The last ten days have been very difficult for me. I had begun to feel great pain in the joint of my right hip. This progressed quickly and painfully. For a few hours in the morning it had hurt to drive. The problem was so bad I skipped my errands in Albuquerque and stopped at my Drs. office. As I pulled into his driveway the pain, which had been excruciating, went away on it's own. The Dr. wasn't in anyway, so I left Albuquerque for the 80 mile drive back to the mountains.
The next day the pain came back greater than before and lasted longer. I managed to drive back to the Dr. and then for X Rays, but it literally took my breath away to get in or out of the car. The X Rays showed nothing special, but I had nearly lost the ability to dress myself, and was losing the use of my right leg. If I forgot to have Barb pull my right sock on in the morning, I was barefoot until she got back from teaching that afternoon.
I have, in some of the deeper parts of my psyche, feared the onslaught of post polio for many years. I have mentioned before that I had survived a Dr.'s prediction that I might very well die, and would certainly never walk. They could tell pretty quickly he was wrong about my imminent demise, but it took a few years to know for sure that I would be able to walk, and eventually become fairly adept at walking, running, and other athletic pursuits common to boys my age.
Post-polio syndrome has been the bogey man in my closet for several years. For the last several days my decline matched the experience of many who have received a second, long delayed blow from this fiendish disease. Our lifestyle doesn't really work well for a husband who can't cut wood, plow snow, etc. I was very concerned that my photography days might be behind me.
But-PRAISE GOD- that is not the case. I was able to locate, and be treated by a wonderful (and Board Certified) orthopedic rehab. guy. He is one of a few people I have found who is quite knowledgeable about post-polio syndrome. After just a few minutes he told me he was virtually certain that was not my problem. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude in his office, and Barb and I would cry again together after I got home from my appointment.
Apparently I have torn cartilage in my hip joint without even knowing when it happened. A day before my symptoms occurred I had been a passenger in a national park van that had slid off the road in a very remote part of the Via Caldera. Perhaps pushing it back on the road caused me to sustain this injury. At any rate, I have had a few rehab. sessions, and have made wonderful progress. I still can't drive, and can't pull up that one sock, but I am making great strides, and no longer gulping pain pills. (By the way, I am fortunate to have a Dr. knowledgeable about anti-coagulants, and my INR never wavered through all of this).
I am optimistic about getting out to take photographs. This evening I was looking across the deck, and think I saw the kind of picture Mary likes. I took the picture and typed this post-a happy grateful man. I intend to sleep very well tonight.
The next day the pain came back greater than before and lasted longer. I managed to drive back to the Dr. and then for X Rays, but it literally took my breath away to get in or out of the car. The X Rays showed nothing special, but I had nearly lost the ability to dress myself, and was losing the use of my right leg. If I forgot to have Barb pull my right sock on in the morning, I was barefoot until she got back from teaching that afternoon.
I have, in some of the deeper parts of my psyche, feared the onslaught of post polio for many years. I have mentioned before that I had survived a Dr.'s prediction that I might very well die, and would certainly never walk. They could tell pretty quickly he was wrong about my imminent demise, but it took a few years to know for sure that I would be able to walk, and eventually become fairly adept at walking, running, and other athletic pursuits common to boys my age.
Post-polio syndrome has been the bogey man in my closet for several years. For the last several days my decline matched the experience of many who have received a second, long delayed blow from this fiendish disease. Our lifestyle doesn't really work well for a husband who can't cut wood, plow snow, etc. I was very concerned that my photography days might be behind me.
But-PRAISE GOD- that is not the case. I was able to locate, and be treated by a wonderful (and Board Certified) orthopedic rehab. guy. He is one of a few people I have found who is quite knowledgeable about post-polio syndrome. After just a few minutes he told me he was virtually certain that was not my problem. My eyes filled with tears of gratitude in his office, and Barb and I would cry again together after I got home from my appointment.
Apparently I have torn cartilage in my hip joint without even knowing when it happened. A day before my symptoms occurred I had been a passenger in a national park van that had slid off the road in a very remote part of the Via Caldera. Perhaps pushing it back on the road caused me to sustain this injury. At any rate, I have had a few rehab. sessions, and have made wonderful progress. I still can't drive, and can't pull up that one sock, but I am making great strides, and no longer gulping pain pills. (By the way, I am fortunate to have a Dr. knowledgeable about anti-coagulants, and my INR never wavered through all of this).
I am optimistic about getting out to take photographs. This evening I was looking across the deck, and think I saw the kind of picture Mary likes. I took the picture and typed this post-a happy grateful man. I intend to sleep very well tonight.
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