After doing some research, I decided I wanted to visit an orthopedic doctor with a specialty in sports medicine. I did not want to opt for surgery, but wanted to find out how to heal my knee.
Of course, as I have said before, the most important thing I can do is to get the thirty pounds off of me. Extra weight will aggravate any knee condition you might have. I have also committed to wearing shoes with orthopedic inserts - Dr Schol and a very nice one I found for dress shoes called ortho light. I consider Dr. Schol the standard from which all other products are based. Arch support for my flat feet has helped my knee immensely.
The doctor took four x-ray and did an examination, and made a diagnosis. Chrondomylacia Patella.
Basically it is the softening of the cartilage of the knee. I am supposed to go see him for a follow up later in March. I have switched to Ibuprofen - aspirin will not bring swelling down. The swelling is much better. He told me I could swim, elliptical or bicycle, but not to run nor fast walk until we get the swelling and the knee under control. Further reading reveals the important of strength training the knee.
I am completely changing how I go about things. For years I have done yoga, but that seems to aggravate this situation. I can no longer sit in lotus. So I am switching to pilates and some floor exercises at home. I have run into some excellent article on the way - which I will post here later in this entry.
Chrondomylacia can be reversed if I loose the weight and get with the program. In addition, I am doing an anti-inflamatory diet. The chrondomylacia can be brought on by an injury, and I fell on the knee twice last year.
I was pleased as punch that this was not arthritis, and that there are things I can do in a disciplined evolved way.
http://www.thestretchinghandbook.com/archives/chondromalacia.php
http://www.orthoseek.com/articles/chondromp.html
This particular article is my personal favorite.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/299199-knee-exercises-for-chondromalacia/
Live Strong is a great website with a variety of articles.
The first daffodils of spring were spotted, and I have some sitting on my desk now.
Until next time.
Kat Daffodil
