Bones

Using this image again, because it's so right!

I had my first physical therapy appointment yesterday to work on my bum knee, and I got a surprise.

It's not my knees, it's my feet.

The therapist interviewed me and asked me questions about my knee pain, and then went on to ask about other pain - hips, back, feet, etc. She got very interested as I talked about my right foot, which has had some plantar fasciitis pain in recent years. She nodded, went "Hmmm," several times, and wrote things down on her pad.

The whole thing is like that old song, "Dem Bones":

 

Toe bone connected to the foot bone

Foot bone connected to the heel bone

Heel bone connected to the ankle bone

Ankle bone connected to the shin bone

Shin bone connected to the knee bone

Knee bone connected to the thigh bone

Thigh bone connected to the hip bone

 

To compensate for the weakness of my left knee, which I injured at the age of 22 when I fell off a trapeze, I have been favoring my right leg all these years, letting it take most of my weight. To firm up that right leg, I have been broadening my "base" by toeing out slightly on the diagonal, canting my foot in a way that has developed a strap of muscle on the outside of my knee - which under stress, pulls my knee out of whack.

I've been given some stretching and balance exercises, to realign my foot so the center of gravity is where it's supposed to be.  These are tiny, minute exercises; holding position for thirty seconds. Yet they are more difficult than I could have imagined.

Hip bone connected to the back bone

Back bone connected to the shoulder bone

Shoulder bone connected to the neck bone

Neck bone connected to the head bone

 

The hardest thing about it is THINKING about changing my walk, and REMEMBERING to do it. I will never totally get rid of knee pain, much of it is due to osteoarthritis. But if I keep working on it, perhaps I'll correct my stance, and keep this poor kneecap where it's supposed to be.

Dem bones, dem bones gonna walk around

Now hear the word of the Lord.