it's been awhile since I've done something really dumb....that changed today! UPDATED - it's OK!

[NRaleighLiberal]

my wife and I are working on painting a few rooms - I get to climb the ladder and do the crown molding trim. Decided to just work barefoot instead of sneakers. Decided to use a footstool instead of the ladder. Kind of preoccupied - thinking of other things....missed the bottom step. Tried to support myself on my right leg (my "good" knee only in relation to my "worst, other" knee). Felt that familiar sideways give and crunch (I have torn ACLs in both knees, had one scoped for torn cartilage years ago).

So, as I lay writhing on the floor, I hear that familiar voice of my wife "what the hell did you just do"? Me, with footstool not ladder, barefoot not sneakered, could only writhe some more until the white pain subsided....

So here I lay, knee elevated, ice bag, just tried to hobble out to the kitchen....I think this is pretty bad. As in possible surgery bad.

My wife is painting the trim. No, this is not some plot I hatched to get out of the painting job!

Not at all happy, just feeling carelessly stupid at not focusing on being safe (as my wife delicately put it, "we are not as young as we think we are" - so true!).

Anyway, not a happy camper here, but...c'est la vie!

what'll it be, I wonder....just rest and a knee brace or wrap, scoping out some torn stuff.......knee replacements are in my future, but, hell, not yet!

stay tuned...the saga will continue (probably with a trip to my orthopod on Monday...)

....(now where are those crutches?)

[LiberalAndProud]

1. Ouch!

My hubby will attest that missing the bottom step is bad for you. He landed on the coffee table chest first as a result of exactly that. No surgery was necessary. And the clown fish was recovered from the floor and returned to the tank in good condition too. (yay!)

Messing with already bum knees isn't good news. I hope your recovery will be rapid and surgery free. You will see a doctor, yes?

[The empressof all]

2. Oh noes!!!!!!!

Knee pain is the worst. I am gearing up for a replacement myself. It's awful not to be able to get around and function without having to pay attention to how you are moving.

So sad for you....Make sure you are taking anti-inflammatories on a regular basis. And don't try to go all tough guy with the discomfort. Motrin or Aleve or whatever your doctor suggests will ease it a bit

[life long demo]

3. I feel your pain, I really do

Having had a total knee replacement on the right knee and now the left knee is going fast. Just don't want to go through the pain of a replacement. But people have told me that knee replacements aren't as bad as they use to be. I just don't want to find out for myself yet.

Good luck with the orthopod!!!!! Have you had the gel injections yet. That worked for me for about 6 months. The second set of injections did not work at all. Then had the knee replaced.

[pinboy3niner]

4. On the bright side...

...at least there wasn't an open bucket of paint involved!

I hope the damage turns out to be only minor and temporary. Good luck!

[LiberalEsto]

5. Good vibes to you

I hope you feel better soon

[rurallib]

6. good luck dude

I can't help to wonder if that was me with my shit insurance I would probably have to hobble for 15 months until I got to Medicare.

Have had my knees worked on also, so I have some empathy. Good luck.

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Ouch!!! That sounds painful.

Like you, I need a new knee but I've been laid up so much over the last year that I'd like a little up time. The doctor did prescribe Lidocane patches for my knee (called LidoDerm) that help, but are no panacea. Don't think of it as a sign of old age. My niece had her hip re-lined when she was 38.

[1-Old-Man]

8. I wince with sympathy for you.

I hate to see people (or animals for that matter) hurt. I hope the pain subsides quickly and that the damage is minimal.

[ConcernedCanuk]

9. I'm 62, and partially disabled with my left arm.

.
.
.

I am very careful with what I do - pay attention to my body's signals.

Yet, I still haul water, move firewood around, do construction and landscaping on my new property, but only in short bursts of energy.

When the body starts to complain, I stop the choring - although I would like it to proceed faster, it is not an emergency - so I pace myself according to my body's messages.

As for working at heights - I make sure my ladder/chair or whatever other item I'm using to elevate myself is secure.

I live in the bush - help is not readily available - I have to be smart enough to help myself:

Better yet - don't hurt myself.

I take my time.

CC

[femmocrat]

10. What a shame, NRL!

I hope it's not something serious and the first aid helps until you get to the doctor. It is not a good time to be unable to care for the garden!

Hope you feel better very soon! Healing vibes!

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. UPDATE - I got lucky...knee is OK. went to the doc today,

the lack of ACL allowed the knee to buckle, which tweaked the pre-arthritis that is there, caused lots of fluid build up inside, swelling, pain, stiffness.

But, no new damage, cartilage is OK, so just a few days of rest, ice, etc - and I can be back at that painting job with my wife! (maybe I should play it up a bit more...)

thanks all for your words of concern!

[bluesbassman]

12. Hey, glad you got some good news...

Hope you're feeling better soon.

BTW, your wife sounds like a wise woman.

[NRaleighLiberal]

13. far wiser than I!

[csziggy]

14. Excellent news - now let that knee rest!

In the old house I painted all the trim - I was best at cutting in without using tape. We had an old heavy duty coffee table, 30 " wide, 48" long, that I used as my stand. With the 7' ceilings, even 5'3" short me could reach the trim standing on that table and it made it so much easier than having to move a ladder every few minutes. But I did have to stay aware of where the edges of the table were.

We haven't put up crown molding on the new house yet - maybe someday, but with 9'4" ceilings, I am NOT painting any of that trim!

[petronius]

15. Glad to hear it! But don't rush that return to painting - perhaps you should

focus on more of an advisory role (i.e., "Hey, you missed a spot!&quot until the job is done...

[hrmjustin]

16. Hope you feel better.