My body is falling apart! argh!

[BlessedB]

Oh, Crankin, I feel your pain! I had to give up Tai Chi after arthroscopic knee surgery - I mean, for heaven's sake, who can't do Tai Chi??? Couldn't do it. I'm thankful every day that the left knee allows me to ride - and I don't ride hard or long.

Yes, to some degree we do start falling apart in our 50's and it's difficult - physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually, to maintain the active lifestyle we need. And yet we need it, on all levels, far more than we did in our 30's. It also becomes so much more important to listen to our bodies and to treat them with gentle love when they need it. I don't know you well and I don't know what else you do for fitness, but was wondering if swimming, yoga, pilates, or even just stretch classes at the gym might prove helpful for you? Some type of gentle movement with the stretching you mentioned? I'm so glad you're drinking more as well - that can make such a difference.

Best wishes with your knee and your riding!

[Helene2013]

Right now I cannot do much. Ended up with xray and ultrasound doppler yesterday of left leg. Long story short (typing on tablet in bed is no fun) we were all afraid I may have had phlebitis on calf. It was a swollen and oh so painful. But my PT and walk-in doctor I saw did not think so from tests done but cannot see through skin. So within a few hours all was done and I am stuck with a ruptured baker's cyst. The doctor doing the ultrasound showed everything live to me. Liquid from knee went down my leg. To tell you how much it hurts since Monday morning I cannot describe. Nothing much to do for now but the RICE technique. I still had to get to work today, too much to do. You would have cut my leg it would not have hurt as much. Now I am home and resting, leg up.

Anyway, it will get better one of these days. For now knee does not hurt but knee to ankle is double size of other leg. I have to use again crutches. She had fixed my right knee but the left leg compensated so much and this is the result for me. Xray showed nothing I did not know...arthritis/wear of cartilage.

PT told me that in order for fluid to go away, to move that leg as much as possible, gently. I can do mini squats, try riding bike on trainer this weekend, use roller to massage the leg, some aqua therapy. Anything easy to help the leg. Right now I am drained from work day and just want to sleep. When she told me about cycling you should have heard my reply. Lol poor her. I can barely tolerate my own self and you are telling me to get on bike? Hihi

so this weekend is forced relaxing. Leg up, ice, Aleve pills, light moves to get all I can for leg flow circulation and get that nasty extra fluid out of leg. I want my normal leg back. Arggg

My mental must be good. At dinner was talking with hubby how much fun it would be to get fatbikes and cyclo bikes for gravel trails and how we should head to colorado next summer to cycle. Lol if only it was not so full of hills.

[ny biker]

Well, ouch. I hope the swelling goes down and you're feeling better soon.

[Catrin]

Owie! Take care and hope you are feeling better soon!

[Crankin]

Rest up, Helene. Think of it as training to be able to do what you want to do in the future.

[OakLeaf]

Ow Helene. Heal fast.

Kinesio tape in a fan pattern is used a lot to help fluid drain. There are videos online to show how to cut and apply it. I honestly haven't read any of the research, and I've only seen it used on swelling from contusions and sprains, not from ruptured cysts, but it's worth a try!

[Pax]

Oh wow, Helene! Never really thought about a Bakers cyst being able to rupture, (as I quickly grab mine and feel the edges) that sounds awful!! Hope you get some relief asap