Achy Breaky Legs

Oy! Today and for the last few days my legs have hurt and ached and been touchy. It is as if every inch of bone were inflamed, every muscle tight and often in spasm, every joint swollen. I can't think what might have set things off, but it takes the better part of 2 hours to get comfortable enough to sleep at night.

Hot water bottles don't help. Tylenol is pretty useless. I carefully tuck pillows everywhere, making sure no part of either leg is being touched by anything including blankets. I dangle one foot over the side of the mattress, thankful for the memory foam mattress pad. Once I am in the least painful position, I lie still and endure the throbbing aching misery until my hip says time to roll over.

Then I have to go through the whole pillow placement leg dangling routine again. Sometimes there is just no comfortable position. I give up exasperated, get out of bed and climb back in - often more than once - hoping to renew my chance of finding an acceptable position. Sometimes it works. Sometimes I just rock back and forth until I am able to get peace.

Through it all, my head is in constant prayer. I know God is with me here. I can sense his presence. I mutter verses, prayers, psalms, mantras. I am so tired, but my body has not yet surrendered. I hear the kids in the other rooms watching a movie or playing a board game or fixing a snack. It is good to hear normal life events in progress.

I work my way through my list of names, praying for one and then another who comes to mind. And eventually I drift off and manage to sleep well. In the morning, the pain will be gone - as if it never happened. During the day I will be fine for the most part. Once I head for home, I start feeling the aches. By the time I have finished supper, I am in trouble. I have to retire early. If the night would cooperate, that would be grand.