Physical Limitations, Oct. 2017

I overdid it yesterday, but I’m recovering. I sat in a 2 hour seminar about social media and then dined out. In all, I was out of the house from 8:30 to 1. Mom came over for coffee at 1 and I didn’t have enough control to even pour.

Before my collapse, this would have brought me considerable and non-terminating pain. Now, by 9 pm last night, I had my muscles back in check, working again.

I’m sore as heck, and really tired, but I’m functional.

My current functional limitations:

• I can sit for about 1 1/2 hours before cramping.
• I can drive a car for about 20 minutes with minimal discomfort.
• I can ride as a passenger for about 45 minutes.
• I can walk without mobility aid for about 2000 steps.
• I can run my wife over with the electric buggies.
• I can program in 30-60 minutes spurts.
• I cannot stand for more than a few minutes without pain.
• I can prepare about 3/4 of a meal.  I need help chopping.  I can finish cooking the meal, but I need someone to take over in the middle to let me rest.
• I cannot sit in a chair/pew without a cushion.
• I cannot lift more than a gallon of milk (8 lbs) without pain.
• I cannot run or walk in heeled boots.
• Pushing buttons on a joystick hurt bad.
• When in pain, changing channels with a remote control is painful, so I’ll put on a movie that will be long so I don’t have to change anything.
• I cannot read a paper book.  The movement of turning pages is too painful.
• When in pain, pouring and drinking a cup of liquid is impossible.
• 1/2 day of light activity requires 1 1/2 days recovery.
• I can purchase a grocery bill, but loading and unloading the groceries to/from the car is extremely painful (and exhausting).
• Taking a shower remains an exhausting task.  The required movement of my muscles in unusual positions to wash/rinse/dry/clothe everything is daunting.
• I pay bills as they arrive as writing more than 3 checks becomes painful.  Check #4 is barely legible.

In all, things are improving, but we still have a long way to go before I get to a point where I’m happy with my physical self.