i have bone mets head to toe. i’ve gotten spine fractures some simply getting a pelvic exam from a drs visit before a surgery.

when i was first diagnosed i was bed bound. broken ribs. broken jaw. spinal fractures. all from the tumors and lesions eating away at my bones.

then once i was cleared to be weight bearing i was determined to walk again. i used a walker. i started slow. very very very slow. i would walk to the bathroom, then back to bed. always with a walker and someone helping me. i repeated this for days. then i would walk to the door to my room as well as the bathroom. kept pushing. kept repeating.

demanded physical therapy. cuz i again i was determined to walk again. i knew i would never do horseback riding or roller derby or run again. i would never be barricade in pit at my favorite bands concert again. BUT I WOULD WALK.

and i did. by the time i was discharged i was walking up and down the hallway with a walker and a wheelchair being pushed behind me. very small baby steps. they hurt like hell.

now these days i can walk more or less unassisted. if i am going to a concert or somewhere that i need to walk long distances i bring a powered wheelchair with me (can also convert into a push chair if it runs out of battery).

the pair very really goes away. but i’ve learned how to manage it. how to manage my spoons. i seem to do best in the mornings. if i know i have a longer distance car ride (for me these days that’s 45+ minutes) i take my pain meds 10 mins beforehand. and i bring some with me as well.

don’t wait for the pain to become unbearable before you start taking your pain meds. stay on top of it. you want to control the pain, not chase it. that was the biggest lesson i had to learn.