A Light Through the Darkness

So, the MRI came back negative for a fracture. Yay!!!

The official diagnosis is:

- bruised femur bone and knee bone (which is apparently separate from the knee cap)
- strained interior ligament of the knee (this ligament supports the knee, so it's the more serious part of the injury)
- fluid on the knee cap

So, the doctor said to stay on the crutches for another 1-2 weeks, and wear the brace full-time for another month, and then wear it when I fence for the next year, just to be on the safe side.

And, he said no fencing until I'm off the brace fulltime. *scowl* He actually said that. So I can't fence for another month...

But I'll be able to fence at Quest!!!

More later.

MRI went well - I should hear early next week. I'm thinking it's going to be bad, though - I could distinctly feel random pieces of my kneecap moving around as the magnets rumbled around me, which I'm sure isn't a good thing. *sigh* Looks like a good possibility that I'll be doing RavenCon on crutches too.

I'm going to hit my gym this week as well and see if I can hit Andrew up with some arm strengtheners while I recover. Legs and abs are out, but I don't want to be doing NOTHING. And I'm going to start tracking my food again on Prevention, and hitting the WW boards again. I am NOT going to let this injury derail my weight loss goals. I refuse.

Going to be looking at some foods I can prepare ahead of time, and going to be doing my bentos for lunch. I bought Cheerios and milk today for breakfasts, and the soda is gone. *yay!* I did buy a 6-pack of Polar Classic Root Beers, but they use cane sugar, not HFCS, so I don't feel as bad about it. It's also only a 6-pack.

We aren't making it to Dartmouth tomorrow - my leg is sore, and I'm going to take the opportunity to cook and rest. Tuesday looks like more crappy weather - sigh. I'm ready for this winter to be over. Either that, or to move.

Speaking of moving, I've been looking at all the cons in the SC/NC/GA area. Yay! I'm going to be able to do a bunch of cons when we move!

I'm also pondering titles for my podcast. I'll be talking about writing (duh) and being a working writer, and the Red Sox (I know, shocking). I've got two possibilities so far: Dark Magic and Dirty Water, or Out in Left Field. Any other suggestions?

The Good: I can go back to work tomorrow! Yay! And they approved the MRI - I go on Saturday!

The Bad: The xray was inconclusive, so I need the MRI. And it showed fluid on the knee.

The Ugly: The doctor thinks I might have fractured the kneecap, and that the fluid is hiding it on the xray. Bah.

So we'll see. Mom's looking at home - my father had a full leg brace from when he blew his knee out, and hopefully I'll be able to use it.

Bleah. I hate winter.

That's what my knee currently looks like, leading me to believe that I will NOT be going to work tomorrow. *sigh* I'm going to take it easy tomorrow - my doctor thinks I might have done some damage to the bottom of my knee, and I'm off to an MRI in a few days.

I spent nearly 4 hours on the crutches today, which is part of the reason I think it's so swollen now. Luckily, tomorrow will be only my first day off without pay, so it's not too bad.

But dammit, I wanted to go back to work. *sigh*

Writing: Got another 1108 words done on the outline yesterday. I'm a bit worried about how the outline is coming out - I'm up to Chapter 24/25 and still in November, but meh, we'll see. I think I can cut out some of the early stuff, but I don't want to until I have the entire thing done out. I think I'm just suffering from more sequelitis. I really do. I have to have SOME confidence in my stuff!

Personal: First, I hate naproxen. HATE it. I always feel sick on it, even when I eat when I take it. Bleah. Nausea is NOT FUN. However, the swelling is going down, which is a good thing. And naproxen and vicodan together give me some rather bizarre dreams, none of which I remember except as a feeling of WTF???

Today I am going to write, fold laundry and make dinner. Those are my lofty goals. I'm hanging out in FM Chat and DII Chat if folks want to join me!

Wow, braces really do make all the difference! Hot damn!

I have drugs now (just the naproxin, but hubby will probably be going out again tonight to get chinese (if I can convince him) and the vicodan. Or maybe I'll go out. We'll see how I'm feeling) and Pepsi, and a knee brace that was a stone bitch to get on but feels really good now. I'll be out until Wednesday, because doc won't clear me to go back without seeing me, and can't see me until Tuesday (bah). Crutches tomorrow. Writing today.

Things are slowly looking up.

I hate winter. I hate winter. I hate winter.

Well, now I'm out of work until TUESDAY. Why? Because I went out this morning at 5:45 am to go to the gym, slipped and fell, and dislocated my right knee. *sigh* So now I get to sit on the couch with ice (well, frozen broccoli at the moment) on my knee and the leg elevated. Bah.

Well, now I have no choice not to write, huh? Guess I'd better get into gear.

More later.