Day One Hundred and Nine - Dentist and Doldrums

My poor brother has broken a tooth and he has to go to the dentist today to have it extracted. He’s not looking forward to it. Not just because dental visits and having teeth out aren’t much fun but because of the whole Covid protocols. He’s been given instructions about when to arrive, he must wear a face mask. I presume they’ll take it off when they actually take the tooth out! But the problem with dentists is that there is no way you can socially distance. Dentist has to look straight into an open mouth. It’s challenging for both parties I reckon.

I didn’t walk today and it’s plunged me deep into the doldrums. Did some gardening yesterday and I guess I must’ve pulled, tweaked, done something. For yesterday afternoon and evening I had a lot of pain and I had to hang onto things for support just to move around the house. Took some painkillers, had a bath and managed to get some sleep and I thought it had eased this morning but when I started to do my physio it flared again so I decided it would be sensible to stay put. But it doesn’t do me any good mentally. I’m also sad because all the physical progress I’ve made seems to be in jeopardy. I probably tweaked a nerve because my left leg keeps going numb as well as the seat of the pain which seems to be in my right. I had hoped that the conditioning over the last few months might give me some strength against these kind of flares. But it hasn't. There is a pattern though. It's always after gardening that I can expect some physical discomfort.

I tried doing some yoga and some tai chi indoors today. It’s been okay. Just a vague suggestion of a twinge now and again. But I am all painkillered up today. Whilst on the subject of Tai Chi my tai chi teacher sent a text message yesterday saying he was going to do an outdoor session of tai chi and quigong on Tuesday morning. He wasn’t going to charge for it. I’d love to go but unfortunately it’s just not an accessible place. Even if I were to brave public transport it’s not on a public transport route. And it’s too far to walk. Plus there are no toilets at the location. This is where I wish I had a car because that would make it more possible. But I would need a car with a toilet!

Depressed to read today that the rate of new coronavirus cases in my area is four times higher than the rest of my county. And those statistics make it very likely that the area will be subject to a local lockdown similar to Leicester. Likely, probable, are the words being bandied about.

Tune in again tomorrow to see if I can muster some kind of optimism or positivity.