Cancer/illnesses, and caregiver, support thread

[Krons]

Same here on avoiding meds, I'm always surprised how freely they are offered. Hope PT goes well, it'll likely be a struggle at first but worth it in the long haul. Consider the short term pain an investment in future mobility.

[gnalan]

Hope PT goes well, it'll likely be a struggle at first but worth it in the long haul. Consider the short term pain an investment in future mobility.

Thank you. I start PT on Monday, so I'll find out just what kind of torture I'll need to endure in a couple of days.

With less than about 45 degrees of motion, which is all I have right now, I can only imagine what all needs to be manipulated to break free any adhesion in my knees to regain full range of motion. Just the thought of it is scary, which is why I've kept putting it off for the last 4 months trying to do things on my own. I can't seem to get anymore range on my own, unfortunately, but I trust my physical therapist. He's been good to me over the years with other issues I've had with my left knee, so I have both trust and faith in him and his abilities.

It'll be a rough road, but I've come this far and I'm not going to give up. Plus I still have parts to install on my Volvo, and I'm really looking forward to enjoying some fresh air out in nature taking pics of whatever catches my eye.

[volvolugnut]

Goals and things to look forward to are the stuff of living.
volvolugnut

[gnalan]

Started PT today. They measured my range of motion in my knees and I have a bit more than I thought. My left leg has 53 degrees and the right one has 58 degrees.

I worked out some muscles I haven't used in awhile, and didn't feel too bad when I left but I'm definitely feeling it now.

Slow and steady is how they want to do it, and for me to do only what I'm able to do each time. A lot better than what I thought was going to happen. I thought they'd be trying to force my legs to move by hand, but that's not how they do it. They give me the tools/exercises to do, and I work at my own pace, that I feel comfortable with, slowly breaking up the scar tissue as I bend my knees more and more each time.

I'm getting excited! I've come a long way so far on my own, and now with the extra help with PT I can finally move beyond where I stalled out.

How's everyone else doing? I started this thread so we could all support each other, and have a place to talk to others, if wanted/needed, so feel free to post away.

[volvolugnut]

Ok, here goes. I am 65 and have not been very active most of my life. I am in decent health, but have aches and pains. I find I feel much better when I get out and do things most days. I try to add some heavy activity occasionally (like digging up the garden with a shovel). I have about an acre of overgrown bamboo and brush that I want to clear in this lifetime. I also have house and car repairs to keep me moving, reaching, and getting up and down. I have watched too many people retire to the easy chair and die in the first year. I do not have a paying job, so I can arrange my own schedule (unless my wife has things for me to do).
volvolugnut

[abscate]

I’m living with A torn meniscus ( trite compared to what you guys are going through) which my surgeon recommended I not go under the knife. My college sports days saved my knee as PT and still decent muscle has kept it stable. Apparently about 30% of surgeries have a 6 month recovery before unassisted walking, and I have too many front wheel bearings for that.

[gnalan]

Walked around the block today. First time I've tried walking that far at one time. I probably could've made a second lap but I didn't want to push it too much. I have PT tomorrow and the day after. Still using my trusty cane, and thankful to have it for stability. Less than three months on my feet, and I don't think I'm doing too bad. Maybe my Ortho was right when he said next time he sees me I'll be running. (I can't run, and don't remember the last time I did, but I'll give it a try.)

[volvolugnut]

Walked around the block today. First time I've tried walking that far at one time. I probably could've made a second lap but I didn't want to push it too much. I have PT tomorrow and the day after. Still using my trusty cane, and thankful to have it for stability. Less than three months on my feet, and I don't think I'm doing too bad. Maybe my Ortho was right when he said next time he sees me I'll be running. (I can't run, and don't remember the last time I did, but I'll give it a try.)

Way to go! Everybody keep moving.
volvolugnut

[gnalan]

Way to go! Everybody keep moving.
volvolugnut

Thank you. I'm moving as much as I can handle each day, trying to regain more range of motion in my knees. At around 60 degrees with both knees now. Still a ways to go, but progress is progress and I'm going to keep moving forward no matter what.

[matthew1]

I've got some blown discs in my lower back and over the last two years I've been getting "dry needle" treatments every six months or so. It works, it reduces the pain by maybe half.

Dry needling is a treatment performed by skilled, trained physical therapists, certified in the procedure. A thin monofilament needle penetrates the skin and treats underlying muscular trigger points for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/ ... y-needling

It's vaguely similar to acupuncture. Vaguely. It's a new type of procedure, and because physical therapists can do it, it's more available/cheaper than a doctor outpatient procedure.