IMAGING And X-RAY

"When I get down on my knees, it's not to pray."

-Madonna


Tee Hee... wicked, wicked girl! Forgive me, but I couldn't resist using that quote when I came across it. ;) You see, I have been having some knee problems recently, well actually, I have been having knee problems since an injury back in the mid 90's, but lately my right knee has been hurting more intensely then usual. I thought at first it might be the old knee injury reminding me that I am now middle aged, and yeah, in a way I was right. It seems the damage I did to my knee, way back when, has turned into Osteoarthritis.

LOL. When it rains, it pours. LOL. It has been really cold in the Bay Area this summer, and I used to laugh about how my knee could predict the weather, and now I have proof, because come to find out, most folks who have OA experience increased sensitivity during cold weather. Yep. Oh well, according to what I have read, it's not unusual for the symptoms to become worse during middle age, but what was hard to hear was my doctor calling it, " mildly severe degenerative arthritis." Those are some yucky words. And by the way, how can you have "mildly severe" anything?

I have options. I can do some quad exercises a couple times a week at her office, and stay on the pain medications I have now, or I can take a shot of Cortisone every month or so, which I would rather not do, or I can have surgery, and do a knee replacement. So far, I am leaning toward the quad exercises and pain medication, but I know that in the foreseeable future I will probably be leaning on a cane to take some pressure off my right knee, especially as we get closer to the really cold months. How attractive is that? Jeepers, I used to be young. LOL. Stupid time, how dare it move forward and not warn me. LOL. Remember that old quote, "If I knew I were going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself." Well, yeah!

Ok, well, there is some pluses to all this too. I mean first and foremost, I have health coverage, not everyone does. And I can still ride my bike, in fact, it's encouraged, but I will have to rethink the walking perhaps. The other day, I started to bounce up a flight of stairs, and my knee just collapsed. Silly thing. It was then that I called the doctor to have look see at what might be going on. I just don't want the whole thing to keep me from doing my photography. I like my long walks in Tilden, and Golden Gate Park, I know some things will have to change, but hopefully they will take place a little at a time, as I get used to being an old lady. LOL. I don't know, maybe the knee replacement thing isn't such a bad idea. LOL. "It's solid plastic, so don't settle for imitation!" The only problem is, if I replace my knee, how will I know when it's raining?

Arthritis Of The Knee (American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons)

Knee Pain Symptoms... What Do They Mean?

-OndineMonet
"Imagining and X-Ray"
Kaiser Permanente
Union City, California
August 8th, 2008
Afternoon