Knee update

[mtbdarby]

Good Morning Ladies,
Since this is the week of crashes (Jean, Calli, etc), I thought I'd give you my update.

I went in for a recheck yesterday because I still have so much swelling I can't bend it. They think the ligaments and cartiledge are ok, but Mr. Hot Dr. with no wedding ring (can you tell it's been a while ) said he's concerned I may have cracked/broken the femurial crest by the knee (did I get the correct term?) He was going to xray again but said with the swelling we probably wouldn't be able to tell. So I need to use it for now without pushing too hard (does he know who he's talking too?), take Aleve twice a day and ice it. He's giving me good odds to make it to race day of July 30 baring broken bones though. I get to call him on Monday and let him know if the swellings gone down. If not, MRI time. And I'll be traveling to Chicago the 12th and 13th. I get to zip through Madison for thyroid labs on the way down. I'm starting to feel like a wreck here and my 38th bday is coming up!

I missed my first club ride last night I miss my quality time on the bike....

[CorsairMac]

Just keep repeating your sig line as your mantra hun! Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers and thanks for the update.

[bikerchick68]

fingers crossed for you for NO BROKEN BONES!!! I feel for you... I've been struggling with a knee issue for MONTHS and am so stinking frustrated I can't stand myself... sigh... I am riding a century this weekend and hoping to make it without hurting...

keep us posted... I'm looking forward to hearing about your race results!

[mtbdarby]

Jennifer,
Good luck with your century - post the results for us! I hope your knees hold out and are pain free for you. I'm getting nervous about being able to get my bike legs back fast enough to not be dead last, but I'm adapting my goal for the race to finish one lap. It's a four person team so that would work for me.

Thanks for the well wishes.

[On_yer_left!]

I'll send some good mojo your way too, mtbdarby. And why does everyone else get hot doctors?! I've had two knee surgeries and I have yet to see anything hot about any of my docs. Crap!

I've currently got no ACL in my right knee -- it supposedly magically pulled out in the past couple of years -- and got into cycling because a physical therapist told me it would be good prep for surgery. I've been cycling without for more than a year; tomorrow I have a 120-mile ride over three mountain passes -- the Triple Bypass, it's called -- and my knee is about the last thing I'm worried about. My back, my feet, my hydration, my psyche -- THOSE worry me.

It's amazing what the body can do to accommodate those things, tho I know mountain biking's a little more stressful on the joints than the road variety. Just be gentle and patient with yourself in the coming weeks! BTW, when do you turn 38? My 38th is coming up next month. Ride on!

[On_yer_left!]

... and good luck on the century, bikerchick!

[bouncybouncy]

BTW, when do you turn 38? My 38th is coming up next month. Ride on!

Couldn't be said better!!!

mtbdarby...
Good luck to you! Well wishes being sent your way...

BTW...posting Doc's info is always an option...hehe

[bikerchick68]

well heck... I'm 37 heading towards 38... is that about the year that the ole knee warranty expires or something???

and I second the thing about the noticeable lack of hot docs here... lst one I saw had a comb over...

[MomOnBike]

Good luck with the knees, I can't think of much that's worth doing that isn't hard on the knees, so I guess we just have to grin and bear it.

Hot docs: I work with docs and Not A One is hot ... except for a certain proctologist. Um, no thanks.

[mtbdarby]

No way I'm sharing hot Dr.!!! lol. Too funny, I usually get short fat ones so this was a big improvement. Of course, the best improvement would be not to have a need for a dr.

My big day is Aug. 2nd - how about you guys?

[mtbdarby]

I even saw a hot paramedic in the hallway. Of course, when you're hobbling through the hospital with a knee that looks like a baseball is under the skin, covered in bruises and chain ring marks you tend to draw attention. And the first question the nurses all ask me is "are you safe in your home?". Uh, yeah. I'm just not safe on the trail - this is all self inflicted! They don't see the humor in that like I do

I had lunch with my biking buddy today. Apparently I'm the talk of the LBS. Most of them think I'm one tough cookie now so at the least, maybe I've earned a little respect out there. NOW I want my Go Girl jersey! One of the guys on my 12 hour team even wants to go out now - apparently he thinks it's pretty hot for a girl to be tough and not want to quit biking because she got hurt. What a nice ego boost after feeling like an idiot for crashing in the first place.....

[MomOnBike]

Of course, when you're hobbling through the hospital with a knee that looks like a baseball is under the skin, covered in bruises and chain ring marks you tend to draw attention. And the first question the nurses all ask me is "are you safe in your home?".

Oh, I relate. I was so glad that Fencing Daughter went to a Jr. High that had a lot of fencers. I wasn't interested in concerned school officials asking pointed questions about all those upper body bruises fencers get. All those fencing t-shirts helped, of course. (She's fencing in the Nationals now in Sacramento, so if anyone wants to send energetic thoughts her way tomorrow...)

To be fair, I think that legally, suspicious bruises have to be questioned. Some women really aren't safe in their homes.

Ain't it great to be known as one tough cookie?

[RoadRaven]

I know we have talked about the power of glucosamine suplements somewhere - are they worth including in your healing process?

Also, arnica... arnica is great for healing and bruising and I would always recommend it when there has been any tissue damage. Arnica is available here as a cream, as a massage oil, as tasteless drops you add to water and as little pillules you can crunch in your mouth but are best dissolved under the tongue

Also rescue remedy which is a combination of five herbs which helps with your body's ability to deal with shock and trauma - both psychologically and physically.

Thinking of you as you get this sorted and you knees back doing what knees SHOULD be doing