One of my self imposed rules in this blog is that I won’t write about my medical issues. At 77 they are significant but of little interest to others. I’m making an exception because it is about something long standing which recently caused me to panic and which it is cathartic to write about.
In 1993 I suffered a stroke. This was a tremendous shock, psychologically as well as physically. I was at home for seven months but over time I made a good recovery. I went back to work part time at first but then full time after another couple of months. I suffered from two main residual problems, poor speech and lack of balance. I realise now my speech wasn’t as bad as I feared. I spoke as little as possible at work and avoided using the telephone. I uses talking to Frances in the evenings as speaking practice.( we were living together on weekdays in Oxford, she was at school there ). With time and practice my speech improved and I no longer was embarrassed by it. My lack of balance proved more enduring. I could no longer ride a bicycle which had been an important source of exercise. I could ride along happily for a few hundred yards and then suddenly, abruptly fall off. After suffering dreadful bruising I gave up before anything worse.
Although I retired early from Castrol this was partly because they were stripping out the older staff. I managed to secure a part time position locally in the Midlands with Techtron which was a tiny company where I had previously worked in the late eighties This suited both them and me as I worked three short days a week. The company made industrial maintenance specialities. They were pleased to get an experienced scientist quite cheaply. I soon became an all purpose technical guru running the gamut from IT to post fire reclamation. After a few years their IT needs outstripped my limited ability and specialists were needed
In 2005 I was visiting my daughter in Camberley, was taken to a local beauty spot, tripped and fell. In falling I broke the neck of my femur. Taken to Frimley Park hospital I was cheered by the doctor saying repeatedly “ but you’re only a young man”. In fact I was just 63 but apparently this is something more usually seen in folks in the seventies. I had a repair operation which was unsuccessful so I had an artificial hip installed.
My stay was memorable because I was in a military ward as Frimley is near major army centres such as Sandhurst. It seemed very strange to be approached by doctors in uniform. Initially I didn’t realise and I was surprised on admittance to be approached by a nurse in typical nurses outfit but with discreet chevrons on her sleeve. I rather stupidly asked if this was fancy dress. The indignant reply was she was sergeant so and so. I must say the treatment was excellent. All local forces medical staff were on the roster to “keep their hand in” as they told us cheerfully. This meant that unlike standard NHS wards there was rather a surplus of nurses and doctors.
My recovery from the second hip operation proceeded normally. At check up I asked how long I could expect the new joint to last. The doctor grinned and said it might well see me out. I wondered afterwards whether this meant a long life for the joint or a short one for me. Now artificial joints are not the same as natural. I’m conscious it is weaker and in rehabilitation I was taught how to favour it. Even so it sometimes painful. I am aware that some hip replacement can be very unsuccessful so I am thankful for small mercies.
Knowing my balance is poor I have tried to adopt mitigating behaviour. I realise some of the circumstances where I fall such as sudden turns. I also tend to walk looking at the ground avoiding trip hazards. This does lead to a slightly strange bent posture
I’ve had a nasty scare recently when I fell twice in two days. In the first I was carrying a step ladder through a door way, in the second I just rose from a chair turning suddenly. Although I only part fell it was awkwardly and I felt a pain in my hip. I could scarcely walk and spent the morning in bed. Gradually over several days the pain has reduced and I’m walking almost normally. I had dreaded damaging the joint and needing a replacement. I was worried this was going to be necessary but my concerns have diminished as I seem to have recovered.
My present situation is that I’m trying harder to avoid falls. I have to recognise I have I had a narrow escape. I need to avoid situations where a fall is more likely.
The joke book I’m using is particularly savage about lawyers
Whats the ideal weight for a lawyer?
About 3 pounds including the urn.
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