Happy holidays everyone!
Some of you have been frequent visitors, and frequent commenters, and I thank you for your involvement.
Others of you drop by for a while, ask a few questions, then fade into the background. That's fine, I know what you're going through. I spent many afternoons of my recovery ricocheting around the internet like a pinball, seeking bits of insight that might help explain what I was going through and how I could get better.
Sometimes, someone buys one of my books from Amazon or Smashwords. And every so often, someone returns a book (it's so much easier to return an electronic book!) And -- this will probably sound weird -- I think that's great. It's great Amazon has a policy that, if you don't like something, you can get a no-questions-asked refund. I love that. When I wrote "Saving My Knees," I really, really believed in the message. Still, I realized later after reading a few reviews that it wasn't for everyone.
Now, on to the new year! I hope that this will be a year of steady, gradual improvement for thousands of knees out there. I know that sounds boring, but sometimes slow and boring is the way to win the race.
So let's talk! Do you have a resolution for your knees, or for your recovery program? If so, share it below. I'd love to hear what's on everyone's mind.
Cheers, and best wishes.
Richard
I want to be fit and active despite my knee pain, that is my resolution for 2019
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have any resolutions. There is no kind of physical activity that seems to be helping me. If anything, it's rest. So, I just hope my knees won't get worse too much, and I (well, it is a kind of resolution) intend to try and not to overload them too much and to avoid harmful activities as much as possible. I don't see what program or what else I can do.
ReplyDeleteHave you talked to anyone that can help?
DeleteI'm not trying to advertise for anyone, but if you're in the place I think you are, because I've been there maybe try an online consult with:
https://www.kertzcoaching.com/services
or
https://dougkelsey.com/work-with-me/
I work with Laurie Kertz and she is awesome. It's no magic bullet, and it probably won't go like you think it will, but I've made some significant progress that I thought was impossible. I'm far from done yet, but if I hadn't got professional help from someone who knows their stuff, I know I would have still been flailing around and probably getting worse.
Hang in there brother and don't give up hope.
Having more compassion and patience with myself and my body(my injured knee)
ReplyDeleteYou already covered mine. "I hope that this will be a year of steady, gradual improvement for thousands of knees out there."
ReplyDeleteIt's to provide 2 of those knees.
Thanks for the well wishes and the hope you've provided to myself and countless others.
Hi Richard,hi folks!
ReplyDeleteI’ve been battling chondromalacia (or PFPS or wathever you call it!) since July 2017. I’m 31 years old and once used to workout and run (something ranging from 10k to half maraton). As many of you probably did I followed the stretching and quads strengthening protocol that led me nowhere. Actually, it led me somewhere quite close to despair once the knee pain increased: it began on my right knee and after a few months of Pilates both knees became an issue. So, after months of reading this blog and hesitation I went through my “come to Jesus” moment: I decided to quit Pilates sessions and move my knees as much as I can. Once my routine allows me, I take 200 steps each 30 minutes and by the end of the day I take a 30 min walk. So far so good! I´ll see if I can add (stand!) swimming or at hydrogym.
So, my resolution is: slow and steady recovery! Thanks Richard and everybody for sharing your experiences. You really helped me through some dark times. Keep moving!
Hi,
DeleteI also have a similar past. (I wrote the details in the next post of Richard) I have been doing similar sports, have pain which started with my right leg and continued with both legs. I am also 29 years old which is somewhat unbearable to be inactive in these ages.
This blog and book of Richard is really helpful. My only humble advice will be "avoid subversion". I went back in this journey many times because of unlucky events or mistakes like falling down while walking on a hill, walking or standing above the capacity of my knees, very very though hand examinations of orthopedists etc.
I hope you will get better in time!
Hey there folks,
ReplyDeleteI found this blog around a year ago or so. I'd suffered two separate injuries within a month's time. Stress fracture, right foot so it swelled up. Hyper-extended knee with a pop and swelling. Saw an orthopedist, got x-rays and diagnosis. He suspected a meniscus tear in the knee, and gave me a boot to wear for eight weeks for the foot. Told me to stay off the leg and wear a brace on it until I saw the surgeon -and scheduled an MRI. Finally saw the surgeon a month later. He said there was no tear and he couldn't say why I felt pain in trying to extend my knee (which was impossible to do to it's full extent.) I asked for PT so I could tell my Mom and husband that I gave that a go. I was already reading your blog, so I felt confident in the joint first approach.
Fortunately, I already had a recumbent bike; so I added riding it with low resistance to my PT exercises. I have stuck with it pretty consistently over the last year. It was in July that I had my first week without my knee giving out on me. I was SO happy and thankful! I have continued to improve with an attitude of self-compassion for the setbacks that come with progress.
I did go to the pool this summer as well. I expected to be able to just move more easily in the water, but the looseness in that environment served as a danger initially. My knee could float in directions that would tweak pain triggers, so I had to exercise conscious control over them. A good thing, as I continued to improve in the pool. Still, my recumbent bike has been my #1. I won't go on a walk without first putting a half hour in (my fairly consistent daily constitution.)
My foot, not to neglect it's little story, has never completely gone back to it's pre-fracture normalcy. I had a follow up appointment 6 months later to ensure that the fracture had healed. I'm now wearing a sexy compression sock. I'm unsure what level of improvement I should expect to see there. I've been trying to remember to elevate it above my heart, but I'm not very consistent about it.
Unfortunately, weight has slipped on in this slow process. Sooo, that's my resolution for this year. I have been applying myself to the 16/8 fasting schedule and so far so good. I'm used to being my own guinea pig on things, as personal experience is the both the best teacher and authentication for what works.
I recently read Treat Your Own Knees by Jim Johnson, get Dr. Kelsey's wisdom in my email box, and just finished your book, Richard. I am so thankful for the sharing of hard work, patience, understandable frustration, perseverance, and hope.
All the best in the year to come!
Oh, and it's my left knee that is my problem one. So two bum legs have given me fits.
ReplyDeleteTwo more adds. My knee has begun having a sort of knocking feeling (sound) of late. Anyone else experience this? It's not hurting because of it, but it feels odd and makes me wonder what's going on in there, which leads me to the second add.
ReplyDeleteWhen I met with the surgeon he told me (emphatically and probably three times) that I have zero cartilage in my knees. Zero. I'm hoping that I have some shreds and that riding my recumbent might be lubricating and plumping them up, at the very least. After all, I have improve in extension of my leg and overall comfort there.
My worry is that my bones might be clicking against one another. Sigh...
Hi, I do not know if it helps or not but I also have that knocking sound at my right knee. But I also know that that knocking sound was there since was born. I remember that clicking sound from my childhood. So I was not worried when my right knee started to do that knocking sound a lot. It now does that sound like firing bullet. My friends keep saying "please do not make that sound" since it is annoying to hear that many loud noise from a knee. I think it is clicking/knocking much more when my knee has a setback/subversion. I also think that this is the same sound or event with knuckle crunching where our fingers make a popping sound. This finger popping is not unhealthy, it is just a sound of a bubble. I hope mine and yours are also a normal popping feeling. If it would be a locking of the knee, you could not move your leg which I experienced once.
DeleteWell, thanks for the relating story. This is new for me. In prior years, one of my sweet daughters said, "I love how you sound like a necklace when you go up and down the stairs, Mom." It was meant as an endearment. The sound was more of a crackling, you know?
DeleteThis feels different. And I don't think of it as 'finger popping.' I wish I could replicate it right now so I could listen and have access to the noise and describe it. It comes when it wants to. Overall, I'd say that it feels less secure, but I don't know if that might just be my emotional assessment, meaning "I" feel less secure. I'll pay attention to it the next time it exhibits.