Orwell and I

Are a bit of a mess.

Orwell had to go to the vet. Orwell, who the vet says is no where near 18 months old, but closer to 12, has an 'old' injury that began to bleed. Vet inspected it and declared it highly infected. Dog is now on anti-inflammatory meds AND antibiotics for the next 10 days. Where we have to monitor it because...

Because there may be more wrong. We knew his left front leg wasn't perfect. It does look like he fractured his leg at one point and it was never set. The dog still prances / runs / walks fine. Does not mind one prodding the area. However, the vet did note it was uber tight, much loss of mobility (how much the vet can rotate it - again, dog can walk mostly fine.)

So after we clear up the infection we have to explore how much, if any, further intervention is necessary.Vet suggested we see if the SPCA would pay for some of it. Husband and I are not totally on board with that. They are a charity. They try. They try damn hard. If Orwell had been in my old county pound he'd have been put down before I'd met him. The injury was not overly obvious. I can see, with their work load, how it was not an alarming priority of theirs. But now that he is living a more active life. Well, Orwell, you are looking to be expensive. Damn lucky you are so agreeable to be around.

After the mad dash to vet, I went to physio. See, we are truly a pair, Orwell and I.

I am improving. Let us all be grateful. (Well, I bloody well am, at least.) The other really relief is that degeneration happens to all of us. It is part of aging. Mine was simply accelerated. But it doesn't mean that the ligaments are going to disintegrate, nor that my wrist will eventually just hang there. It won't, because I'm going to be strong. 

Whew.

It is all very odd. My ligaments are too loose. But other parts of me have become too tight due to the damage created by being too lose. So I am trying to tighten some bits while loosen up others. Some parts have to be worked harder, others need to rest. Which is all tricky since all these parts are stuck together.

I am getting stronger. I have to get to the point where I am very, very, very strong so that my muscles hold my frame and don't need my ligaments much at all. Then, not do a whole host of things that could send me spiraling back into the mess I am currently in. May have to use tape / brace for long time (life?) in certain situations. I should not be a mess permanently. However, it IS chronic. Part of me, but I should be able to live my life (modified) normally.

With great muscle tone.

Rather hilarious dichotomy we've got going. Supposed to get stronger and stronger (I am). But not actually USE the muscles too much to do things like pick up a stack of plates (one at a time) or anything...USEFUL!

Could end up as the strongest woman in the room, but still won't pick up her own bloody suitcase.

 

Comments

[Damaria Senne]

I'm glad you are able to care for Orwell and make sure he gets better. He's a lucky dog.

[Juliana K. Thomas]

smooches to the pooch, he is one lucky dog to have you guys! And as for you, welcome to the club - hardest part of graduating from PT was managing to NOT get overexcited about my progress and do something "useful" (like go walk in the zoo with the kiddos) lest I set back the entire knee reclamation project by six weeks. Again. :) You'll get there!!