Rest, Then Ride - a Knee Cure ?

Twisted knee takes longer to mend than anticipated; a 30-mile, flat and fast ride moves it to ride-ready state.

After the initial swelling went down, the knee seemed to get worse. Bone-on-bone pressure would not let me walk without discomfort and any twist or side pressure was painful. I stopped all riding except very light stuff - which actually opened my eyes to the pleasure of just going places on the bike. I rode the Epic at a very easy pace on the home trails and then met Donna up on Route 40 as she returned from a Willard workout. Then, after a full moon rising over Willard Mountain dog walk, I rode into the moon lit night to watch the fireworks from the Elks Club. The planets and moon and lightning bugs were all the fireworks I really needed. After circling the large sweetcorn field behind Hand's the fireworks started just after 10 pm. I was riding as slow as I could go, even just had on sneakers. It was a memorable night of wandering in the night on a bike and being treated to natural and man made fireworks.

My knee just kept getting worse with all the rest. I became despondent thinking that all year long I wait for the good weather of summer, and then when the weather is absolutely spectacular, I am 'resting and recovering' instead of riding. Which is fine, except the knee is not responding. I start thinking about knee replacement for the future and wonder if I will get to do the activities I want to do later in life - hiking the ADKs with Donna and ridn - snowboard and bicycles, and start getting depressed.

In order to keep some level of aerobic condition I decided swim at the Y. A good set of laps for 45 minutes one afternoon provided a boost to the spirits and condition. The next day the knee felt no better or worse and I just decided to ride the bike to see where I was at. I selected about as flat a route as possible from home. Out past the fairgrounds, down to Thompson and out Route 4 along the Hudson - against a strong head wind. I felt good and strong and though I did not want to push it, wound up averaging about 19 MPH into the wind. I turned at the 15 mile mark and then took it easy with the help of a tailwind. I was a bit uncomfortable and had to take out the foot and flex the knee a few times on the way back. Took a side detour along the river at Fort Miller. Taking it very easy on the climb back up Booth's hill and returning to home, I felt good. I iced the knee and took ibuprofen after eating a light meal before bed.

Waking the next morning I forgot about the knee when I walked around the house. Then I remembered and was amazed that there was absolutely no pain when I walked. I felt good enough that later in the day I mowed the backyard. I decided that was enough of a push this early, but I am encouraged. Today I will do another similar type of ride to see where I am at. Hopefully, Donna and I will do some riding or hiking over the 4th of July Holiday.