2016
|
Every
year I say I’m not going to do it…except…
I
always resolve to get healthy. Every year. Sometimes I actually succeed. The
frustration comes when factors beyond my control interfere.
This
last year is a case in point. Until May, I was walking between one mile and
two-and-a-half miles every day. I had gained weight over the previous couple of
years, and I determined to get the excess off—just as soon as my entertaining
was done.
On
May 1, I expected a group of friends from grammar school for a mini-reunion at
our house. That morning as I walked downstairs, I felt a sharp pain in my left
knee. A number of years ago, I damaged the same knee, so I thought I had
further aggravated the old injury.
During
the next couple of weeks, the pain increased. I tried doing the exercises I had
done to help the earlier injury, but the pain grew worse. I finally went to the
doctor. She took x-rays and sent me for physical therapy.
When
it didn’t help, she ordered an MRI. It showed two tears in the meniscus—the old
one and a new one—plus a cyst and arthritis.
On
August 6, I underwent arthroscopic surgery on the knee to repair the meniscus
(cut out the ragged parts), remove the cyst, and clean out some of the
arthritis.
Since
I had never experienced surgery before, and since several friends who’d had the
same surgery told me it was an easy operation, I assumed I’d come out of it
pain-free and able to resume my normal activities.
Not
so. The pain remained.
I
continued to do my exercises and follow orders, but the situation didn’t
improve.
In
September, we celebrated our 50th anniversary, and took a trip to
Hawaii in October. I continued with exercise and ice throughout the trip. By
the end of our time in Hawaii, I finally started to feel improvement.
However,
when we got back, the pain came and went, sometimes so acute I was in tears.
The
doctor ordered a new MRI, and I made an appointment with the surgeon.
Both
said the MRI looked normal for the surgery I’d had. The surgeon said it had
been much more extensive than ‘normal’ (whatever that is). He gave me a cortisone
shot in the knee, told me to stay off the leg (yeah, right) and come back in a
month.
The
shot lasted about two days, and then the pain returned.
It’s
been intermittent ever since. Some days are better than others.
I’ve
decided to continue following orders to get this knee back to normal
functioning, whatever it takes short of replacement.
So
my resolution, once again, is to get healthier this year. I plan to eat better,
get exercise (when the knee allows), get rest, and generally take better care
of my health.
I
may be old (and I am), but I need to be in the best shape I can manage for the
time I have left.
Did
you make a resolution? What was it?