Ice skating!

[Guest guest]

Ok, Dorothy Hammil I AIN'T! But like many of us northerners I have fond

memories of stuffing my feet into stiff, tight skates, lacing them so

tightly they nearly cut off my circulation, and zipping around on bumpy

ice until I could no longer feel my toes, then putting on cold boots and

soggy mittens and trudging home through the snow, or on those special

occasions when my parents took us to an outdoor rink, going into the

warming-up room until I could feel my toes, then going out and doing it

all again!

I could count on one hand the number of times I've skated as an adult,

but the L. L. Bean catalog came and the picture of their " comfort

skates " caught my imagination, so I mustered my courage and asked Dr.

Rand about it at my 2-year check-up in November. Well, he said " yes " ,

and the skates were a big " yes " (insulated, cushioned, supportive, and

fit comfortably with a gel insole and my Wigwam woolies -- who'da

thunk?!) I've had 2 tentative sessions, one Jan. 1 on somewhat lumpy

ice on the stream behind our house, and the second yesterday on a

slightly less lumpy indoor rink (which an older lady on serious figure

skates assures me is usually better!)

I'm still somewhat afraid that I'll fall, but concerns that it might

aggravate the muscle pain problem in my legs appear to be unfounded,

presumably unless I fall or twist something. In fact, I think it may

prove to work with my pool therapy to strengthen my lateral stabilizing

muscles. I think I'll hit the rink tomorrow, before my scheduled

massage therapy.

The last time I skated on my old skates, I had flatback, so I'm getting

used to the hockey-style blades and the upright spine at the same time.

At least with flatback I didn't feel like I might fall backward!

When I was lying in the hospital wondering what in the world I had just

done to myself, I had my laptop computer beside the bed with a slide

show of my garden pond to represent my home, and my safe place.

Obviously nobody could have promised me that I'd be so much more

functional a couple years later. I wouldn't have dared hope for

skating. I'm still using some medications for pain, and still have some

annoying stiffness, but I've seen so much improvement in this time that

who knows? Today swimming, bicycling, sailing, gardening,

snow-shoveling (oof!) and even skating -- tomorrow sky-diving and

rock-climbing??? (NOT!)

Anyway, there I go writing a book, but people have been asking about

function after revision, and someone was told revision was highly risky

and not worth it. Of course everyone's " mileage " varies, but yes,

there's life after revision, and some of us go through BIG revision

ordeals (3 operations in my case including some spinal cord surgery and

6 weeks in hospital and rehab), and find ourselves pretty functional on

the other side. It IS risky, and there are no guarantees, but if you

need it, and find the right surgeon for the job, there is definitely

hope for a better quality of life.

Sharon