I have finally started physical therapy.
After I went to the orthopedic doctor, I held off a little on making a physical therapy appointment. “My schedule” didn’t allow for me to go or I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it in NY or CT (excuses excuses). But one morning, as I got off the bus, I was unable to walk. My knees hurt so incredibly bad. Every step was painful. I always joke that I look like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. My knees are completely locked. I need oil to loosen them up!
As I walked to work, I cried (why am I always crying?). HOW was it possible that I had just run 26.2 miles, but now I could not even walk the two blocks to my office? For me, that was the breaking point. The second I walked into work I called the physical therapy office that I had gone to a few months before (for my shoulder) and made an appointment.
The weekend before I started I had run the Roxbury Half and the Harvest Hustle 10K. My knees were in a lot of pain which was a bad thing, but at the same time a good thing because I was able to go in Monday and tell my wonderful Physical Therapist, Livia, exactly what hurt.
The first thing Livia and I did together was stretch. She was SO surprised that my muscles were so tight (not the first time I have heard it. I run and cannot even touch my toes), and told me she was really surprised it took a marathon for me to sustain an injury. She gave me different exercises I can do at home that will help me with my flexibility. She suggested I do Yoga (I hate yoga!) BUT at this point I will try anything to get my body healthy.
The second thing she had me do was walk to the end of the hallway and back. When I got back to her she said to me, “Do you know both of your ankles are really weak?” I was like “Ahh, well ….” And told her my taxi incident. For those who do not know, June of 2012 a taxi ran over my right foot. I did not break anything, but it did some damage to ligaments, blood vessels, etc. She was floored when I proceeded to tell her that after that accident, I did not do physical therapy of any sorts, but I did continue to run on it. Reason #800 my knees are so bad.
On top of all of this I originally went to PT for my right knee, but my left knee is much worse.
Although this all sounds kind of sad, I am actually really really happy. My physical therapist is amazing and she is really working hard to help me get my body strong. I have had five sessions and my knee pain has been reduced significantly already. I have not been running as much, which I am sure is also helping, but I do plan on starting again this week. I can now sit for over thirty minutes and stand up with no problem, I can cross my legs without pain, and my ankles have not given out (knock on wood) since I started.
I am so happy I am finally getting strong! Livia assured me that I will become faster the stronger and more flexible I get.
Now that I have started physical therapy, and that I am feeling a change, I am becoming more confident about the Dopey Challenge.
Disney, I am coming for you!
After I went to the orthopedic doctor, I held off a little on making a physical therapy appointment. “My schedule” didn’t allow for me to go or I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it in NY or CT (excuses excuses). But one morning, as I got off the bus, I was unable to walk. My knees hurt so incredibly bad. Every step was painful. I always joke that I look like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. My knees are completely locked. I need oil to loosen them up!
As I walked to work, I cried (why am I always crying?). HOW was it possible that I had just run 26.2 miles, but now I could not even walk the two blocks to my office? For me, that was the breaking point. The second I walked into work I called the physical therapy office that I had gone to a few months before (for my shoulder) and made an appointment.
The weekend before I started I had run the Roxbury Half and the Harvest Hustle 10K. My knees were in a lot of pain which was a bad thing, but at the same time a good thing because I was able to go in Monday and tell my wonderful Physical Therapist, Livia, exactly what hurt.
The first thing Livia and I did together was stretch. She was SO surprised that my muscles were so tight (not the first time I have heard it. I run and cannot even touch my toes), and told me she was really surprised it took a marathon for me to sustain an injury. She gave me different exercises I can do at home that will help me with my flexibility. She suggested I do Yoga (I hate yoga!) BUT at this point I will try anything to get my body healthy.
The second thing she had me do was walk to the end of the hallway and back. When I got back to her she said to me, “Do you know both of your ankles are really weak?” I was like “Ahh, well ….” And told her my taxi incident. For those who do not know, June of 2012 a taxi ran over my right foot. I did not break anything, but it did some damage to ligaments, blood vessels, etc. She was floored when I proceeded to tell her that after that accident, I did not do physical therapy of any sorts, but I did continue to run on it. Reason #800 my knees are so bad.
On top of all of this I originally went to PT for my right knee, but my left knee is much worse.
Although this all sounds kind of sad, I am actually really really happy. My physical therapist is amazing and she is really working hard to help me get my body strong. I have had five sessions and my knee pain has been reduced significantly already. I have not been running as much, which I am sure is also helping, but I do plan on starting again this week. I can now sit for over thirty minutes and stand up with no problem, I can cross my legs without pain, and my ankles have not given out (knock on wood) since I started.
I am so happy I am finally getting strong! Livia assured me that I will become faster the stronger and more flexible I get.
Now that I have started physical therapy, and that I am feeling a change, I am becoming more confident about the Dopey Challenge.
Disney, I am coming for you!