Tuesday, May 17, 2022

What The Dang Heck?

Twenty-seven years ago I was at the beach with Mr. Moon and Lily and Jessie. It was one of the summers we were staying in the tiny little block apartment across the street from the ocean on St. George Island. The yard was made of rocks and cactus, the kitchen was definitely not big enough to swing a cat in, I slept on a futon next to the canned goods, but the AC worked great, the beach was steps away, we could see the Milky Way at night, and those were some of the best summers of my life if not THE best. It was truly paradisiacal, partly because of the simplicity. We had a TV but this before internet had reached St. George Island and our days were spent playing and walking on the beach, swimming in the warm green Gulf, reading books, spying dolphins swimming to the south in the morning, the west in the early evening, dipping and rising, blowing and rolling- a sort of holy sight, no matter how many times we saw them. 
But one day, I think it was a Sunday, I was coming up out of the surf and I was in very, very shallow water but as the edge of the surf often is, the ground was uneven due to tide and current and I put my foot down in a way that was wrong and a small wave hit me from behind at that exact second and a pain shot through my calf so severe that I actually thought something had risen from the ocean and either hit my leg or bitten it. 
And yet there was no sign of anything. No shark swimming about, no giant ray, no blood. Within minutes though, my calf was starting to turn a worrisome-looking bruised color and I could feel endorphins hitting my system the way they had when I'd broken my wrist as a teenager. A most unmistakable feeling of almost euphoria making the pain almost an afterthought, even as I knew it was still there. Very much so. 

I hobbled up the beach and across the road and to the little apartment and laid down on my futon and over the course of the next few days I realized that what I had done was to somehow rip my calf muscle. Badly. That calf turned every color in the rainbow and it took weeks of rest and icing and Ibuprofen to regain my ability to feel safe walking on that leg again, for the pain to truly recede.
And no, I did not go to a doctor. 
Since then, that calf has not bothered me one bit. You could look at my calf muscles and see the difference in them but there has never been any weakness or residual pain at all. 
Until yesterday after my walk. 
Oh fuck. And I really do not know if what I'm feeling is related to that long-ago injury or not. It could very well be. I am quite aware of the fact that things we do to our bodies as younger people can come back years and years later to bite us in the ass, to cause us pain and difficulties. And I think that's what's going on now. 
I know that the calf area is one that can be the site of a deep vein thrombosis but I don't think that's what I have. I do have some swelling but there is no redness nor heat in the area and if I don't move it, it doesn't hurt. 
This morning, when I got up, it was still there, you know, the way things can be after a night's sleep, but not terrible, and I decided to try and just take a short walk to see if I could stretch it all out. 
Hmmm...
After about a third of a mile I realized that no, this was not a good idea, turned around and came home. 
Why does it seem like every time I get started walking again, working up to some time and distance, something happens to put pause to it all? The last time I got really serious about my walking and was doing five miles or so several times a week was two years ago when I fell and broke my ribs which was not related to walking at all but occurred when I slipped down some steps, hurrying to hang a hummingbird feeder in the rain. 

So. I guess I'm going to give this a few days to see if it's just, as I suspect, a sort of spasm of the muscle in there, a tightening, which will loosen with regular activity. It's certainly not too painful to just move about from house to garden to clothesline. Nothing like the pain that summer of 1995 when I laid on my bed and watched the OJ Simpson Trial, my calf encased in ice.


Darla and the Chicks came to pay me a visit today. They climbed the steps to the kitchen porch. This, too, is a lesson from Darla as the kitchen is where the best food comes from. I threw them a little bit of dry cat food which chickens love and they were quite pleased.
And this afternoon Jessie brought the boys out for a little visit. They too, like treats from the kitchen and ate the doughnuts that Jessie had stopped on the way for and then wanted chips and salsa which, to their minds, is a perfect accompaniment to doughnuts. Their Boppy was here today so they spent some time with him while Jessie and I talked and laughed and then they got a ride on the four-wheeler around the yard. 



Levon was being self-admittedly "silly." Oh well. 
Later on they let me read them some books and it was a joy. 

Tomorrow we'll go get our booster-boosters and then we'll see how the next day goes after that. Perhaps this is good timing- I may not feel like walking at all if I have a reaction. Rest the body, rest the leg. 

And all will be well. 

Love...Ms. Moon

19 comments:

  1. Ouch. I don't know the dang heck version of ouch. I hope it clears soon.

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    1. Feeling better today but I've not done much in the way of moving about.

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  2. Arghgh yes, those historical injuries having another go. I hope it's short lived. My second booster didn't knock me down half as much as the earlier one. I did need to keep lying down a bit though.h

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    1. I tell my kids and grandkids all the time that the things they're doing now are going to come back on 'em one of these days. They don't listen and I would not have either. Oh well. I'm hoping this booster doesn't knock us out too bad.

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  3. walking is over rated, there is a purpose for sure but just to walk for the hell of it , I dunno...running, jogging unless there is something after you is - why? Seems it only injures people. I am sorry you hurt your leg and the first hurt of leg sounds just awful, nightmare stuff! Take it easy Mary, You are doing just fine walking from one chicken to the next.
    That is all you need do. The tractor boys ! Sweet!

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    1. Yes but I KNOW that exercising does help my attitude a lot. That is just a fact. And it's reassuring to know that I can still do it if that makes sense. I don't know. I would never run or jog again although I used to. I cherish my knees.

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  4. Darla and her chicks and Mr Moon and his human chicks! Lovely photos! And I do hope your leg feels better soon!

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  5. Look at the little chicks climbing stairs already! And they're developing colours too. I hope your leg is better soon. I had a "hit by a truck" reaction to my booster booster, a whole day of such muscle pain I wanted to just sleep all day. It was just the one day though and it doesn't happen to everyone, thank goodness for that!

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    1. Well, we'll have to wait and see how we react to these second boosters. I've made no plans for tomorrow just in case...
      And aren't those little chicks spunky? They just crack me up.

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  6. Sorry to hear about your sore leg. You are right about resting it so I hope it feels better soon. I had no trouble with my booster - just a little sore arm but I get that with all my shots.
    Sweet photos!

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    1. It's funny how we all react so differently to vaccinations. The nurse who gave us ours said that she's never had any reaction beyond a sore arm to any vax. Not even the shingles one which I heard can be pretty harsh.

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  7. Hope it’s a mild reaction to the booster. I ran a fever but was better the next day. It’s so true how old injuries can come back to haunt us, I can still feel where I broke some ribs two years ago and my feet are a hot mess from a lifetime of sprains, breaks and general abuse. Boy this getting old shit sure ain’t for sissies tho I’m whining like one.
    The chicks and grandkids are the very definition of cute!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. I can't believe that the ribs I broke two years ago haven't bothered me in the least since they healed. I was just thinking about that. I am so grateful! Of course, things could change. And you're right- getting older is no picnic in any way. You aren't whining. Just stating a truth.

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  8. hope you do fine after your booster.....or at least have minimal (if any) side effects! As to your calf.... sounds like the initial injury was a true rupture (heck, you are a nurse, you know that !).........but I'm hoping this current pain may be a minor sprain perhaps? I know you listen to your body.......and that you WILL do so now! Get well quickly!
    Susan M

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    1. I still cannot figure out how in hell I injured that calf so badly with just one bad misstep. But I did. I think you're right and that perhaps I have just sprained that calf this time. Mildly.

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  9. Just FYI, I read this post but my computer would not allow me to comment yesterday. (It wasn't Blogger -- it was issues with the site-blocker on my work computer.) I'm glad (as you said in the subsequent post) your leg is better.

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  10. The thing about our bodies and their wisdom, will we ever understand it?

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  11. 37paddington: Boppy and the boys, what joy in those pictures! I hope your calf is all the way better by now.

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