Oh, yes, leg weakness …

Something happened to me this morning as a result of leg weakness. I awoke –– and fell. It wasn’t a bad fall, more of a plop, losing my balance and landing butt-down on a black vinyl footstool. However, I’ll call it a “fall” when I speak to my physical therapist; after all, I did have a devil of a time getting back on my feet, mainly due to leg weakness as the result of PN, but also because of a painful arthritic knee and ankle.

When I was scribbling in my journal a short time after, a thought came to mind that had me think of the short story “The Lady, or the Tiger?”––two doors: which door is safe to open? or, in other words, which of two possible courses of action is the best to take? I could think of my fall as a warning that my PN balance has worsened and is likely to get even worse-er; therefore, I’d better start planning for the future, e.g., start carrying a cane round the clock or go back to using a walker; buy a phone that’ll auto-dial 9-1-1, and maybe a walkie-talkie that’ll ring my neighbor to say “I’ve fallen and can’t get up!” –– all the many devices advertised in the monthly AARP mag.

Or, instead, I could take from this morning’s fall added motivation to work on building leg strength. (See my orthopedist or podiatrist about those arthritic joints, too.)

Knowing myself pretty well after 79 years, I know I’m going to opt for the latter option: work on building more leg strength.

Probably, too, I will carry my cane more often as a small concession; after all, there’s nothing wrong with now and then walking the middle path.

Time, now, to do some stretching, leg lifts, sit-to-stands, abduction lifts, and other exercises. All the while, I’ll be thinking of “The Lady or the Tiger?” hoping that from behind the door I’ve already got halfway open, I’m not about to hear a hungry GRRRRRRRRR! 🙂

Cheers!
Ray (@ray666)