Here's a nice sunset to look at. Actually this is from about 2:30 but it was right around the winter solstice, so the light always feels like either sunrise or sunset. I digress.
Healing. The journey reached week 5 over the weekend. And things are beginning to get...better? they're definitely getting better. I had a 2 week hiatus from driving. That was tough. Showering, also extremely difficult. By early week 3 I took myself out for a test drive, literally, and found that I could handle it. It wasn't pretty but I am giving myself permission to do things badly. That's my theme for 2024.
Every little thing that I'm able to do is worth celebrating. Getting my shoes/socks/pants on without wincing in pain! The first time I was able to pull my hair back! <--happened at week 3.
Week(end) 4 I went up to the Birkie trail for a women's weekend on snow. Snow was nowhere to be found. Honestly it worked in my advantage. Yes I drove myself there! No sling. And it was wonderful to be in the company of other women, new or experienced, who were all interested in improving their xc skiing. Even in the sleet falling and icing up the trails all day, didn't matter. It was so good to get out.
We did about an hour of drills. Then around 1 hr 40 min of ski walking/pole hiking on the birkie trail north of OO. Then lunch and followed up with 45 min or so of a strength circuit. We were freezing to the ground while trying to do abs, pushups, or planks. Yikes! A very kind new friend helped me scrape ice off my car before driving out. It took us 25 min. And the drive home was memorably bad. But I made it.
Was it a bit too much? Yes. But it was worth it. I hiked with one pole on and one held in my hand, and enjoyed seeing the big climbs and pine trees of northern WI forests. And I was extremely grateful for the snow tires on my car on the way home.
Here are the scans from my 4 week and 3 day follow up. You bet I'm counting the days, even hours sometimes.
Looking pretty good here. The fracture line is fuzzy which is what you want. Callus formed and being converted to new bone tissue.
This one you can see the line still. But the surgeon was happy overall with the progress healing at this point. PT is getting interesting. So much mobility to be gained back. And my shoulder has a long way to go. But there is progress. It's slow, but coming along.
I've been on snow 2x. No poles, and then one pole on my good arm during my second session. There is no natural snow and the manmade conditions are...awful. No sugar coating it. It's finally getting cold enough for areas to start making snow again. I don't know that Mother Nature is going to be much help.
Last night I went out on a ski walk/trot and was able to hold a pole on my left (broken) side. I could lightly plant the pole, not much else, but I felt ok with a fairly natural swing through to recovery position. A week ago that was painful. Too much. Baby steps. It's happening.
Thanks for reading. Until next time take care, and don't crash on your rollerskis.
-Laurel
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