Taking control of that "second job"

[cjsmith]

I'm probably still doing too much, but it's improving.

1. Today I ended, or suspended, sessions with one of the physical therapy places I had been using. It's expensive and I'm not at all convinced they've done a thing for me. (I'm also not fully convinced they haven't, so I may be back later.) This brings PT sessions down to 2x/week and shortens my daily exercises considerably.

2. I'm not guilting myself over skipping exercise in the wheelchair yesterday.

3. I've had my giddy fling with that parking placard. What a great object to have! From now on, though, I'll use it only when it truly makes a difference. At lunch today I really could have walked from the back of the restaurant without much problem. Those spots can be saved for people who need them more, or for times when I'm having a bad pain day.

My gut feel says that what my feet need right now is a) that tape for a while (PT), b) strength in all the little muscles of the foot (PT exercises), c) better alignment of the pelvis / hips / knees / ankles (chiro), d) good arch support (orthotics). Plus maybe some inflammation-calming thing, be it lotion or herb or frequent icing or medicine. So that's what I'll do.

4. No, I haven't quit square dancing limping yet, and yes, physiologically I absolutely should. (I have a goddam parking placard because it hurts to walk far! I realize how crazy this is.) I have obligations, though, as a dancer. I'm partnered with rfrench for an event in October. Finding partners for that weekend is done way in advance -- it's already months too late for Rob to find someone else. If I bail out on him, that's a big deal. I really really don't want to do it. I'd rather hobble in pain for two weeks afterward than bail out on him for this. So I am hoping to hang on until October. I will use the placard to conserve steps/pain/energy while I can, and if I neither deteriorate rapidly nor improve radically between now and October I'll quit square dancing then. That event would be a good dance to go out on.

Comments

[anisoptera.livejournal.com]

Once your foot stops hurting so much you may need gait retraining but dancing may do that for you anyway.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

My PT has mentioned gait retraining, too. After this much time "training" myself to compensate for the ouchies, I'm not at all surprised I'd need to relearn a better way to walk.

The impression I got was that while I'm not ready for gait retraining now, I might start on it soon. I am trying very hard not to think this is a promise of future improvement. :)