Metamorphosis

Documenting Change

What Came Next

R.N. McManus

Photo by Sigmund on Unsplash

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If you’ve read the first installment of this series, then you remember that here Cheryl and I both reached a place where we declared ourselves unprepared to keep up with our grandchildren on an upcoming family trip that will involve a lot of moving around. Neither of us want to be that grandparent in the commercials for whatever miracle product they are pushing; out of breath, fatigued, and dumping major disappointment on the whole experience. Nope. We joined an OPEX gym that has made a great difference in how we feel and move only eight weeks into the program!

What came next is foot issues for both of us! Cheryl’s stems from an accident many years ago that has caused problems with an ankle ever since. Mine is the sequela of ignored diabetes possible genetic disposition, and poor-fitting shoes. At first, the podiatrist offered only surgery to remove a bone from each afflicted toe. Remove a bone !?! I’ve had these bones for a very long time, and now they’re a problem? That pegged my B.S. meter and was a premature overreaction.

Researching this condition gave me more perspective and breathing space. First, one genetic component can be signaled by the presence of high arches, which I have. They have only impacted my life by making loafers difficult to wear; lost major cool in high school for that. I recently retired from nursing after twelve years (second career) and though I wore New Balance and Skechers, that may have been a major contributor to both the hammertoes and the following infected wounds. But, diabetes and the subsequent neuropathy in both feet are probably the most guilty for what is happening to my feet; aside from my lack of care concerning diabetes.

Last week, my podiatrist decided that since my “hammered” toes were flexible, the major surgery of bone removal could be downgraded to the in-office procedure of a tenotomy, a cutting of the tendon under the two outer toes to release them and allow them to straighten and relax. We did this a couple of days ago, and the effect was immediate, both toes straightened, and a couple of stitches later, we were off. There has been no pain, just the aggravation of wearing a surgical shoe and keeping my foot up. The procedure was postponed a few days because of a miscommunication, and that has meant a full week of not hitting the gym and no walking! This is a real inconvenience.

We established a routine of getting up early to have our coffee and breakfast before walking or going to workout at OPEX. We have come to enjoy this new way of life that has measurably improved us both. Just as you don’t know what you’ve got ‘til it’s gone, I didn’t expect to feel at such a loss outside of the activities. Happily, this should be restored to me after the stitches are out tomorrow.

The thing is, I have noticed that my shoulders and upper arms feel very different, with a little more volume. There is too much adipose tissue elsewhere to feel or see anything like that. That makes me feel better than any previous physical program that I have tried. Being restricted from it has been more distressing than I would imagine. This is a very positive development to me, one to which I’m adjusting, albeit slowly.