Thanks guys.

I think I’d better just send you my "Belle’s Blog" url then you can keep up with my progress that way instead of putting it on the board.  The last thing I want to do is offend the odd folk using the board.  :)   In my last update I think I remember asking if we could have a non-cah based board because sometimes I feel there are times when people should let their hair down and discuss other issues that are not CAh related but still be with people who understand you and your other CAH related problem’s.  I have to admit I am irritate with the odd post on the board, but this is why I titled my post NON-CAH related.   This has been something commonly done in the past and not something that I alone do.  Not so much these days, but it has been done before.  I wasn’t awre that the practise had been stopped and that we were not allowed to do it anymore.  So again sincere apologies to those bothered by it.

As many will know, I’ve used the board for  some time now (LOL two years now---don’t time fly!) and I forget that there are new comer’s much of the time and that they are perhaps not so familiar with me and my daft antics.  Well I say daft, but as I said in my last update, I just wanted to inspire folks and show them how bad my physique was and what can be done in a short space of time.  My thinking was kind of along the lines that if I can do it with such a high body fat percentage and such slack ab’s after having five kids, then showing you what can be done would be an inspiration to those that feel they are past it by now or TOO unfit.  Obviously this is a CAH related forum, and some people want to keep it that way, but I like to lighten things up every now and again.  My sense of humour and my goals are what keep me sane as a CAH parent, and it would be nice to know what other parents do to keep themselves sane that is TOTALLY unrelated to CAH.

I’m grateful to all those that have posted in support of my efforts.  It has been hard just holidng myself together the last few months, let alone get fit, and I was perhaps just a little too enthusiastic to share something positive in my life that takes my mind of my CAH child/life and something that I enjoy.  I will send my blog url to those that I am familiar with and keep it off the board.  

I just wanted to you know all to share in my new goals in life.

Aimie, you made me laugh!  I have a thong bikini butt (sorry about the pun) I was saving the pic of that until the final "after" shot when my glutes are firmer---or you can actually SEE my glutes.  LOL!  *joke*  iIf you look better than that last shot then my hat is off to you girl!  I am extremely pleased that looking at my physique has made your self esteem soar actually.  It helps to receive support from friends when your doing these type’s of things, and I have seen you all as close friends for quite a few months now.  

Funny when you see people isn’t it?  Especially when you have had a mostly written correspondance with them for such a long time.  Many of you I have never seen and I would not know you if I passed you by in the street.  Those pictures that I have seen have been quite special really as I have appreciated the trust that has come in displaying them to other’s either on the board or individual sites.  It is always nice to put a face to a name. 

I in too much of a good mood to be angry with folks at the moment,  I saw my physio today  whom after a thorough examination of my knee says that there is nothing wrong with it that a few simple exercises will not fix.  I am so relieved actually.  This may not be of interest to some folks so you can click off now, but to other’s...

 

She notes that there is a problem with the way my patella tracks over the bones in the leg. It pulls to the right instead of to the left (tiwards the inside of the leg) and this is causing the inside of the patella to rub and click over the bones. This is due to an imbalance in the muscles in the quads.

The condition can be caused by preliminary arthritic changes in the knee, and this inhibits the function of one of these muscles. From what she says it is FULLY treatable. In fact she seems to feel that it can be corrected within three weeks of physio sessions. She has therefore set me a certain exercise to do whilst simply sitting with the knees at 90 degree angles for now and says not to do weights on the knee. The reason she says I need to avoid weights is in more depth below, but my treatment involves strengthening a muscle that is responsible for pulling the knee cap upwards and towards the inside of the leg. That muscle is in the quadriceps and is called the vastus medialis. If this muscle becomes weak or arthritic changes inhibit its function, it can be overpowered by its companion (the muscle on the opposite side of the quads running up the outside of the leg just above the knee), which pulls the knee cap to up and to the outside of the leg. This creates excess friction and wear and tear on the inside of the knee cartilage itself and is what causes the pain and eventually osteoarthritis if not corrected.

The irritation is obviously causing an inflammatory response and swelling in my knee and excess fluid. If I were to continue to do weights on this crappy system that my leg is using for the knee cap movement (as she said this not me) at the moment, all I am strengthening is the muscle that runs along the outer side of the quad. This then becomes MORE dominant than the weaker muscle which then pulls the patella even further out of alignment.

Who would have thought that one little weany muscle could cause SO much damage, pain and hassle!

Soo I feel my normal cheerful self again (so watch out-hehehehe) you’ll be glad to know.   I’ll be sleeping better from now on.  

Right now I’m have finished boring y’all.  Take care,

Anne-Marie

:)