A few months ago I was happily sitting at my computer killing people off, rescuing my heroine and catching the bad guy. Normally I'm kept quite safe while I put my characters in jeopardy. Not that day. You see I tend to type in awkward positions. I tuck my legs underneath my body and lounge in strange angles.
This started a few years ago when the car I was in was rear-ended by a semi-truck. Migraines and neck pain entered my life and sitting for long periods of time can become painful.
Normally sitting in odd positions is comforting. Usually I'm quite happy as a pretzel. Not that day. That day I straightened up to go fetch coffee and I heard a pop followed by excruciating knee pain.
I did what any self-respecting writer would do and went into research mode. I quickly discovered I damaged the cartilage in my knee. What followed was a series of doctor appointments where my family doc said, "You tore the cartilage in your knee." Then a specialist said, "You tore the cartilage in your knee."
Today I go for a MRI to confirm that, yes, I tore the cartilage in my knee. Just so everyone can be sure.
The very thought of being slid into a long tube for a period of time is causing me to break out in a sweat.
The awful thing is that every single day I still try and twist that leg up underneath me when I sit down. It's a habit that sharp pain is trying to correct.
So have you had a MRI and survived? Do you sit in weird positions at your computer?
8 comments:
Oh dear. I sit with one foot in the chair a lot.
Tori, NOOOOO don't do it! Save your knees. Then again maybe your joints are just a lot stronger than mine and nothing will happen :)
I often suffer from knee pain and have to remind myself not to sit with my legs tucked under me or I will not be able to get up. Recently, my son suffered a strained muscle in his knee, he has been going for accupuncture at a psyiotherapist and is back to running 6 km a day. Maybe that is what you need some accupuncture.
How spooky - I too have very bad neck pain due to being rear ended (but by a car). I rely on my Tempur mattress and pillow to keep me sane.
Unlike you I have never had an MRI despite also having dodgy knees. My other half however has had a scan. Years ago he snapped both his cruciate ligaments and had to have a major reconstruction. Since then he has had a couple of keyhole surgeries to 'trim' the cartilage in his knee. Although not the most pleasant of procedures, the last time he was back at work after only 4 days. It helps that we have a very good physiotherapist/friend who went to the 'no pain no gain' school of treatment. And that the surgery was carried out at a very old but very good orthopaedic hospital that is one of the best in the UK by a specialist in sports injuries. He was back to extreme mountain biking in no time!
All the best with your treatment.
twin WR
I had an MRI and fell asleep which was a good thing.
How did your appointment go?
I used to sit with my legs curled under me, but since my accident, the left leg doesn't bend so well. I have to sit normally. :pout:
I think MRIs are fun, but I'm weird that way. I haven't had one in years and years, but the experience wasn't nearly as scary as everyone tried to make it out to be. Slide in, close your eyes and listen to the thump-thump-thump. It's got a good beat, but you can't dance to it.
Good luck with it, and let us know how it goes.
Wendy, have you tried a stool for your feet? I have one that's almost as tall as the seat of my office chair. I use it to rest my feet/legs on and it really helps. The tendency to sit on my foot is gone. :)
LOL. I sleep weird if that counts. Sometimes I sleep on my knees almost like I'm kneeling except my head is planted in the pillows.
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