Better living through chemistry--8 months

About 10 days ago, I got a steroid injection in my left foot.  It has made all the difference in the world.  I have thrown my cane aside.  Of course, right after the injection, for a couple of days I was a completely new person.  I went to Costco without a cane, never once hurt, was amazed when I got home and I felt nothing from the excursion. "I'm healed!!" (Say it with a voice of one who has seen a faith healer.)  Then as the days have worn on and the cortisone has worn off, my 60 year old body has returned.  The normal aches and pains are back (isn't it a shame we can't live on steroids?), but I am doing so much better than before the injection.  I thought my feet were hindering me, and this proves it to me.  I have been SO much more active these past 10 days.


When my feet were being the problem, I couldn't understand why my knees weren't stronger.  Why weren't all the exercises I was doing to increase my quad strength not enough?  I kept thinking that those muscles must have gone completely to pot over the 1 1/2 years prior to surgery.  I was going to Curves at the time, and my orthopod basically eliminated all the leg exercises after seeing pictures of the machines.  I got a physical therapist to help me with exercises in the meantime, but it was seeming like that must not have been enough either.  Then the podiatrist tells me that the best thing for my feet is to get my quads strong. I was really befuddled-- why was what I was doing not enough?  Then, enter a needle in the right spot with a wonder drug, and my knees are amazingly strong.  I have spent the past week marveling at their rock hard firmness.  It was the stupid feet not doing their job!


I have a confession to make.  Instead of losing weight, my weight has been creeping up.  I have had no motivation within me.  I continued to go to Weight Watchers and face the music when I stepped on those scales.  I refused to give up.  Possibly with the effects of feeling so good these past few days and being more active, my motivation has returned.  I also got back on the treadmill which I had given up because my feet hurt so blame much. Starting out slowly and slowly advancing has been without any problems thus far.  I made better choices in what I ate this week, and surprise, surprise, I was down a bit.  Actually it was a BIG surprise because I have been so bad the previous weeks.


Another side effect of being of steroids caught me off guard.  I seriously contemplated going to work!  I spent an inordinate amount of time filling out an application online at a local hospital.  This was sparked by an ad in the paper for Health Department jobs.  So I started rounding up everything I needed for that application process, too.  I never hit send on the job application because I was waiting until I went to the job fair at the Health Department.  On the last day of the fair, I just didn't have any peace about going to work, so I decided to give myself 6 months.  Later, I figured it was probably the feel good effects of steroids earlier in the week that got me so pumped up!  Then as they wore off, I became more rational.  Since on some days the only thing I accomplish well is going to the pool or gym, I got anxious about when would I do that if I were working.  So, in order to prevent increasing my angst levels, I will continue doing what I am doing and not complicate my life unnecessarily.