Relearning to walk

Bruno of NH · May 25, 2020, 03:03:03 PM

With the virus hitting all my Dr. Appointments got cancelled.
2 weeks ago I have had enough knee joints or not I'm going to try to walk again.
I have been doing a little a day some days are better than others.
Blocking the pain is tough but if I'm busy some time I can block it out.
I'm thinking about trying to build some knee braces out of ash or aluminum some how.
At least that way I can stand and try to get some strength back in my legs.
I worrie if this goes much longer it will be lost.
They won't be able to help me.
Any thoughts on brace design I will listen to.
Untill then I'm going to push as hard as I can.

sawguy21 · May 25, 2020, 06:00:04 PM

Be patient, give your body time to heal. Overdoing it will do more harm than good. An acquaintance had a hip replacement in March and thinks he should still be golfing 18 holes. :

Southside · May 25, 2020, 08:45:31 PM

Yea - by far the hardest part is your mind wanting to do something and your body not being able to do so. Been there after I broke my L5 and L4, then during therapy I was hitting plateaus for two years and not able to get past them, frustrating does not begin to describe the feeling. Mind you I went from being a guy who got paid to jump out of aircraft to being a guy who could not put on his underwear. It took a toll.

I can't offer any medical advice, but mentally you have to just get through the next single second, then repeat that one thing, over and over. Break every task down to one second at a time and focus on finding success within that second - no matter how small. Time will pass, your body will heal, just don't loose sight of the fact that in this game you get to keep swinging as long as you don't walk away from the batters box.

Bruno of NH · May 26, 2020, 03:05:51 PM

I did some more walking today.
Made it up 4 stairs today without my walker.
The walker stayed it the truck today.
The black flies drove me off the mill at 3:00 today.

petefrom bearswamp · May 26, 2020, 06:38:36 PM

Hang in there Bruno.
Black flies? what the heck are they.
Seriously they were not bad here this year and seem to be gone now

Walnut Beast · May 26, 2020, 06:59:54 PM

Quote from: Southside on May 25, 2020, 08:45:31 PM
Yea - by far the hardest part is your mind wanting to do something and your body not being able to do so. Been there after I broke my L5 and L4, then during therapy I was hitting plateaus for two years and not able to get past them, frustrating does not begin to describe the feeling. Mind you I went from being a guy who got paid to jump out of aircraft to being a guy who could not put on his underwear. It took a toll.

I can't offer any medical advice, but mentally you have to just get through the next single second, then repeat that one thing, over and over. Break every task down to one second at a time and focus on finding success within that second - no matter how small. Time will pass, your body will heal, just don't loose sight of the fact that in this game you get to keep swinging as long as you don't walk away from the batters box.

Hang in there buddy! Don't ever give up! Try and keep a positive attitude and don't overdue it working. Just figure out easier ways to do stuff and just take a few more breaks 👍👍👍

Sedgehammer · May 27, 2020, 06:50:52 AM

Quote from: Bruno of NH on May 25, 2020, 03:03:03 PM
With the virus hitting all my Dr. Appointments got cancelled.
2 weeks ago I have had enough knee joints or not I'm going to try to walk again.
I have been doing a little a day some days are better than others.
Blocking the pain is tough but if I'm busy some time I can block it out.
I'm thinking about trying to build some knee braces out of ash or aluminum some how.
At least that way I can stand and try to get some strength back in my legs.
I worrie if this goes much longer it will be lost.
They won't be able to help me.
Any thoughts on brace design I will listen to.
Untill then I'm going to push as hard as I can.

We're the same age. I know exactly what you are going through. Things are opening up. I'm pretty sure that this next month or july at least you can have your regular appointments again. I know it's hard to not do what you were able to do just a short while ago. I went from running 3 + miles a day and could do anything I wanted physically. Could easily out work men half my age to not hardly being able to walk some days or do much of anything in one day. Luckily I'm a realist and haven't suffered a lot of mental anguish over it, but like southside said, look at the small victories.

Bruno of NH · May 29, 2020, 07:20:36 AM

3rd day in a row I walked around the mill doing things I haven't done in 2 years or more.
Made it up 4 stairs into the house without bear walking.
It wasn't pretty but did it.
Going to do more every day if I can push through it.

Tacotodd · June 04, 2020, 02:22:54 AM

You are the same age as one of my 3 real good friends. He says that his brain thinks it's 19, but his body says 54. I'm similar but worse. I won't get started or I'll end up having my own pity party. That being said, take your time, work smart, relax when needed. The job isn't going anywhere but your remaining health may if you try and push the issue when not necessary. Smell the coffee!

Bruno of NH · June 07, 2020, 03:19:24 PM

I have been walking and moving alot.
It bit me this weekend both knees are swelled up good.
Once I got moving today it was a small amount better.
But making some progress.

thecfarm · June 07, 2020, 03:22:54 PM

I sure do wish that someone could help you.

scsmith42 · June 08, 2020, 12:31:20 PM

As long as you continue to make progress you'll get there!

Persevere!

Jeff · June 08, 2020, 04:57:45 PM

Keep at it Bruno! We are with ya!!

Bruno of NH · June 09, 2020, 07:04:04 AM

I'm walking a little more every day.
Pushing through is tough but feels good in a painful way.
The wobbly knew joints and balance are taking some getting used to again.

Magicman · June 09, 2020, 07:33:40 AM

Stay the course my friend. Keep your eye on the goal!! 8)

samandothers · June 09, 2020, 08:40:07 AM

Stay with it !
Dividends later.

dgdrls · June 12, 2020, 07:35:31 AM

Good news Bruno, don't get overconfident, steady and sure movements

Do you have compressive type braces?

D

Bruno of NH · June 13, 2020, 02:43:08 PM

I don't have any braces
It's hard to find them in my size.
I have looked to have some custom made
But no one will do it

Bruno of NH · June 29, 2020, 05:07:54 PM

Still walking more everyday
The knees are pretty swelled up but I'm pushing through it the best I can.
I'm so busy I really don't have time to think about till I settle down for the night.

Jeff · June 30, 2020, 07:18:39 AM

Keep at it Bruno!

Nebraska · June 30, 2020, 05:20:10 PM

Good job Bruno. Set reasonable goals, they will come.

Bruno of NH · July 04, 2020, 04:39:31 PM

I'm still doing more every day.
Getting in the house walking in is much better than crawling in like I did for a year.
I'm going to keep at it.

Bruno of NH · July 15, 2020, 08:56:41 PM

Had a Dr appointment today.
Walked in and all around the office building today.
On my own.
Got home sawed the rest of the day.
My legs a pooped out tonight.
But it felt good.
The Doc didn't know what to think.

Magicman · July 15, 2020, 09:36:46 PM

Good for you my friend.....steady as she goes.

Southside · July 15, 2020, 10:25:33 PM

Awesome news Bruno!! One second at a time, that's all you need to focus on and before you know it months have passed. Keep up the good work!!

Nebraska · July 15, 2020, 11:04:38 PM

Bruno that is awesome! You may well just work yourself out of needing the doctors, you can do it. Keep it up!

barbender · July 16, 2020, 12:55:30 AM

Hey Bruno, that just brightened my day- good on ya!!👍👍

Jeff · July 16, 2020, 07:33:48 AM

Keep at it Bruno!

Roxie · July 16, 2020, 08:27:19 AM

You can feel proud of yourself for realizing that you need to move forward and not wait for the doctors.

Everyone is different and you know more about you than anyone on the planet.

"Atta boy!" 8)

RichTired · July 16, 2020, 12:11:27 PM

Great news Bruno!

Keep up the good work. smiley_clapping

CCCLLC · July 16, 2020, 05:45:48 PM

Well done and keep up the spirit. You are inspiring others with your hard work, me for one.

Bruno of NH · August 06, 2020, 06:05:33 PM

Having a bad knee week this week.Been super busy and the right knee is swelled up like a bowling ball.
I'm pushing through it .
Still walking .

Walnut Beast · August 06, 2020, 06:11:41 PM

Ice it down. Be careful. Easy does it 👍

scsmith42 · August 06, 2020, 10:18:13 PM

Persevere!

Bruno of NH · December 06, 2020, 03:44:59 PM

I have been super busy all summer and moving better.
But with the up and down in temperature it has put me in a down mode.
Hard to sleep at night and all my joints are hurting bad.
The good thing is staying busy keeps my mind off it.
Till it's time to get in the house.

Tacotodd · December 06, 2020, 03:57:54 PM

My friend has tried the gelitan (sp) boxes of this stuff mixed with water and before it tries to setup at all drinks it all down very quickly.

He got a hyperextended knee roughly in 08 and was "repaired" by the VA. That's not at all perfect but does give him SOME relief. BUT, after going through all of this his knee has slowly been getting worse and worse, he's been really tempted to get it redone by someone else and the VA will pay for half. That's what he tells me.

May or may not work. Just hoping for you!

Magicman · December 07, 2020, 09:29:59 PM

Before we visited you, PatD & I visited with FF member @loggah. During a conversation he mentioned that he could not make it without Glucosamine Chondroitin. Since Pat has always had knee/leg pain her ears perked up and she gave it a try and there is no way to describe the relief that she has gotten from it. They are like taking "horse pills" but well worth it.

It may not give you any relief, but it's worth the try.

Old Greenhorn · December 07, 2020, 10:17:55 PM

MM is that an OTC med? My knees having been giving me issues with doing that flight of stairs in the shop 20 times a day. Maybe it might help?

SwampDonkey · December 08, 2020, 05:01:17 AM

Old Greenhorn, it's been available for years in the supplements isle. Works for some, and others not. Can't hurt to try.

Bruno of NH · December 08, 2020, 07:31:10 AM

I have tried and take most everything I can.
Fish oil works the best.
I haven't tried cbd oil yet only because I don't know a good kind to get.

Skip · December 08, 2020, 07:47:38 AM

FWIW cbd has a really helped me .

Iwawoodwork · December 08, 2020, 09:37:16 AM

As MM stated about what his wife takes and got relief, I have also been taking the same and it works for me, (get it at Costco) without it both thumb joints are like having an ice pick shoved in. also took away much of my shoulder and knee pains. I really noticed how well it works for me when I had to quit taking for 10 days for my colonostomy.

realzed · December 09, 2020, 12:19:27 AM

Quote from: SwampDonkey on December 08, 2020, 05:01:17 AM
Old Greenhorn, it's been available for years in the supplements isle. Works for some, and others not. Can't hurt to try.

If you have allergies be careful of which type you get - some have shellfish mixed in the formulation and another different version does not..
It is usually marked quite clearly but you do have to make an effort to read closely especially if any allergy issues might be shellfish related ones - which is fairly common
.

Ianab · December 09, 2020, 01:03:45 AM

Quote from: realzed on December 09, 2020, 12:19:27 AMIf you have allergies be careful of which type you get - some have shellfish mixed in the formulation and another different version does not.

Something in green lipped mussels is supposed to be good for joint issues, which is why it's often added to the "joint supplement" OTC medications. That's fine, it's a natural seafood extract, unless you have a shellfish allergy. So yes, look for that on the label if you do, and try a different one.

It also suggests something in the mussels is causing a reaction of some sort in your body. Just depends if that's a good or bad reaction in YOUR body. Something that produces NO reaction (good or bad) is called a placebo.