Kneed to Know: Almost Two Months

I’ve debated making a final entry because after seven weeks I am able to function better than I had for many years. Yes, it’s a hassle to use the brace, but the result has been pain-freedom. Seems obvious that my real problem in the not-so-distant past was inflammation. With the inflammation gone and a reduction in joint movement and hyper-extension, bone-on-bone contact is creepy but not pain inducing. I’m long past the days of pick-up basketball games in McClatchey Park in Atlanta, but well able to tend to our ever-expanding garden and regular home maintenance. It’s not as exciting, but still very satisfying.

I’ll keep updating intermittently. Okay?

Kneed to Know: Week Four

Last week I received a call from my favorite orthopedic doc. She said that as long as steroid injections reduce my knee pain it’s the treatment of choice. Unless I want to discuss surgery I have no reason to see her and I can visit the people with the long needle when needed. She said that I have severe arthritis and that it’s good that I have chosen to remain active.

I torque my knee after speaking to her and had some frustrating pain for a couple of days, but used naproxen and inactivity to deal with it. Because the steroid acted on the severe inflammation in my knee, using an anti-inflammatory and minimizing activities that can exacerbate the joint problem is logical. After a day of limited activity I have gotten back to my new normal and am once again pain free.

It’s always going to be a matter of how much pain is too much to bear. Thus, it is imperative that I be aware of what causes problems; over use, over-weight and failure to use my brace. The other important thing to do is rebuild the musculature around the knee which helps keep it more stable. To that end, I am back on the bike and working at building a mileage base.