Situation IS getting better:)

[emergRN]

Ok..I am a bit on the tired side here, so I know I am going to forget to respond to something!

Robin...WTG on the bike ride!  That is awesome!  I am so glad that even at 5 months, you are pleased that you had this surgery!

Brams...What will you be tutoring??

I'm telling you folks now, when I get the go ahead, I am going with a personal trainer!  I will need someone to kick my ass!

Well, I am just waiting for my intoxicated cousin, who flew in from Virginia today to get back here.  He is gone off with my intoxicated uncles.  I am sitting here in my PJ's, and I am ready to flop!  He will kill me if I do that.  He is expecting me to sit up and drink wine with him.....ugh!  I wanna go to bed!

W

[Rknees4]

Hope you get your rest W.
Tonight I NEED a CROWBAR!!!!!! so I can rip my kneecap right off. I am tired of pain meds tired of A535, tired of advil tired of ice pack tired of not being able to do what I want and not pay for 3 days after just dog dead tired...
GggrrrrrrrrThe stupid thing is just getting worse and worse.. if that is even possible..
Rk4

Well it is now stupid oclock and I am at the end of my rope.. I am starting to think there will never be an end to the pain that it is going to be like an unwanted "comPAINion" for the rest of my days. 
No Wonder in the old days  the elderly just sat in their rocking chairs waiting for an end to the pain. It is also no wonder the old hide booze in their tea so they don't have to feel the pain of old age..
Remember any thing over 45 was old..
Well round 2 of pain meds are finally starting to kick in better grab a fresh cool pack and hit the sheets.
Rk4

[emergRN]

Rk4...Sorry to hear that the twins are getting worse.  Hopefully the OS will have some intervention to offer you.  Not long now!  Hang in there!!!

Well, I have to say that exhaustion is good for having a wonderful nights sleep!  I think I only woke up once last night.  I slept for 9.5 hours!  That is the longest sleep that I have had in ages!  Some nice:)

I fixed my party animal cousin last night.  I knew that he had gotten up really early yesterday morning.  He kept asking my sister and I to go out on the town with him.  He was being a PITA.  Solution?  Have a fire going in the wood stove.  He passed out sitting up with Guinness in hand at 10PM....hehehe!!!  My sister and I sat here and watched TV, and listened to him snore sitting up...lol!

I just fixed him up with gatoraid, and a feed of bacon and eggs...and a big pot of coffee!  He is good to go now!

I must go get a shower before he gets back here!  Have a nice day folks....A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ROBIN!!!  Enjoy your day nice lady!!

W

[Lottiefox]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN!!!! Have an awesomely fun day!! 

I am here - been ill, busy, and today shattered...perhaps the two extensive gym workouts so soon after the lurgy were not a good plan....but thank god my hair is finally coloured and cut properly!!

Shall reply more later, hope everyone is doing OK....W sorry to read about Gramps, a fine age to have lived on the earth though......and Brams, tomorrow take thermals to the river! Rk4 - crowbar in the post....boo on the worsening pain....

Hugs all xxxxx

[Rknees4]

Happy B-Day Robin.
Lottie Thanks... but better put a power saw in as well..... Take it easy for another day and then work back up to heavy duty workout... Hope Reggie didn't get the lurgy as well...
W.  Glad one of us slept as I was up all night again. Not good at all.
Tez hope you have good weather for the top down..
Hey Snowy...
Brams hope rowing goes well.
Have a good one Gang!!
Rk4

[tez27]

A BIG HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the lovely Robin I hope you have a wonderful day....

W congrats on a good nights sleep, I hope its one of many good night to come. How long is the party animal staying with you? will we expect to see a few drink fuled posts from you over the next few day? I hope the answer is yes to that cos its usually me posting while intoxicated lol...Also good new on the long term disability claim though I'm not sure exactly what that means for you it sounds like something to celebrate.

Robin thanks for missing me when I don't post  it makes me feel wanted lol as for Amsterdam I am really looking forward to it and I will very possible go into a few of their coffee shop's it seems that what they call their hash bar's, and from what I have been reading about the place its only a matter of time before they  close down that whole side of things for tourists in Holland so I need to make the most of it while I get the chance.

RK4 so sorry the twins are still keeping you up most nights I can understand how frustrating that is when pain keeps you awake when the rest of the world is asleep, I really pray your OS has a plan to fix you or at least help you get a little pain relief..

Lottie happy new hairdo aint it a good feeling to get your hair sorted out especially after not feeling very well, I think that one of the many reasons I love my job, it does feel fantastic to cheer someone up and make them feel better about themself.
I'm glad your feeling better but its no wonder your knackered with the mega workouts no soon after the lurgy, try and be a little kinder to yourself please

Brams good luck sent your way for all the new things that are happening in the near future, I am also curious about what the tutoring thing is all about, sorry if you have already gone into it already but I must have missed it if you have...Also well done on the new gym and going to a personal trainer..

everyone else I hope all is well with you, things here with me are ok the knee is grumpy as usual, though I do notice a difference having an automatic car especially all the stopping and starting I have to do on the drive into work in the morning, I have also had the hood down a few times in the last week, the weather has been dry bright though still cold, I know we dont usually have fantastic summers so the hood will be down as long as its dry, we also extended our drive this week so that we can now get the two cars, D's work van and C's motor bike on it so we dont have to park anything out on the road which will make a big difference cos out road is pretty narrow and there are far to many  cars parking all over the place,

Take care folks going to watch Britain's got talent and be amazed at the lack of talent Britain really has lol
Tez xx 

[Brambledog]

Happy Birthday for yesterday Robin!! Sorry I missed that...

Just sharing a tiny bit of personal misery with you guys, because i have a chance that you understand my frustration. Had horrible night with the damn crips beast burning my knees and feet up and stabbing me with little pins....

So my husband and daughter have gone rowing without me. And it's a lovely sunny morning with scattered cloud and a light breeze.....just perfect. And today, the BBC is there with Sir Steve Redgrave doing a piece about rowing, and our crews are the backdrop. I am so gutted.

I spent half an hour gently moving and trying to talk my body into cooperation, but my knees are burning, I have a whopping headache, and my back thinks it's slept in a draught and is making me move (even more) stiffly and slightly to one side. I kept worrying at it back and forth, but just imagined me making a needy spectacle of myself, or worse, ending up the subject of a side comment along the lines of "...and as you can see we have a great range of ages and abilities here..." cut to shot of Brams like a beached whale being hauled out of the boat and yelping as the knees crunch. Humiliation fear, hey, cowardly custard I am. But I feel so cheated. The rowing was cancelled last week due to horrendous rain and wind, fair enough. But today is so lovely, and I've been looking forward to it sooooooo much. I mean why? 

I know that crips works erratically, and these things happen. But not today, of all days. Plus it's my sister's 50th birthday today and we are having a party....and I won't dampen things for her by mooching, so later I will don my happy face (not 'brave', yuck) and wade in....

So I am feeling very sorry for myself. My husband has just rung from the boathouse to tell me that he and Steve passed each other in the doorway, and nodded to each other. He was as excited as a little boy, bless him. I was bright and happy for him, and assured him I was fine....

Hells bells bugger damn arse and feck. I need to find my sense of humour about this....I mean it's very rare to get a good photo of me, let alone anything else. I'd have hated to see myself, even in the background lol, looking like a twerp and bringing the family name into ridicule!

Hope all of you are having better days, and that the knees, shoulders, feet and everything else are on good form.

Brams 

[Brambledog]

Gosh I was miserable earlier!  Sorry, guys.....sense of humour mostly restored now.

Stuck two fingers up to the CRPS beast and spent 45 mins on the bike, doing varying intensity, but kept heart rate elevated for a good 30 mons or so, and feel much better for it. Mentally that is! Not really, most of me feels better for it, but my knees are icy cold and my back still aches..... C'est la vie. Par for the course, eh? 

So, how is everyone doing out there? Hope you are enjoying either a) sunshine, or b) peaceful sleep....depending which side of the pond you are!

Lottie - how is Reggie today? Hope you are feeling a bit better after your mystery bug - it takes a lot to lay the fox low for longer than a day! Are we still on for the re-match?! 

W - good to hear you will be a party animal for a little while.... Just don't forget to keep to a balanced diet. Equal quantities of alcohol and chocolate....

Robin - sorry I missed your birthday, but many good wishes to you for the year ahead - but from the sounds of your recovery, you will spend much of it zooming around and enjoying the new knee parts! Glad things have worked out so well for you, you worked hard on the rehab and got the rewards. It's not always like that, but I'm glad you've got such a good result!

Rk4 - so sorry your poor knees are getting worse. I really hope that OS has some good news for you, and some better pain relief. You deserve a break - ill have my fingers crossed for you.

Tez - you are so right about the dreaded BGT! It's shocking stuff, very funny if you're in the right mood....sadly I can't seem to get into that mood much lol  Glad the new car is such a hit, the weather should be improving any day soon and you can be zooming about with the hood down on a daily basis... I know what you mean about the automatic - I still can't drive our manual, but my in-laws' auto is pretty nippy, and when we can borrow it I love being independent again!

Snowy, Nick and of course A, hope you are all well and having some fun at the moment.

Thanks for asking about the tutoring thing - I'm hoping to start tutoring very soon; my flyers are due to arrive early next week and will be going out to all the local schools. I'm going to be covering English and maths at primary level (age 6-11), English, maths and science at secondary (age 11-13), and English, geography and the sciences at GCSE level (age 14-15). I'm also going to offer lessons in exam preparation and technique, and coaching for the 11+ grammar school entrance examinations. Hopefully somebody somewhere will want at least one of the above! 

Take care everyone, and have a good day of you can. After my brief rest here on the sofa, I shall see how the old pins are doing and go and get ready for the party....must remember not to get too trashed and forget my tabs later!

Hugs to all,

Brams 

[Lottiefox]

Gym - done
Lunch - done
Shopping for anniversary present (for me) - done 
Listening to Man City win - done YaYa I love you.......
Both lawns mowed - done
Weeds pulled up - done
Herbs tidied in pots - done
Inspection of Boris's tick and flea "issue" - failed.
Washing out of machine and on to dryer - done
Chicken in oven - done
Wine about to be poured - done

The Fox is back. Brams - good work on the cycling. Two fingers to the CRPS. Reggie is OK, haven't had chance today to focus on him which is a good thing but he did feel quite hot in town earlier and R walks everywhere at the speed of Lewis Hamilton in warm up so I find myself getting a work out as I try and keep up........which he doesn't really like!! Reggie not R.

Tez I followed a car like yours today with their roof down. I now have a hankering after an old MX-5 for the summer. I treated myself to one about 6 years ago as a second car (when I was working a LOT and earning decent cash and was single!) and I LOVED it. Might need to bat my eyes at R and tell him he has his hobby....now I need one.....

Hugs to everyone else, hope the weekend is being kind. Bank Hols here, Monday off - out for lunch where Brams took me  :Pages ago......they do the BEST home made pies and things I have tasted for ages....yummy!! Anniversary too - 3 years married. Time for a change.

xxxx

[emergRN]

Happy Anniversary Lottie!  If it was yesterday, I hope you had a nice day with the hubby!

Brams..Sorry to hear of your bad day!  I see that you posted later the same day, and you sounded a bit better.  Darned knee rollercoaster!

Tez...No party for this girl.  The boys(cousins) have no stamina.  One of them passed out on Friday night(thankfully).  Saturday night I had both of them.  They both fell asleep within 30 minutes of being in my house.  You just have to love the sleepy effect of a woodstove.  I also needed to take my naproxen to get through all of the activities of this past weekend, and I really did not want to drink with meds in me.  One of my cousins is getting married again this summer.  I wonder if he will keep this one!  He was only here for one night, and he is a sloppy piggy!  I'm messy, but I would kill him!

Well, we have had some really nice weather here the past couple of days.  I am really, really antsy to go hiking!  It is like I have to keep telling my brain that I am not able to do it!  I want to do it so bad, that I think I could almost convince myself that I could.  Ha..I can't even walk upstairs correctly.  It is funny how desire can over rule common sense.  I won't/can't do it, but I want to!

My bad luck in this God forsaken place continues.  I had a call from my GP's office this morning that the OS that he had sent a consult to has declined the consult.  The reason stated is that I have seen several, and he thinks it is best that I see someone in this region.  That was the whole reason that I had to go to Vancouver in the first place.  I could not get anyone to see me here.  I also can't afford to go private anymore.  Damn politics.  This has nothing to do with the Canadian healthcare system, but rather the fact that we have a relatively small population here, and all of the OS's know each other.  There are other things of a political nature going on that have NOTHING to do with me, but I am the one who is being affected by what I can only call "office politics".

My PT is going see what he can do about this situation, but if he cannot do anything, my only other option is to go out of province again.  Halifax is not that far as the crow flies, but when you live on a island, I still have to either buy a plane ticket that will cost me as much as it would to fly to Florida.  The only other way is a 3 hour drive to the ferry.  Take a 7 hour crossing, and then drive 4 more hours.  That would still cost me $300 just for the ferry with my car return!  There is no gas involved with that!  Oh, and it would mean overnight on the ferry as well....ugh!  I really hope I don't have to go that route just to get assessed.  I have never heard the likes of this in my life.

Well, that is my rant for today!

RK4...your appointment is this week...right??

W

[seerobinbike]

 

Thanks everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes!  I had a nice day.  Went out to lunch with a couple of friends and was supposed to be going out with M. for my birthday dinner but he got called in to work.  Ah, well.  Had a nice day in spite of it. 

W...I'd be ranting too, you poor thing!  I hope that you PT has been successful at trying to hook you up with the doctor you want to see.  The whole thing sounds like a gigantic pain in the butt.  Ugggg.  If the nice weather continues, are you able to go for a nice walk at least?  It probably sounds kind of lame to a girl who's used to hiking, etc. but I really enjoy my walks!  You're not using a cane anymore, are you?  Hang in there...this has to work out sooner or later.

Lottie...Happy Anniversary to you two lovebirds!  (Albeit a bit delayed!)  Glad that you are back to feeling like the old Lottie!  Do coax yourself back into exercise if you feel you need to.

Brams...((Hugs)) to you hon.  I hope that when you read this, the foolish CRPS has settled down a bit.  It is so hard to live with something like CRPS and I can imagine your disappointment at not being able to go out rowing.  You've been so much more upbeat since you found this new passion.  The tutoring gig sounds really cool.  Everyone needs a reason to get out of bed in the morning and feel like they are adding something worthwhile to society.  Hopefully, this will add some new meaning to your life.  ((Big Hug)). 

Rk...Yep, this is your week girl!  I can't remember what day you are going to see your doctor but I wish you nothing but good luck.  I know that you will keep us updated.  No more digging at those footballs, o.k.?

Snowy...Thought of you and J and poor Laya often today.  Hope the poor gal rallies. 

Nick...Hope all is well in your world and work isn't too horrible.  How's the AS group going?

Tez....Oh, Tez....where are you?!  Oh, right.  You are hopefully drinking and dining and having 'cake'.  Enjoy and we shall be anxious to hear how the trip went.  I want to go to Amsterdam, damn! 

A...Hi if you are out there.

I'm taking a break from my studies.  I've gotten all my books for the personal training course and I must say that I've forgotten so much.  I must also say that one of the books on anatomy and the different organ systems is soooo poorly written that I must read each paragraph twice or three times before I halfway understand it.  I want to complain to ACE fitness that it stinks.  But I won't. So that's my rant for the day.  Over and out gang o geeks.  May you all sleep well tonight.

Hugs, Robin xx

[emergRN]

Ooohhh...I would love to see a Tez post from Amsterdam.  That would be good.  It would probably be in slow motion from eating too many brownies

Robin...So, you didn't waste any time getting started on the Personal Trainer course.  Way to go!  I could learn a lesson in how not to procrastinate from you.  It is good to have a life plan.  I wish I knew what was going on with me so I could formulate some type of contingency plan!  If I knew how long I was going to off, I would certainly be doing something via distance education.  I suppose I could still do that, but I would take on a heavier load if I was going to be off of work for specific period of time.  If I was back at work, I would only be able to do one course at a time..and have a life!

I have some more news to report...and it isn't good.  My knee literally locked on me the other night.  That was a first.  I was sitting in the recliner, and I went to put the foot rest down.  My knee would not bend!!!  What a fright!  I managed to get it unstuck, but what a strange feeling.  It wasn't so much a pain, but more like a pressure.  It was weird!  The buckling has also resumed.  It actually happened in front of my PT today.  That was the first time he has seen it happen.  It was only a small buckle, but he knew exactly what happened.

He has been really working on my extension, and is starting to get more aggressive with it!  It has to be done!  he is not hurting me though.  He has been really gentle up to this point, but at this point he feels it is safe(graft wise) to be a bit more aggressive.  I am still a ways away from equal extension, and he is trying to figure out why I don't have it at this point. 

So, the holding pattern is continuing, and I am really getting impatient!  It is putting me in a bad mood.  I can't plan anything.,,ugh!

Come on folks...what's all the news?

W

[Rknees4]

Man W nothing like that stuck knee feeling is there.
Sorry things aren't going as planned but how many of us has had that luxury.... I hear you on the holding pattern W. I don't like it much either.. Like you I just want to get on with getting on..

Well Gang looks like it is back to the repair shop for me.. He won't do a replacement but he will take a try to fix the defect on my kneecap..Plus remove all existing hardware. Don't know when but will keep you all posted... So that is the news.  About what I thought would happen..
Well that's about it.... Take Care all, while I digest this latest saga.
Rk4

[seerobinbike]

Hey All.

W...I'll talk to you.  What?!  Your knee totally locked?  That's really fecked.  The only reason I know that of when a knee locks like that is meniscus tears.  I would have been in a bad mood about 4 months ago so don't sweat the fact that you are grumpy...although you don't sound grumpy.  It's one thing to know the cause of a problem but not be able to correct it; I don't think anyone has come to any real conclusions in your case.  Feck I say.  When will you hear if you are able to see another OS?  It must be very scary for you to think about having to go back to nursing so maybe you should come up with a contingency plan.  I have no idea if I will be able to do anything with the personal training when I eventually get certified...both my arms are still frozen and I can't kneel all that well but I'm proceeding as if I will be able to do these things eventually.  W., if I didn't do anything, I was going deeper into that funk I was already in due to not being able to do what I used to be able to do.  Do think about it.  And since Tez is probably not going to be around for a while, here is a wee hug for you as she would say.  ((W.)) 

Rk...*Sigh*  I don't know what to say about this.  One one hand, it's good that you will be doing something versus just riding it out and if the good doctor knows what he's doing, there is a good chance that he will be able to get you out of so much pain.  I still don't understand why he won't just do the replacement but I know...it's Canada and they have a different criteria.  Here is a wee hug for you as well.  ((Rk)) 

Well, that's disappointing!  I want everyone to get on getting on.  Life certainly doesn't seem very fair at times.  But onward and upward we go because things always turn around at some point. Yep. They. Do. 

Robin  xx

[Brambledog]

Hey gang....

I wrote on another thread here the other day that all KGs should be issued with a little badge bearing the motto "Perseverance Through Pain". I think it sums us up pretty well.....  

Rk4 - wow that is a lot for you to take in. Even if you kind of expected it, you must be disappointed he couldn't give you any better options. Will keep my fingers crossed for your op when it happens, and hope that in the meantime your doc can give you some decent pain relief. {{hug}}

W - eek! That must have been scary, especially with the buckling at the same time. At least with your PT having seen it, it has been documented (if you know what I mean), and will be kept an eye on... Completely understand your feelings about the mess they seem to be making about deciding who will sort out your poor knee. Sometimes they really dont have a clue. Things would change smartish if they had to put up with that kind of crap themselves. The extension thing is a strange one....I still can't do a SLR after all these months, although mine is now fogged by the darn CRPS so it's difficult to tell what's really going on   I think it's the most tricky exercise to do if there's been a problem with that area of the knee - the quads and tendons and kneecap area are tricky beasties! Hope the knee settles again and plays nicely for you x

Robin - good news on the books for your course. Its always exciting getting the books - its one of the things I really miss from my OU days....they do wonderful courses and the books were mostly fab. Ah....the good old days... Glad you had a great day, despite M having to work   Sometimes you do wonder don't you?! Of all the times! He must have been mad at them...

I love the idea of a Tez in Amsterdam on the brownies post!   I still haven't forgotten the one post-party on the alcohol.....lol!

Well I've had my first proper booking for the tutoring today! Yay! I was so nervous it was tragic.... He seemed a nice chap though, and has two children he wants me to tutor... I'm on my way.

In other news, lol, the Brams has had her one-on-one training session at the gym, which went really well. He took plenty of time going through all the equipment with me, and really thinking about what I'd be able to try, and what was a non-starter... Took about 45 minutes, but well worth it. I've been back twice since, and am back there tomorrow. My body was quite shocked to start with, but is getting used to the idea. I'm starting gently, but even so... I have a training programme, which is quite fun, it's a good idea really - having it written down with a box for me to enter the distance, or weight, reps, etc. makes me much more likely to actually do it!

The knees have been getting clunkier and more sore recently, and I feel that the arthritis itself is worsening. The increased activity is just showing it up more I think. It's really frustrating because the exercise seems to be helping the CRPS, but aggravating the OA. Still, as long as the CRPS is quieter, the pain levels (the horrid deep or burning pain) are lower, so I can choose to do more....not sure how long I'll be able to do what I'm doing, but I really want to strengthen my legs and lose weight, so I'm going to keep at it as long as I can!

My poor wee Bramble dog was spayed today and is feeling very sorry for herself, and I feel very guilty about the whole thing. It's best for her in the long run, but she was all bouncy and fun this morning, then I took her in to the vets....and now she is poorly and in pain.   Can't help but feel bad....hopefully she'll feel a bit better tomorrow!

Hi to everyone I've not mentioned - hope all is well with you, and hope to hear good reports soon, lol!

Brams