The past year and a half have found me struggling with a knee that refuses to straighten and a back issue that frustrates and drains me.
It all started innocently enough. I went for a walk one snowy winter day. I didn't slip. I didn't fall. I simply took a step with my left foot. And as I took that step, it felt like my knee cap slid sideways towards the outside of my knee.
Although painful, I kept walking. And I kept doing all the chores that horses and a farm demands. Throwing hay, hauling water buckets, cleaning stalls, pushing wheelbarrows - you get the idea. Oh, the fun!
The more I did, the worse it got. I started limping. Badly. And I can't tell you whether the knee created the back problem or the back created the knee problem.
But soon, I had difficulty doing anything. I went to the doctor and the chiropractor. The chiropractor fixed the back somewhat, but the knee was a constant problem. The doctor advised me it was osteoarthritis and I needed surgery. (That's another story).
It was consistently swollen and hot, and any activity exacerbated it. Massage therapy irritated it, chiropractics angered it, physio aggravated it.
I was at the end of my rope. I went to yet another chiropractor, and to my chagrin, started to cry. I was so tired of being stressed and in pain all the time. I was fed up with being restricted in any physical activity.
BUT, the good news is, I did find something that could, would and did help. It was so simple, but it took a year and a half, thousands of dollars in physical therapy, and a visit to the naturopath to finally address the cause of the problem.
Today, after only two months, I have almost complete recovery! I can once again squat, crouch and kneel down and get back up easily. I am losing the weight the injury brought on due to physical limitations, boredom and stress. (Woohoo!) I am able to ride again, and take a brisk walk.
I still have a very slight restriction in the left leg, but it is so minimal as to be almost unnoticeable. The supposed "arthritis" that was causing the pain in my knee is non-existent.
I can even run! After not being able to put full weight on that leg for over a year and a half, it is an incredible feeling to be able to dodge the sprinklers and run through the garden. It is a treat to be able to kneel down easily to weed! (I know, that's sick).
Feeling and being well has become my priority. And that has resulted in tremendous benefits in the other areas of my life.
How good is that?
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read more blogs!
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Michael194
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Sep 1 @ 1:30PM
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 What happen to you but yours is an inspiring story what with determination the things you can accomplish.
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SimplyImp
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Sep 1 @ 2:13PM
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Absolutely! And thank you! 
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leprichaun_magic
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Sep 1 @ 5:01PM
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,get well soon !
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CHARLIgurl1
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Sep 1 @ 5:17PM
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Keep healing! 
Youve come a long way!
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mystery2u888
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Sep 2 @ 2:44AM
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MahonMacRi
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Sep 2 @ 12:56PM
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You don't know me, but I'm going to do you a big favour, one which will probably save you a heck of a lot of needless pain and suffering further on down the road;
Having suffered the attentions of an orthopedic surgeon prior to discovering the following information, I can assure you that it's MUCH better to get checked for this syndrome before you allow an orthopedic surgeon to perform arthroscopic knee surgery on you.
As it turns out, I suffer from something called "Patello-Femoral Syndrome," in which the kneecap doesn't track properly, and which can (if allowed to go undiagnosed/untreated, as mine did) cause serious damage to your knee cartilage.
From your description of the initial injury ("it felt like my kneecap slid sideways towards the outside") you're probably suffering from Patello-Femoral Syndrome, in which case the problem can be corrected with a series of simple exercises, instead of enduring rounds of arthroscopic surgery and physical therapy.
Unfortunately, PFS often goes completely undiagnosed and untreated, because most doctors/hospitals are in too much of a hurry to treat the symptoms (cartilage damage, pain, immobility) instead of taking the time to discover the real cause of those symptoms. Many people have gone to ER's with similar problems and been told, "It's no big problem, you just have a pinched cartilage. We'll knock you out and remove it, and that'll be the end of your problem." In point of fact, it's just the beginning of far more serious problems for most PFS sufferers.
You're feeling better now, according to your blog, but please be advised; Patello-Femoral Syndrome is a life-long thing, and you'll need to continue doing the simple-but-necessary exercises periodically for many years to come. Fixing (not "curing") PFS is simply a matter of strengthening the muscles, tendons and ligaments that hold the kneecap in place, and periodically refreshing them with further exercises. Failure to do so will result in further cartilage damage down the road.
The facts are in on arthroscopic knee surgery; according to a study recently published in JAMA, in at least TWO THIRDS of such cases, arthroscopic knee surgery has NO real benefits, and only causes further damage! Over the past 50 years, literally hundreds of thousands of people have had their mobility stolen from them and their lives/livelihoods ruined just to make certain wealthy specialists even wealthier!
If I'd only known this before that surgeon got his hooks into me, I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in now; I'm disabled for life and in constant, horrible pain. The orthopedic surgeon operated on me in my mid-30s, and for 15 years since, I've known nothing but ever-increasing pain, suffering and loss of mobility, so much so that they had to put me on morphine over a decade ago just to cope with the pain.
The moral of the story is ALWAYS get a second opinion (or a third, or a fourth, or however many it takes!) BEFORE you let an orthopedic surgeon cripple you.
If my suffering serves no other purpose, I'll endure it gladly knowing that I've helped save other people from suffering the same indignity and immobility I have.
Just my .02's worth, sincerely,  "Mac"
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