The stairs to my workroom have been a no-go zone ever since the surgery. Piles of napkins and throw pillow covers -- the red and greens and the autumn leaf colored -- have been taken up those stairs ( not by me) along with the scarlet ribbons from the tree, all awaiting ironing. Not to mention all the empty boxes, gift wrapping materials, and other odds and ends that have been stowed away to await my attempts at organizing them.
When Jay, my physical therapist, visited yesterday, he was happy to see me walking without the cane and I told him that what I really wanted was to climb the stairs. So we worked out a plan which suited me perfectly. I went up the stairs on all fours and without a twinge from the knee. The I came back down, backwards and using the same 'hands-on' technique.
It's not pretty and I won't try it in public. But it 's a milestone. Jay said that using the stairs that way was as good as any of the exercises he's had me do and he said something along the lines of My job here is done, ma'am.
So no more walker, no more cane, no more heavy duty meds, no more visits from Jay. I still have to take good breaks and stretch out when I feel tired but I do, indeed see a light at the end of the tunnel -- or maybe it's at the top of the stairs.
Oh glory! Can you imagine how good it felt to be up there ironing -- performing a normal useful activity?
Driving is next on my list...
17 comments:
Good for you, Vicki! Although I have to say I felt a twinge in MY knees when I read about you going upstairs on all fours. Glad you're making such good progress.
Good for you! I know you aren't the type to sit idle and not be doing something useful, however, I don't see me rushing back to more work, especially ironing.
You go, girl!
I am very glad that Jay gave that stair-climbing method his approval. "Normal activity" must be such a pleasure to you now! I think you need a late Christmas gift of kneepads, though.
Hooray!!
YAY! Go, girl!
woohoo! that is awesome....way to go on your progress
Great news, and great milestones! I'm so happy for you!
Who knew the light at the end of the tunnel would actually be the light at the top of the stairs! Congratulations on a new milestone!
The "before" and "after" stair photos make perfect bookends to your productive and farewell consultation with Jay.
Bravo to you, Vicki, for the steady progress, and determination to ... iron! I am sure that your workroom was very glad to welcome your return to action.
What a way to kick of this new year! xo
Ditto what everyone else said...thanks for sharing and kuddos to you for your rehab. Welcome to the 4 legged stair method. That's certainly how my kids tackled stairs first. Well, they also had the butt bump way of coming down. Can't quite see you doing that one!
LOL I don't even own an iron, so can't imagine, however, I'm tickled pink about your progress up the stairs! Woohoo! :-)
Congratulations on that and all of the other milestones! Your story brought back a many years ago memory.
When my 3rd child was 4 months old I broke my foot. We lived in an old 2 story house with all of the bedrooms UPstairs. So, in her punkn seat she went and we navigated those stairs on all fours, one stair at a time.
Way to go girl! It reminds me of our climb up the stairs at City Lights when you said;" I'm going to have to get my knees replaced ", you did it!
Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!!!
Deana the queena
Congratulations Vicki! A pofound accomplishment. Better than a step forward, is a step up!
It makes me SO glad for all the things I generally take for granted. (Just ran up my stairs!)
Amazing, absolutely amazing, that you worked so hard that you are now able to get down those stairs and up again!
And I am glad you did not do it my way: flying down there! ;-)
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