Situation IS getting better:)

[Lottiefox]

Hey gang!

back from my weekend away! Fab time! Will reply to everyone tomorrow but W WTG on the stretch, that IT band is a killer if it is tight, and Brams you little rowing demon you! Good work!

I managed to walk about 2 miles on Friday evening, 4 miles Sat morning and then yesterday Reggie, me and the pooch (my friend's Border Terrier) walked about 5 miles in the morning on the beach then about another 4 in the late afternoon! Woohooo! Good Reggie. 

Hope everyone has a good night of sleep across the globe....more tomorrow but hugs to the gang

xxxxxxxxx

[emergRN]

Way to go Lottie!

I missed you this weekend .

W

[Lottiefox]

W, I missed you too! Will reply to your email tomorrow!! Monkey had a lucky escape - Fletch the border terrier saw him and he nearly had his head ripped off!!!!    Saved and safely tucked into handbag!!

Here is the beach and pooch (digging of course!!) - we went RIGHT round this into the far distance!!

[emergRN]

Hey Lottie..So glad that monkey survived!  That beach looks awesome!  I think I would have to do that one with bare feet!

Well, so much for my PT wanting me to start some propriception work!  He wanted me to stand on my bad leg and to try to balance.  My balance is actually pretty good.  I've never had a problem with that through all of this.  I think that where I didn't have an acl for so long, that my brain has already adjusted to that!  The problem was that it really hurt my knee.  I have been having the medial pain with weight bearing and walking, especially when my knee gets more extended.  The single leg stance really set that off.  PT has now told me to stop both the IT band stretches and the proprioception work.  I wasn't supposed to see him until Thursday, but he wants to see me tomorrow!  Damn!!  Oh..and it is back to the cane or crutches!  Lovely!  I'm having a hard time with that one.  I can walk!  I just limp pretty badly after a couple of minutes!  I don't want to do that!

He really thinks that I need ortho follow up soon!  He is trying to get me into someone here.  Trips to Vancouver are getting too expensive.  I am really hoping that he knows something by tomorrow!  I don't think there is going to be a magic solution, but I have to find out what in the h*** is going on!  It is too bad that it just takes so long for anything to happen!  Ah well, I'm not dying!

All fun and games!

Well, my cat is here systematically knocking everything off of my coffee table, one item at a time.  The worst part is that he does this with rolls of tape, but isn't smart enough to leave the scissors where they are.  I pick it all up, and he knocks it off again!  He was so well behaved when he was with the folks.  He is being a bad kid since he came home.  Oh well, he is only a year and a half old! 

Well, I hope everyone is having a good day!

W

[tez27]

Hey all sorry I have been a bit quiet the last few days, been painting the den and its taking a few coats to cover the colour underneath, I think I have done it this time just need to wait and hope that when it dry's it looks ok.

I had a phone call from the hospital on Friday basicly just to say if I want to wait and have my op locally then it wont happen till July or even August, I had already said that I would be happy to go elsewhere for the op because of the wait times so it was not much of a surprise, at least I know now they are looking at my file so with any luck something will happen sooner rather than later....fingers crossed!!!!!!
Apart from that and the painting not much to report, night out on Sat was a bit of a disaster, had a few drinks, felt really sick, was sick, went home, and I dont think it was just the drinks that made me feel sick cos didn't have that much, oh well, I have another night out this Sat a friends 50th birthday party, and we have some other friends coming to stay with us to go to the party too, I think I might just take the car and not bother having a drink at all, we will see how I feel when the time comes.

 W good for you keeping the stretch going for that long, I guess you just need to celebrate even the smallest victories at the moment.
Lottie sounds like you had a fantastic weekend away, and so pleased the knees and reggie survived all that walking.
Brams you make rowing sound brilliant, I'm so pleased your having such a good time with it.
RK4 tiny kitty is so cute, I hope your daughter really enjoys her new pet.
Robin it sounds amazing where you live with all that wild life on your door step, lucky you!!!
Everyone else I hope your doing ok take care
Tezxxx  

[seerobinbike]

Hey Gaggle of Geeks,

Hope today finds everyone in a decent place. 

W...WTF?  I'm pleased with the stretch you were able to do (and incredibly impressed with your resilence and attitude toward the whole knee thing) but what's next?  You mentioned the medial meniscus being a possible problem.  I had most of the symptoms you describe when my meniscus was shot.  Where are you going from here?  I must be codependent; I think I'm getting more pissed about this problem that you are.     Did you test positive on the McMurray test for a meniscus tear?  Maybe I'm just discouraged because I want you to get better and I can't figure out the problem for you.  IDK.  Hope that cat of yours is behaving!  He's probably pissed because you made him leave for a while.

Lottie...Happy to hear that you had such a nice weekend.  You are really rocking it with the added exercises!  Glad that Reggie is cutting you some slack for a change.  Maybe he won't be going through the 'terrible two's' that W. mentioned.  Did you start your new job yet?

Brams...You are awesome.  This rowing seems to be just what the doctor ordered!  I'm glad that you are enjoying yourself.  This has got to be good for that poor knee of yours not to mention your head.  I think rowing is very meditative.  I love the sound of the oars as they glide through the the water and sometimes slap the surface of it.  I love the water period.  It's like a different world out there...just as the mountains are to Snowy.  Glad you found your special place.

Tez...Oh, you poor thing.  I hope that by the time you are reading this, you are feeling much better.  It's strange when things come on so suddenly.  Figures it had to be on one of your few days off, ey?  Hey, good news on the follow up call with the hospital!!!  Yes, they are looking at your file and hopefully you will get something way before July or August.  Keep us posted and I will keep my fingers crossed for you as well. 

Rk...Oh, my.  What a sweet, sweet kitty.  She's beautiful.  Any names yet?  Hope that you are hanging in there and that the increase in your medication is helping you get at least a little more sleep.

Snowy...Thanks for dropping in! 

Nick...Hope you are doing well and things are coming together for you on the AS support group. 

A...  Hope you are doing o.k.

I had a pretty nice weekend.  The yard sale was actually not so bad!  I found an awesome pair of slightly used cargo shorts that fit me perfectly for $2.  Anyway, survived the day and got to hang with one of my best friends.  My knee is doing pretty good.  I missed a few days of workouts and weights last week due to the wake/funeral I attended but I seem to be back on track with things now.  I did a 4 mile walk on Sunday morning.  I didn't have a single pain in the knee.  All I need to do is keep working on strenghening it.  I still suck on the stairs and can barely carry anything heavier than a gallon of milk up the steps without shuffling.  Minor items.  I ended up turning down the job doing pastry again that was offered to me a few weeks ago.  I just can't do it right now.  Too many steps.  So I think I shall take the summer off and study for personal training.  This is what makes the most sense to me right now.  Gooslings haven't hatched yet.  Will post a picture as soon as I see the little balls of fur swimming towards me.

Be well everyone and big hugs.  Robin  xx

[emergRN]

Robin..I think the personal trainer thing is an awesome idea.  I have visions of a combo clinic!  Train your clients, and then you can massage them as well.  I think this is a novel concept.  I am really thinking about the PT thing myself!  I always wanted to work in healthcare(obviously), but I also always wanted my own business.  It is a great idea.  Even if I am too old to practice, I can own the clinic, and have people work for me!!!  Continuing income!  Great job on the 4 miles!!!

Tez..any idea on what you are going to do with regards to the surgery, and who you are going to go with?  I am sure that is a lot to think about.  I wonder if you had a bit of a tummy bug the other night.  It would be strange for a few drinky poos to make you feel so ill.

Lottie!  How's the head??  I hope the nasty migraine has calmed down!  What did I see that you want to try next with the exercise??  Me thinks that you are hyper...lol!

Brams, nick, rk4, A, and Snowy....how is everyone??

Well, I had PT today, and now I have to go for a follow up with my GP.  This is a total waste of time, but I need my note for work!  Ah..I guess I will go have a 5 minute chat with him..I don't have anything else to do.  I am stir crazy.  I really want bone warming heat, palm trees, and a pool...hmmm!  I think I need to go to Houston for a week!  Wishful thinking! 

Well, I will update later on PT today...maybe!  I will have all of you nice folk drove crazy!

W

[Lottiefox]

Good luck with PT!!! I am feeling better - still got a headache but having a glass of 14% wine brought back from Norfolk! Busy day tomorrow and sorting paperwork for it - induction at the new company/referrer so I need to be on my best behaviour!

W, I was thinking of having a go at fencing, but I am a little worried as its a lot of semi-lunge movements back and forwards. I can do that, but can I do it at speed without thinking? Not sure! If I twist I am doomed!! So, on Bram's advice I am contacting a local rowing club - not snotty Stratford on Avon, but a smaller one down the A46 to see if they can offer a beginner's course. OK, I don't swim and detest water but I'll be OK with a life jacket on I trust and the aim must be not to fall in.....

How is everyone else doing?! Robin - great idea on the trainer idea. Plus you can combine it with massage, my friend is a sports massage therapist and offers training and sports psych/team development/conditioning etc. You can tailor it to your strengths.

Hugs to all! xxxx

[emergRN]

Ok...5 minute Dr's appointment turned into 20 minutes.  GP told me today that he is really worried about my knee....eeek!  He asked me if I had heard anything from the ortho in St. John's.  Nope...not yet!

He told me tonight that my graft is still good BUT it is a bit looser than it was.....Now I am scared!  This is starting to sound like last year all over again!!!

I am off for another month, and then it will be reassessment time again!!

W

[Brambledog]

Hi all,

Having a crappy night myself here in the crips parlour....

My husband's birthday yesterday, which sadly had to be fitted around two different hospital appointments (one he knew about and was fine with, the other was rescheduled after a cancellation last week, arse!). We want over for the first appointment with the orthotics chap. Lovely man, but the brace was the wrong size for me  He apologised like mad, got quite cross with the catalogue he had, apparently the sizes given were for the outside and should have been for the inside (or something similar, lol). So I have to wait for another appointment, although he said he will squeeze me in ASAP. Blah. He was interested in the CRPS and asked a lot of questions tho, bless...

Then we went off for a lovely dinner in a quite fancy restaurant. It was quite a trek from the car park, but got there fine, turned out there was a massive stone staircase we had to go up tho - that took a while! Really good food and service, had three courses of yummy Italian food and then went back to the hospital again. Madness, lol.

Second appointment was with the psychologist  She was lovely tho, we had quite a similar outlook I think, she said I was a 'refreshing change'!!! Apparently my attitude is good, I've done my research well and have a sensible and realistic approach to the CRPS and knees. She was impressed with the rowing (lol) and the business venture (starting week after next, eek) and the ditching of crutches.... She did invite me to join her group for meditative pain management tho, I think I was a tiny bit wired and she thinks I need to learn to relax more effectively...

Then we came back homewards and stopped off at our Costa for a coffee and cake (I was good and had a chamomile tea tho, lol). Then home, cooked his choice of tea - salmon, new potatoes and sugarsnap peas with a pesto and creme fraiche sauce. Yummy and simple. But half an hour of standing....

Knees had been clunky and hurty at times, but of course in the evening they really fired up. Ow and triple ow. Awful heat and scaliness and pain. Still paying today with muscle pains, crunchy knees, and my left quad going into spasm at times when standing - my word that was very odd, the whole thing was twitching away super fast - much faster than I could ever twitch it willingly! Like en eye tic but much much bigger...hurt afterwards too. I've just had a long bath to try and ease the tightness and pains, but I'm not feeling much relief yet. Everything aches.... Ah well, roll on tomorrow.
............

So how is everyone?

W - yikes on the possible loose graft - hope your doc is wrong, and you can get some reassurance and answers soon. Another month off is never nice to need, but at least you have some space to breathe....take care of that knee...x

Lottie - you have posted while I was typing! Yay on the rowing - am stoked that you are going to find out about it! Once fully certified (don't say it...) we can borrow a double scull and flit up and down the Avon....lol.

Robin - you are going to be a fab trainer, I can just imagine it. Fantastic news and I hope all goes as planned...we'll want to hear all about it, mind...

Tez - you poor wee lass, that is nasty. Nothing like a tummy bug or similar to really knock you sideways. Take care of yourself for a few days and give yourself some TLC. Hope that the hospital giving your file some attention results in something soon.

Everyone else, hope the knees and any other badly-behaved bits are being quiet for you tonight, and the sleep can do its magic...

Brams 

Ps. While steeping and weeping in my bath, I wrote some very bad poetry paraphrasing the Bard whose birthday it was just two days ago. If you're very unlucky, I'll be posting it next. Sorry.

[Brambledog]

I had been playing the Moonlight Sonata, in lots of pain, and having a wee cry all the while...it is a sad but beautiful piece of music.

.........

If music ease, or soothe my pain, then play.
And play, and play, and play again
If thou canst bear my fear and woe just one more time.

I see the beast; I feel it gnaw upon my very bones
Both day and night. Yet play, cease not.
Still not my hands upon the keys.

Yet sweet airs, as love, and gentle deeds
Do fail to cease his cruel watch upon me;
But try, we can yet hush the beast.
Mere pause, for wake he surely will.

So play, play on, yet tread but soft upon the stair.
Play on my friend, and gently this good night.
..........

I love Shakespeare. But I must apologise to him! It was just the mood I was in...

Brams 

[Rknees4]

W well that doesn't sound to good.  Surely there is someone there who can take a look at that knee of yours..
As for me yes starting to sleep better but the darn stuff(tramadol) only works for a bout 4.5 hours and then the knee starts to sing again. But such is life just a waiting game now until i see OS.
Take Care all, and thanks for all the toughts Lottie, Robin, Brams, Tez,Snowy, W...
Rk4

[iamsuperrat]

Hey y'all, Super here.
Been super busy at work and speed reading through everyone's updates. My ankle isn't any better, it comes and goes. PT pad my orthotics a little hoping to take the pressure off the tendon. He did say it's still a little improvement considering that I managed to do the activities that I wanted to do (ski backwards, forwards and snowshoe) without making anything worse. and I get to hot compress it every morning. Ah, one more thing to add to my morning routing. I'm not ashamed to admit that I put on the hot compress, brush teeth and wash face all at the same time. It involves some skills.

Next brave thing is to tackle the bike. It's going to take a while to get the feel of it and trying not to think about the incident that led me here. Take care all

[Lottiefox]

Brams, you're a poet and you don't know it!! I know, I know, ancient joke....sorry! That was really beautiful actually, I really liked it. I hope the knees have calmed down. I am going to remind you of my summer fete experience last July......6 hours on my feet on a hot day, running around like a mad thing and basically just putting Reggie through a LOT some 3 months post fusion and with the crips still pretty rampant. I was in BAD pain for a few days. I even contacted Dougal who said this was a normal reaction, that i could take double Lyrica at night for a week if I needed it but not to panic. He was right....in fact these push-on experiences and the subsequent flare actually seem to settle and bring you to a better overall stage...eventually. I think it is better to do that than sit about and let the crips take over - not that you would do that anyway (as per our fb chats this week!!) Hang in there...blips....blips.....we get more blips than a radar machine but we'll keep going!

W, that is not a great outcome from the GP visit. I hope he is wrong about the graft feeling looser. I don't see how it could have become loose with all the work you've been doing and the fact you've not had a fall or anything? I hope you can get to see someone asap - is this related to the medial instability issue do you think? Bummer. I wish things would settle down for you - this is like a circular rollercoaster of crap.

Tez i hope you're feeling better. Sounds a bit like what I've had this week...some funny bugs going around I think......how is the new car? bet the roof has been firmly up for the past few days!! My hair is finally being coloured at the salon tomorrow, I need my blonder bits back to hide the grey! Hurrah!!

I have had an email back from the rowing club, they are aiming to start a course mid May, they have asked if I can swim 100m unaided...ha ha ha ha ha....I guess when I say No I will either be blacklisted or be given a floatation device! Strangely I have never minded being ON the water, I just don't like being IN it!

Rk4, glad the pills are giving a bit of relief but sorry it isn't enough...the little kitty pic was so cute, so tiny at that age!! Lucas was that small not so long ago...now he is like a giant panther of doom stalking the fields!

I have an induction day today for my new place of work, then tonight we are going to see Dara O'Briain at the warwick Uni arts centre, should be very funny. I love him - not sure if those over the pond will have heard of him though?

hugs to all, hope the bodily parts behave

xxxxx

[emergRN]

Wow Brams...I am impressed!  I think Mr. Shakespeare would have applauded you!

Ok...Graft is not loose!  He said it felt looser compared to what it was before, but it was still ok.  I need to find out if this is something that happens anyway.  Maybe this is natural.  I don't believe after all of this that I don't know this.  I know my GP probably wouldn't be able to answer that!  God love 'em...he tries!

Lottie,  If it is loosening up..again, I guess the big question is going to be what is causing it?  Is it the medial instability, the valgus, or the hypermobility??  Take your pic!  Something caused my graft to fail last time!

Oh...eggs are boiled.  Back later!!

W