9 November 2010: finally an end to physical therapy?

My first appointment with IPMR was on April 1 of this year. After a whole lot of sessions where I got ultra sound treatments, I was advised to see a knee specialist. I was also advised to stop swimming (no kicks nor push offs) so I switched to a pull buoy.

I discontinued therapy after improvement stalled; the doctor did an MRI, found the bucket-handle tears in my meniscus, operated in July and I had PT for that…and then my shoulder.

Well today I had my last PT appointment. Don’t worry; I was paying 30 dollars a visit so I felt I was benefiting from them.

Last night: some mild pain but not the wake up in the night pain; that was due, I think, to a hard workout.

This morning: 2 mile walk outside, 15 minute arm bike, 10:04 RUN on the treadmill, 1 mile on the AMT then my last PT visit.

How long had I been going to PT? Well, I exchanged phone numbers with my PT so we can go hiking together.

Oh yes, no NSAIDS though I did take Tylenol last night and on rare occasion.

The good: I no longer get woken up by pain at night; I actually look forward to going to bed again.

The bad: physically, I am in horrible shape in every phase; I am weak, I have no endurance and no speed.

Also, I will have to continue to work on stretching my right leg; the right knee only straightens with great difficulty.

So, now I begin the long, long, long gradual return to full blown training.
For the rest of the year, I’ll work at bringing back yoga and swimming and upping my walking mileage gradually and in January, I open training for the Potawatomi Trail 50 miler in April (on the McNaughton course). Goal: 15 hours if it is dry, 18 if it is muddy. I’ve done much better in the past, but that simply isn’t relevant at this time.

Then I’d like to see what I can do at the FANS 24 hour in June.

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