Wow, where has the time gone? I was warned before surgery (total knee replacement) that there would be a mental side to recovery. I figured there would be. I have been in agony since I injured my knee as a 17-year-old on an Army course. I’d been on strong painkillers for decades, so I figured there would be some type of adjustment.
I was struggling before surgery. Awake for an average of six hours a day. I wasn’t that active and learnt to art of distraction that didn’t work for pain management. I did what I could, when I could.
These days, I am still dealing with chronic fatigue and being awake for more than six hours a day. A semi-return to waking up around 8am each day. And then feeling it is 2 pm when it is 11 am. While being introduced to a new world of no that is not happening, to maybe you could work towards that.
It has been decades since I was fit. I think I am up for the challenge. I just have to remember that it will take time. Last week, the mind had a great idea of walking for 30 minutes each day. Day one, was 30 minute walk followed by a nana nap. So the goal had to be adjusted. Start a little slower. At least there was only muscle pain. No joint pain.
I also noticed. With a sad week of four people passing away. The mind’s default mode was to mimic pain. I was not in pain, but, because I was down the whole body mimicked strong pain. Once I realised what was going on, I was working through the process mentally without taking a painkiller. A new road, but the same path.
A massive learning curve.
A new lease on life.
Bring on cricket season and broadcast the matches. I should be able to get around a bit more and improve the setup.
It is different to think I can do that, from no, no way you can do that.
On the long recovery road. But no matter how long the road. Anything was better than the road I was on.
