We have been laying low since we got to our winter home here in Picacho, Arizona. Mostly because of me. I stumbled in the kitchen the beginning of November, fell on my knee and heard a pop and got searing pain. MRI found that I had 2 tears in the cartilage (meniscus) that surrounds the knee cap, one inside and one outside the knee. Doctor wanted me to go through physical therapy first which I did - hopefully to alleviate most of the pain I was having. When I fell I flexed my knee backwards - sorta bent it in the other direction. So I had a lot of swelling and pain surrounding the patella (knee cap). After 6 weeks of PT, went back to doctor at the end of December, had surgery scheduled January 8, but I canceled it due to problems with my health insurance.
Long story short, I had to go shopping for new coverage which I got, but too late for the rescheduled surgery the beginning of February. In the meantime, I have been walking more and more and getting some stamina and strength back. Yes, it hurts, but as our friend Bob says, Suck it up, Linda. I have decided to suck it up and I canceled the surgery. Will revisit having the surgery (it will not heal itself, will remain as is - or hurt it more and tear more, or - have arthroscopic surgery to shave the torn pieces off as was scheduled) this fall after we get back from this summer's adventures.
Within the last month I have been getting more and more active, walking to get my stamina and strength up. Yesterday we drove down to Sierra Vista, located about 40 miles south of Tucson, to visit a quilt shop I love. After doing some damage there, we decided to walk at the San Pedro Riparian, located along the San Pedro River. 2 years ago we visited the park, I was not able to walk, having just had foot surgery. Dave told me what he saw and I wanted to visit it some day.
Even though we are in the dead of winter, it was very peaceful. We walked the loop trail, about 2.5 miles total, stopping at the pond where in warmer months fishing is done by many. Saw some small coot ducks, mallards, many birds flitting around, very soothing. As we looked towards the south and the Huachuca Mountains, snow was glistening from the middle of the mountain range to the top. Right on the other side of the mountains is Mexico. Lovely day, even though it was quite chilly for us (was 48 out).
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| Lovely place |
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The storm a couple of days ago broke this enormous cottonwood tree
Could not go near it until they stabilized the area |
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| How peaceful looking is this? |
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| Huachuca Mountains and snow |
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| The river is underground here - still was pretty |
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| The old San Pedro House - serves as visitor's center |
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| My kind of trail - flat, no stones |
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| The cottonwood trees are enormous |
