Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Beginning - the Injury, the Healing, What is This Stuff?

It started January 1st, 2016.  Like most New Year’s resolutions it began with weight loss.  Four weeks later I was down 18 pounds and spent the next two weeks trying to break through the 20 lb. mark.

Then it happened.  Destiny perhaps?  While increasing exercise time, resistance, etc. I injured my left knee.  As that week went on the pain worsened.  Work was a significant challenge.  I spent 3 days laying on the living room floor.

Finally, I called the orthopedic doctor and scheduled an appointment.  That same night I had a meeting to go to.  The knee hurt too bad to go but I didn’t want to miss this particular event.  I hobbled in and sat down where I stayed while others networked.  As people sat at my table to talk one particular woman hovered nearby.  When the others left and I was alone she approached me and asked what I had done to my knee.

I shared my story and she asked if I believed in natural remedies.  I said I did. She talked about collagen and I told her I felt as a powder our bodies just pass it through.  She mentioned chondroitin which I told her I was taking a capsule of chondroitin daily.  Then she mentioned hyaluronic acid, or HA.  Hadn’t heard of that.  She mentioned the 3 items were in a drinkable nutraceutical that absorbs orally in to the blood stream and it is all natural. I was interested.

My knee hurt so badly that I believed I would need a scope, a procedure, or a surgery.  I was ready to try any relief.  She gave me a sample.  The next day she gave me a bottle.  Three days later I shared with her my pain was half; that I thought I was having a placebo effect.  She sent me info proving there is no placebo effect with this.  Another 3 days went by, the pain was half again.  I told her I was worried that when I went to my orthopedic appointment the next day the doctor would find nothing and I would get no x-ray, no MRI and no treatment.

The next day came.  No MRI, but I did get x-rays, my knee was injured, and there was swelling and water on the knee.  But it only hurt when the doctor pressed in one spot on my knee – far better than when I was couldn’t move for 3 days!

Prognosis - 2 physical therapy sessions a week for 4 weeks.  Ugh!!  By the time I started PT my pain was down to a 1.  I was the only patient sailing through PT with no pain.  I became a believer, still do.  That’s my testimony.


And today, a year later - no pain, no residual effect.  So… what is this all natural stuff.  Stay tuned…


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