The Queen of Optimism

Did I need the reminder that my legs are not useful exercise equipment right now?  I felt a little like this sign was taunting me.

But seriously, it is a little insensitive to people with disabilities, particularly persons who primarily use wheelchairs.

My current situation feels very Ground Hog day-ish.  As it should.  I’m back where I started. Back to square 1.  Should I throw the baby out with the bath water?  Can I use another idiom?  I’m going to a new ophthalmologist on Monday.  Just for fun, a new specialist has been added – a surgeon consult about a muscle biopsy.  I’m waiting for a call back from the scheduler for my new neuromuscular specialist.  I’m waiting for blood test results. More referrals.  More phone calls.  More frustration.  It’s no wonder that last night in a very sleepy moment, I asked my husband for euthanasia.

My walking has not been real bad lately but my foot drop is.  As I walk, my left foot drags a bit on the floor.  Overall, my gait looks pretty smooth.

Vastus Medialis

Through physical therapy, I learned where much of my leg weakness is.  It’s in my vastus medialis, a muscle that helps make up the quad.  The femoral nerve is the nerve that innervates the muscle.  The physical therapist is convinced that if I just work really hard for 6 more weeks, the weakness will improve.  I give that concept possible viability. However, now that I know how weakness in the vastus medialis affects a person’s mobility, I realize that this is not a new problem for me. I have had the inability do a lunge/squat on my left side for as long as I can remember – even times when I was at a very healthy weight and pretty physically active.

We’ll see.

I’m giving it the ol’ college try by doing leg presses, rowing, biking, stretching, and electrical stimulation at PT 2 times a week.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | femoral nerve, muscle weakness, undiagnosed chronic illness, vastus medialis