I realised when writing the update about my continence clinic appointment, that I hadn’t written about my physiotherapy (physio) appointment on September 27th.
I started a few times, but I was feeling frustrated and annoyed, so I kept deleting it 🙈
Left knee pain and sprains
The GP referred me for physio because on two occasions, I’ve got my leg stuck in a bent position during Yoga. It felt like an elastic band was pulled super tight on the inside of my left Knee. Whenever I tried to straighten it, it felt like it was going to snap. The pain really was intense! Both times, I spent a good 10 minutes on the floor, doing small movements in all directions with my knee, whilst massaging it. Obviously, I eventually managed to straighten my leg.
Ever since the first time it happened, it’s been so easy to hurt it again. A small wrong twist, a little bit too long a walk, a movement in yoga, etc. Sometimes it just starts hurting and I don’t know what triggered it this time.
It’s probably worth noting that I have fibromyalgia (since 2018), and inflammatory bowel disease (since 2007), so joint pain, particularly in my knees and ankles, has been part of my life for many years. In fact, the first note in the GP system of me complaining about knee pain dates back to 2011. This new pain is different. Sharper.
I don’t know anything about the anatomy of the leg/knee, but Google told me the area of concern was the medial knee ligament. So, I diagnosed myself with repeated medial knee ligament sprains and just started wearing my knee support and avoiding certain yoga postures. I didn’t actually go to the GP about it, but it came up when I was there about something else!
Physio assessment appointment
I thought I was going for an actual physio appointment, but when I got there, it was simply an assessment to see if I needed to attend physio…
As is usually the case, the day of my appointment, my knee didn’t actually hurt, making it difficult for her to understand the range of movement when it does hurt.
She said I have left-sided medial meniscal irritation and I need physio, but the waiting list is long. She texted me some knee exercises to do in the meantime. I still don’t really understand what happened during those two episodes in which I couldn’t straighten my leg. Apparently, the issue is actually occurring because I have poor hip control and my alignment is off. She said I need to strengthen my pelvis, but she didn't give me any exercises for that, so I assume that's what physio is for. I'm sure by the time I get the appointment, I'll be well on the way to sorting it myself anyway.
My weakness and misaligned hips and pelvis are where the frustration came from, that stopped me posting an update before.
I started physio before COVID-19 because I was constantly pulling my back. He’d said that my weak abdominal muscles were the cause. I’ve had seven abdominal surgeries and live with an ileostomy, so is it any wonder there’s weakness there?! I only had two sessions before COVID shut everything down.
I realised that yoga included a lot of the same exercises that the physio had given me, so I started doing that during the first lockdown. Parastomal hernia risk is high, so that’s something I’m always aware of, but I did it. My core is stronger. I am stronger. I pull my back A LOT less now, and I’ve found yoga really benefits my mental health as well as my physical health. I even experience less fibromyalgia pain thanks to daily yoga!
I expected my body to be in better shape. I genuinely believed that everything was much better aligned now, so I just felt gutted and deflated to find out that it wasn’t. Now I need to start incorporating the physio exercises into my daily life, and I’m worried it’s going to mean I have less time for yoga. I’m worried that less yoga means my mental health might decline, which usually happens in the Winter months anyway! Why should I have to choose between a misaligned body and a misaligned mind?! It doesn't feel fair. I feel like throwing a paddy because I simply don't want to. So yeah, there it all is. Frustration and all!
Wish me luck!
