Recovery sometimes gives me time to read and think. There are times when I have to stay in one place: when I’m doing several of the thrice-daily exercises and when I’m icing the knee. During that time I sometimes watch YouTube videos, but when possible, I prefer to read. And of late, I’ve been reading a remarkable book about income inequality called Limitarianism: The Case Against Extreme Wealth by philosopher and economist Ingrid Robeyns.*
The growing inequality of income and wealth has long been a political and social issue for me. Predatory capitalism has become the norm, and the rise of the oligarchs is a very troubling development that presages a dismal future. And the resulting split — now become an abyss of incompatible ideologies — between rightwing and leftwing politics offers no solution. It’s not simply that people accumulate wealth, it’s that they use it to influence (and buy) politicians to create policies that accelerate their wealth accumulation and repress the rights of others (like workers trying to unionize). Basically, billionaires want to create an oppressive libertarian/authoritarian world where they run things in feudal enclaves, like in Mad Max. And the rest of the populace will be either their indentured workers or their slaves. And, of course, conservatives will help enable them because they love the rich, but despise the working classes. But I digress.
Monday, I felt a bit too sore and tired to go for a walk, but Tuesday morning, I managed another 800m. Tonight I plan to make dinner (pasta with a mushroom sauce), although I will need Susan’s help transferring the pot with water to and from the stove. And while there were no new milestones today, I felt satisfied with my recovery, slow as it seems at times. And sometimes the constant, dull pain is annoying. I am a tiny bit anxious about my knee ‘clicking’ but will ask about it at my next physio session.
The pasta was good, although I think I forgot to add garlic to the sauce. We watched another episode of Midsomer Murders on Acorn TV, during which I do some stretching and bending exercises. Sometimes I think all those pretty, bucolic English villages are all hotbeds for murder and mayhem.
Wednesday: I progress, albeit slowly. Did two 800m walks today, before and after my physio session. And in that session, I added a new exercise: pedalling on a stationary bike.
Readers here already know I have such a bike at home. I used it daily (or as often as possible) for six months before surgery. The big, fancy, electronic bike in the hospital is much more upscale than my low-end Canadian Tire bike. But mine does the job. I can pedal forward a bit, and backward, but cannot yet pedal in a full circle. So it was forward, hold for five seconds, backward and hold for five seconds, repeat for three minutes. I will try to use my own bike starting tomorrow to see if I can increase my flexibility with it.
I also learned how to massage my scar. I had not had any direction on it before and will start doing so tonight. No more physio until next week, now.
Finished watching Godzilla v Kong; my second or third viewing. It’s an okay film, full of action and really great special effects, but I don’t connect very well with the humans; they feel cardboard. They’re quite unlike the characters in the two most recent Japanese Godzilla films.
Thursday: Walked 1km this morning, the furthest since surgery. I had a Zoom meeting at noon for the board I sit on, and I fidgeted throughout it, trying to find a comfortable position. Today my knee seems to be grumpier than yesterday. Went shopping at the local Walmart in the afternoon. I don’t really care for the store or most of its selection, but we needed some items only they stock, so we did it all in one place. And it gave me some more practice in walking. After that, I came back and did my exercises, second set for the day. Then, I iced my knee. I was a bit too tired to go out with Susan and Bella in the afternoon, however.
One thing I need to keep reminding myself: don’t sit too long. I try to remember to get up, move around, stretch my leg, bend it. When I don’t do it, when I get distracted by something online or by whatever I’m reading, my leg feels stiff and sore. Walking around the house usually loosens it.
For months, I was keeping a digital diary, but after surgery, I neglected it in favour of writing this blog. I think I need to go back to it and add some or even all of the blog content to the days I missed. Started watching Godzilla: King of the Monsters Thursday, again. Another big spectacle movie with great effects, big kaiju, but cartoon villains. Then I cooked some pasta and had it with the remainder of the sauce from the other night. Next week I will make something again, maybe butternut squash soup.
Friday: I didn’t think about it before I had my operation, but here’s a tip for anyone planning a knee replacement: make sure you cut your toenails the day before. It will be a long time before you can bend well enough to cut them again. I didn’t and now wonder how I will manage them until I regain flexibility.
Managed a 1km walk this morning and a 600m walk this afternoon. The afternoon walk was shorter because our old dog, Bella, didn’t want to go further, so we headed home.
I get sciatica in my left butt quite often on these walks. I assume it’s from leaning posture; my body automatically leans away from the operated leg, to reduce pain, but doing so puts more pressure on my right shoulder and wrist (holding the cane) and the twisted posture affects the nerves of the left leg as well. I have to consciously try to correct my posture to let the left leg take more weight.
Had another Zoom meeting for a committee of the LTC board today, and like yesterday’s, I fidgeted a lot. I have an in-person board meeting at the end of the month, but it will be too soon for me to drive, so I hope to be able to attend via Zoom.
I’m doing short (3 min) workouts on my stationary bike now. Pedal forward, stop when it hurts, pedal backwards, stop when it hurts, repeat. I can’t do a full circle yet because I still don’t have enough bend in my knee. I can almost do it backwards, but I hesitate to complete it because the strain feels punishing.
Notes:
* Among other titles, of course. This is merely one of six or seven I am currently carrying around in my reading bag. There is also a kitchen island book, books in every bathroom, and some more by the bedside. As is my habit, I read a chapter or so in one book, pick up another and read another chapter. Eccentric, perhaps, but doing it this way helps me keep my memory active. At my age, keeping my mind and memory sharp are important. Plus, I have a lot of books in my personal library I want to get through. As Giacomo Casanova wrote in Vol 2, Ch. V of his memoirs,
No one in this world can obtain a knowledge of everything, but every man who feels himself endowed with faculties, and can realize the extent of his moral strength, should endeavour to obtain the greatest possible amount of knowledge.
Paraphrased as, “No one can know everything, but everyone should try to.” I’ve been reading Casanova for many decades. The Trask translation of his memoirs is superb.
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