Ortho follow up

Brace I ordered today

So i had my follow up visit with the orthopedist this afternoon.  It is neither a torn MCL (which is a slight tear, but nothing to worry about yet) or meniscus tear.  Instead, it is a really bad bone bruise.  Prognosis is good, its just going to take a while to heal.  I ordered a knee brace to give me some stability and hopefully its in before we leave for Disney World.

Figuring that I did the damage about 5 weeks ago, and the fact that I have not let it heal, since we didn't know what it was, he said I'm looking at another 4-6 weeks.  I was advised no running, jumping, squats, biking, etc and to limit my walking and activity, as any movement aggravates the bruise and since there is no place for the bruise to swell like muscle, it takes a LOT longer to heal.

Hopefully, this means I will be able to heal up, get in a few weeks of practice before K&Q Rapier in December.

MRI Results

The results of the MRI are not what either my primary care doctor or orthopedist suspected.  I will be calling the orthopedists office this morning when they open to schedule a follow up appointment so I can get a plan for treatment.  If treatment options are surgery or just physical therapy, I am going to opt to go the surgical route so that it will be stronger for the future. 

Hopefully I'll have more answers than questions soon.

MRI

Today was my MRI on my knee.  Thankfully I am feeling better and not coughing or sneezing as much as yesterday.  My orthopedist should have the results in a few days.  Then I'll know better where I stand and what the options are. Just in time for my 45th birthday.

Since we are going to Disney World at the beginning of November, I'm now looking at scooter rentals.

Doctor's Appointment

And then the witch doctor, He told me what to do
He told me:
Ooo eee, ooo ah ah ting tang, Walla walla, bang bang

The verdict on the knee is a severely torn meniscus.  They are sending me for an MRI to determine the extent of the damage. No fencing for now, rest as much as possible. Ice and Vitimin I as needed.  Surgery is likely.

Self Care

So I have made an appointment with an orthopedist for Monday, October 1.  The pain is getting worse overall.  I can walk on it, but with it wet out today, I used my cane to get from the garage to my desk.  I was not plannign to use it, but 3 steps on the sidewalk made me rethink things, and I grabbed it from my trunk.  I had to call Jennie last night while I was upstairs and she was down to help me get my sock off.  Grrrr, frustrating....

As such, I am going to be skipping coronation and a bachelor party this weekend.  I hope everyone has fun.  Bring me back good stories.

River War

We were running a little later than I had hoped but I still made it in time to fence in the first tournament, Collin's Body Parts tournament.  I have fenced in this format before and while I don't care for it, I had fun fencing.  I think I only lost one or two bouts in my pool, likely to Eldrich and/or Melchior.  Eldrich and Thomas dB made it to the finals with 16 points a piece. I forget who won. 

Lorenzo was going to run a cut and thurst tournament, but there was only one entrant, so instead he ran a single rapier or rapier and buckler tournament.  I went out with single rapier.  I used my 36" blade.   There were about 13 entrants.  I took a bye in the 2nd round to rest my knee (more on that later).  I had some wonderful passes, pulled off a beautiful attack vs Atilla, and lost to James in the final.  He pulled off a beautiful attack/body void and I tagged him late in the back.  I decided to rest up for the remainder of the day, and my cadet was forcing me to sit out.

I think I either strained or slightly tore my MCL a few weeks back while we were on vacation in NC.  I am feeling pain on the inside of my left knee and the joint feels unstable.  There is sometimes a lot of pain or a little pain depending on what I've been doing.  It was bearable, just feeling like I had tweaked it, but its been getting progressively worse.  The most painful time is putting on socks, shoes, underwear, and pants/shorts, becuase of twisting the leg to get them on.  I wore a knee brace while fencing yesterday, and I'm sure it helped.  Between bouts I was talking with Thomas dB and telling him how I felt like i had no push from my back leg due to the knee.  So, next bout, what do I do?  A full lunge with a beuatiful shot at my opponent.  I paid dearly for it.  I was not intending on throwing that shot, instinct took over.  So for the time being, if I fence, I have to figure out a way to limit the damage I do to the joint and the pain I will cause myself.  I am going to try and see a doctor next week to at least get an evaluation. 

I am not sure if I will be going to coronation or not this coming weekend.  I had hoped to go, but it is up in the air.

#GettingOldSucks

No practice this week

No practice this week due to celebrating teh Yom Kippour holiday and other issues.  Tuesday evening, I developed a migraine.  It was so bad not even a narcotic pain killer put a dent in it.  Add to that a knee that is still hurting, and I knew I was not going to make practice in Bhakail this week. 

Instead, we had a nice break-fast with Murray and Chrissy.  I made my version of eggs benedict:

• Croissants
• Prosciutto
• Chipolte holindaise sauce
• Poached eggs

We served it with cauliflower hashbrowns and prosciutto wrapped asparagus.  Dessert was some fresh berries:  Strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  Overall, it was a nice evening.  I started feeling the migraine coming back, so I lowered the lights and took some meds.  Thankfully I stopped most of the symptoms and we were able to resume as normal. 

I got a decent night of sleep after watching Forged In Fire.  Evan work us up around 4:00, and Jennie went to comfort him.  He was worried all night someone was going to take his bunny away.  Its the one suffed animal he bonded with and we are not sure where this idea got into his head.  Unfortunately, I think he's inheritied some of my anxieties.

This weekend is River War in my home barony of Iron Bog.  Collin Monro is running his "Body Parts" tournament.  I think this is payback for my tournament idea at Bhakail Commons.  There will also be melees, as befitting a "war".  Let's see how my body holds up.  At least it is close to home.