2026 - my ups and downs

[Trila]

I can relate to so many of the worries I had for my mother. She would forget where she was going and had a minor fender bender. She didn’t tell me these things, her neighbours finally did. I didn’t live close.

One of the other issues was her banking, thankfully we were joint holders. She would donate repeatedly to the same places and they kept contacting. If that happened now, I would be getting notifications immediately.

It was all the little things that built the stress. Hugs for you.

Fortunately, I do her banking and pay her bills!

 

[Trila]

I didn't sleep well last night. I have, yet more, "Mom" things going on. It's getting to be that she needs more and more help. I have reached the point where I can't continue to do more and more. My own health is being neglected both physically and emotionally. Now I'm stressing over finding a solution to the problem that I find myself in.

 

[MountainRa]

I fully empathize with you and your situation at this time in your life. I was part time and then full time caregiver for my mom and stepdad for 16 Years. They’re both deceased now.

I don’t really have any advice, everyone’s situation is different. It’s a lot like caring for an infant or toddler. Once you’ve got them through one stage and set a routine, something changes and you have to reaccess.

It’s no joke what the stress does to one, both mentally and physically.

 

[Trila]

I fully empathize with you and your situation at this time in your life. I was part time and then full time caregiver for my mom and stepdad for 16 Years. They’re both deceased now.

I don’t really have any advice, everyone’s situation is different. It’s a lot like caring for an infant or toddler. Once you’ve got them through one stage and set a routine, something changes and you have to reaccess.

It’s no joke what the stress does to one, both mentally and physically.

I post things in this thread that are emotionally significant to me.....good or bad. Your comments and understanding are a comfort that helps me through the bad stuff.

 

[Trila]

How about some good news for a change.....

Last fall, my Orthopedic Surgeon scolded me for how much I've let my bad knee get out of shape. In my defense, I thought that the problems were because I have a bad knee.....I didn't know that I was making the situation worse than it needed to be. I absolutely love my Orthopedic Surgeon, and I hated getting scolded, soooo.....

I've been doing my own physical therapy for my bad knee. Not much progress, but hey! The knee has been bad for about 20 years, so it's not going to get better over night, right?

Well, I decided to step up my effort, and work harder on my PT. Yesterday I had a MAJOR breakthrough! It hurt so bad that I was a!most crying. And I was laughing through the tears because I did what I needed to do!!! I didn't do it well, and not for long, but I got that knee to move!!! I was thrilled!!!

 

[Trila]

One of the problems that I've been working on is that my right knee will not close. I could bend it a little over 90° and that's it. Because of that, my left hip has started to lock up also.

At the gym, they recently dedicated this room to some sort of class, but I had an idea of how I could use for PT on my knees and both hips.

There are sets of straps hanging from the ceiling, so (of course) I call it "The Straps Room"....


What I have been doing, is it hang onto the straps and lower myself down in a kneeling position, as far as I can tolerate. At first, I could hardly go down at all. But I've been working on it for several weeks. It's been hard, and painful but....eventually I was able to brush my bottom onto my heels!


More weeks of work, and I reached the next step....
I was able to let go of the straps!!!!!




As my bad knee gets more movement, so does my tight hip. This picture shows my good knee/hip, but the bad ones are getting better and have improved quite a bit!


for me!!!!

 

[hollydolly]

One of the problems that I've been working on is that my right knee will not close. I could bend it a little over 90° and that's it. Because of that, my left hip has started to lock up also.

At the gym, they recently dedicated this room to some sort of class, but I had an idea of how I could use for PT on my knees and both hips.

There are sets of straps hanging from the ceiling, so (of course) I call it "The Straps Room"....
View attachment 493746

What I have been doing, is it hang onto the straps and lower myself down in a kneeling position, as far as I can tolerate. At first, I could hardly go down at all. But I've been working on it for several weeks. It's been hard, and painful but....eventually I was able to brush my bottom onto my heels!
View attachment 493747

More weeks of work, and I reached the next step....
I was able to let go of the straps!!!!!
View attachment 493748



As my bad knee gets more movement, so does my tight hip. This picture shows my good knee/hip, but the bad ones are getting better and have improved quite a bit!
View attachment 493751

View attachment 493749 for me!!!!

oh you're an absolute star.. doesn't matter what's going on... you're always just so postive..

 

[Trila]

oh you're an absolute star.. doesn't matter what's going on... you're always just so postive..

Do I have a choice?!!!!!

 

[Trila]

Since I obviously have @hollydolly fooled into thinking that my life is all , let me tell you what else is going on......

Last September I hurt my foot. At first, I thought it was a really bad/deep bruise. In the fall, it was still hurting so I mentioned it to my Orthopedic Surgeon (I was there for a shot in my bad knee, as explained above). He said that it was planters fasciitis. Since then, I've been doing all of the PT that I know of to take care of it.

Well, it's getting worse. There are times when I can't walk at all, not even one step. Eventually, it loosens up and I'm OK, but after sitting (or sleeping) it's bad again. During the night, I'm on the verge of crawling, just to get to the bathroom.

Honestly, I don't remember EVER experiencing anything this painful. So, that is one more of the things that I'm up against. This really sucks!

There is a Sport Medicine doctor in town. I've never gone to her, but her husband is Dio's skin cancer doctor. I've heard that she uses shock treatment on planters fasciitis, and that it works. It's either that, or my Orthopedic Surgeon said he could give me a nice (very) painful shot for it. This has gone on for too long, and it's getting worse. I'm thinking of making an appointment with the Sport Medicine doctor, but I'm still not sure.....

 

[Jules]

Make that appointment for the Sports Medicine doctor. As they say, what can it hurt and it may help. You must feel desperate in the middle of the night.