Sunday, April 16, 2006

Knee, leg and fitness update

I know I’ve been kind of quiet lately on the updates about my knee and leg. Partly it is due to the fact that it is the end of the school year and I need to wrap my head around that more than anything at the moment, but since a few of you have asked in e-mails, I thought I’d do a quick post. Here goes:

Knee/leg update

Between my massage therapist showing me a technique to drain the swelling from my leg, which I do a few times a week now (though not as well as she does it of course…); making friends with a heating pad; following
Bast’s advice on Epsom salt baths and generally trying to listen to my body, things are feeling better.

The swelling and pain in my lower leg is down, though not gone completely. Eliminating exercises (and yes… even squats – woo hoo!) that seemed to increase the swelling and put more pressure on the lower leg helped a great deal.

About a week ago, I got the custom-made orthotics. I didn’t want to post about them right away, because to be honest, the experience wasn’t exactly pleasant. I felt like my hips were being ripped out of their sockets on the first day. After that, it got easier. Now, I hardly notice that they are there at all… except when I do exercises on the bosu. Then, I wobble and lurch, falling in all different directions in a heap. But hell, what do I care? I’d rather have less pain than be a bosu expert.


And besides, I’m determined, so I’ve been on that darned thing almost every day, flying around with arms extended… I will get my balance back, dammit!

I also wear my knee brace almost every time I work out now. I tried taping the knee one day, but the brace is much better, so I went back to it. I hope that I will not need it forever, but I guess you never know, right? For now, it helps... a lot.

So… things are getting better… In my last physio appointment, Tim said to try and wait two weeks until the next appointment, so I won’t be going back until next week. In the meantime, I have been working hard to manage things on my own and for the most part, it seems to be OK.

Fitness update

Because my knee and leg were feeling better, I thought I’d try the cardio machines again and see how my leg responded. I started with 5 minutes on the bike and the next day, I tried the elliptical. Both were OK.

Me being me, I had myself up to 45 minutes of cardio in a week and that proved to be a bit too much for my knee and now, I am feeling it. Nothing like jumping in with both feet, eh?

Anyway, I will have to ease off again for a few days, but it feels good just to be back on the machines. It is slow going, but I can see and feel some improvement. If nothing else, this is good for my sanity.

I am still doing all my physio exercises diligently… every day… Except the squats. Have I mentioned how happy it makes me not to have to do squats??

Having said that, I have these exercises for the ab- and adductors, as well as hip rotators that I also do every single day. These exercises, combined with all the physio stuff, take about 45 minutes... Yes... six times a week. Ugh! I have noticed a difference though, I must say… I now officially have “thunder thighs”, but they are feeling stronger and more stable, so I do not care!!

My package of personal training sessions has finished now, so I am working on my own. Of course, I am still dedicated… keeping my progress log and working out six days a week… I have mixed feelings about working out on my own, but I know I can do it.

I have signed up for some yoga and pilates classes, starting in May, just to change things up a bit. I think I have figured out that strength training and running (whenever I get back to it!) will be my base activities and I think I’d also like to keep challenging myself to try new things and learn different activities. I was never very athletic as a kid, so there are a lot of things out there to go and try… and with any luck, I have a few decades to fit them all in!

So, in short, there has been progress… It is very, very slow and I still get quite frustrated, but never mind… It’s all about the journey, right?

12 comments:

Janice Seagraves said...

Hi Sarah,

It sounds good, and your making progress too. But slow down what's the hurry? Try to moderate your activity slow and steedy wins the race.

Janice~

D said...

Some progress is better than no progress. Stay patient!!

Madcap said...

Yup, it's about the journey. Congratulations on all the little improvements!

Anvilcloud said...

Your dedication is extremely impressive.

Turtle Guy said...

Kudos, Janice! It's been the Turtle Theme for... ever, I think! Slow and steady.

Sarah, you know ALL of us have trouble with "slow and steady" - (including one certain Turtle who shall remain nameless...) and I think it has quite a bit to do with "expectations" and this darned "nanosecond culture" we live in full of want for instantaneous gratification and results.

You know in your heart that you're making HUGE progress. Reflect on that and congratulate yourself for that determination you own that has more often than not allowed you to attain the results you've strived for.

psbowe said...

I know it's hard to be patient but better to be cautious than rushing back into it, so just let it heal and take it easy.

ipodmomma said...

thanks for the update! thinking of you....

Anonymous said...

yes, it is all about the journey. I so identify with the jumping in with two feet!!!! Good job, and dgc got it right - some progress is better than none!

Backofpack said...

Oh, I'm glad you are going to give Pilates a try. I can't wait to hear what you think! Sounds like things are on the upswing for you - keep it steady and you'll be good to go before you know it.

Unknown said...

Knowing that you are a student at heart I think you will be just fine working out on your own and developing what works for you. Remember, your bionic knee gives you special powers.

Anonymous said...

I just got custom orthotics made last week, though I had a fairly pleasant experience. I hope to post about them tomorrow.

Elliot said...

Whoa! You are getting into this! I mean, like, Demi Moore Getting Into This. Come on, don't you feel super about yourself? You've had some setbacks but, seriously, I've been a fairly avid exerciser for 20 years and I've never been as dedicated as you. I think the next Laura Croft casting call is coming up soon. You oughta get an agent!