2020 has been a rather unfortunate year for most of us (unless you are Jeff Bezos). I injured my back in November 2019 and searched for a surgeon that I am comfortable with for my back surgery. After talking to a few surgeons, I found one.
As it was the end of the year, Holiday Seasons, and all, I only managed to get a slot for the end of January 2020. After the surgery, I was supposed to rest for the first few weeks and start my physiotherapy sessions on Week 3 and continue for three months.
After a few weeks of physio, there was suddenly a nationwide lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I will not risk contracting Covid-19 at the hospital where I was having my physiotherapy sessions. So I stopped the physiotherapy sessions.
Even though I stopped going for physio, I continued to perform the stretches and back strengthening exercises that I was doing before the lockdown. As you would have guessed, after a few more weeks, the exercises (which were mostly done in bed) were not challenging enough anymore.
So, in addition to the strengthening exercises that can be done on my bed, I decided to get up and walk around in the house. At first, for 15 mins, a few times a day. Gradually, I could walk for longer duration and I started using ankle weights – this mimics the resistance of walking in a swimming pool.
One step at a time, before I know it, my back was getting better…slowly…soon…hopefully…I will be able to do all the physical stuffs that I enjoy.
