Ladies and Gentlemen, I have been diagnosed by an expert. An expert that believes that I am too young to have fractured my knee so randomly and therefore don't need any sort of bone density scan and that what the mri shows is actually a bruise on the bone caused somehow by an impact while running. Let this be a warning to you - apparently hitting the ground too hard with your feet can cause your knee to bruise FROM THE INSIDE!!!!
This experience does help me reflect on the fact that I have excellent health insurance. I mean, I went to the doctor, the x-ray, the mri, the orthopedist, etc. and it cost me a whopping $15 out of pocket and $5 of that was for parking. Of course at the end of the day, I totally could have just skipped the whole ordeal and saved my $15 because there is no treatment and I just have to avoid running for the next three months to allow it to heal. By that time you ladies will be running marathons, I'm sure. My next checkup is in early Feb so the doc says we will re-evaluate the situation at that point.
I've decided that I'm not willing to just shrug off this whole endeavor. I WILL BE BACK in 3 months to do this with you. In the mean time I am going to WALK my 5Ks just to keep myself mobile and at least not go all the way back to couch potato status I bought a pedometer today at my WW meeting and since the meeting I've walked 1386 steps. I have no idea if this is a lot of steps or not but it equates to .63 miles so that's kind of impressive considering that I've just been puttering around my house. In any case it gives me something to focus on and blog about so I can still share the experience even though I'm now "differently able."
Showing posts with label achy knee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label achy knee. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
knee injuries: go big or go home!
Ladies, you continue to inspire me. I can't wait to hear about your 20 minute runs - the mere idea fills me with uncontrolled optimism about life. And let me tell you, I can really use the optimism right now.
The MRI images of my knee are in and it turns out that I actually BROKE A BONE IN MY LEG! I suppose that should make me feel pretty hardcore for walking around on it - I honestly thought I was just out of shape and a wuss for giving up after W2 D1. We'll see what the orthopedist has to say on Thursday. By now the swelling is gone but I'm still a bit sore (probably because of the elliptical machine workout I did yesterday just before the doctor called and told me not to) and very ready to be done with this whole knee scenario.
My list of questions for the doctor include:
The MRI images of my knee are in and it turns out that I actually BROKE A BONE IN MY LEG! I suppose that should make me feel pretty hardcore for walking around on it - I honestly thought I was just out of shape and a wuss for giving up after W2 D1. We'll see what the orthopedist has to say on Thursday. By now the swelling is gone but I'm still a bit sore (probably because of the elliptical machine workout I did yesterday just before the doctor called and told me not to) and very ready to be done with this whole knee scenario.
My list of questions for the doctor include:
- wtf?
- how did this happen?
- do I have a crazy brittle bone disease?
- seriously, wtf?
- I swear I've consumed more milk and cheese than is even advisable!
- I even eat those gummy calciums!
- and I've totally lost weight so my skeleton should be psyched for that.
- do I at least qualify for a handicapped parking pass?
Right now the most plausible explanation is alien abduction and time spent in a zero gravity environment leading to loss of bone density. That being the case, I guess it could have been worse.
--Alice
Sunday, December 27, 2009
On the Bench :-(
Well, I made it through the first four workouts, which I suppose is more than zero. I was just starting to think of myself as a runner and was excited for how running could help me through some tough holiday times. Then my knee decided to feel like it was being banged into a dresser repeatedly, regardless of whether I was walking, sitting, or trying to sleep. After a week or so on the bench waiting for the pain to go away, I decided this was more than normal wear and tear and went to the doctor.
My doctor showed more concern than she typically does. Generally when I go to the doctor, I get pointed to an OTC drug and told to wait out whatever is bothering me enough to have made the appointment in the first place. However, this time I not only got a prescription painkiller to take in the evenings, but I also got sent for x-rays, which may be followed by an MRI. These tests will confirm or disprove the hypothesis that without falling or doing anything dramatic, I have managed to tear my meniscus. Here is a nice illustration of what may or may not be going on inside my knee: http://www.orthspec.com/meniscus_repair.htm
So, I may need surgery and will almost certainly get some physical therapy, which I suppose will set me up nicely to start over with week 1 in 6 to 8 weeks or so. Just think of how many more hours of daylight we will have at that point! Ladies, feel free to repeat week 3 several times (like ten times?) until I'm back in the game. I'm on your journey in spirit and you remain my inspiration!
My doctor showed more concern than she typically does. Generally when I go to the doctor, I get pointed to an OTC drug and told to wait out whatever is bothering me enough to have made the appointment in the first place. However, this time I not only got a prescription painkiller to take in the evenings, but I also got sent for x-rays, which may be followed by an MRI. These tests will confirm or disprove the hypothesis that without falling or doing anything dramatic, I have managed to tear my meniscus. Here is a nice illustration of what may or may not be going on inside my knee: http://www.orthspec.com/meniscus_repair.htm
So, I may need surgery and will almost certainly get some physical therapy, which I suppose will set me up nicely to start over with week 1 in 6 to 8 weeks or so. Just think of how many more hours of daylight we will have at that point! Ladies, feel free to repeat week 3 several times (like ten times?) until I'm back in the game. I'm on your journey in spirit and you remain my inspiration!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Finishing up Week Three
It pretty much snowed all morning and afternoon here. It paused during the early evening but of course right before I stepped out to run, it started coming down again. It was kind of pretty for my run, though.
The park was one giant mass of snow -- maybe 5 or so inches deep -- so I bypassed it. Running in untouched snow that deep is nearly like running in sand. I ran on the sidewalks in the little neighborhood across the park from me. I made it through both 3 minute runs and I definitely feel they have improved; I did not want to die. However, I'm still going at a pretty slow pace during them. I suppose that's fine; I mean my goal is not to win any races, just to make it through the equivalent of a 5k.
However, I think the slow running is putting strain on my left knee, which hurts during and after my runs right now. Well, it's either that or I have bad form in the snow -- which is entirely possible; I know that when I walk through the snow, I tend to have hip, leg and foot issues because my caution makes me walk in a kind of stilted manner.
So, the question is whether to repeat this week or try to move on to week 4. Honestly, reading week 4 right now, I kind of want to try it. I think I'll attempt it on Monday; if I fail horribly, I'll go back to this week. I don't need to do this in 9 weeks, I just need to eventually do this.
I wore my new shoes and they were pretty excellent, and seemingly waterproof, which is a nice change. My left foot hurt a bit by the end, near the arch, but it seems that I'm doing something bad to my whole left side.
One more thing on week three -- I truly enjoy that Rockefeller Skank, aka the song they do a choreographed dance to at Prom in She's All That, is on the podcast.
The park was one giant mass of snow -- maybe 5 or so inches deep -- so I bypassed it. Running in untouched snow that deep is nearly like running in sand. I ran on the sidewalks in the little neighborhood across the park from me. I made it through both 3 minute runs and I definitely feel they have improved; I did not want to die. However, I'm still going at a pretty slow pace during them. I suppose that's fine; I mean my goal is not to win any races, just to make it through the equivalent of a 5k.
However, I think the slow running is putting strain on my left knee, which hurts during and after my runs right now. Well, it's either that or I have bad form in the snow -- which is entirely possible; I know that when I walk through the snow, I tend to have hip, leg and foot issues because my caution makes me walk in a kind of stilted manner.
So, the question is whether to repeat this week or try to move on to week 4. Honestly, reading week 4 right now, I kind of want to try it. I think I'll attempt it on Monday; if I fail horribly, I'll go back to this week. I don't need to do this in 9 weeks, I just need to eventually do this.
I wore my new shoes and they were pretty excellent, and seemingly waterproof, which is a nice change. My left foot hurt a bit by the end, near the arch, but it seems that I'm doing something bad to my whole left side.
One more thing on week three -- I truly enjoy that Rockefeller Skank, aka the song they do a choreographed dance to at Prom in She's All That, is on the podcast.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)