“Its like patience is part of your therapy”
I thought I’d share with you all what a wise friend and co-worker said to me the other day on our drive together to work. I was telling her about how I was in a holding pattern with PT. My PT had told me I could schedule fewer appointments with her since she had pretty much given me all the exercises I could do before my boot came off in another few weeks and I was good about continuing to do the exercises on my own at home. I was devastated at first…I felt abandoned and that that I was back to just waiting and not "doing" anything. This continual waiting was getting to me after months in several casts and boots. I needed desperately to DO something to help myself get better. In any other aspect of my life I could just try harder, learn something new, and take charge of my success. Apparently, this was not the case with this injury, as I am learning over and over. My dad was walking days after a hip replacement, but here I was months later-waiting. So my wise friend listened to me and was thoughtful and replied, "It’s like patience is part of your therapy". Wow! That couldn’t be more true, in both the physical and psychological realm. I instantly felt better taking that perspective. Being patient and letting my tendon heal is a necessary part of getting better. Its not only what I "have to do", its what is necessary and best for getting better. Not being patient and pushing could actually be damaging. I was not being abandoned by my PT but she was prescribing just what was needed. I was not waiting for the real rehab to begin but it had been ongoing all along but in a form so different from my usual M.O. This has now become my mantra each day when I feel the nagging irritation of impatience rising up with this injury and long road to recovery. I take a deep breath in and out and repeat "part of your therapy" as I take another step through the year toward "all better".
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Cross-fit? Boot-camp? Are/were you a cyclist? Is there something you always wanted to try?
You have really hit the nail on the head here about the process we are going through. I will try to carry that thought with me every time I feel the need to go faster. Healing has been going well for me- no glitches so far and that makes me get a little overconfident and I should be thinking things through better. ( I guess these sentiments can apply to all aspects if life not just ATR recovery). Thank you for the insight.
Good stuff, Kristin!
Many years ago I had a nifty book about how to grow an avocado plant from a pit, and at one point the author wrote something like “This is a very challenging time for the gardener, because nothing is visibly changing, and you shouldn’t actually do very much.” ATR rehab has periods like that!
Tendon healing is much like watching paint dry! I have decided most people that experience this injury are active and have been active their entire lives. It is difficult to sit and wait, but it is worth the result:)
Well put, Kristin. And to be honest, I thought I was patient before this, but this injury has certainly been trying my patience. I am 12 weeks post-op and yet to get to the PT stage….maybe next week.