Patient Stories Project
A Life of Resilience: Overcoming Pain Through Movement
Written by: Jim Kempster
In this short text, I’m sharing my experiences in life which are associated with the common daily activities and the restrictions that we have because of physical pain. As I near my 90th birthday in early 2025, I think back over nearly 80 years of these experiences.
I suppose that the adage “No pain no gain” is appropriate to describe our desire to be as physically capable as possible to meet ALL of our needs and desires.
I will give you a run-down on my experiences of life background. My first physical challenge came as a result of being born with double dislocated hip joints. I was sent for treatment to the Vancouver Children’s Hospital. I remember exercising in a swimming pool. I still exercise in the pool – and currently I spend more time in the pool than in the gym.
When I was 14, I had a serious case of Rheumatic Fever (as it was called, or Acute Arthritis). I was hospitalized for a month without improvement. I was sent home to rehabilitate. This was my first introduction to a concentrated exercise program. Day 1 I did one each of: a sit-up, a push-up, a deep knee bend, a calf-raise, and calisthenics involving arms. I increased the number of exercises day by day. At the end of 30 days, I was completely recovered. I took the job even of caring for the neighbour’s livestock. Then I went, at the age of 15, to work in a logging camp.
I remember an occasion in a logging camp. A new employee had joined the crew. He had a commendable physique: as hard as a rock! But he could not step right in and do the hard work. Probably he had achieved his physique by pumping iron: but he had done little aerobic exercise. He had sweat, but he had never been out of breath. I learned about how appearances can be deceptive. How we exercise our bodies will determine our measure of recovery from surgeries and our responses to physiotherapy.
At the age of 17, I joined the Air Force. Exercising was the most important part of my leisure life. After leaving the Air Force, I did several jobs before becoming a Medical Lab Technologist. I worked in Victoria and was very active. In 1967, Canada’s Centennial Year, I took on a YMCA challenge. The program required 100 miles of running at not more that 3 miles a day. I ran the course with a lady I worked with at the lab. (To measure my good shape, when I went up a flight of stairs, I did it in three jumps up, and down in two jumps.) But the running on paved trails of Beacon Hill Park wore out my hips. I had done more than I was able to. I tried to keep up my usual activities by doing less, but found it very difficult. I would try to run on the street but would have to give up after half a block. I did keep up gym exercises as much as I could.
After facing discouragements for 12 years, in 1979, I finally had my first hip replacement. Then the recovery exercises began. I got excellent help from the Canadian Arthritis Society in Vancouver. We lived in Lillooet. I stayed in Vancouver so that I could get the best physiotherapy. In addition, I did exercises at home at regular intervals during the day. In order to exercise to support and attach the weights to my legs I put bricks in nylon stockings and hung them on my legs.
There are many other life experiences I have had in which my degree of physical activity has played a prominent role. I had my other hip replaced in 1981 with similar recovery activities. The one prosthesis lasted 16 years and the other 12 years. I have been criticized for doing too much exercise. But I kept myself in good shape, and the exercises I did gave the muscle support necessary to reduce the wear and tear on the joint.
I’ve had a number of surgeries over the years. For me, pain may be the limiting factor in how much activity needs to be done in order to return to normal. It’s typical to work with a physiotherapist after surgery. Where I live, in BC, you can utilize the services of a physiotherapist at the hospital for 12 sessions. Otherwise, you have to go to a private clinic. While you are in the hospital you will get daily exercise sessions. I prefer the attention I receive in the hospital as I feel I get more personal attention.
After my joint replacement surgeries, the prime goal has been to regain normal movement and to restrengthen the limb. Prior to surgery I have done as much as possible to tone the muscles to as high a degree of strength as possible without aggravating tissue that is inflamed. This might include exercises with limited and incremental weight bearing. The limiting factor is my pain tolerance. My recovery phase has involved recovering strength and range of motion. Working with a physiotherapist who gave me the right exercises and also someone experienced in monitoring what is and what should be done is helpful.
There are several single exercise systems that I have found best to keep in shape or to recover from joint replacements. For me using a small household trampoline or Rebounder is excellent. I follow three basic patterns: running on the spot; spreading feet in jumps to spread the legs to the side; and a kick out front. Another good exercise for me which is also very aerobic is running up and down stairs. Just plain walking is also very good because I had to learn how to walk all over again. If you don’t learn to walk properly during recovery, you may continue to limp as you did before.
Pain tolerance is a personal thing and for me that may vary as progress is made. I have learned to “listen” to my body.