If I ended my It's osteoarthritis post on an over-light note, it was perhaps in a spirit of defiance.
But this is in fact no laughing matter. Already I have had to slow down quite a bit, and can do nothing even faintly aerobic. My FitBit is telling me that I'm sleeping a little more, and on the whole more soundly, but my resting heart rate is up a bit from the 52 beats per minute that used to be the norm - 55 bpm is more usual now - and my cardio fitness is starting to slip. I still put in a surprising amount of steps on some days - 10,000 two days ago - but generally it's more like 6,000, and careful steps at that, taken at half speed.
There is some good news. Slightly less socialising (as I can't sit in one position for long, as I would have to in a pub or village hall quiz) means I can better control my food and drink intake, and my weight is edging downwards. This will help to take the load off my arthritic right knee when I stand up.
Even so, it's a bit dispiriting to think that when waking up in the morning I must not only be careful with my back, but now also how I move my right leg - at least until both have had a chance to 'warm up' a bit. I'm constantly having to think about what I do next. Every movement becomes deliberate, with the risks of pain or unnerving body clicks soberly considered.
I've stopped rubbing in Ibuprofen gel. I wanted to follow my doctor's advice, but it didn't have any effect on the pain. Ibuprofen never seems to work on me: I don't keep a supply of Ibuprofen tablets in the house, preferring paracetamol instead, which is effective as a painkiller. The Ibuprofen gel did appear to reduce the swelling, although that could have been a coincidence. It certainly didn't get rid of it, although the right knee now resembles the left more than it did. I was influenced also by friends' bad Ibuprofen experiences and warnings.
So far as I can see, awkward movements and heavy loads are the chief things to avoid. And let's face it, the lumbering Melford body is scarcely in the ethereal nymph class. I'm taller than average for a woman, and pretty hefty. But thanks to Slimming World, I'm not fat. I was a keen session-attending member for a year and a half from 2016, then left; but I have assiduously kept up the full regime to this day. My weight is under control. But I could shed 5 kilograms - 11 pounds - and still not look under-nourished. To reduce the load bearing down on my knee, I think I should now make more effort to lose weight. Rationing my alcohol intake even more seems like a good way.
Clearly I must make changes in my behaviour, to keep that knee comfortable. Here are some first thoughts.
What I can still do
# Driving.
# Caravanning, with care.
# Many household activities and tasks, with care.
# Mow the lawns with my motor-mower, with care.
# Walk short distances, with my stick handy.
# Deal with steps or staircases, one step at a time.
# Stand up in one position for a short time.
# Sit in an armchair, or relax on a recliner, but not for too long.
# Adopt a normal sleeping position in bed.
What I should be able to do once the knee is better again
# Other household and gardening chores, so long as I can remain standing.
# Walk longer distances, probably with my stick handy.
# Ascend or descend steps or stairs normally.
# Cope with moderately steep slopes.
# Traverse rough ground.
# Walk on sand or shingle.
# Stand up for a long time.
# Sit down in a chair for a long time.
What I may never be able to do (but probably wouldn't anyway)
# Climb mountains or steep hills.
# Participate in any kind of sport or game.
# Run or jog.
# Dance.
# Sit on the floor, or on the ground. How would I get up?
What I may never be able to do (but really would like to)
# Walk very long distances.
# Pilates.
As you can see, I'm recognising that I may have to regard myself as partially incapacitated. I will find out whether this could entitle me to a Disabled Badge, which would be some consolation for the loss in mobility. Meanwhile, I am determined to manage my condition as well as I can.
There's an obvious temptation to to use osteoarthritis as an excuse for not doing things. But it's best not to be lazy. That said, I am not going to risk a new flare-up or injury.
At this point it's impossible to say whether I'm being realistic or not about my future abilities. I may be able to revert to something like my life as it used to be. Or I may have to make permanent changes. At any rate I refuse to see myself as an invalid - just somebody who has to slow down a bit, and take greater care how they move around.
