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| Limited walking, but up for the day! |
Most of the time, my decisions to exercise revolve around planned times set around specific locations. If I pump music in the family room for thirty minutes of dance, my bare feet never clip onto furniture. When heading out for a walk instead, I pull on the proper walking shoes to insure safe travels. Even while running errands, walking shoes or a better pair of sandals keep my steps even and true.
Last month, I thoughtlessly wore flats up and down hills while running errands—ironically in search of better shoes to get me through this fall. I flip-flopped for several miles, mindless to the injury starting in my glutes.
One day, I strode confidently and easily through my day. The next moment excruciating, searing pain threw me to the ground when I tried to bounce out of bed to begin my usual morning routine. I could not move without a knife stab in my left buttocks forcing me back to bed.
Eventually, I made my way to my computer chair, Googled the area for my agony, and realized my sixty-eight year old body rebelled against me carelessly wearing inappropriate shoes. I endured the anguish long enough to troubleshoot treatments and tumbled back into bed.
Back to how I’ve recovered from my knee injuries. Twenty minutes of ice packs paired with Ibuprofen at four hour intervals. Days and days and days in bed. If I remained motionless, I felt fine. A shift to the left? An effort to move a little right? Tearing pain to remind me of the severe muscle strain.
By day four, my therapy shifted to heat. I love stretching out in a hot tub of water, but for some reason when I had to stay in place for fifteen minutes, I began having anxiety attacks. From the bathroom, I began recounting chapters from Wally Lamb’s The River Is Waiting to my husband who worked in another room. I know he couldn’t hear me, but the ability to focus on my summaries controlled my panic.
Every day, this muscle nags a little less if I remember to limit my activities the day before to one or two simple activities. On Sunday, I took my camera out back and captured blossoms. I hauled and spread three bags of soil in the front gardens. Then I rested. Yesterday, I sat at the computer to compose a poem. Sitting on my desk chair causes the highest level of discomfort for some reason. I set a timer to limit how long I’m at the keyboard.
I threw away the shoes that so taxed my muscles. I don’t leave the house without wearing the proper shoes anymore. A quick run somewhere may unexpectedly turn into a two mile hilly hike. I’ve learned my lesson!
Copyright 2026 Elizabeth Abrams Chapman
