After five months out of surgery and intensive weekly therapy I was discharged. I had not expected my physical therapist to say, “You’ve graduated. You’re good to go today. There is not much more that I can do for you.” I have mixed feelings because she had recently petitioned my health insurance company for additional sessions. I assumed that I would be returning for more sessions. And so with her succinct words, my five month saga of physical therapy concluded abruptly.
Therapy was quite demanding physically, and more so psychologically. The physcial and psychological adjustment of being limited by my injury coincided with a family crisis. I temporarily lost my stress reduction outlet, which was quite frustrating. I had to rebuild my fitness and strength from the ground up. Basically, this has been a tough year, but I’ve emerged healthier and certainly stronger physically and mentally.
Through this experience I have come to accept and appreciate my limitations and the fact that I am aging. Rather than fight it or deny it, I’m going to embrace it. In this culture that prizes beauty and youth I choose to wear my age with dignity and pride! May the scars on my left knee remind me to be thankful for these 50 years that these knees have supported me.
