As if this team needed another member to be submitting a “medical update” !!!
Well, as Paul W wrote in his detailed summary of Training #5 to Kumotori-san, I damaged my knee about 4-5km before reaching the peak lodge (Kumotori-Sanso) Saturday night. It had started sending me little “notices” much earlier in the day, but at one point, when we were struggling along the muddy and snowy trails, it basically went from the simple FYI Notes to a full blown Executive Memorandum ! It was excruciating as I could not put any weight on it in any type of “downhill” movement. When going uphill, it was fine, I could put my weight on it and push off … but going downhill, the full body weight would drop on it and I would feel weakness (side to side wobble) in the knee in supporting the weight.
Anyway, it made Sunday quite a challenge … but long live Aleve ! I was popping them like M&M’s (don’t tell the doc) and they did the job for a good bit of the return trip … until the very last descent down to the road, at which point it was seriously painful. So apologies to Paul for having slowed our pace on Sunday … I just did not (could not) go any faster. But I think we still made good time on our return … apart from the “off-course” bit 
OK … as for the prognosis … I have a severely swollen Fibular Lateral Collateral Ligament (LCL) of the left knee. Nothing can fix it except rest, massages and hot pads … so I’m on it. Needless to say, I will not be doing the next training hike … but having done the first five, I’m feeling quite positive. And yes, I have gone out and purchased knee braces to be added to my gear inventory. L-Breath is making a ton of money from all these Oxfam participants !!
By the way, it’s only Wednesday and it is feeling better … still quite sore … bit still, I have no concerns that it will impact my ability to participate … especially now that I have the knee braces … for BOTH knees.
I guess it was just a matter of time before my body would remind me of my age ! 
Loading ...