On the Other Side
I know you’re probably sick of my vacation talk, but I have something else to say and I’m going to say it gosh dern it. I concerns my nemeses, my knees.
(If you’re a new reader here’s a quick recap: My knees suck and have for years. If you want the gritty details, click here.)
I think the best way to get my point across is to compare this trip to Charlottesville with the last one The Man and I took—back in July 2008.
Then: The Man dropped me off outside a restaurant, and I waited on a bench as he parked the car.
Now: The Man and I parked the car and walked to a restaurant together.
Then: I viewed the Charlottesville mall (think National Mall, not shopping mall) from the comfort of a bench.
Now: The Man and I walked from one end of the mall to the other. And back. Without pain or swelling.
Then: We could only manage one winery trip.
Now: We hit up three.
Then: My chauffeur The Man dropped me off on the winery’s front step.
Now: I walked from the parked car into the winery with The Man.
Then: Dinner was at a restaurant with a parking lot.
Now: I mounted a steep set of stairs to get to a restaurant. And then I went down it. Pain free.
Then: Lots of pain. Too much. Lots of swelling. Ditto.
Now: Aside from foot pain (thanks, body) I felt good.
There was even a moment in there during our walk down the mall when The Man turned to me and said, “This is weird.” As in the fact that we were taking a leisurely walk together was freaky. And it was. It’s been a while since I walked with him anywhere.
Even freakier? Walking to one end and back without redness or swelling. (And you can bet I checked the first chance I got.) It was a surreal moment, and I had to double check just to be sure. As if I would ever miss my swollen knees.
I’m not sure if I have PRP to thank, the workouts I’ve been doing, or both. Or neither. Really, with my knees, you just never know. But I’m hopeful. And as soon as I get back from a work conference at the end of this month, I’m going under the needle again. Shooting thick blood into my knee is like a crazy hobby.
20 comments
I am so happy for you. I know you are so glad that all the work you are doing is working on your knees. Sounds like a lovely vacation.
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That’s awesome! It’s great to know that your hard work is paying off, isn’t it? I’m glad you’re having fun and relaxing.
Wei-Wei
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That is so great that things were so much better this time and you were able to enjoy yourself with Jeeves, I mean the Man.
Question, did you do PT and did it help? The doctor gave me some exercises for at home for my knees a month ago and I think they are slightly better but I am wondering if progress would be faster if I actually saw a PT. The doctor had offered that but I declined because after a year of 3 PTs for the back I am PT’d out.
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Tracey Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:10 am
Heather, the first few times my knees started hurting, my doctor gave me a sheet of exercises to do. I did them and the pain went away, but it came back (obviously). I didn’t start seeing real progress until I went to PT. There, my PT explained how other muscle imbalances or problems with my body were contributing to the knee pain. And she could give me work to do in those areas, too. Plus, she could keep challenging me; the exercises from the sheet got easy but I didn’t know where to go from there without doing damage. On top of all that, I liked being able to say, “This hurts” or “Should I be feeling this” as well as having someone there to say, “You’re doing it wrong and you’re going to hurt yourself more.
So I’d say, Yes, PT was a huge help. I’d have gone longer if my insurance had let me. But United Healthcare thought I was progressing to slowly to pay for it. (Long story. Angry fist wag.) If I were you, I’d do the PT.
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Heather C Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:15 am
Thanks for the input Tracey. I think I will suck it up and head to PT once again. At the rate I am going, someday there will a PT building with a wing named after me.
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Tracey Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 10:22 am
When you get your wing, can I get a discount rate on PT? I could totally use it again.
That’s awesome! I’ve had bad knees most of my life as I was a gymnast when I was younger, a goalie in hockey (still am) and I was a sprinter. I’ve gone under the knife once and it helped a lot but it mostly exercise, the right ones, that helped me get stronger.
I hope your knees keep treating you well!
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Tracey Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:11 am
I think exercise plays a huge role. Sure, I can’t run or anything, but just strength training alone helps so much. Glad to hear that despite your knee problems you can still play hockey!
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Oh my goodness…I wish you could see my face! I am grinning from ear to ear! I am very happy you are seeing real progress!!
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Tracey Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 9:12 am
Me too. Thanks.
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Stumbled across your story, and I am really excited to hear the progress. Knees are tricky little knobs:)
And PS officially jealous of all three wineries. Now I’m thirsty:)
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Tracey Reply:
June 3rd, 2010 at 11:10 am
Tricky indeed. Thanks for wandering over!
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That sounds positive Tracy. Seriously, its your positive attitude.
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That is some serious progress! Congrats, Tracey! I hope the PRP keeps working until you are 100%
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This is really good news, Tracey. Glad to see that there has been a lot of improvement over the past few years. It must have been very hard to go on vacation and be in so much pain, its difficult to enjoy anything when you are in that amount of pain. So I’m very happy to hear that you felt good and were able to just enjoy the trip.
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Yay! I’m so glad that you are doing so well! It sounds like you are having a great vacay, even better this time around.
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Tracey this makes me sooo happy to hear!
It is so important for people like us (I call myself a cripple sometimes
) to look at these little gains. I get so down but today after I read you post, I was thinking that I was able to walk to the movie theater from the parking lot with my sister instead of being dropped off like I would have had to in the fall. This post made me so happy for you. I know you are not where you want to be, but these improvements mean so so much and I know that!
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Sounds great – I’m so pleased the knees were on their best behavior.
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Tracey, I’m just delighted. I’m so happy with the vast improvements in your knees, and therefore, your life. Thanks for sharing- you deserve to walk and move without pain and a tremendous amount of effort, my dear. Your positivity is pure inspiration
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Oh Tracey I am SO glad you are getting better! What a relief for you to be able to take a proper vacation and not be concerned about your knees constantly. Your hubby must be so relieved as well.
Can I just say how impressed I am with your comebacks? Honestly, I wish you were at the park yesterday so you could have fed me those perfect lines and I wouldn’t have just stood there taking that random woman’s crap! You have a way with words!!
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