September 2023 Newsletter Edition
The month of September hasn't been easy. My physical disability has caused me to write off too many days. I haven't been able to get done what I wanted to. I feel like I am starting October with one strike against me. My to do list is too long right now. Normally working on three things at once in addition to my daily chores gives me enough variety that I find my life is enjoyable. Having a to do list that is out of control makes me feel like I am climbing an uphill battle.
In early September I had a pain management appointment. I felt it went well. I really like my pain management doctor. He is a good listener and asks helpful questions to understand my goals and what I am trying to do with my life when my pain is under control. Chronic pain is a journey instead of a "one and done" health care appointment. I know my pain management doctor cares about me. I trust him. We are working together to make things better for me.
I had more questions about the knee brace. One of my friends got me thinking. The knee brace I was prescribed causes pain and was not helpful. This made the pain worse. My friends have asked me to look into a knee brace that isn't as tight. They are available. They do exist. They are not available through the bracing clinic I attend. But the cost to my body is impeded blood flow to my feet. I don't want to give up having toes over the use of a knee brace. In good conscious I am able to report to a knee surgeon that I have exhausted knee bracing as an intervention and it did more harm than good. The fact of the matter is that I need knee surgery.
I have been looking at accessibility equipment to see if anything could make living my life easier. I have purchased a long handle toe nail clipper. This style of toe nail clipper uses a piston to actuate toe nails being cut. In this way bending isn't necessary. My hope in buying this is that I am able to assume responsibility for keeping my toe nails cut.
Rocky The Hamster has continued to do well until the past 24 hours. Rocky has done very well in allowing me to handle him and administer his freezing treatments to keep his abscess from growing. I have been using an at home freezing wart treatment kit I purchased from the pharmacy. His body language has given me every reason to believe he has been enjoying life. Sadly a second abscess appears to be growing in his inner cheek. I need to do more reading about this. I believe it is terminal. I am just hoping that Rocky will make it until October 7th. This will be his second birthday. I don't know what I am going to do when he is gone. Rocky has been the highlight of many days when my legs were not doing well. He has helped me to experienced love when my body has made me physically weak from pain. It is going to be hard when he is gone.