After several rounds of paperwork (which I'm not sure anyone even read, because I had to keep telling them information that was already written down in at least 2 places), x-rays, and at least an hour of waiting room time, I was FINALLY taken back to a room.
I filled in the doctor on what I had told everyone else on the way back. He had me stand on my tip toes, heels, then left and right foot while atop a small step stool. I then had to step down as slowly as possible from the step stool to the floor on my left and right foot. After this, he had me sit on the edge of the patient bed and push away from the pressure he placed on my shins, calves, and then inside and outside of my lower legs. I was sure I was performing very well on this test!
With his thick German accent, Dr. H stated that I was right to think that the house, dog, and teaching were the source of my problem. Then, he explained a little bit more...
THE PROBLEMS
1) When I stood on one foot, it was completely flat on the ground. He gestured toward my flip flops and said, "Those are the worst things for you." In Florida, flip flops are convenient and necessary! This was a disappointment.
2) My knees, according to Dr. H, like each other too much. He said that when I walk, I should set my foot down and my knee should naturally follow in a straight line behind my foot. However, my knees "kiss" each other. When I stepped down from the step stool, he was watching the foot/knee stepping relationship. He said because of this kissing knee problem, my knee/thigh bone joint was being treated as a rotating joint rather than a hinge joint. If untreated, this would erode the cartilage behind my knee and lead to arthritis.
THE SOLUTIONS
1) Ice the knee 3 times a day for 20 minutes at a time.
2) Take 3 ibuprofen 3 times a day.
3) Go to Physical Therapy 3 times a week to build up the thigh muscles near my hips to gain control over my knees.
4) Wear sneakers or flat shoes with some orthopedic inserts they're going to give me.
5) Come back for a follow-up visit in 4 weeks.
It sure is good that I have the summer off and can go to PT 3 times a week without trouble! Hopefully 4 weeks from now, I'll be better than my usual self. Richard's been calling me his old young wife. If you think about it, please pray this is an easily solved problem!
