Early today I had the latest MRI picture of my knee taken. It sure did take an effort to keep the knee completely still for the 20 minutes or so of the procedure. I had to use my hands to manually bend the knee again afterwards, and the pain increased more from keeping it still and straight like that than it did from hiking 5 miles the other day. I hope that means it's getting better, not worse. The tech would say only that he could see a lot of fluid on the knee, and that I'd have to wait for it to be professionally read before I could find out what can actually be seen in there. Hope they read fast!
I'm very optimistic though. I gathered up all my gear yesterday, ostensibly so I can spend some time the next couple of days searching for missing items, but primarily for an excuse to go shopping for more/replacement/lighter gear tomorrow. You may think I'm foolish to spend the money now, as I might not even be able to hike this year, but I actually don't need anything big, just a few small replacements like stuff sacks, maybe a new pocket knife, and some consumables like 100% deet. But the way I figure it, I may as well do it now, because if the Dr. gives me the go ahead to hike then I plan to be out every day building up some mileage and weight and testing the knee. Anyway, shopping is good for the soul. No further excuse needed.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Back in Florida
The flight was excruciatingly painful keeping the knee confined and with little motion, it. The good side was that an early doctor appointment the next morning let the doctor see it all swollen up. Her initial opinion is either a torn meniscus or a bad sprain. I'm praying for the latter. Surgery is not an option I want to have to consider. I'm working the knee daily with laps in the pool, aqua aerobics and other non impact exercises while waiting on the end of the holiday weekend and an MRI.
Here in Florida the recovery has been dramatic. Maybe it's the heat, or the ability to totally relax. For the first few days the pain was still present, but now I'm pain free, appear to have gained the full motion of the knee, and can bear my own weight on it. Yesterday I hiked 5 miles, admittedly on a level paved surface, but the 5 only took me 1.5 hours, so I was hiking at my usual 3mph level ground pace. The paved surface was a 1.25 mile multiuse circular trail. I wanted to see how far I could get without pain, while giving myself an easy option back to my vehicle if I couldn't walk. The five mile stop was partially becasue I was starting to get some discomfort in the knee (I think I would have anyway, even without the injury, it has been 2 months since I hiked any distance), the heat of walking in 90 degrees on a paved surface, and the need for a break, food and water. I was hoping to do at least 5 miles, and felt a great sense of achievement when I did it. Then I just wanted a cold drink and a cold shower!
Today there is no noticeable change in the knee, so I don't think there is any reason for me not to continue practice hikes in addition to continuing the hydro therapy. Tomorrow, after the MRI is done I'll probably try to repeat the 5 again. Hopefully, if all continues well, I can increase up to 7.5 by the end of the week, and be in a better position to resist the idea of surgery if the MRI indicates it. Continuing on with the increase in distance and weight I hope to try a half loaded pack by the middle of next week, and get up to a fully loaded pack and 10 miles by next weekend.
So, how does this affect the planning for my proposed AT SOBO? Well, my original intended start date of June 10 seems rather unreasonable right now. The last thing I want is to put myself in the 100 mile wilderness with a fully loaded pack and little hope of making it to Monson. I want to test myself out on easier, but still hilly terrain, with better bail out options first. My current thinking is to get up into North Carolina or Tennessee to do a week long section, then travel on up to Maine from there if all goes well. In addition, the late snowpack melt in Maine makes bumping the start date back by at least a couple of weeks seem prudent. Ice water stream crossing may be good for icing the knee, but I'm sure I'll still find plenty of cold water a few weeks later, while (hopefully) reducing the number of dangerous melt water crossings.
Though I originally planned to start this hike solo, I have since agreed to start out, and possibly continue hiking, with a good friend whose schedule is similar to mine. So far we seem in agreement that a couple of weeks delay will be better for both of our hikes.
...so we wait, continue exercising and strengthening, and awaiting the medical input on the situation. Wish me luck.
Here in Florida the recovery has been dramatic. Maybe it's the heat, or the ability to totally relax. For the first few days the pain was still present, but now I'm pain free, appear to have gained the full motion of the knee, and can bear my own weight on it. Yesterday I hiked 5 miles, admittedly on a level paved surface, but the 5 only took me 1.5 hours, so I was hiking at my usual 3mph level ground pace. The paved surface was a 1.25 mile multiuse circular trail. I wanted to see how far I could get without pain, while giving myself an easy option back to my vehicle if I couldn't walk. The five mile stop was partially becasue I was starting to get some discomfort in the knee (I think I would have anyway, even without the injury, it has been 2 months since I hiked any distance), the heat of walking in 90 degrees on a paved surface, and the need for a break, food and water. I was hoping to do at least 5 miles, and felt a great sense of achievement when I did it. Then I just wanted a cold drink and a cold shower!
Today there is no noticeable change in the knee, so I don't think there is any reason for me not to continue practice hikes in addition to continuing the hydro therapy. Tomorrow, after the MRI is done I'll probably try to repeat the 5 again. Hopefully, if all continues well, I can increase up to 7.5 by the end of the week, and be in a better position to resist the idea of surgery if the MRI indicates it. Continuing on with the increase in distance and weight I hope to try a half loaded pack by the middle of next week, and get up to a fully loaded pack and 10 miles by next weekend.
So, how does this affect the planning for my proposed AT SOBO? Well, my original intended start date of June 10 seems rather unreasonable right now. The last thing I want is to put myself in the 100 mile wilderness with a fully loaded pack and little hope of making it to Monson. I want to test myself out on easier, but still hilly terrain, with better bail out options first. My current thinking is to get up into North Carolina or Tennessee to do a week long section, then travel on up to Maine from there if all goes well. In addition, the late snowpack melt in Maine makes bumping the start date back by at least a couple of weeks seem prudent. Ice water stream crossing may be good for icing the knee, but I'm sure I'll still find plenty of cold water a few weeks later, while (hopefully) reducing the number of dangerous melt water crossings.
Though I originally planned to start this hike solo, I have since agreed to start out, and possibly continue hiking, with a good friend whose schedule is similar to mine. So far we seem in agreement that a couple of weeks delay will be better for both of our hikes.
...so we wait, continue exercising and strengthening, and awaiting the medical input on the situation. Wish me luck.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Val de la Villa - Pueblo Ingles
Since returning to Madrid, I was determined to still get out and enjoy my vacation. I decided on a day of museums and parks. It was a gorgeous sunny warm day, but unfortunately my knee wasn't cooperating too much. I walked around the Retiro Park enjoying the sun, the fountains, etc., but stopping at almost every bench to rest my painful leg. I was hoping to see the exhibition in the Crystal Palace, and the rose garden, but due to bad timing missed both, which are closed on Tuesdays! Instead I sat for a while watching the black swans on the lake, and a man dressed entirely in a business suit doing tai chi in the shade beneath the trees. That stuff must really work, it was very relaxing, just watching! My last stop in the park was the statue of the Devil, according to the guide book the only one in Europe.
Next stop on this vacation was another week at Pueblo Ingles, the English language program for Spainsh speakers wanting to converse for an entire week in English. This program was held at Valdelavilla, and abandoned village which has been rebuilt at a rural retreat. The location was very remote, extremely pretty, and for the first couple of days very cold and wet. I was also in constant pain from the moment I got off the bus. Adding to my grief was the simple logistics of negotiating around on a bad knee and slick wet cobblestone streets, steep uneven steps outside, and steep steps in all the period buildings. I tried hard, but after a couple of days had to accept that the standard painkillers were just not doing that. I accepted stronger drugs, but with the result that I was totally numb, and barely able to stay awake. After another couple of days being unable to join in the group activities, nor really hold a reasonable conversation I voluntarily evacuated myself from Valdelavilla.
I hope to return there someday. It was a beautiful area once the sun came out, but I never got to see anything more than the main administrative building and my room.
View photos
Next stop on this vacation was another week at Pueblo Ingles, the English language program for Spainsh speakers wanting to converse for an entire week in English. This program was held at Valdelavilla, and abandoned village which has been rebuilt at a rural retreat. The location was very remote, extremely pretty, and for the first couple of days very cold and wet. I was also in constant pain from the moment I got off the bus. Adding to my grief was the simple logistics of negotiating around on a bad knee and slick wet cobblestone streets, steep uneven steps outside, and steep steps in all the period buildings. I tried hard, but after a couple of days had to accept that the standard painkillers were just not doing that. I accepted stronger drugs, but with the result that I was totally numb, and barely able to stay awake. After another couple of days being unable to join in the group activities, nor really hold a reasonable conversation I voluntarily evacuated myself from Valdelavilla.
I hope to return there someday. It was a beautiful area once the sun came out, but I never got to see anything more than the main administrative building and my room.
View photos
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Vera Natura
After a month in England, where it rained most of the time, but did mange to vary the weather with occasional, snow, hail, thunder and even some actual sunshine, I headed back to Spain and was ready for a nice warm weekend at the beach. Our destination was the Vera Natura naturist resort on the south east coast of Spain. The plan was to increase the chance of seeing the sun, and we did indeed succeed. The temperatures were still cool enough for long pants and sweaters in the evenings, but while the sun was out it was wonderfully warm.
We had decided in advance that this would be a healthy weekend: try to cut down on rich food and alcohol, and exercise a couple of times a day. On the first day it was easy to determine that I wouldn't be doing much swimming: both the sea and the hotel pool were still a little too brisk for my spoiled Florida body. Instead, we decided to do some daily running. On the first run I pulled up short when I felt a strange sensation in my right knee. Not so much a pain as a feeling that something hadn't quite landed right when I stepped. I tried walking it out, but soon had to return gingerly to the hotel. While the injury didn't affect the beach weekend much, apart from necessitating my lounging on the beach for hour (hmmm, didn't I just have an identical beach vacation in Jamaica?), it is painful and affects my ability to walk.
I am heading to another Pueblo Ingles volunteer week tomorrow. They are usually loads of fun and involve quite a lot of walking. I have a feeling this knee is going to determined the nature of the remainder of this trip!
View photos
We had decided in advance that this would be a healthy weekend: try to cut down on rich food and alcohol, and exercise a couple of times a day. On the first day it was easy to determine that I wouldn't be doing much swimming: both the sea and the hotel pool were still a little too brisk for my spoiled Florida body. Instead, we decided to do some daily running. On the first run I pulled up short when I felt a strange sensation in my right knee. Not so much a pain as a feeling that something hadn't quite landed right when I stepped. I tried walking it out, but soon had to return gingerly to the hotel. While the injury didn't affect the beach weekend much, apart from necessitating my lounging on the beach for hour (hmmm, didn't I just have an identical beach vacation in Jamaica?), it is painful and affects my ability to walk.
I am heading to another Pueblo Ingles volunteer week tomorrow. They are usually loads of fun and involve quite a lot of walking. I have a feeling this knee is going to determined the nature of the remainder of this trip!
View photos
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