ladysprite (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
ladysprite) wrote2007-11-27 10:38 am
ladysprite) wrote2007-11-27 10:38 am
State of the Knee, Round 3
I made it back to the orthopedist today, and he poked my knee and bent it back and forth, and came to a pretty quick conclusion.
The good news is that he doesn't think it's a recurrence of the synovial plica, and that I don't need more surgery.
The bad news is that I'm developing arthritis, and that I'm pretty much stuck with it for the rest of my life. Oh, he made noises about how, if I feel like it, I can try taking glucosamine and anti-inflammatories and going to physical therapy, but he seemed to think that these were all pretty much just busy-work to make me feel like I'm doing something, and that he doesn't actually expect any of them to help. His final pronouncement was that the best I can hope for is to eventually reach a point where I have more good days than bad ones.
I suppose it could be worse, and I suppose I should be grateful that this is such a livable problem. But.... I'm not.
Damnit, I'm too young to have a permanent problem like this! I'm 32, not 82. I'm thin, I'm fairly muscular, I eat a healthy diet, I'm in an active job, and I exercise regularly. Isn't that supposed to keep you healthy? Isn't that supposed to protect you from crap like this?
I'm not ready to stop moving. I *like* walking, and dancing, and doing yoga, and climbing trees, and a whole host of other things. I'm not ready to just sit down and accept a life of pain and limited mobility. If I were 80, maybe I could swallow it without a problem, though I'm inclined to think that even then I'd be too damn stubborn to surrender quietly. But now? I've only just started my life, it's not fair to make me stop doing things already.
I know this is stupid of me, and that there are people out there with problems that are so much worse, and I'm being selfish and ungrateful, but I can't help it. I'm doing everything I can - I've started mainlining glucosamine, and I'm already taking as much Advil as I can handle, and I'm trying to get through to the physical therapist to make an appointment, but apparently even with all this it's not going to make much of a difference.
Not fair, not fair, not fair. I almost wish it *was* something surgical, because at least then I'd have a chance at getting better. Tomorrow I'll put on a happy face and have faith that I'll still manage what I call for my patients a Decent Quality of Life, but today I think I need a little time to wallow....
The good news is that he doesn't think it's a recurrence of the synovial plica, and that I don't need more surgery.
The bad news is that I'm developing arthritis, and that I'm pretty much stuck with it for the rest of my life. Oh, he made noises about how, if I feel like it, I can try taking glucosamine and anti-inflammatories and going to physical therapy, but he seemed to think that these were all pretty much just busy-work to make me feel like I'm doing something, and that he doesn't actually expect any of them to help. His final pronouncement was that the best I can hope for is to eventually reach a point where I have more good days than bad ones.
I suppose it could be worse, and I suppose I should be grateful that this is such a livable problem. But.... I'm not.
Damnit, I'm too young to have a permanent problem like this! I'm 32, not 82. I'm thin, I'm fairly muscular, I eat a healthy diet, I'm in an active job, and I exercise regularly. Isn't that supposed to keep you healthy? Isn't that supposed to protect you from crap like this?
I'm not ready to stop moving. I *like* walking, and dancing, and doing yoga, and climbing trees, and a whole host of other things. I'm not ready to just sit down and accept a life of pain and limited mobility. If I were 80, maybe I could swallow it without a problem, though I'm inclined to think that even then I'd be too damn stubborn to surrender quietly. But now? I've only just started my life, it's not fair to make me stop doing things already.
I know this is stupid of me, and that there are people out there with problems that are so much worse, and I'm being selfish and ungrateful, but I can't help it. I'm doing everything I can - I've started mainlining glucosamine, and I'm already taking as much Advil as I can handle, and I'm trying to get through to the physical therapist to make an appointment, but apparently even with all this it's not going to make much of a difference.
Not fair, not fair, not fair. I almost wish it *was* something surgical, because at least then I'd have a chance at getting better. Tomorrow I'll put on a happy face and have faith that I'll still manage what I call for my patients a Decent Quality of Life, but today I think I need a little time to wallow....
Hugs with some other research I know of...
I have been danncing for over twenty years you'd think it would help too, eh?
The back, hip and knee issues so suck but the worst suck is losing my eyesight gradually to the icky glaucoma crud... but that should be in another post..
I have been a participant in a really neat research study at one of the research hospitals in Boston on the use of Vitamin D to help assist in management and rebuilding of degenerative joint issues. Not that the research trials are done yet... but the vitamin D supplements really do seem to help. I am done with the initial phase of being a test bunny for them and now have a regular supply of daily dose Vitamin D... The vitamins and regular gentle mobility exercises keep things manageable for me with the two slipped discs in my back, the over extended pivotal hip pocket issue (curse the turnout from my ballet I guess :-)) and the arthritic knees.
I still dance... sure the first 10-15 minutes is a big challenging but once stuff gets warmed up it is better than sitting at a desk all day.
My big problem now is trying to find people to drive me to dancing or stuff at night as the eyesight has gone south enough that the driving thing is not allowed anymore... now time for my frustrating scream therapy... sigh.
If you want more info on the Vitamin D research just ask... I have lots of pointers.
*hugs*