comic. It’s painfully too true.
Traditions
are great to hang onto; but there are some things in life that for our own good
we need to change. Whether it is a bad
diet, an unhealthy relationship, an annoying habit, or something worse—there are
certain things that really should be changed.
But change is hard.
John Maxwell
shares some advice about change in his book, “How High Will You Climb?”
“As long as
we have acceptable options, we will not change.
There seems to be three times in our lives when we’re most receptive to
change. First, when we hurt so much that
we are forced to change… Second, receptivity to change is also heightened when
we are bored and become restless…Third, change is apt to occur when we realize
that we CAN change… Nothing sparks the
fire of desire more than the sudden realization that you do not have to stay
the same… Accept the following statement
for your life: ‘The days ahead are filled with changes that are my
challenges. I will respond to these
opportunities with the confidence that my life will be better because of
them. With God all things are possible.’”
[John Maxwell, How High Will You Climb? –Determine Your Success By Cultivating
the Right Attitude].
Philippians 4:13 “I can do
all things through Him who strengthens me.”
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