The knee again

The knee, darn thing. Can't live without them for sure and they can certainly make life miserable if they are not working properly.
Finally, after a month of waiting. Starting with making the decision to go to the doctor, finding a doctor, finding the Radiology Lab, taking the time to drive all the way into West Austin to have the XRay, then the MRI, then waiting for a doctor from the Orthopedic Clinic to call me...a whole month! I am thankful that I wasn't bleeding to death! Living in Lakeway has it's drawbacks.

Yesterday morning I was in so much pain from my knee and from sciatica that holding back the tears was a real challenge. Shortly after I crawled into the orthopedic doctor's office he gave me a cortizone shot in the knee. I swear my whole body responded to the cortizone. The sciatica evaporated within hours, my knee stopped grinding when I walk up the hill to my car, I am not sleepy all the time from dealing with the pain. I feel like I did 10 years ago! It is an amazing and wonderful feeling!

I am told by the Ortho Doc that the cortizone shot should last about a year, maybe a little longer. He said he would give me the cortizone until it no longer worked, then he would talk to me about Rooster Comb injections. This is also known as hyaluronic acid, needed for many things in the body, but in this instant, it is used as a lubricant for the knee. There is research to be read on this by Googling Rooster Comb. It is believed at this time that hyaluronic acid, whether produced synthetically, or taken from the real live rooster comb can put off knee replacements for up to 8 years. Another modern medical miracle.

For my therapy, the doctor didn't tell mechange my diet not did he till me to lose weight,practice yoga or meditate. He sent me to the swimming pool. He told me that I needed to release the weight of the muscles on my bones so I could strengthen my leg muscles. How easy is that? Something I can do and will love doing. Whew! Of course, yoga is still on the "to do" list

little break.

Hey guys, thanks for hanging in and checking out the blog. I have been pretty absorbed with some "aging studies" which I am planning on posting in a few days. Pretty interesting stuff! I just need to put it all in proper order so it will make some sense.

YEA!! Monday is a holiday! Presidents' Day.

Yeah, Brad Pitts' picture must go. Only one of us can stay. I never realized how much we look alike! lol..2 eyes, a nose, lips...amazing!

Enjoy your Valentine. Be thankful for the love in your life.

Reverse Aging

Have you all seen "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"? If you haven't seen it, you must! It is one of the most intriging movies I have ever watched. Brad Pitt is totally uncanny and proves yet again that he can act. Cate Blanchette...what can I say about her. She is the best. I especially loved her in "Shipping News."
At any rate, I can't seem to get the story off my mind, especially the final moments when Button is a precious baby. I think we all at certain times in our lives would like to reverse the aging process. Maybe most of us would jump into it too quickly without considering the alternatives. When I was in high school, I fell madly in love with a boy 2 years younger than I. If someone had offered me the opportunity to reverse my aging process just 2 years, I would have jumped on it! But that didn't happen and more than 2 years would have ruined the whole story. One of the alternatives to reverse aging would be getting younger each day until you reach your birth time. WE would have to endure that trying teenage angst and go through middle school all over again. Then, as youth gets stronger, we would have to deal with losing our physical abilities and the wonderful memories that have made us who we are.
But wait! Isn't this what happens to us as we age! I think the only difference is that as you would get younger, those around you would know when you would be passing on into the other world. They could prepare for your death and funeral. As we age, getting older, we have some pretty good indications when it might happen but there is a lot more uncertainty, A lot more of "What will tomorrow bring?"
I guess as I think about this movie, I think that we start the aging process from day one. We do not just grow up then start aging. Aging is a continual rite of passage.

1 Feb 09

This day is just intoxicating. Temperature is perfect, wind is just right, I can smell a hint of spring rising from the earth, and best of all, no one is yanking my chain! It is a good day!

I can remember about 4 years ago when we had several weeks of beautiful weather a lot like we have today. Then, all of a sudden it snowed in the middle of the night on Feb 14. IT would have been a perfect time to be in love, and for all of those who were in love at the time, I am sure that time created an unforgettable memory.
I remember that it was @ midnight when the snow started gently falling . People in the apartment complex where I lived at the time were coming outside, laughing and talking. It seems like we were all outside at the same time, reveling in this miracle. I met people I had never seen before and they were all my neighbors! It was a wonderful moment in time.