For the longest time, I felt younger than my age...despite teasing jokes from close friends (since I started law school a few years after being in the working world, I was always the "old" one in the group. It's probably a good thing that my friend Marquis isn't a follower of mine on here since he LOOOOVES to reuse his jokes about my age whenever he can). I always laughed it off though because I was feeling good - and looking younger than the majority of them anyway!
Unfortunately, in the last week or so, I haven't been feeling so great. My knees were hurting a bit before my kickball game last Thursday but by the time I woke up on Friday morning it was all I could do to move my legs and get out of bed. Honestly, each step is still painful. Walking up or down stairs is like having someone jam a screwdriver beneath my kneecap and twist it around with each step I take. Yesterday at work, I let a student go past me on the stairwell so he wouldn't have to wait for me to get up the stairs at the snail speed I can manage. All in all...no bueno!
Considering the fact that this happened a few months ago when I started playing tennis again I decided not to mess around this time. So on Thursday morning I'll be heading to an orthopedic doctor (the one that re-broke my toe for me last Fall) and hopefully he'll be able to tell me what's going on and what exercises I can do to strengthen the muscles around my knee to hopefully avoid this in the future. I know I'm getting older, but this is ridiculous!
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Lol... (I'm not laughing at you; I'm laughing at me)....
ReplyDeleteI had a similar incident a couple years ago. A group of guys wanted to get a flag football game going one Sunday. I look and feel pretty young for my age. I feel I'm in good shape. Being a mailman, I do walk everyday for work. So, I was definitely up for the "fun!"
Sunday arrives, and we're out there playing, and I find myself getting winded pretty easily--much more than the younger guys. So, I'm pushing myself pretty hard. We finish and head for home. The ride to the house is about 20 minutes and keep in mind that my body is at "rest" during this time. I go to get out of the truck, and I can already feel the soreness settling in. I begin to think, "This isn't good. Maybe it's just the initial soreness I'm feeling."
Sure enough I was correct; it was just the "initial" soreness. Because when I got up the next morning (a Monday; a workday), I was ABSOLUTELY and COMPLETELY sore to the core. I literally had to lift my legs with my arms, which were also hard to move, to swing them out and over the edge of the bed. It was HORRIBLE! I've never felt so sore in my life; not even in Basic Training (of course, then I was 18).
I was so sore, I seriously contemplated calling in sick. But, I didn't want to (ego!). I didn't want to be the only one to call in out of the group. I sucked it up and suffered throughout the next 2-3 days before the soreness went away. I quickly realized that I wasn't AS young as I thought I was.
I haven't played flag football since then, but I have incorporated into my lifestyle now a daily routine of cardio and strength training exercises. And from time to time, I still experience some soreness from the physical activities... As I get older, I just don't overdo it anymore.
Andrew, no lie...I was laughing out loud when I read this. Why do we have to get older? We should just be able to stay young forever! It's never "fun" anymore, is it? :)
ReplyDeleteMy cousin is convinced that my knee pain is originating from tight hamstrings...not sure if he's right or not, but we'll find out tomorrow morning.
Thanks for sharing your story though - hilarious!
Lol... the story gets better. This past Tuesday, I took the kids (19, 16, and 14—good God, if I don't feel old, now I sound old) to the beach for a couple hours. We spent a lot of time in the water. I'm sure you know how swimming can really wear you out!
ReplyDeleteAlso, that morning I did my regularly scheduled cardio workout. Needless to say, that evening I was already tired AND pretty sore. I woke up Wednesday morning with my regularly scheduled strength training workout waiting for me. I wasn’t beyond the point of soreness to engage in physical activity, but I did rationalize with myself that I didn’t need to overdo it and felt that I should take a day off.
So, I shut off the alarm, turned over in bed, pulled up the covers, and went back to sleep. I woke up 4 hours later at 11:30. It felt good. I needed to sleep in late at least one day on my vacation week! Lol.
My quads and hamstrings are decently sore, but the rest feels OK. Of course since I “missed” a workout yesterday, I really did not want to miss 2 days in a row. Sore or not, I forced myself up out of bed at 7am and did my strength training workout this morning. Yes, I was still somewhat sore, but I pushed through it (but not overdoing it). I’m glad I did; I always feel better after working out—physically and mentally!
I’m sure there will be many days like this… or worse. Some say it gets easier as you get older… they must not have been talking about physical activity! Lol!
P.S. I hope everything goes well and that you get some helpful feedback at your appointment!
(Wow, I’m pretty long-winded, aren’t I? Sorry about that.)
So the diagnosis is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome - basically "Runner's Knee" - which made me laugh since the only time I plan on doing excessive running is if I'm being chased by a hungry bear and there's no one slower than me running along with me! :) I'm going in for an MRI on Saturday to make sure nothing else is going on and then the doctor prescribed 6 weeks of rehab, 3x a week. Glad I don't have anything else to do...ohhhh, wait...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I think it's great that you're so active at your age - not that I even know your age, but if you have a 19 year old then you're probably at least pushing 40 so good for you! :) I need to get my ass back in the gym regularly. Perhaps you'll be my inspiration!
"Runner's Knee" ...bummer! That's a joint I hate to have acting up. Despite the fact that my right knee had a minor football injury in high school and my left knee was bit by a dog (6 weeks of rehab too), I only have minor setbacks with them. Usually it happens when the weather gets weird; fortunately they don't act up for long.
ReplyDeleteI used to run a little, but I know now that my left heel shouldn't take the constant impact--oh darn, right!? Lol.
As far as exercising, I do cheat a little. I'm not comfortable and lack the time to hit the gym, so I do everything at home. It's better than nothing, and it motivates NOT to snooze in the mornings. It's already got me eating better.
And as far as my age, you're pretty much right. I'm 37, but don't let body know that! Lol. I like staying active, it feels good. I've gone through a lot changes over the last couple years (more inside than outside), and I think I'm better for it.