Dis-Ability into Hike-Ability

12/01/22

 AT in 23 even rhymes!

It’s been a challenging year.

In Feb. of 2022, I fell, literally on my arse ending up in the hospital, with a bleeding head, and no walking due to a fractured back.

A prisoner

Once in a hospital, you are held captive in a twilight world, fed meds and ignored: you are either gonna live or die.

If you live, they spring ya, free to go home trying to figure out your limitations. If ya die, another stiff for medical students.

I lived. Knowing disability, wanted to expire.

Had to board mutts, get a housekeeper, groceries delivered, sign up for PT,  and tried to avoid terrible depression; life as I knew it was over. No walking; no hiking.  Just turning over in bed was painful.

I was suddenly an old cripple. Outlived most relatives and had to function on own, alone.

“They” said: “Surgery is the only way!

At your age, forget walking, go to bed. Now, let me tell you about my health.”

Really?

Rot in bed?

Wear diapers?

NOT be restored to 100 percent?

Worse? Listening to health woes of others  brought about by obesity and junk food!!

NO WAY!

Nothing like righteous indignation to motivate!

I will strengthen joints, ligaments, muscles,  facia, and bones myself.

For decades, I lifted weights, biked thousands of miles, canoed, fished, earned  graduate degrees, became vegetarian, walked my mutts; practiced Yoga; kept weight and blood pressure down, competed in the Olympics; hiked, camped; traveled.

In short: a very active life.

I was widowed;  sent two children through college, saw them marry, move;  I then bought a smaller house, decorated it my way; wrote my Power of Attorney, Will, called my kids and said “have fun”, then took off: utterly free.

Now, I was not only grounded but damaged and alone. Planned hiking trips all gone.

Went home  from hospital crippled  and cried bitter tears.

I was still in a hospital gown, my backside showing,  a friend driving, as I could not. I was disgusted with medicine, specialists, meds, and hospitals; LOVED nurses, PT, helpers, and ER folks.

I did NOT want to recover from an invasive surgery yielding  maybe 85 percent restoration.

My former student

I called a former student, now successful  MD (cardiologist) for his advice.

After preliminary questions, he said a big fat “NO!!” Do not do any surgery, it’s too risky. He adamantly  said he would not have it and not advise either his own mother or siblings to have ANY back surgery.

He said, “Bones heal, give it time, maybe a year, ok? Call me any time. ”

Hmm, interesting.

I decided NOT to have any surgery.

Work….

I was  retired after 40 years.

Made too much money. “Older” people face subtle workplace discriminations, called names; shown the door.

Do you think medical personnel treat “seniors” the same, prejudiced way? (they do…).

The Seven

As I lay in my bed I thought of seven things I had to do:

1. X rays of current condition
2. X rays in about 8 months to check any improvement
3. Really good PT
4. Excellent doc who specialized in back fractures
5. Healthy diet
6. Lawyer specializing in personal estates
7. Read all research on back fractures

Coming back

Determined to not only walk but cycle and hike again, I ditched pain meds, avoided negative comments, nixed surgery, hired a PT dude, researched  therapies for my fractures and carefully exercised daily.

Doctors

I hired a young female doc suggesting new films, her diagnosis, and an Rx for PT.

She agreed and helped me get new x-rays, diagnosed me as an L-5  compression fracture, and some un-pronounce-able condition. She prescribed home health care, PT, and all the other stuff my insurance allowed.

Physical Therapy (PT)

Was I lucky! I left my pack n poles in the hall after my last hike.

I also have decent insurance…. insisted upon (by me, was I a loyal employee anymore?) along with a large cash settlement.

When the PT dude came, and glanced at my hiking stuff.
He knew EXACTLY how to help me as a hiker himself.

He said: “Look, I’m gonna get you walking, ditch that walker, and  help restore your self esteem, but it’s gonna be hard. Hard on you and me. But, I know you are determined.”

I was thrilled to be his “poster child” for redemption!

It was hard. But, he showed me exercises never known!

Daily

I kept balance and large muscle tone by using my walker daily  all over my ‘hood and wore that walker out!

I figured oxygen, deep breathing, sun, and mild exercise were therapeutic. If I saw a big curb, wet pavement or grass, I had to hobble around, cautious about falling. Then found as flat a walk as possible.

At first, I slowly hobbled to the bathroom, had a walker in the shower, and kept many lights on to see.

Within 5 weeks, much to my astonishment, the PT dude had me walking.

For “graduation”, we WALKED outside, FREE of walkers. I was thrilled! IT WAS possible!

Doctor God

Then I walked to Doctor God of All Things Orthopedic Surgery.

He said: ” No surgery. You are healing.  Some of your vertebrae are mashed and slipped.  You can’t do anything about it but avoid arthritis by moving.”

He also said: “Take over the counter pain meds.”

Dr. God shrugged. “Perhaps within a few years  (like three – I asked) you will heal almost 100%. It’s all up to  you, ok?”

Then he handed me his bill and left.

Almost 100 percent?

I remembered laying in bed unable to move.

Fine.

I’ll take 95 even 90 percent for now…..

Tentative hikes

First foray was a tentative section hike of Colorado Trail in 2022 (see photo below).

Later, sections of Lone Star Trail in Texas, then sections of Big Bend National Park. I am now planning a 2023 September hike of A.T.  Most of my caution is in my head not legs.

HAVE to be Ultra Light:  I simply cannot carry much; have to go slower, watch footing, avoid puddles; use poles. It’s OK to say “no”.

Oh. By the Way: I just turned 71. I will be close to 72 by the time I hike the AT.

For training, meeting some friends to hike close-by at a State Park. We are gonna take our rescue mutts.

Read someplace the only remedy for age is diet and exercise.

The human body evolved for movement and healing.

Today…

….I can walk.

No, I will never be 100 percent.  When young, we bounce; when older, we don’t.

I can carry about 25-30 lbs and carefully  stretch daily; focus on balance, small muscles; optimistic about the future.

A section hike or two is my only “failure.”