HikeArizona.COM

Well folks, it looks like I'll be joining Snick on the HAZ Disabled List, for at least the next couple of weeks. I'm hoping it's only the 15 day, and not the 60 or 90!! 8O The details...

Since Thursday evening, my right knee has been getting increasingly stiff and swollen. At first, I thought it might be a recurrence of bursitis. I had it in that knee 20 years ago, due to a softball injury. I've never had a recurrence in the years since, and I've put thousands of trail miles, as well as bike miles, on that knee, and played hundreds of softball games. I can't place my finger on any one particular thing I may have done that may have aggrevated it.

I went to the doctor this afternoon. He sent me next door for x-rays. The good news... no skeletal issues and no arthritis (it runs in the family). The bad news... I definitely have fluid on that knee. He wanted to drain the fluid today, but a scheduling conflict made him change his plan. Instead, he gave me some anti-inflammatory meds, told me to rest it for a couple of days, ice it, elevate it, and see what happens. If all that seems to work, he may not have to drain it, otherwise, I'll go back in a couple days from now and let him drain it. At the very least, this may mean a couple weeks of down time for me, which will make it more difficult to do any training for the rim to rim hike I was planning on doing in the fall.

I licked this thing 20 years ago, I'm pretty sure I can lick again this time! I'll update everyone on my condition as I get more info. Hiking is my number one pasttime and to lose the ability to do it would be huge thing for me, as I'm sure it would most anyone on the site!

I'd appreciate everyone's thoughts and prayers.

So Snick, how's the water??

Mike,

How'd I miss your post?? Anyhow, just wanted to send you my best wishes also. Hope your not in too much pain and recovery isn't to hard.

Be sure to get your time off your feet, I know its hard, but its important.

Kelly

ps....it might be wise to stay away from the guys with the hammers and pools

I think it's safe to safe we are all interested in you schedule for knee therapy.

In a cruel, twist of fate, the only time my knee bothers me, is when I'm in the pool,what's that all about????

speaking of bum knees, i tore my acl playing soccer back in december 97, a week before a skiing trip in breckenridge. i had the reconstruction just before new years. who needs alcohol when you have massive pain killers?! After six months of rehab and the reassurance of my doc that my reconstructed knee was stronger than my other one i was told i could go back to my regular regimen of athletics. so i went back to hiking, backpacking, skiing, snowboarding, tennis, basketball, soccer, running, and martial arts. and lo and behold i tear it again! the doctor said that it would take 10 months of rehab the second time around. since i am so busy and dont have that much time, i opted out of the surgery. so from that point on i told myself i was going to take it easy and restrain from playing the ball sports and stuck with hiking and backpacking while wearing a huge brace on my knee. I still get sore every once in a while and alleve and ice do the trick before and after i go out.

so, i know how many of you feel. mike, i hope all went well and that your knee is doing better.

jeff

GeorgeAZ and I have already discussed All of the fun pain meds such as Soma and Demoral. A great buzz with no hangover.

My knee thingy is a result of playing LaCrosse on Mackinaw Island in Michigan. Never, and I mean never, give Native Americans, and Irish Immigrants big sticks; and Stroh's beer . . . . . . .and somehow expect them to behave like adults.

I really would be interested in Sande's input about knee therapy.

Sande, post that information! Maybe it'd make a good article, too.

Hooli, watch that OLD stuff!! I have a nice hammer collection...

Snick, I'm part Irish and part Native American!! What does that say about me??

The knee is doing much better today. I saw the doctor this morning, thinking he would drain the fluid, but he decided not to. He was surprised by how much the swelling had gone down and the difference in flexibility I had from Monday when he first saw it. I guess he hasn't treated too many HAZ Hardcore's! I think it's going to be fine in a few days, and I will work on building the strength back.

Thanks again, everybody!

I finally come on line after a couple of days and this is what happen. Mike I feel for you, follow all those advices above and take it light.

Great news ,Mike!Who's your knee guy?? This might flare up periodically with use,but you should be able to handle it.Can't ever use too much ice-I even have 2 packs at work! If mine swells,I wrap it + try to sit + elevate it between client services(my salon clients are used to my recreational injuries-they almost dread my next ski trip!!) Got used to seeing me with something or other in an ace! I hope it keeps improving for you! Mine needs the Baker's cyst removed,but I hate to spend the $$+time! All of us HAZers+workout types just have to get used to the foibles of the bod! :roll:

Sande J wrote:. Isnt it a bummer getting old... JK, LOL...

Glad it ain't happened to me yet!

evenstarx3 wrote:

Sande J wrote:. Isnt it a bummer getting old... JK, LOL...

Glad it ain't happened to me yet!

Ummmmm....Hoolie.....I hate to be the one to tell you....but....

"You are old, [Hoolie]," the young man said,
And your hair has become very white;
And yet you incessantly stand on your head --
Do you think, at your age, it is right?"

"In my youth," [Hoolie] replied to his son,
"I feared it would injure the brain;
But now that I'm perfectly sure I have none,
Why, I do it again and again."

- Lewis Caroll (excerpted)

Mike, I have to agree with GeorgAZ, wrapping and elevating definitly helps. The last problem I had with my knee was in training for the Whiskey Row Marathon. After the finish line my knee was pretty much trashed. Thought for sure I wasn't going to pull it off this one more time. I wrapped, iced and elevated it. Like I said previously I use natural remedies and try to stay away from the med's. Also lots of strength training. I think that this will be something that will always haunt me. I believe it all started with an injury while skiing in 1982. Follow Sande's suggestions and if you are interested in any suggestions for natural anti-inflammatories and pain relievers let me know.

Nothing like knee pain to put a hex on the whole happy hiker thing :twisted:

olesma wrote:

evenstarx3 wrote:

Sande J wrote:. Isnt it a bummer getting old... JK, LOL...

Glad it ain't happened to me yet!

Ummmmm....Hoolie.....I hate to be the one to tell you....but....

And your hair has become very white;

Only two of 'em :!: :!: Other one's till brown :!:

Sande: Mike and I have a deal; I carry him downhill, he carries me uphill. It works for both of us.....although he fits in my pack (formerly the state of Idaho) better than I fit in that little postage stamp he carries.

And Cindy, is it safe to run marathons after drinking whiskey?? -R

Gosh Randy I don't know. The bars didn't see me until after I crossed the finish line! But I imagine that gin and tonic is as effective as whiskey staight up

Randy wrote:Sande: Mike and I have a deal; I carry him downhill, he carries me uphill.

Now I remember what happened to my knee!!!