Do you want to know my secret?  (Do you promise not to tell?)

OK, here’s the story: I injured my knee a week or so ago.  I’ve always had problems with my left knee.  A few years ago, I was diagnosed with patellofemoral pain syndrome, which is basically (from my research) an overuse issue.  Last week, I ran when I was in Toronto and felt some discomfort but no pain.  However, I didn’t ice my knees like I usually do after running.  When I returned home on Monday, I went for a run and experienced some pain.  I stretched and iced when I came home, but my knee still hurt.  The next day, I discovered that my knee was all swollen and painful.  Eff.  I haven’t done too much since then because rest is good, and I’ve taken ibuprofen and iced.

Classy icing system I’ve created, but frozen vegetables are also recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians! 

Anyway, I called the orthopedist I saw last year for my ankle problem, but they couldn’t fit me in for two weeks.  Thanks!  I sure hope it’s nothing serious!  So instead, I called my primary physician because I just wanted to make sure that I haven’t totally messed up my knee.  They fit me in on Friday.  First I saw the nurse, who insisted on weighing me and saying, “Wow, you don’t look like you weigh that!”  Lady, it’s not a compliment to tell someone that she doesn’t look like she’s that fat.  And this brings me to my post title: I weighed myself today, and while I still weigh too much (i.e., I may actually look this fat), my scale says I weigh ten pounds less than my doctor’s scale.  And I promise I wasn’t wearing ten pounds of clothes on Friday (can anyone tell me how much a pair of Converse weighs?).  Anyway, the doctor finally joins me a half hour after my appointment time and immediately says that she won’t be able to resolve my problem.  I might mention that she hasn’t even talked to me at all or looked at my knee at this point.  I explained my previous diagnosis (since I noticed she didn’t have my chart with her), and I told her that I’ve been taking ibuprofen and icing, and while the swelling has decreased, it’s still not back to normal.  She acknowledged the fluid in my knee and rambled on about what I should and shouldn’t do, never finishing a sentence completely or coherently.  She also said she wouldn’t send me for physical therapy (although I swear that’s what she said she would recommend when she first came in) because all it would do is strengthen the leg muscles around my knee, and my legs “look strong enough.”  Fo’ real?  Obviously, they’re not as strong as they could be…I injured my knee!  So overall, the appointment was a waste of time and money, and I was really disappointed.  And I need a new primary physician (since I had a similar issue with this doctor a few months ago).  In the meantime, my knee is still swollen, but at least now I can feel the kneecap under the fluid.  And like I said, I’ve done some exercising, but I’ve taken it easy on the knee, which is super frustrating.  But what can you do?  It doesn’t hurt as much anymore, but I do feel pressure, so I’m not sure what that is.  I’ll probably end up keeping the appointment with my orthopedist just to be sure there’s no major damage.  And I hope I can get back to running soon.

But hey, at least I’ve finally lost ten pounds!