checking in

Still in physical therapy. Some good days, some bad.
I went back to work this week. First couple of days were great, but then I started going down hill. By Friday, I was in some real pain. Then Friday afternoon the Physical Therapist hit a nerve in my leg that was particularly tender - had a rough night sleeping.
I find I can walk reasonably well, though if I over do I need to use my cane.
I cannot sit for any length of time - annoys a nerve in the back of my leg.
This also happens when I drive - so no driving for me for awhile. I can get to work and back (it's only a couple blocks away), but I need to curtail all other errands for awhile.
I had Ron take me to the grocery store tonight. Even sitting in the passenger sit was a little rough - until I figured out how to prop my leg up with my cane - that eased the pressure on the nerve.
I feel like I've taken two steps forward, and one step back.
2 more weeks of physical therapy, then they decide if I'm healing well enough not to need surgery.
I need to take good care of my self and do my homework stretchs - they do seem to help.
No more for now, sitting to write the entry has gotten too painful.

Coming off the cliff

Sorry Mo - the rest of the story....
Physical Therapy is both wonderful and brutal. I do feel better afterwards, but some of the treatments are quite painful. The therapist has taken to massaging one particular tendon that is very!!!! tight --- and that requires certified torture techniques.
First visit I felt great, second time around I felt awful (that is when the torture began).
I have homework stretches to do, that I am being good about doing. I am noticing an increased flexibility, but my sciatic nerve in the injured leg is competing for attention. So sometimes sitting or laying down is worse then the pain of standing and walking.
But I am able to go longer stretchs without serious pain or discomfort now.

My biggest problem is that I'll feel pretty good at the beginning of the day, but by the end of the day there is no relief. Yesterday I felt good enough to go out and run some errands with Ronni - but by the time we were done, I was regretting it. I couldn't sleep last night because of the pain.

With all of this I am still having to go into my classroom daily to set up for a sub - so I'm not totally goofing off.
I need to go back to work next week. I was worried about how I would handle the afternoons (figuring I could survive the morning), so I asked the PT about crutches. Turns out the school district has a policy not to allow teachers to work on crutches. Makes sense for insurance/liability reasons --- so he suggested a cane instead.

After today's treatment, I hobbled down to the medical supply place and picked up a pretty little cane. This thing is great!!! I can walk with no pain. I can walk even faster than I do on my own. I see this as a serious answer to some of my issues. I also bought a new heating pad, with is a nice change from the ice bag therapy -- almost feels like a spa in bed :).

I'll still have to be careful not to overdue, but I think things are going to work out. My leg is getting stronger, and flexibility is increasing. And this has only been one week of therapy. 3 more weeks of torture and I should be good as new (I hope).
(oh and I'm starting to lose weight -- after the injury I gained 7 lbs, I'm hoping mostly in water weight from the swelling. That is starting to subside)

Of track for awhile

Report from urgent care - something isn't right, but they can't tell for sure what. X-Rays look ok. Gave pain reliever and said followup with my own doctor. Hint of possible orthopedic care needed if this doesn't get better.
Rested rest of Saturday and all day Sunday, back to feeling better until I walk around some.

Report from my doctor on Monday afternoon: He thinks its a damaged miniscus (sp?). Prescibed an anti-inflammatory and physical therapy for a month. If it doesn't get better we will do an MRI and see if surgery is required.
This anti-inflamatory seems pretty good, but haven't walked too much to test it out. I start PT in the morning. Doc says with regular icing and sitting down when necessary I should be able to handle work (he doesn't know what a room full of 1st graders is like - sitting down, regular icing.... I don't think so! I have taken the week off. If the PT and medication make it tolerable, I'll be back to work next Tuesday).
Who would have ever thunk -- I get a sports injury from using the treadmill in the morning. I tell you, exercise is bad for you! Every famous athelet I know of has some bad things happen to their body -- the Olympics is full of it.
Mild exercise and light weights - that sounds like the route for me.

day seven

I was in a wheelchair at school today - helped some, but the pain now encompasses my entire leg. Mostly the upper muscle region. I made it home and now am in bed with ice. It used to be that resting or sitting revived me for awhile, but I am beyond that now. I'm resting at home tonight and planning to go into urgent care somewhere tomorrow AM. They have equipment to diagnose that my doctor does not have in his office. Stubborness isn't working, so I am resorting to those who practice medicine.
I'm greaful for a laptop with a DVD player. Movies in bed -I can handle that.

Fieldwork: Day 6

OK, this isn't funny --- my knee is still being a royal pain!
If I sit or lay down for awhile, the pain goes away and I have complete range of movement. But it doesn't take much walking or standing before it tightens up, and pinches in the back. I can't even bend it because of swelling. And it hurts!!!
Walking from my classroom to the car at the end of the day is torture. (I can make it to my classroom in the morning alright).
I'm thinking maybe I should see the chiropractor (spelling?) rather than the M.D. - however my M.D. is also training in sports medicine, so I think he may be familiar with this kind of thing. Shoot - gotta survive till Monday.
Can't think of doing anything else but basic survival chores right now.

Fieldwork Day 5

Slept in - resting my knee,but it still hurts!

AM weight -220 (ok, I over did on seconds for dinner last night)
treadmill - no out of time, and don't want to aggravate my knee

significant chore: Nick's birthday - gotta make a cake
exploration: no specific plans (today is one of those survival days)

Fieldwork report: Today was quite painful. I count myself lucky to have just gotten through the day. I tried to visit the doctor after work, but had to make an appointment for next Monday after school. As a bit of good news, the battery charge on the car "took", so I had wheels today. I had Ronni make Nick's cake, and we just had leftovers for dinner. Nick was ok with that - and thanked me for the Director's chair frame I bought him.
My knee felt better after laying down and resting for awhile.
I guess my "reach out to the world" thing today was in phone calls. I received a phone call from an old friend who lives in Tennessee. I'd been thinking about her lately, so it was fun to hear her voice on the phone. She has a daughter that I want to introduce to my son -- but the reality of that happening we both know is slim. It was great to catch up and to know a good friend is doing fine in the world. Later in the evening I called my brother-in-law to wish him Happy Birthday. He is always fun to talk to. As a former radio host, he has a quick wit. We bantered a bit and my mood lifted.
I helped Ron chose a birthday gift for Nick (so it was kind of like giving Nick 2 things - except one is in Ron's name) Bought a birthday card for my Brother-in-law and a sympathy card for my sister-in-law (inside joke).
Wrecking the journal, not tonight. I've wrecked my knee enough - I don't want any more destruction right now. (though last night's page burning was rather interesting. I'll post a phote when I can find the camera and transfer cable.)

Fieldwork: Day 4

Wow, got up at 5 am today - and it wasn't hard. I've been feeling really happy this past week too - I'll have to be careful when the downswing comes so I don't let myself drop this progress.



AM weight 219 (a little discouraging, I have been doing better than this, this past month - but I've notice that I pick up a couple pounds when my knee is swollen,and it really hurts this morning)

Treadmill - 30 minutes (though not as fast because of the knee pain)

Significant chore - I need to get the sound on my computer at school hooked up to the speaker system. I have the cabling, just need to run it)

Exploration Opportunities: I'm planning on taking my camera with me to recess duty.

Fieldwork report: Today could be chalked up as one of those bad days. Car battery died, knee inflammed, and while the sound is now connected from computer to speakers - the web page we use refuses to show the video feed I need.
But I had it in my mind to walk home today anyway, so was mentally prepared for it (even though it further agravated my knee). I have a good supply of Advil, which works great for me. and I am hoping for the best on the video thing.
As I walked home I found a nearly round rock to add to my collection, and I had fun taking pictures of nature on the way. I tried taking pictures at recess, but the kids were quickly distracted and wanted to pose for me. I was hoping for more "candid" kind of stuff. In retrospect, I may have chosen to encourage posing just for the fun of it.
I didn't get to go to the store to buy bubbles, so I'll have to do that when the car situation is cleared up.
The battery is plugged into a charger tonight, so hopefully I'll have a vehicle tomorrow.
I'm suppose to burn a page in my journal tonight - good timing, I'm in the mood to destroy something!