On Thursday morning I went to play basketball, as usual. At one point, someone heaver than me fell against my leg, bending the knee in a way it didn’t want to go. It hurt a little, too much to continue playing, but I was able to hobble off the court and drive home. I iced it up and took it easy for the next couple of days.
On Saturday I felt pretty good, and went back to play basketball. Wouldn’t you know it, like a sore thumb that keeps getting hit, someone larger than me landed against my leg again, same leg, same direction. This time there was more pain, and I needed help to get off the floor. One of the doctors playing with us examined the leg, bending it this way and that, “Does this hurt? How about this?”, and concluded that it was just a sprain, nothing serious, and would heal by itself in a matter of a few days. In fact, I was feeling better already and was able to walk to my car and drive home.
As soon as I got home, we loaded up the car and drove to Prescott, where Gisele’s church was holding their annual retreat. I always enjoy this time, because I can use the excuse that I don’t understand Cantonese very well and it becomes my own private retreat, walking in the woods, sitting on the balcony or under trees reading, and just taking it easy.
Soon after we arrived, they held their basketball tournament, where most of the men and boys played games against each other. At first I was just going to be a spectator. Then they talked me into being a referee. Finally, seeing that I could move around on the court without any pain, I decided to put on a jersey and play, but with the clear understanding that I would not be running and would just stand around and take open shots if they were presented.
That’s how it started, but I saw that if I ran in a straight line, without putting sideways pressure on my knee, it felt OK. After I hit a couple of shots it was hard to hold back.
I played a couple of games, then went back to my room to shower. I iced up the knee again, which was starting to feel sore, and mostly took it easy.
This morning when I tried to get out of bed, I couldn’t put any weight on that leg at all. I almost fell to the floor when I tried. I slowly limbered it up, took some ibuprofen, and after a while I was able to walk to breakfast.
It’s now Sunday evening, and it’s feeling better, but still weak and hurts if I put weight on it while it is bent. I still believe it is just a sprain, and expect to recover in a few days (if I can let it rest!). But if it doesn’t get continually better, I may need to get x-rays.
Basketball may be the death of me yet, but it’s also what is keeping me in shape. I have not found any safer alternatives that I can find the will to do regularly.
10 responses so far ↓
1 Don // Sep 5, 2010 at 10:05 pm
Haven’t you hurt yourself quite a few times playing basketball?
Sorry to hear about the latest issue.
2 Mom // Sep 5, 2010 at 11:39 pm
Don’t you conk out on me! What would I do without you for all my problems? Dad’s rechargeable flashlight won’t. I’ve tried recharging both units, and the charger gets quite warm, but no bright light. And my hearing aide is again “Beep-beep–beep. I had them on tonight at Heather’s, and can NOT hear with them. I’m going to get out my old ones and see what they do.
3 Mom // Sep 6, 2010 at 10:21 am
Oh, yes, and my ear phones on my computer don’t work again. I’ve kept silent–don’t want to disturb my neighbor by playing bingo.
You can’t be incapacitated; you have to lead Dale and Karen on a hike through the Sierra Nevadas!
Mom
4 Dale // Sep 6, 2010 at 3:05 pm
What you need is a good Physical Therapist to examine that knee and tell you what damage there is. I am lucky to have a daughter that fits that bill. She and I will be there in a month to test that knee on a hike. Please be careful in the mean time, I have been hiking all summer on a torn meniscus that I keep reinjuring because I won’t stop doing what I love
5 Richard // Sep 7, 2010 at 5:24 am
I’ll bet your high school friends would be surprised to learn that your biggest problem in your 50’s was sports injuries. Hang in there.
6 Don // Sep 7, 2010 at 7:38 am
Daryl’s niece is married to a PT and they live in the Phoenix area. I bet he could see him if he wanted.
7 Daryl // Sep 7, 2010 at 10:06 am
The knee is feeling better every day, though I probably won’t try basketball until Saturday at the earliest.
If the improvement isn’t continual, I may consider seeing a PT or MD, but I’ve sprained my ankles many times and this seems like the same thing only in my knee. Rest it, ice it up the first day, then heat pads. Let it heal itself.
Dale, if I’m still in need of a physical therapist by the time Karen gets here, you may be going hiking without me! But that won’t happen unless there’s another injury.
8 Mom // Sep 9, 2010 at 11:27 pm
Have you forgotten that Karen is also a Physical Therapist. She may be giving you treatments on your hike.
9 Daryl // Sep 10, 2010 at 9:08 am
Mom, we talked about Karen being a PT, but decided that if I still needed physical therapy by the time she gets here, I probably won’t be in any shape to take a hike.
The knee feels pretty good today (Friday). I’m going to attempt to play basketball tomorrow and see how it feels.
10 Daryl // Sep 11, 2010 at 11:28 am
I played basketball today without any serious problems. The knee is tired, and I’ve iced it up as a precaution, but unless I get hit again I am on the road to recovery.