Knee Progress

I just had a great appointment with the chiropractic team yesterday and we finally got to the root of some major problems. Turns out I've been carrying perma-cramp around in my calves for who knows how many years. Plus, the muscles in the back of my legs are so tight and so much stronger than the fronts, that they fight with my lats making my left leg tighten up to the point of being shorter than the other. So additionally, what's been going on in the back of my legs pulls my fibula out of it's rightful place--part of what pulls my knee-cap off where it's supposed to run. All of that causes me to walk and run without moving my hip. I almost swing my leg around because the back is too tight to allow follow-through. Crazy the things you learn about yourself.

So we had a long session of breaking down the muscles, putting bones back into place and some walking re-training. Seriously, I have to train myself how to walk properly. And when I walk the right way, I have zero pain in my knee. Freaking miracle. So, I'm first going to try a long walk in the park, and then, this week....wait for it.......I'm going to attempt to run on land!

I learned that I can swim and run in the water with no pain. So that and some core muscle work and stretching is about the extent of what I've been doing. I was so glad to learn that I can swim and run in the water without pain--Because that means that I can do part of my training in the water while I'm still healing up. I mean, it's not ideal and boring as all get-out, but at least I can do some form of running.

I think we're also on the verge of having our future figured out, so that will cause way less stress and tightening. My inability to relax may really be my biggest problem.

In Which Erin is Shit-Canned After Two Glasses of Wine

I've hit an all new tolerance low. Cheap drunk? Sure. How about, can't hang and has to be put to bed at 9:00 after what's a normal dinner for most? Yikes. My reputation is ruined. They'll no longer call me "Booze." They'll call me "Snooze."

In celebration of a full-week of strict diet, I went ahead and had that second glass. Wouldn't you? The good news is that it totally prepared me for my entire PINT of beer for Super Bowl Sunday. I am sooooo living on the edge.

But in all seriousness, I feel better than I have in years.

Additional pluses: I can swim AND deep water run without it hurting my knee. And the pool is walking distance. And I have a friend to go with so I don't bore myself to drowning.

Also, my knee has felt markedly better the last two days. And I was getting slightly hysterical. But things seem to be healing up in there.

Also, in the past, when I've been injured or was on some running hiatus, I wouldn't change how I was eating and would of course gain a good bit of weight which would in turn make me uber depressed and I would eat more. I am now officially avoiding that cycle.

I was right in the last post. I could almost see this being a life-style sort of thing. Now that I'm used to it, it's easy to only eat what I'm supposed to. I don't crave anything. I give this whole enterprise my stamp of approval.

Now, when the time comes, perhaps I will be able to train with the same sort of discipline my diet has required.....