The Midlife Reframe

Category: injury

  • Osteochondritis Dissecans……Yep, That’s Right

    Actually, I guess it started out as Juvenile Osteochondritis Dissecans…

    My Soxy Feet waiting to see Dr. S 🙂

    When I was 15 I had to go in for a scope on my knees.  They told my mother that I had “some loose cartilage” floating around and they were going to remove it.

    Little did I know that it would haunt me later in life!  

    So, no meniscal tear! (But, it mimics a lot of the same symptoms as a meniscal tear.)

    So what the heck is it?  It’s like little stress fractures in my joint cartilage.  A piece of the cartilage and bone has broken off and is floating around in my knee (FUN!). 
     
    So, a scope is in my future for removal of the floatie cartilage and they will fill in the space where it once was with a new product called CarGel.  The surgery will be in the Fall, as Dr. Stanish wants to wait for the release of CarGel in Canada.  This is going to “fill in” the space where the bone/cartilage has broken off.

    But Can I Run??

    Yes Amy, you can run 🙂  Not crazy run, and not long.  Use pain as my guide.  Run/walk is probably the best bet for now.

    Now comes the controlling my reckless abandon and not lacing up to run my legs off…

    OH HAPPY DAY 🙂
     

  • I Survived the Move!

    Did I have a major anxiety attack??

    Boy did I ever!  Happened on Saturday when my now “old” apartment was full of boxes and chaos.

    Too much stress and too much chaos.  Amy crashed and burned.  Much thanks to “my Greg”, mom and daughter for being there to put ol’ Humpty Amy back together again!

    My muscles were feeling the good kind of sore yesterday.  So the functional fitness was a success!  Was careful with my knee (thanks to “my Greg”…again), even though it is sore, it is still together 😉  

    So needless to say, I am now living in chaos, but it is one I can handle over time, so we are all good.  I really miss running…

    But the best part is — Thursday!!! 

    Thursday. The day I see the specialist and my game plan will be on the table.  So so soooooooooooooooo happy!
      
    Next post will be the update.  Just wanted to let you all know I did survive, with only one meltdown 🙂

    So stay tuned – I will mobile blog after my appointment!

    Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

  • Summer, Moving and Specialist Appointment!!!

    OMG I am so excited!!

    I got the call today for my follow up appointment for my knee!  I go one week from today.

    I know that I am more than likely going to have to go under the knife, and I am good with that. Even if it does mean recovery time off the knee.

    That being said, no matter what I am told, I am going to follow every single instruction.  I’ll be a good girl and not go off and do things just because I “feel better”.  (Yes I wrote this down, so I can hold myself accountable!  LOL)

    What have I been up to?

    Well, I enjoyed some beach time last weekend.  Saturday we ended up heading to Hubbards Beach and ran into a very good friend.  Had a great time…even though the water was hella cold.  Too cold to swim in, that’s for sure!

    It’s the Atlantic into St. Margaret’s Bay.  

    Once you’re numb, then great, but it’s the “getting to numb” part that is the problem.

    On Sunday we ventured with the ladies of the family to Crystal Crescent Beach:

    Crystal Crescent BeachCrystal Crescent Beach – Halifax Metro – Three white-sand crescent beaches located at the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Boardwalks to the first two beaches, vault toilets. Trailhead for a hike to Pennant Point, 10 km (6 mi) which provides interesting birding and wildlife viewing. (This little blurb brought to you by the interweb….)





    We were there fairly early, so we were able to scoop up this sweet little crescent beach area and basically had it all to ourselves!  (Note: Having a very excited 2 year old niece who screeched with excitement helps to keep the beach clear).

     Since then I have been juggling work, errands and of course everyone’s favourite….PACKING AND MOVING. Needless to say I am a tad overwhelmed right now and have been procrastinating….admitting it out loud will make it real and enable me to not hide from it.  Stress and mental illness turns me into “Hibernation Amy”.  I just want to be alone and pretend it is all getting done.  NOT GOOD.

    So, with the help of my most awesome boyfriend (He will now be called “Greg” because I’ve decided I am the Dharma to his Greg….hahahahaha.  Seriously though, it’s true….) and my family ladies, we are kicking it into high gear.  I also booked a truck for Sunday.  IT IS ON.

    I was able to get some kitchen stuff moved and unpacked last night while enjoying the breeze from my kitchen window 🙂

    So, crossing all fingers and toes, I will be moved in on Sunday…..say some small prayers for me!

    This means my upcoming posts will be mobile.  I hope to get a “selfie” with my Specialist so I can blog it.  HE ROCKS!

    CrazyMama out!

  • Energybits, My Soxy Feet and The MRI

    A lot of exciting things this week!

    My Energybits Prize Pack arrived!

    And because I like trying things out right away, I opened those puppies up at work and took a serving before my walk at lunch.

    I am a girl that crashes just about every day at 3:00pm.  Never fails.  I would like to curl up and have a “horizontal life pause” at this time.  NOT THIS DAY.  I need to say, I was good to go.  I had no problems at 3:00.  It was like…3:00pm?  WHATEVS 3:00pm.  I had two sample packs in my land of Bitdom.  I am saving the other for now  as we are moving soon and will need the extra zip for then.  I am seriously considering these during training (once my knee is better of course) because I did not have any stomach issues.  No heaviness, no nausea, no fullness.  I felt great!

    Love the Inspiration on the back 🙂

    Also, My Soxy Feet arrived!!!!!!  As an Ambassador this made me SUPER EXCITED as now I could tell folks just how awesome these socks are!  I put them on as soon as I opened the package and wore them until bedtime.  I ran errands and everything with these socks on.  My feel were cozy and they were NOT HOT.

    They came all wrapped up with the super cute logo and my rescue kitten Jax loved them too!

    Oh I am so getting some more of these babies!  I love being a Soxy Mama!

     And as for the MRI…

    Well I went and spent part of my evening on Wednesday in “the tube”.  The first scan came and went and then they had to come and get me out….my knee wasn’t where they needed it to be.  And here I thought I was done!  LOL

    Once repositioned, back into “the tube” I went.  Earphones on with a local radio station playing and “The Voice from The Void” telling me the next scan, how long it was going to be, and the cursed words “and try not to move”.  EEEEP!  Of course then everything itched and I felt restless.  GAH!

    I made it through. Was in there for half an hour.  Hopefully I hear something early next week and we can get this show on the road….because I need to get on the road!

    So tomorrow we beach and then we pack.  I received the keys to my new apartment today, so we are on a mission.

    And now that well all made it to Friday…..get out there and enjoy the weekend!!!  

  • Becoming Grounded…and Total Randomness

    With things being totally hectic over the past couple of months…

    I’ve found it hard to focus.  Especially with not being able to run  That was a form of meditation for me. 

    I have found other ways to get my fitness fix, with some prompting from the man in my life (we’ll call him Mr. Y) and I am grateful for that.  He is very patient with me as he is still getting to know my moods and my mental illness. 
     

    I have been doing meditation and yoga at home, as I have posted in the past.  But I have to say.  It has really made me pause the past couple of days and I am now trying to be more aware.  Of how I love the smell of my coffee in the morning.  How great smoothies taste.  How I have way too much “stuff”.  How I love my sneakers.  How comfortable I am in my running gear.  How much I love food – fruit, greek yoghurt, dried cranberries.  How grateful I am for my support system.  How much time I DON’T spend enjoying the silence around me…and I thought, “I’ve gotten caught up in stuff”.  Time to get grounded!

    This means more time to meditate, more yoga, a hunt for my mala beads (let them choose me), more fitness and more awareness.

    A yoga blog I love is Yoga Girl.  She shares a lot and I love it.  Her good times, bad times, her emotions.  It’s all laid bare.  She is non-apologetic about sharing her feelings and I think it ROCKS.  I mean, we’re not happy ALL the time…and I think that’s okay.

    I’ve also been reading other fitness blogs (i.e. Fit Grampa – a new blogger) and yoga blogs.  The blogging runners (some listed here on my page) I follow keep me excited about the prospect of running again, AND I am getting to learn of some really cool races outside of Nova Scotia.  Really looking forward to doing some of these!!  I also have a great twitter feed FULL of awesome supportive runners/bloggers (Bagtownblogtrotter, Michelle The Runner, Janet of jan.etc, and so many others!  To list them all….that’s another blog post…lol).  This is something I am really thankful for 🙂

    My mission for the rest of the summer is to not move so fast that I miss the things that make me HAPPY.  To enjoy what I can do now, knowing that eventually I will be able to lace up and run.  Because there are some that don’t have that luxury.
    ****As I finished editing this post ….I am happy to say that I have an MRI appointment!  I call tomorrow for details 😀      

  • Dr. Bill Stanish, The Knee and OMG My Teenager is Graduating from Grade 9!!!

    Today was the day!!

    I arrived at Dr. Stanish’s Office at almost 8:10 (traffic/construction/etc held me up) for my 8:15 appointment.  I registered and sat in the waiting room for my name to be called.

    A guy two seats over was slurping his hot beverage….and I mean slurping.  I gave him the “REALLY?!??!?!” look.  It was like nails on a chalkboard, lol.

    I didn’t wait long, it was like 10 minutes and then I heard my name….YAY!

    Went into a little curtained room and waited.

    Dr. Stanish arrived shortly after and we went through how I injured myself and my whole physio treatment.  We also discussed the lovely click and snap of me knee.  Joy.  He was impressed with my quad strength, as that usually dies with a meniscus tear.  I told him I have been rockin it with my exercises!

    He is setting me up to have an urgent MRI (which means I am on the cancellation list here in Halifax, NS), so I am hoping sooner rather than later.  I told him that not running is KILLING me.  He told me not to worry, he’s going to get me fixed up.  Once we have the MRI we can get the ball rolling 🙂 Happy happy happy!!

    I was in and out in 20 minutes.  He is a wonderful Specialist and super easy to talk to.

    That being said, my knee hurts like hell today.  It’s getting grumpy more often than not….jerk…lol.

    OFF TOPIC – MOMMY POST 😉

    Tomorrow is my daughter’s Grade 9 Graduation…..holy crap!  How did this little person get to be 15 and getting ready for HIGH SCHOOL!

    We’ve had our moments most recently, but I love her to pieces and hope to help her through the next 3 years….instilling that these years ARE important, that you can have fun and buckle down, and to enjoy them as much as possible.

    She is thinking about trying out for the Rugby Team, so we’ll be getting her body in tune over the summer.  Good thing Mom was a personal trainer for a short while….it will come in handy!!

    So, stay tuned for more knee fun…and I am hoping to get more cycling in, so this may take precedence in my posts, along with SUMMA FUN!!  So hang on tight…it going to be an AWESOME RIDE!!!!!!!



     

  • Defeat Depression Day!!!

    Move for Mental Health

    So while my running tweeples and peoples were racing or attacking their long runs today, my daughter and I went to the local Defeat Depression Event 🙂

    This is a 1/3/5km run or walk.  Since I am gimpy, we walked.

    This event means alot to me, having the “fraternal twins” of mental illness (anxiety and depression). 

    The weather was 50/50, the threat of showers hanging over, but what a great group of people to walk around Downtown Halifax with! 


    Earlier this week I cycled with the man in my life.  Well he ran, I cycled 😉 

    We went around the beautiful Lake Banook in Dartmouth.  It has a run/bike train around it which is great.  It is also the home of many canoe clubs.  They also have the Dragon Boat Festival here every year!

    I caught this beautiful shot once we hit the other side of the Lake.  It felt great to be out and speedy…even if it was on two wheels.  lol

    I finally see the ortho specialist Wednesday morning and I can’t wait!!  I am surgical, of that I am certain.  So it’s just a matter of when and where.  I’ll go anywhere in this Province to get it done!

    Hoping to get out to the Public Gardens later for some relaxation and maybe some awesome pics 🙂

    Tonight is the regular #RunAtChat on Twitter.  Awesome runners and fun chats.  A good way to end a Sunday Night.

    Until next time….

  • Physio and the "Franken-Knee"

    Yesterday was my last maintenance visit…

    with my Physiotherapist and I was manipulated, I spinned (like spin class spinned to a hot sweaty mess) and was then poked.

    Behold, the Franken-Knee:

    We did acupuncture to bring down the swelling – it felt really weird (as usual) and part of me wanted to vomit when she manipulated them…..lol.  Good thing I had not eaten lunch yet!!!

    I see the Ortho Specialist one week from today.  By this time, I will know when my surgery is and can plan out recovery and eventually my return to RUNNING!!!  I cannot tell you how happy I am now that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.  I last ran exactly two months ago today, hours before my injury.

    IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

    But what I am still amazed at, how runners are in tune with their bodies.  I have always been aware of my body mechanics since my IT band injury which occurred before my first half.  Muscle activation, foot strike, knee position, core activation.  You can say what you want about us crazy runners – we KNOW our bodies.  It’s one of things that makes me focus inwards.

    Although, even though we are in tune with our bodies, we don’t always listen!!  It’s the stubborn “I can get it looked at after I finish running *insert distance/race here*”…or “I can run through it…it’s not that bad”.  Until we see someone…and it IS that bad.  Double edged sword.  Ha ha ha ha.

    I can’t wait to get back out there.  That being said I have gone through my gear and realized that I need a few things….like shorts, tops, My Soxy Feet and will be getting some BioSkin to support the ol’ knee when I return to running.

    So….what is your favourite running gear and why?  Feel free to comment below!  I love getting suggestions for new gear 🙂

  • It’s a Happy Friday the 13th! Random Post!

    I know that sounds weird….

    Especially if you are one that is a little superstitious (queue Stevie Wonder).

    Today I learned that my Ortho Specialist appointment is on the 25th 🙂  That is a little past two months since my injury.  I am super excited for this consult and look forward to moving on with my treatment!!  I have already started planning out my races for when I am better.  Because I’ll be able to run, which I miss, terribly.

    The past while has been hard with my depression/anxiety and finding new ways to work out.  Finding a new apartment, being super busy at work, making time for those I care about and making time for me, well, it has been a little draining.  I sleep a lot.  I find that some days the battle with my illness just drains me.  It’s hard to explain unless you’ve been in the situation I guess.

    In all of this, rescue kitty Jax has been settling in well.  She has met our other cat Nala and so far there has been minimal hissing and growling…..yay! lol

    The cats are a great stress reliever for me right now.  Having a rescue kitten is a great experience.

    So I am wondering what now….besides yoga, walking and strength training, are there any other suggestions from blogger peeps??

    (And yes, my bike is still broken, I need to remedy that and SOON)! 

  • Fitness, a Rescue Kitten and my Chaotic Week

    The RollerCoaster Week…

     So, I’ve been trying to get my fitness in during a crazy busy week of work and looking for a new apartment to live in.  

    This week has been filled with yoga. I am gearing up shortly to do some gimpy leg squats and ride the recumbent bike. 

    I am getting my legs stronger and trying to focus on my core.  Even on the days I don’t want to.  Which is the same for when I am running.  Hoping to get this lateral meniscus looked at soon so I can get my recovery moving along and start running again 🙂

    I am a morning workout/running kind of gal.  Not saying that I won’t work out any other time….it’s just my preference is the morning.  Wonder how many folks prefer the evening?  Feel free to comment!

    Work has been absolutely bonkers.  My desk is a disaster zone and trying to dig myself out.  But that being said, busy makes my day go by fast and I am doing what I love.

    In the middle of all of this…I said yes to a rescue kitten 🙂

    We named her Jax.

    She is all cozied up in my bathroom and has been out a couple of times securely wrapped in some cozy t-shirts to spend some quiet time with myself and my daughter.

    She’s made the weekend interesting and is changing up our dynamic for the good!