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Catrin, I use poles when doing hiking in challenging terrain. Not so much for my knees, but for stability, as I am a klutz! I use my snow shoe poles, which are interchangeable for the season you're in. They are pretty commonly used around here, especially up in the White Mountains.
This is good to know, and really, I am thinking about one for stability. I need to do what I can to prevent another fall on that knee... I will need to decide between one or two, but I think one is sufficient for the terrain I will find in the mid-west. I won't risk my favorite hiking trail for now - it is a double black diamond mountain bike trail that is VERY hard to just walk. Even with two poles I don't think it wise - and there were those who shook their heads at my hiking it solo.Quote:
Originally Posted by Crankin
We looooove our hiking poles for hikes with climbs and most especially for descending. We've done some hilly hikes without them and always regretted it! They help going uphill to be sure, but even more for going downhill, protecting the knees, and as Crankin aptly notes, for stability. However, they can also cause a fall if the tip gets wedged in between rocks...don't ask me how I know this! :D
Still, if you are careful with placement, they help way more than they hurt. I've hobbled down trails with a sore knee before that there's no way I could have done without 'em.
Thanks Emily! I appreciate hearing from both you and Crankin on your experiences.
I overdid things today, my knee is really complaining :o I had planned on doing some steady-state no impact cardio at my gym tomorrow but I may not get there. Oh well, one step forward, half-step backwards, that is the way of things. I am not about to give up moving! This means my gym bag will be in my car when I head to church in the morning, just in case ;)
6 weeks later the knee is far from what it was before I argued with the broken pavement, but there is improvement. Just tried a mile gentle hike with a new brace and one birch hiking stick and it went better :)
They have referred me to a knee specialist to make certain nothing has been missed. Apparently he is only available at the workman's comp center a few hours a week so they are trying to fit me in, his next open time is a full month away. Trying not to stress over that, but it is the way it is. He mainly works with pro football teams so he must be good!
I saw a knee guy in Indy named Klootwyk that often worked with the professional football players. If it's him -- I agree -- outstanding!
I have no idea who he is, I have to go to who they send me to, but how many local knee specialists work with the Colts? Hopefully it is the same guy.
Good luck - glad it seems to be healing.
Unsure it is actually healing or if I am figuring out how to work around it. Still quite swollen, still very painful. I've a very high pain threshold so it is sometimes hard to tell which it is. It certainly never did all this before the fall. At least I can still most of my KB work and do light hiking. That is better than the alternative!
It IS him, they are trying to fit me in on Monday.Quote:
Originally Posted by Aromig
Awesome! You're in good hands. My repair was a simple meniscus tear, but they had to scrape some things out too. I had the best of luck with no complications, and had a much better time than friends who had similar surgeries. Maybe that was luck -- but he always made me feel comfortable, and he took the time to explain things to me (some doctors aren't so friendly or patient).Quote:
Originally Posted by Catrin
Good luck, Catrin! My knees have been exceedingly cranky lately (moving pissed them off) - so you have my sympathies.
I just wanted to add that I had had knee things resolve, but take much longer than anyone suggested. I too had a fall at work and dealt with Workers' Comp. They wanted to do exploratory surgery, and I declined. Took about 9 more months for the swelling to go down and the pain to go away, but it did (at least until the recent patellar-femoral issues and other stuff on the other knee).
They are still working to get me into the Ortho Monday. It is either then or in 4 weeks from now. I saw a different PT today who showed me where there is bone protruding from my knee where there shouldn't be - on top of everything else. Those must be the spurs noted in the MRI.. He suspects they will want to clean the knee out. We will see, I won't accept injections since that is just pallative.
Saw the Ortho today. Apparently my fall was hard enough that something probably shifted inside my bad knee, and with my severe patella arthritis there wasn't any room for something like that. Eventually I will at least need a procedure to clean out the knee and realign the patella, but neither of us is ready to do that now. I see him in another 4 weeks to see where things are, and I have seen some small signs of improvement in the last week or so. So back to my braces and listening to my body!
It sounds like a good plan.