Knee-cessity is the Mother of Invention

Due to the hole where my previous parking spot used to be at work, the construction going on in the parking lot, and the continued work I’ve been doing on knee-hab since my clumsy fall last summer, I decided to think “outside the parking lot” – at least until the first freezing rain in the Autumn.

There is a daily fee to enter the parking lot at one of the places where I work.  Street parking is prohibited during the day except for those who have permits and those who get the permits are the residents.  But that permit zone doesn’t go on forever.

I took a drive to find where the permit zone ends and decided to park on the street and walk to work from there.  I wouldn’t have been able to do that since my fall, but I began this process as soon as I could tolerate walking further than the farthest parking spot inside the property.  Knee-hab is a process . . .

I’ve already saved nearly $60.00 and walked 92 blocks – just to and from work.

Note to self:  Ju$t keep doing it!

Knee-hab

It’s been four weeks since I slammed my knee into the concrete at the fire station.  I am walking without crutches most of the time.  I walk with a little bit of a list to the port side.  I haven’t gone to the orthopedic surgeon yet for a few reasons (excuses): 1)I don’t wanna, 2)Too busy, 3)$$$$$!, 4)Stubborn.

So, while I work on my excuses, I decided to take my recovery to the next level.  I’ve been walking a bit – but with crutches for longer distances outside – and trust me – the distances are not nearly long enough.  Whatever I have left in my knee that isn’t damaged needs to get stronger so I’m ready tomake use of my stationary bike.

It sits in the corner and mocks me most of the time.  I bought it at a thrift store for $2.37 and I love it!  Everything works: the timer, the resistance adjustment, the seat adjustment, the video screen with bike trails through the woods. (just kidding about the video screen).

Because of crushed lumbar discs from an injury when I was young and stupuid, I don’t sit comfortably on a bike seat for long.  A recumbent bike would be better, but would take too much space in my little house.  I could go to the gym and use one there, but I came up with a solution.

Here’s how I ride my stationary bike.  Sorry the illustration is so crude – but there will be no actual photos of my knee-hab!

I roll the bike to the middle of the living room, adjust the seat to a high position (so my knees do hit it), lie down on the floor behind the bike and pedal away.  I can read and knit in that position, but most of the time I just listen to music. 

When Goodnight was younger, I lowered the seat to her height, let her sit on it and put her feet on top of mine and we could pedal at the same time.  She giggled, but go some exercise on winter days when it was too cold to get outside.

Another option is to put my bike in front of a chair and sit that way, but I like the floor the best.

Just thought I’d throw my crazy solution out there for someone with a hitch in their giddyup like I do.  This morning was the first time I’ve been able to give the bike a try since I fell.  My knee still makes a lot of noise when I walk, but I want to strengthen the stuff around the noises, I guess.