walking in a pool
I don’t know about walking in a pool. It is not strenuous on your bones, but it is on your muscles. I am thinking how one could understand if you’re overdoing it for your muscles. Healthy people have this burning sensation. Obviously you don’t (I didn’t in the acute (initial) phase of CDIP). Another way of telling is if your muscles stop collaborating, limbs feel tired, you can’t keep hands/feet steady, veins pop out (the latter also depends on the temperature and amount of fat on feet/hands/legs/arms – I am very thin and it shows!!)
However, if you have a swimming pool or something nearby, you could swim (start with paddling) without flip/flops, play with a ball with other people or sit down in shallow water and paddle with your feet. I was also told that light weightlifting (until 1,5 kilos (3,3 lb) with arms/hands) was good (1 thick book in each hand is the same).
For coordination and ‘sense of space’ I was told to march on the spot (in the beginning looking in a mirror), right hand and left foot forward and vice versa. walking small steps up and backwards , walking sidewards trying dancing steps (tsatsa, quickstep) by yourself. Trying to stand on one foot, knee up, then the other foot. If CDIP crept up to thighs and buttocks, lift up whole leg (make sure you keep your balance). Try pick up things with your toes, play with small balls with feet and fingers.
They gave me a lot of these exercises to do in and around the house and you gradually build up your condition and muscle volume without traumatising your bones or muscles and at the same time keep oxygen-rich blood circulating which helps your nerves grow back. If you get tired, your blood is less rich in oxygen, your muscles cannot get rid of toxins, start burning and get traumatised (this was how they explained stuff to me!!).
To round things up, take it easy. These things take time. Don’t think you wish to become a female bodybuilder.