Out of London's Run 1/2 Marathon, but back to running

Well, the severe pain in myright knee finally got bad enough that the daily pain was worse than the thought of what could come if I were to get it "fixed". A couple of months ago I scheduled an appointment to see Dr. Nielsen at the Tucson Orthopedic Institute. I could not believe the wait to get in to see him. I knew that it would be worth it. My appointment was yesterday.

For right now I don't have to have surgery. I have been dealing with aches and pains in both of my knees for quite some time - I mean like 20 years. It just never got bad enough to do anything about it. As it turns out, this pain I have lived with for years is due to my knee caps being pulled to the outside parts of my knees. The knee cap is supposed to sit straight over the top of the knee. Both of mine are at a 45 degree angle. He told me that my calves and quads are very, very strong, but my inner leg muscles were weak - I could have told him that! However, with that being the case, the strong muscles have become very tight and pulled the knee caps out of place.

Treatment: I have a new knee brace to wear. This one puts immense pressure on the outside part of my knee cap to prevent any further movement out and to start stretching the muscles (This causes my knee to ache like it hasn't before). I have also been put on a high dosage of a muscle relaxer and anti inflammatory. There was a fair amount of fluid built up around the knee cap of my right knee. This medication will help to reduce that and prepare me for Physical Therapy. I start that on Friday.

I get to go to physical therapy 2 to 3 times a week for six weeks. He has already forewarned me that I will be in pain and it will ache more as they work me through this intense program to stretch out the one side and tighten and strengthen the other. Lucky me! My focus through this - obviously first is to get out of pain in the long run, but secondly because of the pain I had stopped all forms of exercise. I wonder how much weight I can loose through the next six weeks. After all I will be getting an "intense" workout! One can only hope!

With the knee brace I can start running again, Turbo Jam is still out, 1/2 Marathon is still out, he wants me to take it slow - other than what the PT puts me through. After the six weeks we reevaluate. If there is improvement I will continue with the PT, if not I will have to have surgery at that time. Wish me luck! Let the training begin!