I've been down in the dumps, to say the least.
09/26
The sports doc thought I'd torn my meniscus and they scheduled an MRI.
09/27
The knee specialist looked at the results and said my meniscus looks just fine.
I do, however, have a bone contusion on the end of my femur....and what could possibly be the beginning of a stress fracture "situation."
2-3 weeks of nothing....no running, walking, cycling, swimming, yoga......
There was a time in my life where I could have taken the doctor's advice and had a field day. My couch, days on end, no activity - bring it on!!!
But now, I find myself almost angry when I see someone out running. I get up in the morning, and stand on the back deck. It's dark out, the sky is clear, very little breeze....PERFECT running weather!
I've talked to family members who cycle and I've talked to the people at our favorite bike shop about getting my current bike ready for commuting to work. I've done the homework before....but never with the enthusiasm I seem to have now.
It's between 15-16 miles one way to work. Not a short distance, but nothing that's impossible by any means. Most of the route is on city multi-use trails, and the remainder is mostly neighborhood streets. I've also thought about the downside of having to show up to work a hot and sweaty mess in the summer...so took some time to check out the city bus schedules.
All city buses are equipped with bike racks, and the cost to ride isn't much at all. The bus would pick me up within 1/4 mile of my house...and drop me off about about as close to work. Same bus line, no transfers. The journey would take about an hour....but that's a great time to read, people watch, nap, etc.
Then, I could cycle home. Getting my daily exercise in....saving money....and doing a little to save the earth from a few auto exhaust fumes.
The bike I have already will work great...I just need to be able to use my darn knee.!!!! :-)
The doc said I needed to stay on crutches for 2-3 weeks, but I could start walking (only walking) again once I could do it pain free.
10/09
On Sunday night I gave it a shot, and there wasn't any pain. None! I walked normally (yet very very slowly and carefully) Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Then, out of the blue on Wednesday night, the pain was back.
Not like it was in the beginning, but there none the less. I'm back to limping around and using crutches.
The light at the end of the tunnel had begun to appear. It was quite a ways away, and still dim, but it was there. Now I'm back to stumbling around in the dark unlit tunnel, on crutches.
Which, by the way, brings up an interesting topic.
Crutches + dark house at midnight = recipe for disaster....or a good scene for a primetime sitcom.
Some joker at work left this tiny little crutch in my area one afternoon. :-)
I'm trying to keep my spirits up. I can't run right now, but so what? It's not the end of the world.
Mot has already said he'd start cycling with me if that's what I have to do. He's been told that running anything more than a 5 or 10K is just plain silly due to the condition of his back.
So maybe we just run short runs, bike long rides, and smile the whole time knowing that we are ABLE to run short distance and bike long rides. There are those out there who can't do that much...and really want to.
Whining about it, fretting and worrying about it, getting mad and depressed about it.....none of that is going to do anyone any good.
I just plain don't like being told I can't do something.
10/18
Knee specialist follow up appt. The nurse led me back to the examination room.....and I sat there in my paper shorts for 53 minutes before the doc came in to talk to me.
53 minutes!!!!!
In paper shorts! Size S/M. They were huge, I'd hate to see what size L/XL looked like.
Anyway, he finally comes in. And do you know what answer I get to my "what activities can I start doing" question??
"If it hurts, don't do it."
Really? That's his med school education answer?
Genius!!!!
"I've got a wonderful doctor. I says 'Doctor, it hurts when I do this. He says 'Don't do that.' "
Henry Youngman
So, the plan is to start doing yoga next week (as long as it doesn't hurt).
Maybe even some spin classes (as long as they don't hurt).
He also said I could try some cardio machines at the gym (as long as they don't hurt).
He did say I'm 100% not supposed to do laundry, dishes, sweeping, dusting, or scrubbing. Those activities will most definitely hurt.
OK...so maybe he didn't say that.
