More PT

I had physical therapy earlier than usual this morning—at about 8:30. I don’t really mind this. Last time I was there, I had Alicia who seems to be, I think, a student. Anyway, I had to keep telling her I needed a brief breaks whereas Leslie gives me a break between each set of exercises.

Alicia started me off on the bicycle where I did 8 minutes with two breaks. I did the usual lunges-on-my-back stuff with Alicia and, at that point, I realized that I was doing all the pushes with the right leg, and the left leg was sort-of along for the ride! As soon as I realized this, I start deliberately pushing with the left leg and at that point I started to really feel the muscles being used in my left leg. Next, Leslie came to give me some new exercises. First, it was a rocking balance board which was very difficult. However, I did manage to do a little balancing — even some without frantically holding on to Leslie.

After that, I was on my hands and knees on a yoga mat. I had to put all my weight on the left knee as I stretched my right leg out behind. At first, I felt I really couldn’t do it because it hurt, but I kept on trying and after a couple of seconds of full weight, the pain subsided and I was able to hold the weight on that leg. And, of course, I was able to put weight on the right leg and stretch the left leg out quite easily.

I talked to Leslie about my worry that I would never get the full strength back in my leg before I left for Italy which is September 19th, but she said we could work right up until the day I left if I wanted to. And she also said that the pace of recovery will quicken dramatically by the end of this month. I certainly hope so because it seems painfully slow right now.

Something that amused me was the arrival of a little old lady named Virginia. She looked like a little old lady with a very wrinkled face and white hair, but she was able to not only balance on the balance board but keep the balance going when small bean-bags were thrown at her to catch! And they weren’t thrown straight into her hands but where she had to reach out to the side or above her head to catch! I didn’t ask her while she was there but I did ask Leslie if Virginia had had a hip replacement, and she hadn’t! Sheesh, I need a good role model. I want to see someone who is walking normally after a replacement because I certainly am not.

Beth, my regular masseuse, called and asked if I would like an appointment today since she had an opening, so I have an appointment for 6 pm. I didn’t know Leslie was going to work me so hard this morning that I am sore, but maybe a massage is what I need this evening…

QUOTATIONS:

"Step by step. I can’t think of any other way of accomplishing anything."

Michael Jordan

If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

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