#528 P79X

With just 11 days to go in the P90X program, my efforts have come to a screeching halt. For some time now, even before I started P90X, I've been having pain in my knee. I have arthritis, and I know that, but I started having pain behind my knee, too, and the pain just felt different. In fact, I thought it was pain from the veins in my legs, but when I went to the vein specialist, he told me my circulation was excellent and that he didn't think the pain came from the vein. So I endured it because once I started the P90X program, I didn't want to go to a doctor and have him tell me to stop the workout, so I just endured the pain and discomfort.

Finally, though, I couldn't take it anymore. My knee was really swollen and the pain behind the knee could be pretty intense. MT was getting concerned and convinced me to see my knee doctor, so I saw him on Friday.

The arthritis is getting worse. The bones in the right knee are actually touching now, which caused the swelling. There was fluid build-up on the joint - that's what the body does to try to protect the joints from trauma - and the fluid was pressing on the back of the knee, causing that pain. The doctor said it's fairly common to have that pain when the joint is as swollen as mine was. To give you an idea of the size of the knee, people at work would ask me if I was wearing a brace on my right leg.

Anyway, the doctor drained the fluid from the knee, then gave me an injection of euflexxa along with a shot of cortisone. I'd never had my knee drained before. I didn't enjoy it. And it's just gross to think of liquid coming off your knee. I couldn't watch. I don't mind getting shots, but I can't look at the needle inside my body. EWW. The cortisone portion of the shot was pretty painful. Yes, the knee was numb, but I could almost feel the cortisone going in and it didn't feel good. Today the injection site is a little tender, but I'm walking with barely any limp and I feel pretty good.

That's the good news. The bad news is that Dr. Richards told me to lay off the exercise for awhile. I shouldn't do anything that puts pressure on the knee joint. He said I can swim (but I don't know how), then I could ride a bike or workout on the elliptical, but only do those two things at a light intensity. I didn't do anything today and it felt really strange. I mentioned that I was going to try my stationary bike tomorrow, but MT told me not to. He said just to take the time off and that I'll be ok. So I guess I will because I want this series of shots (I get another one on Thursday and one the following Wednesday) to last a little longer than the first series did (a year and a half).

But Dr. Richards said that the shots usually last a little less time each time you have them. Eventually I'll probably have to have the joint replaced. I don't like the sound of that, but I'll do what I need to do to not suffer from the pain. It's no fun.

So that's my story of P90X. It wasn't very effective for me. I didn't lose any weight at all - in fact, I gained weight. :o( I don't think I lost any inches. My tummy is still flabby although there is muscle underneath the flab. I can feel it once my fingers sink through the fat. (yucky image; sorry!) I would say that I am more flexible and there has been some toning. One of the reasons I started P90X in the first place was to see if I could do it. I can. Another reason was because I was getting burned out on my regular gym routine and I wanted a change of pace. I got it, and now I miss the classes that I was taking.

When I get back from vacation, and my knee is working well, I'll be back at the gym, but I will add some of the things I liked about P90X to my routine. I liked the strength or resistance training, and I will add that aspect although I'll keep a heavy cardio element. I want to burn fat.

11 DAYS UNTIL VACATION!