Apart from the fact that three of them are green you might see little association. But their being green is mere coincidence. The green ball I did buy to make a hypertufa ball. It languished in the potting shed for many months and then found a new life. I hope it is a temporary one and that I will soon be able to use it to make that hypertufa ball.
Several months ago I had one of those unfortunate gardening accidents. I have had many and always caused by my carelessness. Most last a few days. Scrapes, scratches, trapped fingers when building walls. This one was to stay with me...I hope not for the rest of my life. I was pulling out the root of a crossvine when it gave way. I fell backwards barely unable to break my fall with one hand. The wrist survived but something else didn't. For two days I could hardly move. As the weeks went by things improved and then, on occasion, I started to feel a sharp pain in my hip when I planted my foot. Something was really wrong.
These items are the tools I am hoping will make it possible for me to garden again. I have been given a list of back exercises to strengthen the muscles that I have abused over years of bending, lifting, shoveling, wheelbarrowing and falling as I landscaped five gardens.
I wish I had started using these garden tools many years ago.
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear that your fall has caused you long-term pain and hope these exercises work so you can find a way to garden again. You would think all that work would add to your strength. I like to think of gardening as good exercise but sometimes apparently not so good.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I thought too Shirley. Surely all that rock lifting made for strong arm muscles but it seems not to be the case. I think it may have crushed my spine!
DeleteSo sorry to read of your troubles. I hope those tools do their job and you get better soon!
ReplyDeleteI am working hard at it 3 times a day. I am not one that can survive without being out in the garden.
DeleteSo very sorry to hear about your injury. I developed severe tendonitis in both elbows several years ago by overdoing the gardening passion. My injuries required months of physical therapy and will require that I practice strengthening exercises for the rest of my life. On the upside, I'm more aware of my body, strengths and limitations, and I'm probably stronger because I've added formal workouts to my schedule. Wishing you a speedy and full recovery so you can get back to your beautiful gardens!
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to hear that the physical therapy works even it if takes months. I feel a slight improvement but know I must keep on the routine if things are going to work. I only wish I had started sooner.
DeleteYikes! This is bad news. Thank you for the warning, I think most of us feel invincible when we're in the garden. I do think of you and your issues with your eyes. I asked my eye doc about the need to wear sun glasses when gardening ( I just can't!) and she said a cap with a visor is the next best thing.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a lot of folks pulling for your recovery!
I am glad you are have taken precautions to prevent eye damage from the sun. It seems strange but I also have trouble wearing sun glasses in the garden, whereas I always wear them when I am going outside on other occasions, even on cloudy days.
DeleteMy husband saw vast improvement from physical therapy exercises using tools like these after he injured himself running. I hope you'll be back to normal -- maybe a little more careful though -- very soon.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that he found success with these tools. It gives me hope. It may take my body longer to respond but I will not give up gardening.
Deleteso very sorry about your accident. I had a similar experience and believe me physical therapy is worth its weight in gold. Keep it up. When I recovered, I signed up for the gym and go 3 times a week. I hate exercise but this has been a real benefit.
ReplyDeleteGardening is such a joy and great stress reliever in these times and you are very creative so I know you will come up with lots of tips the rest of us can use as we grow older.
Best of luck
Thanks for your good wishes Ann. So nice to hear that physical therapy worked for you.. I too have signed up at the gym and plan to finally take this seriously. Life without gardening is not an option.
DeleteYou'll learn to love these tools; they do work wonders. This is coming from someone who knows. ;)
ReplyDeleteHoping you recover soon!
Such encouraging words. My new friends are by my side all the time. Love that tennis ball!
DeleteHaving a back surgeon in the family I know that no matter how strong and how careful you are one wrong move can do in a split second damage that may take weeks or months to overcome. That said? I also know that a combination of rest, careful exercise and determination can overcome almost any injury.
ReplyDeleteA wise friend of mine, knowing my impatience for allowing my body time to heal, suggested that I approach practicing patience with rehabilitation/therapy as setting a good example for my children to observe for when they might be faced with a similar situation. When I did it "for" my kids rather than simply chafing at my ongoing limitations? I found the process much easier to tolerate.
No matter your approach, fervent wishes for you to be back in the garden doing the work you love as soon as it is safe to do so.
Thanks Deb. One of my sons has back problems and I will share these exercises with him. The problem is that when you are young you just expect these things to go away. When you are older you take them much more seriously because you have learnt that if you don't they won't.I must admit I find it difficult to rest.
DeleteAs a fellow back-injured gardener and one who shares your outlook that a day not gardening is pretty much a day seriously lacking, I support your efforts to give yourself the time to heal. From experience, I tell you that is the best way to return to working the beloved soil. Sending best wishes for a full recovery.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sandy. It is good to hear that you returned to good health. I cannot imagine a life without my garden.
DeleteI'm sorry to hear that you're still contending with the results of your fall. You're right that we all tend to abuse our bodies until they make it known that this will no longer be tolerated. Some time ago, I discovered a website of a therapist/gardener who posts on techniques to help prevent injury (http://gardenforthehealthofit.com/just-do-it/work-it/). It looks as though she's doing more selling than blogging these days but it may be worth checking out. Best wishes with your recovery!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link. I will certainly check out what they have to say. The internet is such a valuable source of information.
DeleteI'm so sorry to hear about your injury! Pain can rob the joy from gardening and I hope yours subsides very soon!
ReplyDeleteHow right you are. My mind is always full of plans fr the garden but at the moment I can hardly think of the future. It is really quite depressing.
DeleteSorry to hear your back is still bothering you so much. I've had back pain, and I know how much it can wear you down.
ReplyDeleteHope these new garden 'tools' work for you....along with some rest. Then, when things are better, we all have to learn new...usually slower...ways to garden.
Hang in there.
Thanks Linda. have cast aside my usual gardening tools for the time being. It's a good job that this is the slow time of the year.
Deleteblah - so sorry to hear about your injuries. Here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
ReplyDeleteBlah, indeed. Heres hoping it is a short interlude.
DeleteI hope they do the trick. We all take risks we shouldn't - I know I have. Just this week what happened to you could have happened to me. I was lucky.
ReplyDeleteI should have learnt my lesson because this is not the first time I have fallen backwards. So glad it din't happen to you.
DeleteSo sorry to hear this Jenny. I hope you're on the mend and find yourself back in shape for the fall season. I know your garden offers lots of solace while you heal.
ReplyDeleteIf it was going to happen then this was the right time of year to happen. It gives me the chance to get better before the fall.
DeleteJenny, I'm so sorry about this. These "tools" are the way to go to help. It's sort of crazy that the activity we do to stay healthy can have its own repercussions.
ReplyDeleteStill, as always, you took a beautiful picture!
Thanks Linda. Not as pretty as your rain lily picture.
DeleteI understand your pain. The exercises are worth it. Hope you can also see a physical therapist for help with new ways to do the chores without strain.
ReplyDelete