One Thing After Another. . .

She looks innocent enough, doesn't she? What could be so difficult about walking such a little dog??

Well, you know I have been trying so hard to get into shape (ha!) after everything I've gone through lately. Three times in the hospital and recovery from 2 surgeries this past year did a number on my muscles and entire body in general. Like I was hit by a truck, a BIG truck some days. I know everybody is tired of hearing about it and I usually suffer in silence. But I'm still recovering and really working hard to try to overcome the toll it's taken on me. It's been a frustrating two steps forward and one step back most of the time. My doctor understands though and she keeps telling me to give myself a break, it hasn't really been that long, the body takes time to heal and Hey, guess what? I'm no kid anymore. Thanks. Pretty soon I will have to call this blog The Old, Broken Quilter Who Only Thinks About Quilting Sometimes.

I walked a lot this past Spring to get into shape a little before my surgery. One day I twisted my knee walking the little girl (see photo, above) as she pulled the leash and ran after a squirrel. It hurt, I limped home and put ice on it and wrapped an Ace bandage around it. It bothered me a little for awhile but after I had the surgery, the pain disappeared since I was resting a lot.

When I finally got the okay from my surgeon to resume exercise a month ago I started walking and trying to exercise again. But then the weather around here became unbearable so I joined  the local YMCA so I could exercise inside. This was working great and it actually felt good to move so much again and get my heart rate up. UNTIL, one day, I walked the dog and did that half-step-slide off the curb again . . .  My knee twisted and this time it hurt REAL bad.

I went to the Orthopedic Dr (I have a doctor for every occasion, LOL) who made me get an MRI and then told me I tore the cartilage in my knee and needed surgery to repair it. You can imagine I was not happy to hear that. He suggested pain killers and a cortisone injection if I did not want surgery. The pain didn't really go away and I like to avoid pain meds. Walking comfortably for more than two blocks? Forget it. This time it felt like I took 3 or 4 steps backwards.

Instead of surgery, the doctor said I COULD try the conservative approach and give Physical Therapy a shot and see what happens. I could tell he was not confident it would help, but then he's a Surgeon and that's what they do, surgery. If I had not already had SOOO much surgery recently I would have consented, pronto. For now this is what I have decided to do and here's where I feel like I spend a lot of my time -

What's next, the hip??

I'm only telling you all this because I  know there are probably many of you out there my age with knee and hip problems and I need some sympathy. At least I hope I'm not the only one. Getting older sure is no fun.

Therapy does have its perks, however. The other day I went up to the front counter to schedule another appointment and had to walk past someone on another table. The buzz in the room was about  pulled hamstrings. I looked at my therapist and quietly said - "Is that . . . ???" "Mmmm hmmm" he answered. No, sorry, it was NOT George Clooney. This is Illinois and we take what celebrities we can get. In my house we are all NBA basketball fans so this will not mean anything to most of you, but I was  excited. I stepped out of my shyness and walked over and asked if I could have his autograph and oh, by the way, also get a picture for my son, who's a big fan.

I went home and texted my son that I  had just finished physical therapy, then sent him the picture telling him they assigned me a "personal trainer" so I could get better and maybe hopefully play basketball with him someday on a Mother-Son team.

He texted back with an annoyed sigh: "Mom, that's Kirk Hinrich, I don't think so." Well, I  thought it was funny but I guess you can't put anything over on kids today . . .  Kirk Hinrich ("Captain Kirk" to his fans) played 7 seasons with the Chicago Bulls (our team) and is currently with the Atlanta Hawks. Nice to see him back home.

If I ever run into Kirk again and by chance he asks how I'm doing, what's wrong, I plan on telling him I injured my knee in a much more dramatic fashion than "Walking the Dog"  LOL. Maybe something like, say - speed dribbling down the court on a fast break. I don't think I'll mention the squirrel . . . . .