Small victories

I’ve been plagued with one injury after another for the past 7 months. I’ve been patient. I’ve obeyed doctors’ and other professionals’ advice. I’ve gone from hopeful to depressed to downright sobbing. I’ve tried to start running – even walking – a few times (with the nod of approval from a health professional or two), only to have to stop dead in my tracks due to pain of some sort or another.

I have not given up… but despite the fact that injuries have kept me grounded, I have a few things to celebrate. They’re small… but worth sharing.

At the end of my 6 week yoga class I was able to get into -- and hold -- a “tree” position. If you’re not familiar with this, it is a one-legged balance position, where the foot of one leg rests on the inside of your standing thigh. The arms reach out, and then up, fully extended over your head with palms together in a prayer-type position. Then… you hold.

I’ve seen this done… and never even come close to it… until last Wednesday. I was amazed that I not only got my self into the position… but I maintained it… for a good long time.

I was very pleased. (I have signed up for more yoga.)

This week, for the first time since January, I was able to manage 40 minutes of “land cardio”. I am thankful not to have to be in the pool any more for my cardio. It’s not that I don’t like water… I just like land better. Nevertheless, I have had to take it slow. I promised myself that whenever I felt even the slightest twinge in my knee or leg, I would stop whatever I was doing. There were days when this meant a 5-minute warm-up on the bike and that was it.

Slowly, I have been adding a minute here and there… On good days, I push a bit more… but trying not to push too much… Finding the balance.

The day before yesterday I did 40 minutes (20 on the bike and 20 on the elliptical). No pain… anywhere. That is the key here... The last time I logged that much time was in January... And I wrote in my comments that my knee was very swollen and sore. But now... no swelling and no pain. I even worked up a sweat... and it felt great.

Today my back is a bit sore, so I took it easy... But still, no knee or leg pain!

These are minor occurrences… For some people, they would be so incidental that they wouldn’t even merit mention. But in between the tears and the ice packs, these small victories are what warm my soul and give me hope.