When you get hurt...

I never really stop to think about my health, until I get sick or in this case, hurt. About ten days ago, I was out collecting sap from our maples, the day was warm, the sap was running, the snow was soft underfoot. I stepped up onto a snow bank, a pile of snow that I knew hid layers of brush and boards underneath and emptied the bucket that hung from a tree. I took two steps and my left heel went into a hole in the snow, while my toes remained supported by whatever junk lay hidden underneath. I kind of felt something pop in my knee, but readjusted my stride, and went to the next tree to collect the sap.
That night, my leg was sore, so I took a couple of Ibuprofen and went to bed. All seemed well for the next several days; I was able to collect sap, able to walk the 1.5 miles up and down hill to the mailbox and back. Then, Sunday, I went for a longer than normal walk with friends and my knee was quite sore that night. More Ibuprofen then and in the morning and I refrained from a walk (it was cold and drizzly anyway). Tuesday I was fine and Wednesday I felt good, so I decided to go to my weekly Zumba class that night.
To be on the safe side, I wore a knee brace, one I've had for years to use when I ride my exercise bike because I did something to this knee about ten or eleven years ago (my ex didn't believe in doctors, so I never had it checked out) and spent six months walking with a cane. Zumba class was fun and things felt pretty good for most of it; by the end though, I was favoring my leg and didn't follow through on some of the twists and turns I might normally do.
Thursday, my leg was quite sore and swollen, so I taped it with an old Ace bandage and wore the knee brace off and on throughout the day. I didn't go for a walk but still helped bring in firewood and did little things in the house. Yesterday, I was even more sore, took way more Ibuprofen (not something I'm fond of doing but when I can't think well enough to work because of the pain, it's time for more meds), and yet, still was up and down the stairs a number of times between computer, printer, and tax forms. I even drove to the Post Office to mail the darn tax papers out.
And today? Yep, I'm on the couch with ice packs, my knee elevated, and still more Ibuprofen. I stepped out of bed and felt shooting pains race across under my patella this am and knew I'd be calling the doctor come Monday. Ah, the joys of overdoing it! What's the lesson here? Not sure if there is one; I'm just thankful that my work is done on my home computer and that I can still edit, write, and read books for review while this laid up. And grateful that my husband's sore arm is better, so he can do dishes and firewood for a bit while I recuperate.
Be thankful if all your body parts are functioning and never take your good health for granted.