Saturday, October 8, 2011

One Foot Forward & Two Steps Back

I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
Psalm 40:1

After having about two days of little to no inflammation and my right leg feeling almost perfectly better, I was feeling rather hopeful about being able to walk again soon. Perhaps I overdid it. I don't know but it does appear that way. Because today I was in excruciating pain.

We are fully into the Fall season here but have had a lot of rain already. I love to walk outside when it isn't raining and enjoy the Fall colours.
The pain started up again on Thursday night while I tried to sleep. It slowly got worse. Yesterday I walked about 18 city blocks and for 7 of those I was carrying heavy bags of groceries. Did that aggravate my leg pain?  In retrospect, probably "yes".

I especially like to see all the leaves on the ground.  The moment I stepped off the city bus, I was captivated by this red leaf amongst all the golden ones.

My acupuncture doctor said I should be taking it easy and go slowly, very slowly with my activities. I told her that until one tries something and realizes it was too much, how is one to know that it was too much? I said that it is only normal to do things when you start to heal.  She thought I was making excuses. She said the healing takes time and that as long as I am moving forward (with healing) then we are going in the right direction.

I had to capture the red maple leaf up close. This is the leaf that is on Canada's flag.  Isn't it pretty?
I do totally agree that healing takes time but I figure I have given it a lot of time already (about 7 weeks) and so I thought we were kind of getting to the end of the healing process. My acupuncturist shared with me that she herself had similar leg issues which took a year to get better and she is a healthy person with no previous illnesses, as well as a Tai Chi instructor. I thought "wow!".  If it took her that long, it is going to take me even more time!  Here I thought I was nearing the finish line of therapy. That's a laugh.  I guess I have to take it easier than I thought.

I'm learning that I don't have a lot of patience. I am raring to do things and move normally.  I've been praying a lot for myself and especially as I get my treatments.  The scripture verse at the top tells me I need to be patient and expectant.  When my body says slow down.  I must listen.

Are you a patient person or an impatient one?
How do you deal with inconveniences like what I'm dealing with?

I like the wild English garden look in this photo. I don't know the name of the flowers.


I took some photos that brightened my day. It won't be long before there are no more beautiful flowers to photograph here. Hopefully, I've taken enough of them so I can share them now and then during our long, rainy winter.

I take this time to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving as we celebrate Thanksgiving here on Monday, October 11, 2011 this year.  If I am up to it on Monday, I will make a small dinner.   I won't be making a large turkey. Instead I will make roasted chicken, mashed cauliflower (or mock mashed potatoes), kale salad and pumpkin pie. I'll post the recipes later. Have a blessed holiday.
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10 comments:

Jan said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you, your dinner sounds scrummy, especially the mashed cauli and the pumpkin pie. I understand your frustrations about having to take things slowly. I know I would probably be the same as I had some shoulder and neck problems a year or two ago which placed some restrictions on my movement and wellbeing. Being limited by some physical problem or illness would be a real lesson to me(not that I want to learn it that way) as I do take my health very much for granted. Having started yoga recently I am learning to appreciate my body and what it can do, it's limitations too! I hope that you continue to heal. Maybe just look at what you have achieved over the past seven weeks and celebrate all of the small improvements you are seeing? Lovely photos. x

Jo said...

Happy Thanksgiving Penny. I wish I was with you for the Pumpkin pie. Sue makes a delicious pie and gives me a few blocks to taste! I pray that you're feeling better and that the leg pains abate soon. Much sooner than your therapist tells you. I consider myself a patient person, especially now that I've been laid low as well. Blessings my friend. (((hugs))) Jo

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

Happy Thanksgiving to you Penny. Your flower pics are very lovely. I'm sorry you are having such painful leg issue. I have no clue what happened to you but hope you heal soon.

Fred Alton said...

Sorry, Penny. It made me sad to think of the pain you must be bearing. I pray that it heals quickly.

Joyful said...

Hello Jan, thank you for your kind words and Thanksgiving wishes. I used to do yoga exercises when I was still working. I really love the breathing and the stretching as well as just relaxing the body. When I am able, I hope to do more of it. I thank you too for your encouraging words. My doctor would agree with you ;-) and I do try to watch for small signs of progress. Today I'm feeling better in the leg than yesterday. Yeah! I will try not to overdo again. It is a process of ups and downs.

Joyful said...

Hello Jo, I wish I could send you some pie virtually :-) I only make pumpkin pie once a year and this year I'm contemplating a variation of it, the pumpkin pie mousse. It sounds delish.

Thank you for your encouragement and yours prayers. As I was telling Jan above, I am feeling better today. Thank God for that as pain is not so much fun!

Joyful said...

Hello Heidi, it was nice to have you visit again. I can imagine you are very busy with the wedding but I'm sure it will all go well and I look forward to seeing the photos. Thank you for your kind words.

Joyful said...

Fred, welcome home to you and Frances. I am thankful for your well wishes and am so glad you stopped by for a visit.

Kilauea Poetry said...

The leaves look beautiful..love the red - it does stand out and the tree is lovely! Well I am very sorry about this set back! (maybe He's trying to tell me something as well) this is the second post recently where somebody else asked that same question! Hmm..I forgot to answer it the first time (lol) Honestly I can fully understand. I sprained my left ankle a number of years ago and it took about two years to heal! It was awful but then I've had issues with my feet. Anyway, to tell you the truth, I never thought I'd be dealing with the fatigue like I have for this long and so I find myself constantly praying that I either don't complain or become too obsessed with it! You'll be in my prayers..gosh, hope you get some extra help tomorrow! (Hugs)

Joyful said...

Hi Regina, sometimes God does indeed speak to us in ways like he seems to be speaking to you. When that happens, it is awesome. It sounds like you and I suffer from some of the same issues. I pray and hope you would gain some more energy soon. I think juicing lots of vegetables is bound to help but that means juicing every day at least once. Let me know if you get into it. I'm doing okay to date. I don't usually juice to substitute my meals, although if I've eaten lots of veggies in one juice then I do wait for my solid food. I still need to get the fibre and other good things into me. I hope you're having a good start to the week. Here it just starting to rain heavily.

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