Ups and downs of my knee are part of my life for too long now. I cannot wait for my appointment and see what has to be done. I want to regain more strength and although I know I have, I am impatient to be myself again.
I have been very diligent with my exercises and I'd like to know why the results don't match the time and energy spent toward the improvement of my left knee.
On a positive note, my daughter told me that the back of my legs and my buttocks look great. No doubt due to the series of bridges and leg raises I do every day.
Yesterday we went to Boothbay Harbor, a lovely small town on the coast of Maine. The streets are hilly and once more walking up is great for me. Walking down is more challenging as if my leg wasn't strong enough. In reality I know it is because my knee can't fully extend.
Today is another perfect day on the lake and I will be doing more exercises in the water. I find the water very soothing on my leg. The coast is rocky so I have to be careful but it is amazing to see how more flexible the leg is when dipped in the lake water.
I will see my surgeon on August 10 but return to physical therapy sooner. I am eager to check my results and plan my future.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
July 21, 2011
A very hot day here in Maine so I took my daughter to our favorite beach which luckily is less than an hour away from our lake home. Temperature there dropped so much that my daughter and I took refuge in our car for forty minutes. Then the sun came back and we walked to a more remote section of the beach where less people venture.
I love walking on the beach and I am so relieved that this exercise doesn't bring any pain in my knee. Wet sand is the best but even the dry deeper sand is fine so at least there is something I like that I can do.
I have, I'm afraid, reached a plateau for the flexion and extension of my knee. It is far better than it was before I got the medication late May and the cortisone shot but I am sure that something will be necessary to give me back my darned knee.
Tomorrow I am taking my daughter for an early run on a local path that we both like and I hope to walk more than the pitiful three miles I did last time.
I don't even want to think of my 20 miles hikes. Will I be able to do it again? Sometimes doubt creeps through my mind. But then I think of the progress I accomplished and believe that it is now only a matter of a little bit more time.
I love walking on the beach and I am so relieved that this exercise doesn't bring any pain in my knee. Wet sand is the best but even the dry deeper sand is fine so at least there is something I like that I can do.
I have, I'm afraid, reached a plateau for the flexion and extension of my knee. It is far better than it was before I got the medication late May and the cortisone shot but I am sure that something will be necessary to give me back my darned knee.
Tomorrow I am taking my daughter for an early run on a local path that we both like and I hope to walk more than the pitiful three miles I did last time.
I don't even want to think of my 20 miles hikes. Will I be able to do it again? Sometimes doubt creeps through my mind. But then I think of the progress I accomplished and believe that it is now only a matter of a little bit more time.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
July 17, 2011
Days fly by. Some better than others, some even quite nice. Yesterday wasn't so great. I took a walk while my daughter ran and although it is flat I was in pain. Since I walk better with small heels, I wonder if my hiking shoes, although light, are not the best for me, at least now.
Walking bare foot on the beach was in comparison easier than I thought it would be.
I have regained a lot of muscle mass and anyone who doesn't know me has no way to suspect I had surgery.
I have less stiffness when I wake up and nights are very comfortable. I walk uphill very easily too but downhill is still more challenging. Worst case I will climb Half Dome again but stay at the top!
On the negative side, flexion and extension aren't yet perfect so I suppose that I will need a booster in this area. I am reading more about laser treatment and I wish it can be something possible.
I am not looking forward to another surgery.
Walking bare foot on the beach was in comparison easier than I thought it would be.
I have regained a lot of muscle mass and anyone who doesn't know me has no way to suspect I had surgery.
I have less stiffness when I wake up and nights are very comfortable. I walk uphill very easily too but downhill is still more challenging. Worst case I will climb Half Dome again but stay at the top!
On the negative side, flexion and extension aren't yet perfect so I suppose that I will need a booster in this area. I am reading more about laser treatment and I wish it can be something possible.
I am not looking forward to another surgery.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
All winter long I kept the image of my favorite beach in my mind to kept me away from insanity when I got impatient or worried about my knee.
Yesterday, I finally walked along Popham Beach, a pristine beach on the central Maine coast. I walked almost the entire length (about 5 miles) and felt fine. Although my knee hasn't regained 100% of its mobility, it doesn't keep me away from my natural brisk pace. However, I feel tension more than pain in my ankles which never happened to me until now and my muscles ache a little bit which again is new to me.
Even after Clouds Rest, my last long hike last fall, I have never experienced severe muscle cramps or aches.
The good news is I woke up this morning without any pain or tension. I biked my daily morning twenty minutes reading an interesting book about curing pain through food. It is written in French by Jacqueline Lagace, a Canadian woman who suffered years of arthritis that nobody could cure. She changed her alimentation following a diet that a French physician had experimented successfully with hundreds of patients suffering from similar health issues.
His success persuaded Lagace to try it and she saw for the first time in years a deep relief and even a total improvement of her articulations problems.
Basically the diet consists of staying away from dairy products, most cereals, overcooked meat and from industrial food which means food prepared outside of the house as well as store bought food.
I don't intend to follow the strict regimen especially since I have been for decades eating more fresh produce and fruit than dairy and meat products.
However, I will consider skipping gluten that is not easily absorbed by the human body and can affect articulation health on the long term.
The book has been published in May so it is only available in French but if you read French, the title is Comment j'ai Vaincu l'Inflammation Chronique par l'Alimentation.
I learned a lot reading the book and I hope it will be translated in English because it illustrates the important concept, "You are what you eat."
Yesterday, I finally walked along Popham Beach, a pristine beach on the central Maine coast. I walked almost the entire length (about 5 miles) and felt fine. Although my knee hasn't regained 100% of its mobility, it doesn't keep me away from my natural brisk pace. However, I feel tension more than pain in my ankles which never happened to me until now and my muscles ache a little bit which again is new to me.
Even after Clouds Rest, my last long hike last fall, I have never experienced severe muscle cramps or aches.
The good news is I woke up this morning without any pain or tension. I biked my daily morning twenty minutes reading an interesting book about curing pain through food. It is written in French by Jacqueline Lagace, a Canadian woman who suffered years of arthritis that nobody could cure. She changed her alimentation following a diet that a French physician had experimented successfully with hundreds of patients suffering from similar health issues.
His success persuaded Lagace to try it and she saw for the first time in years a deep relief and even a total improvement of her articulations problems.
Basically the diet consists of staying away from dairy products, most cereals, overcooked meat and from industrial food which means food prepared outside of the house as well as store bought food.
I don't intend to follow the strict regimen especially since I have been for decades eating more fresh produce and fruit than dairy and meat products.
However, I will consider skipping gluten that is not easily absorbed by the human body and can affect articulation health on the long term.
The book has been published in May so it is only available in French but if you read French, the title is Comment j'ai Vaincu l'Inflammation Chronique par l'Alimentation.
I learned a lot reading the book and I hope it will be translated in English because it illustrates the important concept, "You are what you eat."
Sunday, July 10, 2011
July 10, 2011
All right, since I came back from Montreal, my knee feels much better.
I still love Montreal very much. It remains one of my favorite city in the world but for a weak knee, it is not the perfect place to be.
Now that I am in Maine, doing my leg exercises near the lake, enjoying a beautiful month of July, my knee is definitely better.
I sleep so well that I have forgotten all my winter misery. The human body and heart are indeed very resilient.
I only feel occasional pain in my knee and it never keeps me awake. I have stopped weeks ago to put a pillow under my left leg and I can move freely while I sleep.
I bike with more strength and I have regained a lot of muscle mass in my left leg.
My gait is much better and I actually walk faster than many people.
Extension and flexion are both better but aren't matching yet my right leg.
Stiffness is still there no doubt due to the scarring tissues.
I'm still not sure if surgery will be or not necessary and I still hope that the next few weeks will increase the mobility of my knee.
I still rewind, once in a while, the day I went skiing and tripped stupidly in a pile of snow. If only...
I still love Montreal very much. It remains one of my favorite city in the world but for a weak knee, it is not the perfect place to be.
Now that I am in Maine, doing my leg exercises near the lake, enjoying a beautiful month of July, my knee is definitely better.
I sleep so well that I have forgotten all my winter misery. The human body and heart are indeed very resilient.
I only feel occasional pain in my knee and it never keeps me awake. I have stopped weeks ago to put a pillow under my left leg and I can move freely while I sleep.
I bike with more strength and I have regained a lot of muscle mass in my left leg.
My gait is much better and I actually walk faster than many people.
Extension and flexion are both better but aren't matching yet my right leg.
Stiffness is still there no doubt due to the scarring tissues.
I'm still not sure if surgery will be or not necessary and I still hope that the next few weeks will increase the mobility of my knee.
I still rewind, once in a while, the day I went skiing and tripped stupidly in a pile of snow. If only...
Monday, July 4, 2011
July 4th, 2011
I wish I hadn't bragged about my spectacular improvement because the last two days have been quite tough. I have no idea what happened but since Saturday my knee is acting up and not in a good way.
My extension that has bothered me so much is better but my flexion has decreased and the stiffness and discomfort when I do my leg slides has increased.
I'm worried but since I have been walking a lot for two days since we arrived in Montreal, I hope it is the reason.
I will be back to the states in two days so I will see from there.
Wish me luck!
My extension that has bothered me so much is better but my flexion has decreased and the stiffness and discomfort when I do my leg slides has increased.
I'm worried but since I have been walking a lot for two days since we arrived in Montreal, I hope it is the reason.
I will be back to the states in two days so I will see from there.
Wish me luck!
Friday, July 1, 2011
July 1st, 2011
Gorgeous weather here in Maine! I have been doing my leg workout outside which is really nice. My knee is doing better and I really hope to skip the scrapping of the scar tissues in August.
I am walking more and climbing stairs as well. Looks like this helps more than the leg presses and elliptical at the gym.
There is still some stiffness behind the knee but the flexion and extension are definitely better. Too bad I can't measure my progress!
Yesterday I got a pedicure and I was stunned to see how my left heel is as soft as baby skin. Proof if I needed one that I have been favoring my right leg quite a lot!
I will be in Montreal for a few days. It's one of my favorite cities and(at least in the summer)a paradise for walkers. I hope that window shopping and museum visits will have a positive effect on my legs.
I am walking more and climbing stairs as well. Looks like this helps more than the leg presses and elliptical at the gym.
There is still some stiffness behind the knee but the flexion and extension are definitely better. Too bad I can't measure my progress!
Yesterday I got a pedicure and I was stunned to see how my left heel is as soft as baby skin. Proof if I needed one that I have been favoring my right leg quite a lot!
I will be in Montreal for a few days. It's one of my favorite cities and(at least in the summer)a paradise for walkers. I hope that window shopping and museum visits will have a positive effect on my legs.
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