I had MRI's taken a few weeks ago. Last Friday I found out the results. Multiple tears in cartilage, both knees and both shoulders. The rotator cuff in my right shoulder is so worn out, the arm slips up and down (in and out) in a very painful way. In some areas, the cartilage is practically gone. The Dr categorized my level of arthritis in these areas as a three (on a one to four scale, with one being "mild pain" and four being "stay in the bed pain").
I can have some minor surgery to help clean up the scarring in the cartilage. But honestly, aside from helping to reduce swelling, I don't think it would help too much. When I get older, I will have both knees replaced. The Dr. says for now the best treatment is regular pain management and quarterly steroid shots. I am also working with the Dr on pain management.
Oh well. It could have been much worse.
I think I will continue to build up muscle around all these joints. Maybe this will help some. The damage is being done anyway.
So, I can currently bench 300 lbs (now I know at least eight times) Not too bad for a 42 yr old skinny white punk. I'm working on 380 lbs (that's my goal/the weight bench's limit). I'll continue to exercise in a slow and careful manner so as not to jolt or tear anything, but to build support. Like I said, I go very slow and with good form. The proper form can make all the difference between a bit of gain or a lot of pain. I have to decide about some of the exercises (to determine which ones are ok, which ones I should not do). I will continue to work out my core (very important): crunches (front crunches on a swiss ball, side crunches on the floor, no full situps) - to keep a size 35 waist, pushups (slow, detail-oriented reps - not high numbers) (I once did over 1500 pushups in just over one hour). I'm not sure about suicide presses (using dumbbells - typical 60 lbs workout weight). Bicep curls (50 lbs workout weight, up to 80 lbs for final sweat poppers) may have to go. Any overhead lifting will stop. Shoulder lunges stop. Tricep pushes will continue. And walking. At least I am cutting down the time it takes to exercise.... I feel very depressed about having to cut back. I have really enjoyed this stuff.
So yes, this bothers me quite a bit. Oh well, I will get over it.
It is interesting that all the time I have spent on upper body (and not on the lower body) doesn't seem to have made much negative difference with the aches and pains I now face. I currently weigh 196 lbs (at 6'1"). I wonder what I'll weigh in one month....
I'll quit whining. More later.
posted by nfm @ 10:55 AM
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