Old Man Still running

Rough weekend.  Saturday night had terrible kidney pain that lasted two hours.  I had my shoes on to get to the hospital, but it finally calmed down.  Pain was a 10 at times.  Threw up.  Amazing.   I was really worn out after that workout.   Last night about 31 hours later, another one, but milder, pain 8, only lasted 15 minutes.   I'm hoping that this is just a reaction to Prednisone which I am now off of.   But, if it is a kidney stone, I have lots more fun ahead.  The pattern seems to be every 30 hours or so.

Leg?  What can I say?  At times it starts feeling great, but later not.  I can only walk about 100 yards or be on it about ten minutes before it starts aching down the bone.  The pain is always weight-bearing.   If I am sitting or laying down if I bend the knee or foot this way or that, no pain.

I tried sleeping in "the boot" in hopes to keep the leg in rested position.  Could have helped, not sure.   Still on crutches this morning.   Its been 21 days.

I've got another appointment to go in on Thursday.  Let's hope there are significant improvements before then.

Progress.   I keep trying new things hoping they will help.  This morning I got up bright and early and went to the rec center at 4:30 to try using an eliptical.  I had to go early because two are busted and the ones that work get filled starting 5.   I spent about 45 minutes on the eliptical and a bike.  The theory doing this is to tighten up the quads which will help tighen up the knee, the ligaments, and tendons.  Also start using the other lower leg muscles that keep swelling up.  Looks like it may have helped....or just getting an anti-inflamitory in my system helped.  But the knee does feel more together this morning and perhaps that takes the pressure off the points right below it.

For the first time in days, I could walk into my office from the parking lot without crutches and without a huge limp.  It was slow....half pace, but I still made it.  A small victory.

No kidney attack in past 30 hours.  Fingers crossed that no more will come.

More improvement.  Same routine today.  The pes anserine area (area below the knee, medial side) still gets inflamed but at least it isn't causing as much aching down the leg anymore as long as I only walk about 100 yards.  Lower leg muscles are no longer swelling up.  Walking into work from the car was at 3/4th speed without big limping.  No crutches.

I'll still go into the doctor tomorrow.  Healing is still way to slow.   But I'm beginning to hope within two weeks that I will be able to walk without pain.  I think running is still 6-8 weeks away.

Dr. appointment.  He took a closer look at the MRI and could see fluid buildup.   His recommendation was to "let nature take it's course."  But he also gave me cortisone shots near the two problem areas.  He could see a bursa immediately fill up.  So, hoping that this helps those areas calm down faster.

Two hours later, no pain at all in the areas that received a shot.  (However there was novocain in the shot too.)   Pain remaining is in the knee joint line, medial side.   I know that will take another month to totally go away.

It is funny, I'm so used to limping now that even when the pain is way down, I find myself still limping. I'm like Chester on Gunsmoke.  You young guys don't know what that means.  Just ignore it and go back to playing with your toys and videos games.

p.m. pretty remarkable improvement.  Hoping that it continues.  Did a meager workout, eliptical, bike, and slow treadmill.  Could handle 1/4th mile at 20:00 pace.  I probably burned about 800 calories.  Feels like a workout sitting on the couch moving my thumbs.   Oh well, at least I sweat a little bit.  It was nice to put on a pair of running shoes for the first time in 24 days even if I didn't run.

Continued improvement.  Eliptical and treadmill walking (1 mile).  Today I could sustain a 17:00 pace for quite awhile.  First time I've been able to do that.   Walking into work from the parking lot was at normal pace without a limp and pain about a 2.  That is a first also.  I'm having some stiffness and stabs of pain for the injections yesterday, but those have to heal too.

My spirits have greatly been lifted the last few days.  It is amazing how wounderful it is to walk again even if I still have pain.  Running is still a ways off and I'll be patient and careful.

100 laps in the pool, pool running, eliptical, and a mile on the treadmill.  3.5 hour workout.  Was able to hobble at 15:00 pace for a little while.  That is the fastest in a month.  Progress is slow, but I guess I'm ready to return my rented crutches.  I haven't used them in three days.  Swelling seems to be staying down. 

I've only gained about 4 pounds this month.  At least it isn't 10.

p.m. Going stir crazy sitting indoors for days.  Took the dog for a walk with a trekking pole.  Made it two miles and got out on a trail for the first time in a month.  It was nice but the leg was beat up afterwards, recovered in an hour.