Two weeks on a bad knee...

[wiseheart]

... are no fun. And an end is still not in sight.

I manage well enough when I just have to walk on smooth surfaces. I can even bend the knee as long as I don't put my weight (and we're talking about weight here, unfortunately) on it. But stairs, which I have to climb uncounted times a day, are pure agony. So are kneeling and squatting down - actually, I can't even manage the latter. My left knee has a circumface (is that a word?) that's 5 centimetres wider than my right knee... although, of course, both are about a supermodel's waist size. *g*

Yeah, I know I ought to lost weight. And I will. As soon as I get a lot of money to live off of healty, non-fattening stuff and no stress in my life, which can only be borne when I eat very unhealthy things. Like chocolate. And bred. Oh, God, bred - that's something too good to live without when life is generally crappy, stress-y and you're drowned in work.

Until then, I'll just have to suffer, use lots of numbing salve and hope it will go away. Unfortunately, my work isn't the kind where you could spare your bad knee he stress.

Comments

[lissas-elves.livejournal.com]

>>My left knee has a circumface (is that a word?) that's 5 centimetres wider than my right knee...<<

Ouch! That sounds bad. No knee ought to be that swollen. :-( (btw, I think it's called 'circumference') What does the doctor say?

As to losing weight, well, who shouldn't? Not that I'm much overweight but if I dont soon begin to exercise more, I will be. Have to agree that in this context, chocolate is not really your friend (which is really a terrible shame!).

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Alas, I've been overweight all my life, due to my Granny's heroic efforts to save me when I was less than a year old and very ill. Now I've about 80 pounds more than what would have been ideal, and I don't keep any illusions of losing all of it, ever. But losing some would be nice - if only the stupid endorphins and serotonins would live in salad instead of in chocolate. *sighs*

The doctor says nothing because I didn't go to see him. Her. S/he would tell me to rest the knee, which I can't do while working; to lose weight, which I'd love to, but also can't do while under constant stress; and s/he would prescribe me salve, which I already have and apply, so...

[lhun-dweller.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! Can you safely ice your knee a bit? (Wrap ice in a plastic bag, then put a bit of cloth between the bag and your skin for a few minutes.) This is not a good idea if you have circulation problems -- and I've forgotten whether you do but if you don't, you might try it. I hate using ice on my body, but it does help with pain and swelling from muscle strains and other such injuries. Also, can you take aspirin or ibuprofen, which also reduce inflammation?

I'd encourage you to check with a doctor. You may have just strained it, but, especially if it started fairly suddenly, you could have torn cartilage or other issues that will worsen with time and might cause permanent damage. (And if you had knee surgery, you'd have to stay home from work while you healed. Hmmm...) [hugs]

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

I do have circulatory problems, so icing probably isn't a good idea. I think I've simply overstrained the knee - during snow season, I was always walking with very stiff knees, because I was afraid of slipping out and falling, and that in boots that didn't have the same shaped soles as my other shoes have - because now that I have been at home for the weekend and rested the knee, it's much better.

I also used horse salve on it - a kind of stuff a vet makes for race horses if they pull a muscle or whatnot - and it seems to help. Unfortunately, tomorrow I have to go back to school and stand a lot again, which will cause another setback, but, well...

If I had time, I'd go to the doctor. Right now, it isn't an option, though. My working schedule is absolutely insane, I've been trying to get my annual obligatory x-ray exam (for the lungs) for what? Three weeks? And I still couldn't get it. The only time I got there before they shut everything down, the x-ray machine broke down. Hungarian healthcare isn't what it used to be before we've achieved this big freedom. [/end sarcasm]

[the-wild-iris.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you should really see a doctor - could you explain the situation to your boss and get the time off for the appointment?

In the meantime, try using a walking stick; it'll take some of the weight off the knee.

I hope you feel better soon!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

It is a little better since I resolved to the famous horse salve. But again, something that can cure 1,200 pounds of live horseflesh, ought to be effective, eh?

[artemis10002000]

Oh dear, that sounds really bad. I hope you get better soon. *hug* It's horrible that you can't rest your knee though your health requires it.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, one of those things only proper rest would cure... and proper rest is the only thing you can't get. *sighs*

[jen-rock.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your knee. Hopefully, it will get better soon. I've been working on losing weight but I'm trying to make gradual changes in my diet and routine. I think people who rush into things too quickly are more likely to relapse. I don't have any other bad habits but there's no way I could give up chocolate or sweets. I just have to learn to eat them in moderation.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, too bad that changing my diet would actually require more time than I'd probably ever have.

Singe is gone again, BTW.

[jen-rock.livejournal.com]

Again? WTF? This is crazy. I'm going to have to try and fix it again but it's really annoying.

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Yeah, and the same stupid picture again!

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

Maybe you should take the time to see a doctor, so he can prescribe you the rest your knee needs?

I know all about overweight and bad joints (though in my case it's a hip), and the difficulty of losing weight because the endorphins are in all the wrong foodstuffs. I can only wish you good luck!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Those things are definitely not well-organized - why does every bit of tasty food make fat?

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear about your knee problems. Maybe a knee brace would help?

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

You think they come in that size? Other people have waists in the size I have my knees on a good day. ;))

[ithilwen.livejournal.com]

They make a brace that fits my father, so I'm sure they make one that would fit you. His knee is the size of a tree trunk!

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Heh. We're all Hobbitses, aren't we? *g*