My summer troubles caused me two injuries to my already messed up knees. The first happened in July, according to my doctor--the meniscus on my left, my worst knee! I knew I had been in horrible pain when I went to my son's wedding in Corpus Christi and felt horrible because i had been so much better for a while. Then the first week in September I was shocked with the sudden pain on my right knee, actually right below my right knee, forcing me to keep my leg straight or have a very piercing pain that almost got me into tears. I even had to take an advil at two different times in order to be able to get up from a sitting position. As a result of these injuries, I was sent by my primary doctor to have some physical therapy twice a week for some weeks. The lasered my knees and my back, which was also causing me lots of pain, had stuff done by a chiropractor and had to sit in a massage chair. Finally yesterday(9-18-10) and today(9-19-10) I was able to return to my normal exercise routine. I also found a wonderful book called ANCIENT SECRETS OF FACIAL REJUVENATION and I have started to read and hopefully I will be able to apply some of this facts to myself.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Friday, September 3, 2010
Yoga and my Health, Sept 3, 2010
I had done terrific work with my yoga and my exercise routine for two years and four months, getting much better in my mobility...could manage a few steps by myself, just using my cane whereas before I had to hang on to my son's shoulder besides my cane. I had added small exercises to my routine, some with my knees, while lying sideways on my bed--40 per leg in rapid succession; some knee bends;hip twists;and even some arm exercises. I was very proud of my accomplishments, considering that I was on my own, not going to a gym, but still kept it going daily, or at least 6 times a week, every single week. In fact, I keep a log of my exercises on my weekly calendar journal, even writing the number of repetitions I do a day!
But then, in July, I had some emotional problems that caused me to go into depression , and depression always causes serious health problems on my health. I got a real bad dry cough that left me with pains on my ribs with excessive coughing. The cough made me get a lung infection that turned into bronchitis and then near pneumonia. I had to see the doctor and got some antibiotics that caused me some reactions. During all this time in July, I stopped doing my exercises, because I was having trouble breathing. Then I traveled by car to my son's wedding in Corpus Christi. the lack of exercise and the sitting in the car for hours, caused me to be in excruciating pain just to walk, and torture to go up and down simple steps.
Then we came home and we moved from our apartment to a house, which involved hours, days and weeks of sorting, packing, and cleaning. All this extra work wreaked havoc with my health, especially my left knee. It got to the point that when standing, all my weight was solely on my right leg and the left leg was just touching the floor with no weight on it at all. This then my right knee start to be in deep pain too. It became almost impossible for me to even stand in front of the stove to cook--pure pain! I slept a lot, trying to give my legs some rest, and trying to catch up on lost sleep while moving, but although I started back on my exercise regime, my left knee stayed in constant pain, but the rest of my legs felt better. So today, Sept 3, 2010, I went back to the doctor's office for a cortisone shot and I will start my exercise regime again, like I did two years ago and hopefully I can keep my daily exercises uninterrupted for more than two years, and then maybe I won't need more cortisone shots, even if I can have one every three months three times a year.
But then, in July, I had some emotional problems that caused me to go into depression , and depression always causes serious health problems on my health. I got a real bad dry cough that left me with pains on my ribs with excessive coughing. The cough made me get a lung infection that turned into bronchitis and then near pneumonia. I had to see the doctor and got some antibiotics that caused me some reactions. During all this time in July, I stopped doing my exercises, because I was having trouble breathing. Then I traveled by car to my son's wedding in Corpus Christi. the lack of exercise and the sitting in the car for hours, caused me to be in excruciating pain just to walk, and torture to go up and down simple steps.
Then we came home and we moved from our apartment to a house, which involved hours, days and weeks of sorting, packing, and cleaning. All this extra work wreaked havoc with my health, especially my left knee. It got to the point that when standing, all my weight was solely on my right leg and the left leg was just touching the floor with no weight on it at all. This then my right knee start to be in deep pain too. It became almost impossible for me to even stand in front of the stove to cook--pure pain! I slept a lot, trying to give my legs some rest, and trying to catch up on lost sleep while moving, but although I started back on my exercise regime, my left knee stayed in constant pain, but the rest of my legs felt better. So today, Sept 3, 2010, I went back to the doctor's office for a cortisone shot and I will start my exercise regime again, like I did two years ago and hopefully I can keep my daily exercises uninterrupted for more than two years, and then maybe I won't need more cortisone shots, even if I can have one every three months three times a year.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
March 16 Update on my Yoga Exercises
Exercises always add to what my medication is doing and the medication helps myexercises...the two things work hand in hand! I first started the yoga exercises right after the cortizone shot on my left knee. I took advantage of starting the exercises when I was not in pain. That was two years ago and I have felt much better. In fact my knee pain never returned at all, and I think it may have been because I have made my circulation be better, but of course not perfect yet.
This month I was given an oppportunity to better my circulation more and I took that opportunity and things are better, but of course there is much I can still do.
On March 4, I went to the doctor and he decided to give me antibiotics and some pills to stop inflamation, because he said my ankles were not only looking bruised but seemed to be having fever. He was afraid of some virus as a result of bad circulation. (My ankles always seem to have an indentation as if tied up with something tight around them.)
Because the first two weeks in February I had not felt well at all and I blamed it on the fact that I had been doing only 3 days of exercises a week, I decided to make sure I never skipped any days at all and try to have 7 days per week of exercises every week. After the doctor's visit and the new medication, I was able to add some new routines to my exercises besides doing them every day. I also changed the order of the routine.
My usual routine was to do 200 leg lifts with each leg and then "try" 20 double leg lifts. I now changed it to 20 double leg lifts first and maybe because my legs were not swollen as usual i soon relized after some days that I can now do the double leg lifts better and acually lift my legs all the way up..together! Then after each 20 leg lifts, I now do 20 knee back bends, while lying down sideways, until I finish the 10 times I do the 20 leg lifts interjecting the knee bends. On my second week of doing these knee bends, I increased them to 40 knee bends. I then added one double leg lift at the end , keeping both legs up for a count of 20,while making circles with each leg. I got that from some instructions for some exercises used to prepare for belly dancing. the instructor in that website said that yoga helps prepare for the other exercises, so I thought it would be logical to add them to my yoga exercises.
By the way, I went to the doctor today and he said that since I had shown improvement on the condition of my ankles, he would continue both perscriptions longer and would leave me on the ones against inflamation for A WHILE.
This month I was given an oppportunity to better my circulation more and I took that opportunity and things are better, but of course there is much I can still do.
On March 4, I went to the doctor and he decided to give me antibiotics and some pills to stop inflamation, because he said my ankles were not only looking bruised but seemed to be having fever. He was afraid of some virus as a result of bad circulation. (My ankles always seem to have an indentation as if tied up with something tight around them.)
Because the first two weeks in February I had not felt well at all and I blamed it on the fact that I had been doing only 3 days of exercises a week, I decided to make sure I never skipped any days at all and try to have 7 days per week of exercises every week. After the doctor's visit and the new medication, I was able to add some new routines to my exercises besides doing them every day. I also changed the order of the routine.
My usual routine was to do 200 leg lifts with each leg and then "try" 20 double leg lifts. I now changed it to 20 double leg lifts first and maybe because my legs were not swollen as usual i soon relized after some days that I can now do the double leg lifts better and acually lift my legs all the way up..together! Then after each 20 leg lifts, I now do 20 knee back bends, while lying down sideways, until I finish the 10 times I do the 20 leg lifts interjecting the knee bends. On my second week of doing these knee bends, I increased them to 40 knee bends. I then added one double leg lift at the end , keeping both legs up for a count of 20,while making circles with each leg. I got that from some instructions for some exercises used to prepare for belly dancing. the instructor in that website said that yoga helps prepare for the other exercises, so I thought it would be logical to add them to my yoga exercises.
By the way, I went to the doctor today and he said that since I had shown improvement on the condition of my ankles, he would continue both perscriptions longer and would leave me on the ones against inflamation for A WHILE.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Update on Yoga--1-22-2010
The only way that I can endure and continue my yoga routine is thanks to my i-pod. I've even realized that it depends on the music I am listening as to how fast I finish my routine of 200 leg lifts per leg. If I am in a hurry, I'll listen to Dragonforce and I can finish in about half an hour, but usually I do it like yoga is supossed to be, slow, and it takes me from 40 to 60 minutes. The important thing is that I never skip more than three days in a row or in one week. My goal is to do them six times a week or the seven days is my ideal goal!
This month marks two complete years of the yoga routine, and on the first two weeks of the third year, I have done them every single day. In Fact, I am trying to do them twice a day for one day during each weekend--200 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. I am also trying to add some arm routines and other routines as soon as I can. If my legs look and feel so great after two years of yoga, I want the rest of my body to look as good and be in better shape! It feels as if I am redoing myself in a better shape and better health! This fits in with my philosophy that everything is possible if you believe and in this case if you work faithfully at it.
This month marks two complete years of the yoga routine, and on the first two weeks of the third year, I have done them every single day. In Fact, I am trying to do them twice a day for one day during each weekend--200 in the morning and 100 in the afternoon. I am also trying to add some arm routines and other routines as soon as I can. If my legs look and feel so great after two years of yoga, I want the rest of my body to look as good and be in better shape! It feels as if I am redoing myself in a better shape and better health! This fits in with my philosophy that everything is possible if you believe and in this case if you work faithfully at it.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Odilia's Yoga to Recover
On January 2008, the diagnosis was that my knees were bad, very bad. In fact my left knee was completely torn apart and could literally fall apart if I fell when it failed me. I had constant pain and sometimes my left knee would throb like a bad tooth even when I was just sitting. The doctor gave me a cortizone shot on the left knee and showed me what was possible by replacing it completely. I was supposed to return in three months for another shot or for a knee replacement.
It was a hard decision for me since I had never had had any surgery or even been in the hospital before in my whole life. I was 64 years old, weighed 254 and had heart problems and I really did not think I could endure being on crutches for six weeks or handle the physical therapy after the surgery.
The first thing I realized was that since the knee pain seemed to be gone, I should return to some yoga leg lifts I used to do in the past to get my legs in a little better condition for the extensive therapy that would come later and maybe lose some pounds.
So on January 15, I started with 20 leg lifts with each leg and 10 leg lifts with both together. It was a bigger effort than I had imagined because I had trouble breathing and it tired me so much I had to stop and rest between leg lifts. I continued the rest of the month skipping them every other day to recover from the tiredness of each session.
By the beginning of February, I found out that I could do them on a daily basis and not be as tired as the first week. But I was having big trouble with the two leg deals because I could only lift them like 6 inches off the bed, where I was doing them, since I couldn't get down on the floor.
By the end of February, I started adding more to the number. I was up to 60 leg lifts per day and then 100 and by April when I went to my doctor's appointment, I was doing 200 per day per leg. I realized I could manage to walk better with the help of the cane and I also realized that with the medication for the high blood pressure and my exercises, I was breathing so much better and getting tired less. Having less trouble with my leg circulation made my heart work better since it had less work to do. I had made my knees work better and my heart too.I was really surprised. I also had another nice surprise. I used to have ugly knotted varicose veins on the back of my right thigh and these knots were now gone, disappeared after more than 30 years of having them there.
Then my doctor gave me a bigger surprise. He said that since the rest of the leg muscles were supporting me so much better, I really didn't have to replace my knee for several years or maybe never. He asked me about the amount of pain on my knee and I had none so I didn't even need the cortizone shot anymore, but could have it later if needed.
Today, on October, 2009, I have not have neither the knee surgery or the cortizone shot at all, but I am still doing 200 leg lifts five times a week. I soon realized that if I skip more than three days in a row, my knees start having some pain, my ankles get swollen and even my heart starts giving me the symptoms I had when I started on this routine. So it is really up to me to be sure I am okay by keeping up with the routine. I also need to add other exercises to get my arms and upper torso in better shape.
Oh, yes, I now weigh only 228, since last summer and I have lost several inches from my waist, my hips and my legs feel slimmer too and stronger. Yoga is working a miracle with me!
It was a hard decision for me since I had never had had any surgery or even been in the hospital before in my whole life. I was 64 years old, weighed 254 and had heart problems and I really did not think I could endure being on crutches for six weeks or handle the physical therapy after the surgery.
The first thing I realized was that since the knee pain seemed to be gone, I should return to some yoga leg lifts I used to do in the past to get my legs in a little better condition for the extensive therapy that would come later and maybe lose some pounds.
So on January 15, I started with 20 leg lifts with each leg and 10 leg lifts with both together. It was a bigger effort than I had imagined because I had trouble breathing and it tired me so much I had to stop and rest between leg lifts. I continued the rest of the month skipping them every other day to recover from the tiredness of each session.
By the beginning of February, I found out that I could do them on a daily basis and not be as tired as the first week. But I was having big trouble with the two leg deals because I could only lift them like 6 inches off the bed, where I was doing them, since I couldn't get down on the floor.
By the end of February, I started adding more to the number. I was up to 60 leg lifts per day and then 100 and by April when I went to my doctor's appointment, I was doing 200 per day per leg. I realized I could manage to walk better with the help of the cane and I also realized that with the medication for the high blood pressure and my exercises, I was breathing so much better and getting tired less. Having less trouble with my leg circulation made my heart work better since it had less work to do. I had made my knees work better and my heart too.I was really surprised. I also had another nice surprise. I used to have ugly knotted varicose veins on the back of my right thigh and these knots were now gone, disappeared after more than 30 years of having them there.
Then my doctor gave me a bigger surprise. He said that since the rest of the leg muscles were supporting me so much better, I really didn't have to replace my knee for several years or maybe never. He asked me about the amount of pain on my knee and I had none so I didn't even need the cortizone shot anymore, but could have it later if needed.
Today, on October, 2009, I have not have neither the knee surgery or the cortizone shot at all, but I am still doing 200 leg lifts five times a week. I soon realized that if I skip more than three days in a row, my knees start having some pain, my ankles get swollen and even my heart starts giving me the symptoms I had when I started on this routine. So it is really up to me to be sure I am okay by keeping up with the routine. I also need to add other exercises to get my arms and upper torso in better shape.
Oh, yes, I now weigh only 228, since last summer and I have lost several inches from my waist, my hips and my legs feel slimmer too and stronger. Yoga is working a miracle with me!
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