| A few clients have recently asked me two very reasonable questions: 1) How did I injure myself before Christmas? 2) How is the problem going — and do I have any answers yet? So I thought it was time to write a short, open update. In the first week of November, I took a heavy fall while working in a client’s garden. I landed awkwardly on two parts of my body — my left elbow and my right hip. The fall caused a small chip injury to my left elbow, but the biggest issue came from the impact to my right side. From that point on, I experienced persistent lower back twinges and pain, along with severe and ongoing pain in my right hip. Until I had the ultrasound scan, I genuinely didn’t know what the injury was, which made the whole period more worrying and frustrating than it needed to be. On Christmas Eve, I had another setback. I slipped on wet leaves in a garden and pulled my lower back, which aggravated the hip injury even further. At that point, it became clear that this wasn’t something I could simply work through. I had only planned to take four days off over the festive break, but sadly, the pain intensified from Boxing Day right through to the 5th of January, when I returned to work. When I did go back, I wore a back brace and compression shorts, which have helped significantly — although there was a slightly comic start. The first pair of compression shorts I ordered were far too small, and I spent a couple of days waddling around like a penguin until the larger size arrived! I’m still wearing the compression shorts daily and will need to continue doing so for the next few months. I also use the back brace when needed, particularly for longer walks. Ironically — given that I’m a gardener working in town and usually get from A to B on foot — walking for extended periods causes the most pain. Gardening itself is more manageable, as it involves shorter movements and smaller steps rather than continuous walking. I booked an appointment in Sandwich for an ultrasound scan to properly understand what was going on. The results were reassuring. There was no tear or serious structural damage, which was a huge relief. The scan showed inflammation around the outside of the right hip and strain in the supporting tendons — consistent with the falls and the physical nature of my work. In simple terms, the injury is painful and frustrating, but manageable and treatable. Hey ho. Just another reminder of how physically demanding — and at times risky — gardening can be, even when you love what you do. |
A Fall, a Setback, and Some Reassurance
Earthly Comforts 
Sending prayers for healing for you. You know best when to take time to rest. Take care.
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Take dear friend. I’m sorry that you’re feeling the pain while walking and working. Do rest whenever you can.
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