Injuries - How to deal?

[balletgrrl]

Hello Cathe and educated crowd,

I am faced with a problem right now since I was diagnosed with a knee injury. Basically, it is just an over-usage/aggravation of the knee, but my physical therapist wants me to take a couple weeks off to really let it heal.

My question to you is: how do you deal with taking time off from exercise? I know most people here are probably like me... you LOVE to exercise - you love the feeling it gives you, the energy, the spirit and motivation. I tend to feel depressed when I'm not active and I'm wondering how to get through the next couple weeks without feeling cranky and just plain blah.

Does anyone have coping suggestions? Thanks for your help!

Alison

 

[lesliemarie]

I had the exact same trouble! I had to take over a month off because I had it in both knees!! try going swimming to make up for your regular exercising since that is more gentle on your joints. That might help with not being able to do your regular workouts. I still suffer some in my left knee but getting better everyday, Hang in there!!

 

[JannaL]

This happened to me after I had finished training for and running in a marathon. My knee was so over trained I was ordered No running and NO CATHE for a month!
I was devestated. I went for about a week and started to get very aggrivated and depressed. But my dad gave me the best advice. He said to get outside EVERYDAY. No matter what. I would do very light walking around the neighborhood and all over for about an hour each day. The fresh air and very light exercise was great and I know it made all the difference. When I was finally able to go back to my Cathe workouts I started out with CTX and worked onthat for about a month before I felt ready to get back to my regular work-outs.

Good Luck. Remember: FRESH AIR is key!

Janna

 

[Gayle]

Sorry to hear about your injury, Allison. I too was in a similar situation with a hamstring injury a few years ago.

Since my downtime only affected my lower body, I used that time to focus solely on upper body training. While it was hard to forgo cardio for four weeks, I did make some nice upper body gains and was still able to feel like I was moving and improving.

You might check with your PT to see what you _can_ do for exercise that won't aggravate your knee.

 

[DebbieH]

Allison and Gayle!

Allison~I can relate too. It is hard when you are struggling with an injury. We are just so used to those "feel-good" endorphines, aren't we? I am dealing with an injury right now too, so basically I just do whatever I can that does NOT aggravate my left knee/hamstring. I have been concentrating on upper body, ABS/core and even doing squats with no weight. They do not bother my leg but lunges do. I can not doing any impact at all right now so I have been sidelined with my Hi/Lo classes I teach and any Cathe cardio tapes for the time being. (This probably explains, or so I tell myself, the reason I just purchased a BOSU!!!! :7 Hang in there and let us know how you are doing.

Gayle~Could you share with me the symptoms you experienced with your injury? My Sports doctor is saying I have a pulled hamstring, but I am thinking it is more major then that such as a torn meniscus. Thank you for your time. (I had "locking" of the knee, it no longer locks, shooting pain when I would straighten it, pain if I pushed off with my heel such as going up steps and just general aching and throbbing at night in bed.) THANKS!

Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[DebbieH]

Alison!

Make that Alison with only one "L"!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[Gayle]

RE: Allison and Gayle!

Hi Debbie,

I got my injury going off a ski jump. It was pretty weird. I started off doing a spread eagle, changed my mind in mid-air and tried to pull my legs into a tuck and felt a really hot kind of "pop" in the inner side of my left knee area. I could still walk on it, but very gingerly.

Initially, there was a lot of swelling around the inside of and below my knee. I really thought it was my meniscus. After the swelling went down, I started physical therapy. My PT had me do a bunch of things to try and determine exactly where the pain was - like try extending my leg while he put some pressure against it and things like that.

He determined from what did and didn't hurt that it was actually part of the hamstring that runs down the back of the leg and below the knee. I wish I could remember the name of the specific muscle!

The area that I felt pain was in the back of my knee closer to the inside of my leg. Once it started getting better, I would get an occasional shooting pain doing something like pushing off when going up stairs or trying to go over the step, when I could get back into doing step.

It also bugged me for a while when lying in bed - like it hurt if I relaxed and straightened my leg too much. I tried sleeping with a pillow under that knee for while.

Ooooh, your bringin' back memories here. I hope this helps and your knee is better soon.

Edited to add: Once my PT was able to figure out where the problem really was, my recovery went much better. I was really happy with him.

 

[quiltgirl]

Hi Alison, I'm also sorry to hear about your injury. I'm finally getting better from a back injury that happened before Christmas. I haven't even been able to do the new Body Blast series yet so I can relate to your frustration. Gayle mentioned focusing on your upper body and that's exactly what I have been doing. I've also focused on my rehab exercises. Not very exciting but my upper body strength has improved, especially my arms. Since I prefer cardio and lower body workouts, seeing upper body improvements has helped to keep me motivated. Good luck!

 

[DebbieH]

Gayle!

Thank you so much for taking the time to post the info for me! This sounds just like me! It bothers me pushing off with my heel but not as bad as a couple months ago. My injury is behind my knee but I never had ANY swelling or bruising as the Internet said is a symptom??? My sports doctor did the same with me (twisting, turning and pushing on my leg) trying to determine exactly where the problem was and do you know, nothing hurt when I was there. (Of course!) I go back this Tuesday for the MRI results so I guess I will know more then. HOPEFULLY! This has been going on since November and I just want to DANCE/workout again! So glad you are well now and that you found a good PT. Thank you for taking time for me. Much appreciated!
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[susieq]

Sorry to hear about your injury!

Last winter I had back surgery and was off exercise (except walking) for quite some time. I know it's so hard to be side lined, even for a few weeks. But, I was so amazed at how quickly I got my stamina back. You really feel refreshed and ready to work after some time off.

Good luck and do exactly as the PT says! It could make the difference between a few weeks off and a few months off!

Take care,
Susan