Diagnosis: torn miniscus. Solution: arthoscopic surgery. I could have done it on New Year's Eve --- Dr. Hurt, bless his heart, is operating that day --- but since my hubby gets home only a few days after that, and it would kind of suck to start 2013 hopped up on pain meds and limping around.
The surgery doesn't upset me. The upsetting thing is that I am not supposed to run any more. Long walks and hiking aren't supposed to be on the agenda, either. I'm guessing plyo is out, though it wasn't specifically mentioned.
Swimming is just not my thing, so that leaves the bike. And I do love cycling (real cycling, not the stationary bike, which I cannot stand). But what I love about walking and running is that you can do it anywhere, with no fancy equipment whatsoever. It's a great way to really get to know a town or an area. It's not like I was ever a great runner, but I do like it, and it does make me sad to have to give it up.
Walking and hiking, I just can't give up. I know I'll pay a price for it but I can't see not trekking through Central Park or along a trail in whatever city I find myself in. In April, I'm going to sing in Bozeman, MT, a beautiful part of the country I've never visited. Are you kidding? All I want to do is hike!
And meanwhile, I guess I'll have to save my pennies for a lightweight, good quality folding bike that I can take with me on my travels.
So, yeah. A little bummed this holiday season. Hubby's in France, I'm so tired from my travels that I'm almost sick, the extended family with all the kids isn't visiting this year and I don't feel like cooking anything special, although maybe that will change. I'm actually really happy to be home and not to have to go anywhere, but I am not feeling the Christmas spirit. In addition to all of the above, I can't stop thinking about the Newtown families. How Christmas will never be the same for them, let alone the rest of their lives.
To counter the seasonal blues, I'm singing at a friend's church on Christmas Eve, and thinking about doing something like make a bunch of Christmas cookies and drive around handing them out to everybody I see. And enjoying my silly puppies.
Cindy, my heart goes out to you! I have been trying to mix up my running with yoga and swimming to counter the risk of injury, because I live in fear of getting told what you've been told.
This is my third Christmas on this journey. Your honesty and resilience inspired me to lose - and keep off - 27 pounds. I'm fitter and more toned than ever. I come back here more than two years after I started this journey because when I feel like giving up, I know you won't have. Because when the cost seems too high, you remind me that the cost of not living this way is even higher. Because even with a torn miniscus, you have proven time and time again that you know how to put one foot in front of the other - and then repeat, repeat, repeat. Because - as you once quoted on here - nothing in this world can take the place of persistence, and you have that in spades.
Merry, merry Christmas and have a joy-filled, healthy and persistence-rich new year.
Posted by: Natalie | December 25, 2012 at 04:27 AM
So glad you came back... I looked at your blog several times after November and hoped you were well. Wishing you all the best on recovering from your surgery. I'm also an avid walker and would have difficulty adjusting to not being allowed to GO. Hope you can later on, after you're thoroughly healed. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Laurie | December 23, 2012 at 05:12 PM
Cindy, what specifically did the doctor say about running/walking? I know a lot of runners who have recovered from miniscus tears, although I know that part of it is how much of the miniscus is removed or remains after the surgery. I'm just curious what the reason is for saying "no more".
Posted by: Erin | December 21, 2012 at 08:35 PM
Thanks, Fran. I'll look into them, although I admit being resistant to the idea. Part of what I like about walking is not having to have any special equipment.
Posted by: Cindy | December 21, 2012 at 03:53 PM
Cindy, If you remember, I walk in all the races and the hike and bike trail using my trekking poles. I can't remember the exact stats, but it reduces about 25% of the striking force on the joints (read: knees), gives you an upper body workout, AND burns about 50% more calories than walking without them!! It's too bad about your pending operation, but at least it's not a total knee replacement. (It's all relative, right?)
My suggestions is to buy trekking poles that telescope and they'll fit in your luggage! I take mine everywhere.
Since I started jogging in the very early 1970's, my knees just wore out--and falling on them in a race didn't help. I don't think that big people should only run-and I'm sorry that I didn't mix in every other day walking with biking thrown in too. Perhaps I'd still be able to slow jog.
Hang in there, though. I'm so glad you found your inner athlete!
Posted by: Fran | December 21, 2012 at 11:36 AM