First run in almost 2 months!
It's been a while since I wrote about my lower half.
Right before I left for Ecuador, i.e. early August, I went for an MRI, as per Dr. Varlotta's orders. I was grouchy when he first prescribed it, but my Magic PT was so flummoxed by my recurring knee issues, I figured it was worth a shot. Turns out I have a horizontal beak-like tear on my meniscus.
I found this out in Dr. Varlotta's office the day I was set to leave for Ecuador. Magic PT told me to have the doc call him while I was in the office. I didn't understand most of what they said, although I was amused that the doc kept twisting my legs and feet in all sorts of funny ways while they chatted. Magic PT seemed to be suggesting new orthotics; Dr. Varlotta said I needed to do more strengthening. Which is like, wtf, what do you think I've been doing for the past 3 months? After they got off the phone, he decided to do a cortisone injection. I've never had one before, so I totally believed him when he said it would be "just a little needle stick". I do this stuff recreationally and holy fuck did that hurt.
I commented to the Magic PT that afternoon that it hurt and he said it would hurt for 2 days, which was so fun on the plane let me tell you. But then it didn't bother me at all on the trip. I did spend the entire time worrying that I'd have to give up stairs and/or running; without stairs, I can kiss mountaineering goodbye too and MFer Igor fuck him blah blah. Somewhere in there, we had a conversation about stairs, actually, and Magic PT was generally horrified that I was recreationally climbing stairs. He also commented that the meniscus tear might not be something from the accident, that they are "load-bearing" injuries. He's not a fan of Olympic lifts, shall we say.
I got back and Magic PT explained that the trouble I'm having with my knee has nothing to do with the meniscus tear, that's just something they found on the MRI. Phew! Things felt jolly for another week, then I came into his office one day and said, "So those cortisone shot thingies - they last for 2 weeks, huh?"
Here's where it gets interesting. I came in one day and instead of making me do resistance exercises against his hands, he stretched my leg. I lay on my back on the table with the bad leg hanging off and he pressed the thigh back. It felt painful and awesome. He did a few similar exercises -- and then my knee felt better for the rest of the day. There were one or two more sessions like that. He also had me move my knee strap from below the knee to above the knee: he says he's trying to "make space". I don't understand how that works, except that it does. When I told him about my leg Elvis-ing while hiking, he was happy, saying that means my muscles were engaging, rather than putting the pressure on my joints. Basically, even though mountaineers are told to use their skeleton to support weight, my conformation is so awful, I need to use muscle. Good thing I'm HUGE and pure muscle.
Last Tues, we were discussing the foam roller exercises I do independently and he said, "That's why I like treating you -- you actually do what I tell you." And then on Thurs, he commented that in all the years he's been treating me, he's never seen me stronger. w00t? He may've just been trying to get me to go lift after our ridonkulously early appt.
He gave me the okay to run again, but I was too sore last Tues and since then, I've been too busy, what with the packing and unpacking every week. However, I ran this morning. It felt good: I knew I was going fast, in part bc I was angry and partly bc I was fueled by oj. I usually run the lower loop twice in 34-36 mins, depending on how tired my body is and how trained I am. Today I ran it in 33 mins; admittedly, in the last quarter, I spotted a leggy blonde and tried to keep up with her so I could watch her rippling (although small) arm & shoulder muscles. Perhaps that is why my knee is complaining now despite ice and Voltaren gel. *sighs*
Anyhow, I'm very happy about this new development. Evil English and Raita have leapt back into running, starting with a 6-miler over the weekend: I don't understand why they don't get injured and I'm not looking forward to slow as molasses runs with them but oh well. And oh yeah, I just bought yet another Teaching Company lecture, even though I still have 1.5 (long!) series to listen to. Time to catch some fresh air.
Sorry to inflict this on everyone. Barring any more accidents, I should start putting this sort of post into the exercise filter once more. If you can read this post, you're already on it. If not, comment here and I'll add you. (I can't believe how long it's been since I had workout stuff worth posting.)
Right before I left for Ecuador, i.e. early August, I went for an MRI, as per Dr. Varlotta's orders. I was grouchy when he first prescribed it, but my Magic PT was so flummoxed by my recurring knee issues, I figured it was worth a shot. Turns out I have a horizontal beak-like tear on my meniscus.
I found this out in Dr. Varlotta's office the day I was set to leave for Ecuador. Magic PT told me to have the doc call him while I was in the office. I didn't understand most of what they said, although I was amused that the doc kept twisting my legs and feet in all sorts of funny ways while they chatted. Magic PT seemed to be suggesting new orthotics; Dr. Varlotta said I needed to do more strengthening. Which is like, wtf, what do you think I've been doing for the past 3 months? After they got off the phone, he decided to do a cortisone injection. I've never had one before, so I totally believed him when he said it would be "just a little needle stick". I do this stuff recreationally and holy fuck did that hurt.
I commented to the Magic PT that afternoon that it hurt and he said it would hurt for 2 days, which was so fun on the plane let me tell you. But then it didn't bother me at all on the trip. I did spend the entire time worrying that I'd have to give up stairs and/or running; without stairs, I can kiss mountaineering goodbye too and MFer Igor fuck him blah blah. Somewhere in there, we had a conversation about stairs, actually, and Magic PT was generally horrified that I was recreationally climbing stairs. He also commented that the meniscus tear might not be something from the accident, that they are "load-bearing" injuries. He's not a fan of Olympic lifts, shall we say.
I got back and Magic PT explained that the trouble I'm having with my knee has nothing to do with the meniscus tear, that's just something they found on the MRI. Phew! Things felt jolly for another week, then I came into his office one day and said, "So those cortisone shot thingies - they last for 2 weeks, huh?"
Here's where it gets interesting. I came in one day and instead of making me do resistance exercises against his hands, he stretched my leg. I lay on my back on the table with the bad leg hanging off and he pressed the thigh back. It felt painful and awesome. He did a few similar exercises -- and then my knee felt better for the rest of the day. There were one or two more sessions like that. He also had me move my knee strap from below the knee to above the knee: he says he's trying to "make space". I don't understand how that works, except that it does. When I told him about my leg Elvis-ing while hiking, he was happy, saying that means my muscles were engaging, rather than putting the pressure on my joints. Basically, even though mountaineers are told to use their skeleton to support weight, my conformation is so awful, I need to use muscle. Good thing I'm HUGE and pure muscle.
Last Tues, we were discussing the foam roller exercises I do independently and he said, "That's why I like treating you -- you actually do what I tell you." And then on Thurs, he commented that in all the years he's been treating me, he's never seen me stronger. w00t? He may've just been trying to get me to go lift after our ridonkulously early appt.
He gave me the okay to run again, but I was too sore last Tues and since then, I've been too busy, what with the packing and unpacking every week. However, I ran this morning. It felt good: I knew I was going fast, in part bc I was angry and partly bc I was fueled by oj. I usually run the lower loop twice in 34-36 mins, depending on how tired my body is and how trained I am. Today I ran it in 33 mins; admittedly, in the last quarter, I spotted a leggy blonde and tried to keep up with her so I could watch her rippling (although small) arm & shoulder muscles. Perhaps that is why my knee is complaining now despite ice and Voltaren gel. *sighs*
Anyhow, I'm very happy about this new development. Evil English and Raita have leapt back into running, starting with a 6-miler over the weekend: I don't understand why they don't get injured and I'm not looking forward to slow as molasses runs with them but oh well. And oh yeah, I just bought yet another Teaching Company lecture, even though I still have 1.5 (long!) series to listen to. Time to catch some fresh air.
Sorry to inflict this on everyone. Barring any more accidents, I should start putting this sort of post into the exercise filter once more. If you can read this post, you're already on it. If not, comment here and I'll add you. (I can't believe how long it's been since I had workout stuff worth posting.)