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| IYKYK OAFS Photo |
Friday The Missus Herself needed a new ID, so to the naval station we went, where I discovered that walking was really painful, unless I moved really, really slow.
After the appointment, it was worse. So off to Urgent Care we went. Almost couldn't make it into the building. Once inside, they gave me a wheelchair. Then poked me for blood, had me don a gown so that they could x-ray my knee.
Everything came back normal. The doctor was kinda stunned that my knee showed no evidence of arthritis, kinda stunned me too.
First thought was gout ...
Nope.
Second thought was something skeletal ...
Nope.
So I've got an orthopedic appointment sometime in my future, for now it's ibuprofen and a steroid (prednisone). Awfully hard to get around, as I write this I walk like a ninety year old man. Right leg won't support any weight at all.
Fortunately, The Missus Herself found the crutches which I had received after having run afoul of Bear who wanted to sniff the flowers while we were out walking. You can read about that here.
So I won't have to sleep in the dining room at the table tonight. I've got that going for me.
It doesn't hurt if I don't move it.
As I live on Earth, I do need to move occasionally, it's gonna be a LONG night methinks.
Getting old ain't for sissies.
Author's Note: This post is dedicated to the memory of my friend Scott the Badger. Friday was his birthday, told him happy birthday on Failbook, only to discover an hour or so later that Scott had passed away on the 14th of August. Damn, that sucks.
I'll always see him in the comments here, gone too soon, brother. Gone too soon.
Scott was a gentle soul who will be greatly missed. Almost as much of a punch in the gut as The Cap'n.
ReplyDelete"Multās per gentēs et multa per aequora vectus
adveniō hās miserās, frāter, ad īnferiās,
ut tē postrēmō dōnārem mūnere mortis
et mūtam nēquīquam alloquerer cinerem
quandoquidem fortūna mihī tētē abstulit ipsum
heu miser indignē frāter adēmpte mihī
nunc tamen intereā haec, prīscō quae mōre parentum
trādita sunt trīstī mūnere ad īnferiās,
accipe frāternō multum mānantia flētū.
Atque in perpetuum, frāter, avē atque valē."
May his memory be eternal!
Amen.
DeleteGeeez Sarge, getting old ain't for the timid. So sorry to hear about Scott..........Badger Salute!!
ReplyDeleteBadger salute, Aye!
DeleteI am back in the gym at 65. The main reason is I need a knee replacement and I want to be more physically fit when I get the operation at the first of the year. I thought my working out for the past 3 months had strengthened my leg enough I might not need the operation but my knee buckled yesterday. I would have busted my ass but I had hold of a shopping cart in the Commissary that kept me from a face planting.
ReplyDeleteIt was completely bizarre the way mine just said, "Nope, I'm cutting off all support!" On a Navy base, me staggering around in the parling lot like a drunk because my knee failed.
DeleteFelt like old times ...
Good luck. Hope you don’t need a replacement. I had one done in late May, wasn’t prepared for the pain and long recovery. Apparently 3 months to ‘not bad, moving better now’ is not just for people in poor health. It does take that long.
ReplyDeleteSouthern NH
Thanks, Southern NH
DeleteWell I'm going to be 70 and touch wood have never had any serious medical problems (so far) and I do try to keep fit. I stopped running a long time ago as I am most emphatically not the build for a runner being more in the mould of a rugby 2nd row forward or discus thrower so distance running is not my forte. I use a rowing machine made by those excellent fellows in Vermont, the Concept 2 people. However I was reminded of my age when I got off it after a session and my knee said 'that's' enough. Said knee now reminds of when rain is imminent which hasn't been a problem in the South of England so far but autumn and winter will be fun.
ReplyDeleteAs Tsquared said 'prehab' is most important for surgery like knees. Build up the muscle around said knee and it will help with any post op recovery.
Good luck with your knee Sarge, they do have a habit of going at the most inopportune of moments.
Retired
Yes, yes, they do fail at inopportune times!
DeleteWell, Sarge, getting older sucks, unfortunately the alternative is worse. So, hang in there, take it easy, follow the Doctor's orders to a T. We'll keep you in our prayers.
ReplyDeletejuvat
I'll try, after retiring I really suck at following orders. Just sayin' ...
DeleteUnderstand, but SOME orders are important and should be followed.
Deletejuvat
Conceptually I understand that, but the practice? Yeah, I need to work on that.
DeleteI have found out Motrin works better when washed down with bourbon. Your results may vary.
ReplyDeleteThat would certainly boost the effect I presume.
DeleteI had a hip which aggravated both my knee and my shoulder this past winter. Finally got tired of the pain, sucked it up and went to see my primary who said Ortho or PT---your choice. So I staggered off to physical therapy. Happened to get the same fellow who worked miracles on me about 5 years ago. Had I been keeping up with my former exercises? Um, no, not really. Sigh. So twice a week for about 5 weeks, which again worked like a charm. So, yes, exercise should be a 4 letter word....but yes, it really does work, and it is MUCH cheaper than having to take pills or have surgery, so I am doing the GD exercises...and it is working. I no longer stagger like a 110 year old for the first minute when getting up out of a chair/car/the couch and the pain is all gone.
ReplyDeleteAll this to say, talk to the doc, but ask for a therapy referral first. It's amazing what a good PT can do for ya!!
Plus, who knew the hip ligaments were connected into the shoulder ligaments/muscles on the spine?? Not me!!
Suz
Everything is interconnected it seems. I'm waiting for an ortho referral then I'll go from there.
DeleteSorry to hear about Badger, his comments were fun.
ReplyDeleteGoodness retirement is hard on you buddy. But then again, I also have daily knee and spine exercises to keep me going.
As far as following orders, I recall my dentist remined me I needed to floss. I was feeling frisky, so I said which ones. She grinned at me and said "the ones you want to keep".
The ones you want to keep ...
DeleteGood answer!
A moment of silence, a few tears, and s-l-o-w Badger paw salute in honor and memory of Scott. He was a good man, even from the old days at Neptunus Lex. He is missed already.
ReplyDeleteI have blessedly been pretty much spared (thus far) from participating in all the old folks medical stuff, but have great sympathy and patience for those suffering their afflictions. I've got some in-laws who have nearly filled their bingo cards with various stuff, and am most grateful not to be doing the same. Those veterans above have some good recommendations, and since your x-rays don't reveal any obvious skeletal issues, perhaps the physical therapy options may be a viable solution to what hopefully is only a temporary problem.
It would not be surprising if soon we will have another fascinating historical fiction piece in which a character is doing something heroic and miraculously overcomes debilitating knee injuries to finish the mission.
Meanwhile, you had a great adventure with the family and gained some first hand nautical knowledge.
As written in Wind in the Willows:
""Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
John Blackshoe
I'm still stunned that Scott is gone. Too much death this year for my tastes.
DeleteWhat helps my old knees is Tylenol Precise Pain Relieving Cream 4% Lidocaine. A cane helps with balance.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip, WSF!
DeleteThank Goodness it wasn't a blood clot- seriously-those can kill you pretty quick.
ReplyDeleteIndeed they can!
Delete