My Six-Week Check-up

Six weeks. I am so very tired of sitting, and eager to start getting back to my normal activities. I have some worries, though, and am glad to have time to sit down and discuss them with my doctor. He takes a positive, practical approach and that soothes my worries. 

My left knee, the one that is now 7 months post-surgery, has started making grinding noises as I go up the stairs..I fear it will deteriorate and I will end up needing a full knee replacement. My doctor's answer: "Don't worry about it! Living with arthritis means we adjust our behavior to avoid pain. Is there a way to keep it from grinding?"  Answer that I have discovered if I lean forward a bit more, and put more of the lift come from the glutes it doesn't grind. He tells me to keep doing that. 

Next worry: the pain behind my knee as come back. It is worse after sitting in a chair, and when we go for a walk, it hurts at the beginning, then goes away, and comes back again as I become fatigued. He tells me he wants me to get on a stationary bike. Ugh. I will do it, but it don't want to. I ask if I can swim, or get in a hot tub, and he says yes, that may help, too.

With my fitness background I want to go "all-out" and ask when I can do that. He grins and says "Never. You have to listen to your body, and be reasonable in exercising."  OK. I can do that. One thing I have learned in this process is the importance of mindful exercise. My doctor's favorite statement on exercise is "if it hurts, don't do it." Wise advice.

Now I begin my own physical therapy program. I am on my own to rebuild my strength. I have almost full flexion in my knee. I fatigue very quickly. In a few days I will teach my Lind dance class for the first time in 6 weeks. I am excited, and a bit nervous.