NOTES - Your success stories :
6 months, still making progress - - Posted by Cora (Cora), 28 November 2004
I know I tend to share my problems and not success. So I decided to post here. 6 months ago I was injured. I have been told it is moderate arthritis, not beginning at age 31. I was also told I have PFS. I suspect a bone chip for a softball impact (hit by a man twice my size) or something else because for years I could play sports, jog long distance and then one day it hurt to walk across the room.
But I decided to try and avoid surgery to explore it, because I could get around with some effort.
Month 1- Did nothing, waited for the pain to stop on it own like it usually does. I stopped exercising and paid people to do some yard work for me. I used an Ace.
Month 2- Went into physical therapy and had weak areas identified. I iced 3 times a day.
Month 3- Continued with therapy at the doctors, at this point my pain was the worst. So I choose what exercises helped and abandoned what didn't help. I continued ice.
Month 4- I continued therapy at home and purchased special orthotics I got at www.Z-coil.com. I was able to do some basic yard work with them. I begin using a muscle stim at home and work. I iced just AM and PM.
Month 5- I joined a gym so I could swim, paddle kicks only. I wanted a cardio workout to lose weight from my injury. Sometimes I biked 10 minutes if I didn't swim. And other days I begin targeting the weak areas with weights being careful not to take too much weight. I had just got a prescription to dull the pain and reduce swelling and that helped. (800 mgs Ibuprofen 3-4 times daily). I iced once a day and only when I exercised.
Month 6- I just feel like going for a walk and will head out for 2 miles some days. I still can't run. I take my prescription of Ibuprofen 800 mgs twice a day, on a rare occassion 3 times. I ice as needed, which isn't always every day. I can bike for 20-25 minutes. And can use an elliptical machine for a first, because my knees don't lock up anymore. I always get a little bit of swelling each time I exercise, and pain for a while. But in the long run it seems to be helping. For once, some days I have no swelling in my knee and no bandage. If I want to put a low heel on for a date and ditch sneakers it is O.K for a few hours.
I anticipate it to take maybe even 6 months more before I need no drugs. Before I can exercise for more than 20 minutes low impact. I recently had to decline a job because I'd be on my feet all day. It is not 100% success. But I feel hopeful for once.
Posted by brattkids2 (brattkids2), 28 November 2004
I am glad to hear that your getting a bit better!!! You have certainly put some hard work into getting better!!!
Sorry you had to decline a job but you are getting better and its great that your are doing more and more everyday!!
Best of luck on your continued success!!!
Paulette
Updated Fri Jan 9 2009