When small movements were enormous
In my older writing I described a stretch of years when pain and falls limited how far I could walk and what I could do. I was sometimes afraid of being touched, and even ordinary activities could take a major effort.
Therapeutic movement was one part of a broader plan that included medical care, support from family and other treatments. I described starting with very light stretches and exercises guided by the people treating me. Progress came in small pieces, with difficult days along the way.
One streetlight at a time
My first goals were not dramatic. I wanted to walk outside a little farther than before. Then get to the streetlight. Then make it to the store and back, sometimes with a long rest in between.
I wrote about the pain involved in some of those walks. Today, I would not want anyone to read that as an instruction to ignore severe symptoms or push through unsafe activity. Every person needs their own individualized care plan, especially when mobility and falling are concerns.
The climbing wall, Pilates and the gym
Later articles document a very different period of my life. The original site includes photographs and stories about climbing, a Pilates class and my 2019 Lifetime Fitness 60 Day Challenge. These weren't proof that CRPS had vanished. They were reminders that I could participate in activities I'd missed for years.
The 2019 story explains how trainers adapted exercises to my limitations. I appreciated being able to try movement in a setting where the people helping me understood that I was not approaching fitness the same way as everyone else.
What belongs in the record
My historic reports involve several things happening together: therapy, routines, people, motivation, work, and other treatments. A single story cannot isolate the contribution of each part, and it should never substitute for clinical advice about rehabilitation.
These are my earlier experiences. Exercise selection, pacing, fall precautions and rehabilitation intensity should be determined with a qualified treating professional according to the individual's circumstances. New or worsening weakness, falls or other symptoms deserve evaluation.
For a general overview of CRPS and common approaches to care, see MedlinePlus.