"STRIPPED OF ALL HIS PRIDE, STILL HE HELD HIS HEAD UP HIGH"*

* From the TV theme-song 'Branded'.

I've been discharged!

No, not like in that old Chuck Connors TV series from the 1960s although it might be a laugh to try and find it on YouTube.

"It wasn't me".

I had my last physiotherapy session today for the torn hip tendon and have obviously made progress because my physio told me that she was discharging me. She told me that after mauling me for half an hour which was like going three rounds with a wrestler.

I'd swatted up on the exercise instructions beforehand so that I could lie more convincingly to her when asked how the prescribed exercise regime was going. I guess that she's used to this as she gave me a real working over. Fortunately I have been doing some walking, playing tennis and have had a few rounds of golf since my last appointment before Christmas so she said that she could see some improvement in my strength and flexibility. She's very good, this physiotherapist and very brave I thought as she vigorously massaged and manipulated my buttocks and upper thigh (gluteus maximus and vastus lateralis for the guys who were in the 'P' classes at school). I thanked Robert's god that we'd run out of baked beans and hadn't had any yesterday otherwise - that would have been embarrassing.

Her manipulations though were painful and she opined (after going away and rechecking the x-rays) that indeed there was damage to the tendon that could be fixed by surgery or, by gradual stretching and exercising. I chose the gradual stretching and exercising so she slapped my bare bum and told me that I was discharged**.

** In the interests of full disclosure I must say that this
 is not an accurate rendition of what went on in the therapy session.

I'm happy to be discharged but admit that I've got to do a bit more 'self-help' work to get myself right. I always feel like a fraud when I go to doctors, specialists and physiotherapists thinking that there are people out there with conditions that are more deserving. This is that 'Catholic guilt' I guess and surprisingly, since I'm an atheist and renounced that Catholic silliness decades ago, I still have it.

The pain and discomfort is still there but my movement is way better than it was last year so I'll continue with my walking, golfing, tennis playing, exercises and swimming - if Bruce allows.