The Best Physical Therapist

In the few weeks since I've updated, I got a second opinion on my knees (same prognosis) and started physical therapy. The funny thing is that neither ortho took the time to give me other options. Both just said running was over for me. No advice on how to move forward, no helping me come up with a long term plan, no working with me to help solve my problem.

When I went to the PT, a fellow Team Zer, Kerri of Fast Track, she studied me. Really took a long time watching me run, move, bend, poke and prod until the light bulb came on. Literally, I saw the moment when she figured out how to help me. My arthritis will always be there, nothing to be done about that, but how to make me stronger, that's what she helped me figure out. It turns out my ankles are really tight. So much so that I can't bend them properly which means when I want to squat, my knees turn in aggravating the arthritis and causing pain, so I stop squatting, which tightens everything more, which makes it hurt more when I squat...you get the idea. It was a vicious circle of pain, misuse, and tightening muscles.

My physical therapy now consists of about 40 minutes of deep tissue massage (not the feel-good kind), lots of joint movement, and lots of stretching. I'm doing squats at home, more stretching, and more strengthening. I've made good progress and I see hope on the horizon. I now feel like I have a partner in this process and I'm controlling my knees not the other way around.

(Funny story...Last night Kerri and I were at a party for a mutual friend. I went over to get a bottle of water from a bucket on the floor. Because I was wearing a dress, I couldn't just bend over, so I squatted. As soon as I stood up, I looked around to see if Kerri had seen me. A month ago I wouldn't have been able to do that.)

Based on my progress, I was cleared to do my first hike. Mike and I took the dog out to Great Falls and did an easy 4-mile loop. The beauty of this hike is that the first half is trail and rock scrambling. Whenever you get tired, you can cut up to the flat gravel canal tow path that parallels the trail.

I felt pretty good throughout the hike today, but definitely see that I need to do more strengthening of my legs. We'll see how I feel tomorrow. It's going to be a busy seven more weeks. That's right, in just seven weeks, I'll be on a plane to Kilimanjaro.