Hello friends! I hope the sun is shining wherever you are. What a difference it makes.

Quick update for you, followed by some rambling.

Physio and Pilates home practice is going well. Getting slowly stronger and getting back lost muscle tone. Dancing... Still not possible. Pain levels are much better than before. Fatigue levels are OK long as I dont go nuts doing all the things. Amazing how much energy is required to mend body parts.

The thoracic Xray was good, ribs are looking so much better. There's something going on with my mid back vertebrae (T7) which I probably had for years but didn't notice pain until now as I lost muscle mass after the accident and that can trigger old injuries. But physiotherapy and osteotherapy will help the realignment and getting strength back will manage the pain that currently radiates right around the ribcage. Anatomy is a trip.

My pelvic fracture however is still quite large on the X-ray which I was disappointed to see, as it means more patience... I didn't see a great difference between this X-ray and the last one back in March. The bone is growing around the break but it's not in a great hurry. I am feeling some strength in the adductor... It's sooooo slowwwww. Getting flexibility back feels like an impossible task right now as its still too painful to stretch, but I will get there. I have a lot of support, advice and a great physio. I am very lucky.

It was Cluny Danse Festival last weekend and I must admit I've been down and feeling sorry for myself because I could not join in the fun. I missed the workshops and couldn't see the shows as sitting and standing for long periods gets uncomfortable. It's silly I know. It’s just a blip, there's always next year... No big deal. But all the things I was looking forward to that I cannot do: The shows, the travels, workshops, helping build our house... Sometimes it all mounts up in my head and I feel disappointed and frustrated and that it's FOREVER... But it's not forever, it's only been 4 months.

So... As negative thinking does not help bones to heal, I’ve been thinking about good things that have resulted from the injuries....I’m sharing them here because maybe you are injured too and this might help you see things aint so bad.

Good things about having fractured pelvis:

1. I can only sit in chairs for a very limited time. This is good because chairs are bad for humans!!! See "Sitting is the new smoking" articles: HERE and HERE

Meaning if I do need to sit at the computer, like right now, I’m more comfortable in a seated squat. Or on the floor gently stretching. Or standing up while rolling my feet on a tennis ball. The laptop perched on the window sill and a stack of books, means I can enjoy the view, thereby relaxing my ciliary muscles reducing the risk of myopia! Read Movement Matters by Katy Bowman to geek out more, or listen to the podcast

2. Rediscovering how to walk and learning to take my time. My tendency was to run headfirst at everything which more often than not meant forgetting things, making bad decisions, not thinking things through, high stress levels and anxiety. Walking toddler speed gives me a chance to feel my feet, notice my surroundings, my hips, sternum, shoulders and neck.

Not being able to move meant, for me, way too much time dwelling in thoughts (and not very helpful thoughts at that) Now I am beginning to move more, I can feel the difference movement makes to my thoughts. I need to move. We all do.

Thank you so much for reading, following, sending messages, supporting, sharing and your donations. Being out of work so long and not entitled to benefits means your donations help more than you know. I'm looking into training options and will keep you all posted here.

Love

Sam