Recovery

 

Yesterday marked three weeks since my knee replacement surgery.

I did my PT twice and walked a couple of times, once around the block and once at an outdoor shopping center. By the end of the day, I felt as if I had been in a fight. My knee was swollen. My calf and ankle ached. I iced a lot and even slept with the ice machine sleeve wrapped around my leg.

Two steps forward, one step back has become my motto.

I continue to be surprised. I’ve always bounced back from things quickly, but this recovery is not linear. It is effort followed by inflammation. Progress followed by rest. Independence followed by humility.

What caught me off guard is not just the physical work, but the vulnerability. If you are used to being independent, needing help is its own kind of challenge.

In Caitlin’s Star, I write about the stars that twinkle behind the clouds. We may not always see them, but they are still there. That’s the brass ring.

Recovery feels a bit like that right now. The progress isn’t always obvious. Some days it is hidden behind swelling and fatigue. But it’s there.

 I saw this tee shirt on Amazon and think that it represents my recovery. I think I will buy it!