My life as I know it
How stem cells can change my life
and help me live it to the fullest
First, let me give you insight into my journey from very active to having a handicap pass.
My knees have been steadily degrading since my early 40s. I was an avid (Read: Six days a week) Jazzercizer. I didn’t see any limits to what I could do. I hiked, climbed whatever needed to be climbed and said yes to every activity from volleyball to softball and skiing – both water and, later, snow.
I tore my meniscus at 42. I had the repair and was back at Jazzercize in six weeks.
I started skiing at 45 and tore my ACL on the first day of lessons. I skied the rest of the week with two layers of neoprene holding my knee in place. Obviously, I didn’t know what I’d done. When I got home, I returned to my Jazzercize routine and discovered lateral movement wasn’t possible so I scheduled an appointment with a great orthopedist.
I had surgery on my ACL in May, completed rehab by August and went back to Jazzercize with my rehab professional’s blessing and warning to take it easy.
Six weeks later, I got into the ortho’s office where he said I was doing great – so I asked if Jazzercize was OK.
“Absolutely not,” he said.
Since I had already resumed it, I shut my mouth and kept Jazzercizing.
In December, I saw him again. “You’re doing great,” he said.
So I said, “So, it’s OK if I go skiing.”
Know what he said?
“Absolutely not.”
I’d already bought my pass and airline ticket so I swore to myself I would only ski greens. My first lift of the day took me to a green-free zone so I skiied blues and then blacks the rest of the week with my ski-buddy friends.
OK, so I’m good at rehab and not so good at minding the "rules."
I got a CAD brace for my left leg. (Read: Expensive and custom made for me) and it gave me a sense of security and allowed me to continue skiing. It did not keep my knees from continuing to lose cartilage. It didn’t keep me off the slopes until I broke my ankle badly Dec. 27, 2015.
Surgery, a plate and five screws later, eight weeks on a knee roller, and I realize that I have to slow down. From 1995 till now, I saw more orthopedists. I have had hyaluronics, steroids and more. Some didn’t work at all, some only for a short period of time and then I was back begging for more.
Inclines and declines, stairs, going from sitting to standing or standing to sitting are all challenges. I got a standing desk at school because it was easier to stay standing than to get up without looking like an old person. I hate my knees.
So now my life changes. In early December, I meet with with the expert at doing the injections at Integrated Medical NT and will start my journey to fearing nothing.
My knees have been steadily degrading since my early 40s. I was an avid (Read: Six days a week) Jazzercizer. I didn’t see any limits to what I could do. I hiked, climbed whatever needed to be climbed and said yes to every activity from volleyball to softball and skiing – both water and, later, snow.
I tore my meniscus at 42. I had the repair and was back at Jazzercize in six weeks.
I started skiing at 45 and tore my ACL on the first day of lessons. I skied the rest of the week with two layers of neoprene holding my knee in place. Obviously, I didn’t know what I’d done. When I got home, I returned to my Jazzercize routine and discovered lateral movement wasn’t possible so I scheduled an appointment with a great orthopedist.
I had surgery on my ACL in May, completed rehab by August and went back to Jazzercize with my rehab professional’s blessing and warning to take it easy.
Six weeks later, I got into the ortho’s office where he said I was doing great – so I asked if Jazzercize was OK.
“Absolutely not,” he said.
Since I had already resumed it, I shut my mouth and kept Jazzercizing.
In December, I saw him again. “You’re doing great,” he said.
So I said, “So, it’s OK if I go skiing.”
Know what he said?
“Absolutely not.”
I’d already bought my pass and airline ticket so I swore to myself I would only ski greens. My first lift of the day took me to a green-free zone so I skiied blues and then blacks the rest of the week with my ski-buddy friends.
OK, so I’m good at rehab and not so good at minding the "rules."
I got a CAD brace for my left leg. (Read: Expensive and custom made for me) and it gave me a sense of security and allowed me to continue skiing. It did not keep my knees from continuing to lose cartilage. It didn’t keep me off the slopes until I broke my ankle badly Dec. 27, 2015.
Surgery, a plate and five screws later, eight weeks on a knee roller, and I realize that I have to slow down. From 1995 till now, I saw more orthopedists. I have had hyaluronics, steroids and more. Some didn’t work at all, some only for a short period of time and then I was back begging for more.
Inclines and declines, stairs, going from sitting to standing or standing to sitting are all challenges. I got a standing desk at school because it was easier to stay standing than to get up without looking like an old person. I hate my knees.
So now my life changes. In early December, I meet with with the expert at doing the injections at Integrated Medical NT and will start my journey to fearing nothing.
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