*insert my grandpa eskola inherited jowl shake and growl here*
frustration
So. Here's the deal. I probably haven't mentioned here before that I occasionally experience mild discomfort with my knee. More often than not, I take the down steps one at a time. I've never had a problem going up. It's been this way off and on for years, but I never gave it a second thought.
With the four 5K's I ran last year - I didn't have a problem until that last one in the fall. I figured that this one caused problems for a few reasons. 1. I wasn't as in shape as I had been for the other three 2. I really really pushed it and 3. Two lengths were on uphill inclines.
After that last run - I had to walk very carefully and couldn't lift things (like my box of Rice Dream from Costco) and go up a step at the same time.
But then it went back to just the 'normal' mild quirks after about two/three weeks. The quirks that weren't quite quirky enough to get me to the doctor. I AM my father's daughter, and honestly, while I've had quirks for years - it's never been what I would call bad.
Then came this past month when I purchased the Fitbit and found myself to be a bit more competitive than I realized. I signed up to be on a scrapbooking group which tracks how you rank as far as steps/activity and distance and then puts your position and activity up onto a leaderboard. My goal was to stay in the top ten, and during this past week I've been in 2nd place out of 107 members.
My average is just over 6 miles per day and 13,904 steps. I've lost 10 pounds in just under a month.
The reward? Now my knee is bothering me more than ever. While I've never been great going down steps - I've never had a problem going up. Until this week. This week I'm feeling it when I get into the van and drive. It's FINE when I walk or stand, it's only bothersome on inclines and odd movements - like getting into the van sideways. While it usually sounds like gravelly sand paper, now it sounds like sand paper and rocks.
So I called and made an appointment to meet my PCP (but because we've not yet met - that appointment is just under a month away), and it looks like from there I'll be going to an orthopedic surgeon.
For now I have instructions to let up on the walking, but it's okay to bike, and to ice it for 20 minutes 3x a day. I also purchased a knee brace, which I'm not sure is the right size. I measure on the exact number that is the top of one size and the bottom of the next. I bought the smaller one after trying it on in the store, but may go back for the larger one.
Getting older bites.
