my knee is addicted.

Stupid electo-shock type physio.

So, my knees. A hot topic of this blog's conversation. :

Outside of my knee fluid (or lack there of) issue, I recently (this past tuesday) find out that I also have a patella syndrome. Basically, something I already knew...but I was never told the exact name of the syndrome. And right now, the name escapes me (how useful am I?).

So, my patella, which is the kneecap, my femur and my tibia - are not happily living together within the ligament and muscle world that is my knee. Apparently, there lies the "articular cartilage", which is attached, or at least in the vicinity of the patella. My left knee has cartilage left...but it is grinding and suffering some damage. My right knee is bare...or has so little, that it might as well be without cartilage.

This bone on bone grinding issue....I know about. It's painful. And usually, at the end of the day, my knees are swollen. :( Internally, cause there is little to no fluids protecting my actual knee cap...so instead of swelling out, I swell inward.

Now, is this a result of my osgood schlatter's disease gone wrong? From extensive sports as a child? From walking in general? From...????

Why am I bringing this up again? Well, because I'M ANNOYED. I've had a 'specific condition' related to this region...and it's not just 'bone on bone grinding' as I've been told in the past. There are specific parts grinding in specific ways (i only really had a vague idea before - because my knee specialist didn't really sit down and explain it all...he gave me more of a vague knee overview).

BUT....there are KNEE BRACES that can specifically help this condition - to alleviate the pains I feel from this exact problem.

So annoying!!!

I'm now looking into these braces to see which will work best for me. But man, to know that if I need it, that there is a brace out there that will put exact pressure on my patella, so that when i'm driving long distances...I don't have to spend half the trip on cruise control while masagging my poor knee. So relieving.

Then again, in New Zealand, is the gas pedal and brake controlled by the left foot?? I wonder.


Anyway - so my knees have been acting up lately. My left knee is still resenting the attention my right knee is getting. Cause after spending time with the 'shocking suction cups', my right knee feels swell. My left knee feels a bit worse, probably because its condition is heightened by the lack of my right knee's problems.

My right knee acts up when i'm driving...but especially on thursday of this past week. More pain than normal, almost all day long. Then, I step foot into the physiotherapy clinic, sit on the medical bed, and suddenly...my right knee is okay? Stupid knee. It's because it knows it's going to get its shock therapy.

My knee is officially addicted to this physiotherapy. Is that strange?


On a real NZ note - I heard back from someone at the NZ consulate. So, that answers my questions. Onto the next step. Applying. Then I need to get my NZ Tax #. :)

Travel doctor will be seen at the end of December/beginning of January.

GPS shopping will begin next saturday with a trip to radio world!


And in terms of my claim with the city of Toronto - still ongoing. I have a feeling they will prolongue this thing as I have up to two years to 'sue' them if they don't look into the incident. There have been a few people in different sectors that have suggested another liable party, but I can't contact them until the city tells me that it is in fact not the city of Toronto's fault...and that they can confirm that it is this alternate party.

Stupid round about ways. I just want to prevent this from happening to anyone else. ugh.


New Zealand research awaits me. :)

In the Beginning. Physio: Week 1

Ah, New Zealand. You are only 8 months and 11 days away.

Might seem like a long time for some people, but when you’ve been dreaming about this day for years, the waiting to departure is peanuts.


My passport came in the mail this week. That was exciting. :) One more necessary document for the VISA application. The passports are different from my last one (which is now 6 years old). There’s a watermark over the page with your picture on it – kind of makes your face a different colour (redder?). Ugh – that dreadful passport photograph.

Oh well.

I wrote an email to the New Zealand High Commission in Ottawa and the NZ Honorary Consul in Toronto with questions about the VISA application process (conflicting information on two separate official documents). Still waiting to hear from them. :(


Physiotherapy began this week. I guess that’s a good thing. It’s the WSIB physio…so not the full physio that I do require for my knees and hips. More like special treatment for my right knee. I think my left knee is jealous.

I am doing 6 weeks of IFC treatments (something like Intermittent Frequency C…). Basically these large suction cups go on or around my knees and suck in and out (basically breathing) and also administer electric pulses. I felt like a science experiment.

My job is to sit and let the machine do its magic. It’s supposed to increase circulation in my joint and help strengthen my quads. I can only go twice a week…as their office runs on an 8am-4pm schedule three times a week (I can’t get off of work at 3pm!!!). So I go Tuesdays at 6.15pm, and Thursdays at 5pm. Thank goodness work has slowed down enough to enable me to attend at least two sessions a week.

So, I get to sit down and just read magazines. There was a moment when my leg suddenly started convulsing on its own…kind of worried me. My inner right quad muscle was really not enjoying the ‘shock’ treatment. Almost a freaky thing to watch. You just have to pray that your leg will calm down enough to not feel any pain. Or ring the magical bell the physiotherapist gives you in case of emergency.

At the end of the session, my right leg felt better than my left one. There is an unusual increase of discomfort in my left knee...and I fear it's my knee's revenge over not paying attention to its need for therapy.

Oh, and I learnt one exercise. I will apparently learn more on Tuesday when I meet my second physiotherapist.

I was also told to avoid stairs as much as possible. Yet, I work on the third floor of an old school sans elevator. Heh, heh.

After the initial 6 weeks, I have no idea what’s in store for me. I’m in the WSIB physio for 12 weeks.


Hopefully this will help strengthen my knees for the journey ahead.

MEC date

Brent and I had a MEC date last night.

I love MEC. I would vouch for that store and their products forever. That store is like a little piece of Heaven on Earth to me. And it's because I'm interested in everything they sell. They cater to the outdoor adventure person -- from backpacking to camping to biking to kayaking to rock climbing and so on.

I get overwhelmed in the store though, so trips to MEC can be discouraging. I have too much on my mind and can't focus on what I need. A sense that I'm not prepared for this trip - or that I won't go with the right things.

Then I stop and think - it's a luxury to be able to afford items that will help with my trip - and that I shouldn't get overwhelmed. But to cut down on my costs once I'm in New Zealand, I need to make sure I have everything ahead of time.

Anyway.

The Spectre jacket was on clearance from 350$ to 220$!!! BUT...they were sold out and there wasn't any left at their distribution centre. MAJOR BUMMER. That's a huge savings on a coat that has now been replaced by 410$ and 435$ versions. OUCH.

That was a hiccup.

Looking at light dayhiking shoes as a third shoe option. One - backpacking boot; Two - backpacking sandal (with boot treads on the bottom); Three - possibly a lighter boot for day hikes sans back pack. Keen had a pair on clearance...but I wasn't sold on the idea. So, I'll probably miss the clearance for those as I ponder the need of a third pair of shoes.

The Gemini. We saw the tent. So...I don't know. A MEC rep was setting up another tent when we asked him if we could trouble him later to help us with the Gemini. About 20mins later, when we returned to the tent section, he had already set up the Gemini for this other couple, so all the work was already done.

So the pros and cons of the Gemini.

PROS: It's pretty lightweight. It packs small - which is good. It has two doors and two vestibules. It is larger than the Tarn 2, because it doesn't tapper at the feet.

CONS: It has two perma windows on the fly, that you can't cover - which is strange. You can't hook a gear loft properly. You can string one across the top, but not necessarily the most ideal way. The vestibules have no footprint. It's still pretty small - like 100% cozy, not very roomy...which is fine I guess.

It's 271$ + 19$ for the footprint (+?$ for the vestibule under tarps) + 3.50$ for a gear loft + repair kit, which would be wise to bring.

I don't think there is another option - as the next best one weighs a full kilogram more (ugh!).

It's stressful to think you have to fit everything into 23kg on your back. How do you distribute that properly without forgetting anything???

Overwhelmed.

What do I need to remember?

There is the prepping for the country - and then there is the prepping for the actual backpacking. It's a full time thought job.

I have to compile all my lists and see what we need.

Maybe next week, we'll visit Tilley Endurables.

Gemini

At a packed weight of 2.3kg, and sitting .4m wider; this tent may have trumped the Tarn 2.

I checked out the Tarn 2 last night at MEC - and was not as impressed by the size as I wanted to be. This tent is like a mummy sleeping bag, it narrows at the feet. Not so good if there is more than one person in the tent. Sleeping pads will be overlapping, and the comfort just won't be there. And, it wasn't as easy to ventilate...which could be problematic for condensation among other things.

A MEC rep talked to me about the other tents in the same category as the Tarn 2, and Mr. Gemini came up. Unfortunately, more costly than the Tarn 2 by almost a hundred dollars. It does save 400g on packed weight and is a lot more spacious than the Tarn 2...simply by illiminating the narrowing at the foot of the tent. An added bonus is that it has two doors, so if there is more than one person in the tent, you aren't climbing over one another. And - two vestibules.

A bummer - the footprint on this tent doesn't cover either of the vestibules. The Wanderer 2, another tent, does have a footprint that extends through one of the two vestibules, but it weighs 3.7kg (no thank you!).

It's a trade off I guess.

Anyway - I'm going to MEC on Sunday to set up the tent with a rep (yay!). After that, I'll know if it's the one for me. :)


On another MEC note - I saw the new Kokanee 2 Gaiters and was very happy to see the change in the strap. The original Kokanee Gaiters were flawed in their under boot strap design...which held me back from purchasing them earlier. Also - they have replacement strap kits - which is an added bonus to bring a spare set in case anything does happen.

Amazing.


Yeah - so the next few blogs on this page will probably be either about my readings or MEC purchasing/shopping.

Probably not the most entertaining part for some readers - but it's like candy for me. :)