Some of you may have noticed and questioned why I have not been posting regularly for a while. Not out of choice, mind you. Instead, I had been called to do a new modeling project.
Since April, I have been hanging around white-coated photographers, posing for rather shadowy black and white photos. Unfortunately, I wasn’t being paid for my work, like some glamorous model.
No luxurious locations either, not like Vogue models. The photographers were well-trained sort of no-nonsense type of people.
Probably on the shy side, they tend to hide behind their expensive equipment rather than mingle with guests. I suspect most aren’t too comfortable answering questions from their models.
After only brief interactions, they quickly disappeared into their dark caverns covered with screens. They are the timid-leaning professionals and introverts of their profession.
Nevertheless, they are well sought out and can be hard to pin down for any visits. Some of them who like a little more hands on interaction train how to poke around with much precision doing delicate procedures.
So it seems, I spent the majority of my summer posing for these types of interpreters of bony art.
These rather tedious photo shoots of me baring my body were paid by me and the Secu(French Medical Insurance). Let’s just say it was the necessary protocol before I could get evaluated for any body shop work!
Before being engaged in my new modeling career, I was happily doing my usual jaunts around beautiful Paris. Walking around was generally a pleasant adventure chock-full of beauty, history, and art.
Traveling was my other love. No sooner was I back from one adventure, than was I planning for the next. I had all sorts of possibilities for the spring and summer.
In February, I was feeling almost like a super sprinter, tackling the steep hills of Cauterets in the Pyrénées. It wasn’t till April when my aging bones started to creak increasing protests
I first noticed the pain after climbing up and down multiple sets of metro stairs to exit the labyrinth tunnels of Châtelet. I was heading towards Rue Rivoli, to buy more Ikea candles that I go through like sand to ritually light my nightly dinner celebrations.
Wine, and lovingly prepared meals celebrated and enjoyed in the soft glow of candlelight, brings me joy! Attainable self love, folks! Our responsibility!
Before long I had to come to the stark realization, often clouded in denial that my poor older bones were yelling at me, that I wasn’t going to be able to sail all over Paris on these two legs without risking their full-fledged strike!
By the end of April, I had started to limp in increasing pain. It was time to make some doctor appointments.
Obviously, I had to reduce my walking to basic and necessary displacements to the grocery, marché and medical appointments. I limped along to what I felt was a snail’s pace in comparison to my usual speedy gait.
Ignoring my precarious condition, I couldn’t resist taking the bus to the Marché aux Fleurs on Ile de la Cité to get some geraniums, etc for the balcony flower boxes.
I did do one ridiculously stupid thing, though. Deciding to take the metro back home, I found myself forced to walk down several flights of stairs at Cité metro stop, when I discovered the elevator wasn’t working. Really dumb, and I paid for it!
I reluctantly gave up weight training at the gym. I had already stopped leg presses, back and gluteal exercises several months ago due to back pain, but kept upper torso ones.
After my crazy stair descent, I decided no more tackling metro stairs. Fortunately, Paris has a great bus system that goes just about everywhere. No more walking around the park or going out and about as before just for pleasure, in my beloved Paris.
I spent my summer not laying out in the sun but stretched out on Imagerie Résonance Magnétique (MRI) and Scanner tables being shoved into those metal tunnels. Thank goodness they have shorter and more open ones, as the longer ones make me claustrophobic.
One radiology center was practically across the street behind the bakery. Whiffs of titillating smells of croissants and
brioches provided a calming distraction before one of the MRIs.
Hidden from street view was the pretty sloping garden. White-capped bakers waltzed outside, setting trays of hot baguettes and pastries to cool. Fortunately, I didn’t see any pigeons lurking around to sneak a peck or two.
When I finally got to see first hand my modeling poses, my bones could no longer hide the stark truth. My hip looked a little battered and dented.
In plain vernacular, I had worn down my hip “treads” (cartilage) like an old tire getting bare due to too many miles.
Let’s see. I did 3 MRIs, One Scanner, and some plain x-rays, that took up the summer months. As one of the radiologists quipped. ” Goodness, Madame Chapman, I think we have examined just about every nook and cranny of your lower spine, and hips.”
Without going into detail, let’s just say my axle (spine) didn’t look too good either, perhaps worse.
I was prescribed a conservative treatment plan before considering any body shop work. This consisted of medications, physical therapy and spinal and hip infiltrations. Infiltrations are the French definition of joint injections of cortisone.
After one session of physical therapy, my pain and limp were worse. Tylenol-like analgesics became a nightly nightcap.
Another radiology center was located on Blvd Saint Germain in the Latin Quarter, occupying an elaborate, aristocratic-looking apartment. The old wrought iron birdcage elevator groaned as it slowly delivered me to the first floor.
In France, the ground floor is called Rez Chaussée and the upper floor is the premier étage, first floor
Instead of being distracted by the delicious smells of croissants and brioches, my eyes feasted on old-world Parisian decor, while waiting for my name to be called.
I marveled at the beautiful old rococo wall and ceiling moldings and lavish period fireplace that graced the oval waiting room, adorned with beautiful stained-glass windows.
In Paris, you will often find doctor’s offices in these distinguished Belle Époque apartments rather than cold medical furnishings.
I finished my hip infiltration, with good results. Skillfully performed by a pretty young radiologist, it went quicker and was less painful than the lumbar.
After dutifully obeying the doctor’s orders for rest and only walking in the apartment for 48 hours, I was able to resume walking outside without pain and a limp!
Neither lumbar nor hip injections are going to change the structural damage to my rather train-wrecked spine and hips, but I am hoping for a few weeks’ reprise from the chronic pain. At this point, I welcome a temporary bandage!
Sunday afternoon, I acted like an excited schoolgirl waiting for the recess bell! My over-elated mood led me walking 4. 2 kilometers in some of my favorite parts of Paris. Story to follow.
Well, enough of my boney blues saga!
Health should be your number one priority.
Take care and be well Mon amie
Hi Gerard! Wonderful to hear from you and thank you for your kind comment. I totally agree with you. How are you doing?
Cherry,
I, too, had the same symptoms as you but during the Pandemic. I needed a Hip replacement. This was considered elective surgery so I had to wait one and a half years, then wait for my turn when they began surgery again. I had the replacement a year ago. Two hours after the procedure, I was up walking and the pain was gone! The only pain reliever was Tylenol at the hospital (overnight) and none when I returned home. It was amazing! My daughters came home to take care of me but after a few days, I told them that I appreciated their company but I was fine and they could go back home. I hope that your injections help and you will not need a total Hip replacement but if you do, I hope it goes as well as mine.
One month prior to the procedure, I walked to the top of Mont Saint-Michel. I thought I would die! I needed the surgery and I am a believer of it now.
All my best,
Eddie
Eddie, I am sorry that I did not know about your hip replacement! I can’t believe you did Mont Saint Michel in such pain! Plus, you must have walked around each port while on your cruise! Really, I don’t see how you could have done all of that walking and climbing!
I am pretty sure I am headed towards the scalpel soon. There isn’t any other good alternative for bone on bone pain.
Thank you for your vote of confidence, Eddie. You are a good role model!
Dear cousin, so sorry to hear of your bony blues. I have to have Cataract surgery this month, had 4 crowns installed and will probably have parathyroid surgery as well. Ah, tis the season of our aging discontent.
Thank you Deborah for your comment and sharing your own health issues. You have a lot to contend with! I hope you have great insurance! It is strange that suddenly, that there can be an accumulation of health events in need of attention! Hope each intervention goes well for you!
Deborah, I’ve had cataract surgery in both eyes and it is a PAINLESS procedure. I really think that almost everyone in their 60s should have the surgery because it really clears up one’s vision which tends to “cloud a little” with age. Afterwards one’s perceptions of colors is really heightened a lot. The main thing is deciding upon which lenses to have installed; there are several variations . . . suggest that you explore that well before hand.
I am so very sorry to hear about your bony blues and hope that you get some long -term relief in sight but my, I admire your indefatigable and positive spirit. I was empathizing with your pain but your delight and appreciation for freshly-baked croissants and Belle epoque medical clinics in Paris was such a pleasant distraction. Bless you, Cherry! Please take extra good care of yourself.
Thank you sweet Sintea for your caring comment! I am grateful for so many things and that in this age, hip replacement surgery is one of the most successful surgeries. Hope to meet you during one of your future trips back to Paris. Hugs and blessings to you.
Gosh Cherry, you are “busting my bubble” . . . LOL . . . every time I think of you, I always envision you going on jaunting trips all around Paris and Europe. Sorry to hear about your “boney blues saga” and wish you a speedy recovery.from all that ails you. Life slowly catches up with all of us eventually. I’ve noticed during the last year that my physical endurance isn’t quite what it used to be . . . sort of wracked up my back for a short time while after trying to use a digging bar to remove a tree root . . . Ha! I hope that it won’t take long for you to be back making your trips and writing your blogs with your pictures. Looking forward to your next blogs.
Thank you David for your comment and wishes! I am sorry that I didn’t know about your own back problems. We tend to think we can do everything with ease and end up injuring our back or other joints. I was so proud of my arm and leg muscles, lifting heavier weights than the young ones! I need a new hip now and hope to be back sailing around.
Glad you found some respite from the pain. To paraphrase Warren Zevon, “Enjoy every walk.”
Thank you Gary! I did indeed! Unfortunately, the pain crept back in, so the scalpel is the next best thing.
Hi Cherry,congratulations on your new send interest in modeling as I always thought you would be good at this.
I can call definitely relate to your back pain as I have been in a lot of back and leg pain since the wreck and between cancer and the orthopedic doctors. I have had my share of x-rays and MRIs and a pet scan.
I keep getting out and about with the help of hydrocodone.
I pray that you will get relief soon and get back to your normal self.
I think a bog about your modeling adventure with photos would be interesting 🤨
Hugs to you
Thank you Isham for your prayers and wishes. I tried to make light of my bones problems, however painful and limiting they can be. I am grateful for their good service all these years. At least one hip will soon be in need of renewal and renovation! I have enjoyed seeing photos of your outings, which I find essential to our mood. I send you prayers to recover from your latest mishap and hope you get a new truck soon. Hugs to you
Cherry, I had one hip replaced in 2014 and the other in 2018. Had surgery early in the morning, went home the next day. Used a walker to walk through the house for a couple of days, then used it to walk down the street and back. Didn’t really need the walker, but nursing staff wanted me to use it anyway until I went back for 2 week checkup. No pain since, and I can fast dance with no problem! You’ll do fine! Do them while you’re otherwise healthy. Don’t risk falling!
Thank you Jim for your kind and very encouraging comment. I am heading to surgery soon, so your comment gives me a boost of confidence about goiong through with it!! Thank you so much for sharing!