Knives in the kitchen and table tennis trauma.

Pretty thing!

What a year for accidents!  In late July I stabbed my hand with a kitchen knife, opening a cardboard box, and cut the nerve supplying sensation to the thumb. I had it surgically repaired but, the repair being delicate, was forbidden to use scissors or secateurs, to open bottles or jars or, worst of all, to play table tennis or badminton or ride my bike.  I managed a bit of left-handed gardening and started power-walking to make up for the lack of exercise then went to France in September.
By the time I came back on October 10th I was looking forward to being allowed to resume all my activities so I went eagerly to table tennis the next day. After 2 or 3 games I slipped in some water on the floor and did the splits at high speed. I would not recommend you try this for the first time at 67! Definitely best left to toddlers or gymnasts. The main muscle of my hamstrings tore away from the pelvic bone and the resulting internal bleeding caused the whole leg to swell and bruise alarmingly. Back to square one.

After weeks of limping or sitting around with my leg up and ice packs on, the swelling has almost gone and I am now able to get around reasonably well and use an exercise bike. The orthopaedic surgeon does not recommend surgery at my age (!) so it's lots of physiotherapy and hoping to regain about 80% function over the next 8 to 12 months. The muscle will remain detached.
I think my badminton days are probably over but will try table tennis again eventually, if I dare. I've been teasing Jon that at least my fall was a sports injury, unlike his. 

 This is how my foot looked when the blood and fluid finally ended up there.
 




























If you're wondering about the thumb, there are recent signs of nerve regrowth. It's not exactly sensation but I can feel a sort of tingling when it's touched. So I keep prodding it to see what it's up to. It will just take its own sweet time, but it does seem to be trying.

So that's me for the time being. I'm so glad I slipped in a wonderful week hiking with my French friends in September in the Cerdagne mountains near the Spanish border. The memories of that will have to sustain me over the winter. I'll post some pictures of that trip next