By: Blonde Two
Today the doctor gave me the “knee news”. I call it that because I have been expecting it for a long time. I had x-rays last summer and have only just been back to confirm my suspicions. I have mild arthritis.
Mild is good, I can work with that, 20 years is quite a long way away so if they are going to last that long, that is not so bad. I can cope with no longer being allowed to carry a big pack across Dartmoor – (isn’t that is why we take kids out on the moors?) and I think I can learn to juggle two walking poles, a map and a compass (we were given teeth for a reason).
Does having sore knees put me off walking? I am a stubborn one so of course not. Hopefully it will make me go out even more. Since I have suspected I have wanted to make the most of being able to do things. Reminds me of a poem by Ruth Hamilton that Granny gave me when I had my first baby. Apologies for adapting a couple of lines;
“So quiet down aching, pains go to sleep, I’m walking my body and bodies don’t keep.”
Aching knees is part of the joy of walking. Don’t know quite what joy mine will bring me over the coming years now but I think in terms of arthritis a ligament rupture is preferable to a cartilidge tear!!! Mother-in-law has arthritis in her knees and her philosphy is to get out there and walk as much as possible and we still drag her around on 10-15 mile hikes on Dartmoor at the age of 66 – still a spring chicken!!! x