Doctor Heal Thyself

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  Well, here I go again.  Four years after the first arthroscopic knee surgery, I've had another, more invasive surgery on the same knee...just buying time until there's nothing left and I've got to replace the joint; but until they tell me they've got a bionic part for me so I can leap the tallest buildings in a single bound, I'll do the best I can with what I've got left.  That being said, I've got six weeks of physical therapy ahead of me and some life style changes to make during those six weeks.  Since I've already been through this experience, I know where I made my mistakes over the past four years and why I've landed in the same situation again.  For starters, no pityparty!  I've the green light yesterday to get into the pool, so I'm charging up my waterproof ipod and it's into the pool with me today to begin walking and then do some upper body workout with the pull buoy between my legs.  I might only last 15 minutes, but it's a start!  Second, I've gone back online to "Lose It" - the FREE online app where you can count your daily/weekly calories and track your exercise regimes.  Excess weight is just terrible for the knees, so I will lead by example and I've got a goal of 10lbs to lose by April 1st.  Planning my meals and weighing my foods helps tremendously.  I have helped many a patient lose 50lbs or more, so I should be able to help my own fat self.  Third, I'll be receiving acupuncture from my mentor (sorry folks - you don't get to stick me), doing my physical therapy and doing what my therapist tells me to do - stay on the crutches, keep the leg up and don't go out in the snow on the crutches.  Fourth, I'll be changing my mental attitude and setting new lifestyle goals.  Unfortunately, I cannot kid myself anymore.  There will be no more jumping rope, running or kicking bags or people for fun.....what a drag....BUT, there will be swimming, spinning, some boxing, conditioning, and just maybe......some tennis down the road one of these days.  I still don't count golf as anything other than a lovely day outdoors.  So, stay tuned for more news and if you are rehabbing from your own surgery or injury, please feel free to comment or post with your own progress or questions, funny stories or observations.  There's safety in numbers.  Doctor Heal Thyself....JUST YOU WAIT AND WATCH WHAT I CAN REALLY DO!!!

What Are You Made Of?

Less than a week after I subluxed my right patella, I was back punching a heavy bag and practiced perfect form kicking the bag with my good leg.  No pity party or lame excuses here.  I had a week to chose:  feel sorry for myself, go off my diet and eat through my misery, or stick with my program, eat well and concentrate on healing.  At the end of 6 days, I'm feeling pretty good and got back to my Insanity 90 Day Challenge Exercise regime this morning.  Since I was feeling fearless, I decided to get onto the scale...when I took my hands away from my eyes (cause I really hate to look at the numbers), I saw that I lost another 3 pounds....that's 20lbs so far, and I've got another 2 weeks to go in the 90 day challenge.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  I've said this before and I'll say it again....Winners don't quit, Quitters don't win and Losers never try.  I'm a Winner....who are YOU and WHO do you want to aspire to become?  No time like the present....enroll in my Wellness Program today and become a Champion and Inspiration to others!

What To Do If You Experience A Subluxation Of Your Patella

Thursday, while exercising, I was doing some 180 degree jumps, when my upper body turned but my right leg didn't.  Ouch!  Subluxation of the patella (kneecap).  My patella was skewered upward and to the right of where it normally should be.  So, I telephoned a colleague and hobbled over to her office and had my patella gently coaxed back into position and was taped up.  I slowly made my way back to my office where I used low level laser and some gentle needling techniques on the affected leg.  By Sunday, I was hitting golf balls and able to squat down...95% better and without pain.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you experience a subluxation of your patella, do what I did for myself...call Duffy and Bracken on Maiden Lane here in Manhattan.  Tell them I sent you and have the knee cap put back where it's supposed to be.  Then get yourself into my office for low level laser and gentle acupuncture.  You too, will be able to get back out on the golf course 2 days later and hit balls; 4 days later, you'll be back to your regular exercise regime.  Take it from me...been there, done this one too!
Kelley Mondesire'  917-701-7582
Duffy & Bracken 212-402-5430

Acupuncture For Knee Pain

As usual, I overdid it recently.  Too much jumping, kicking and of course...those 4" heels - all contributed to some achey and painful knees.  What's an acupuncturist to do?  I went to my colleague for treatment.  Before seeing her, I could not ascend or descend stairs at all.  Squats were out of the question as well as any type of aerobic activity.  One day after treatment, I was able to walk with no pain.  Stairs were still a bit tricky.  Two days after treatment, I was back to jumping, kicking and the stairs have been no problem at all.  O.K., I'll lay off the heels for another day or so...

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  There is a good reason why my patients are referred to me by orthopedic surgeons.  It is to PREVENT surgery.  Acuupuncture is highly effective for knee pain.  We just don't treat the knees, we treat the root cause of the pain (which sometimes can be coming from either the feet or the thoracic spine).  If you are experiencing knee pain and are tired of being miserable, call or email the office today.  917-701-7582  k@kmondesire.com

Acupuncture Treatment For Traumatic Sports Injuries To Knees

Traumatic sports injuries to the knee may be significant precursor events to early onset of posttraumatic osteoarthritis. A MRI is an integral tool to identify structural injuries to articular cartilage and cartilage degeneration.  Acupuncture therapy has long been used to treat traumatic sports injuries for both the professional and amateur athlete.  Elimination of pain, increase in range of motion, and reparation to minor tears of articular cartilage and other connective tissues are common treatments in my clinic.

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  got bad knees?  Want to participate in your favorite sport without pain?  Want to perform better?  Call or email the office today and make an appointment.   Join the hundreds who have regained their quality of life and their favorite sport by having acupuncture therapy.
917-701-7582
k@kmondesire.com

Knee Pain and the Posterior Thighs

Knees are tricky business, indeed!  But did you know that quite often, knee pain is a result of insufficient strength of posterior thigh muscles?  Yessiree...lack of strength of the semitendinosus, semembranosus and biceps femoris can lead to instability of the knee joint because they attach at the superior and inferior posterior ends of the thigh (to put it in plain English).  Women, particularly can 'hyperextend'  at the knee joints, which makes them look like bow-legged sailors (not a very attractive look for skirts and dresses).

Here's Your Healthy Tip of the Day:  If you are experiencing knee pain, make an appointment today for an orthopedic evaluation and treatment.  Acupuncture is highly effective in the treatment of orthopedic injuries and along with your treatment, you will receive suggestions for muscle-strengthening exercises that will make you legs long, hard, lean and mean, and...oh yeah...you'll get rid of that nasty knee pain in the process!

1 Pound Of Fat Equals 6 Pounds of Pressure On Your Knees!

Did you know that just 1lb of excess weight adds 6lbs of additional pressure on your knees?
Let's do some simple math here....if you are 10lbs overweight, that means that you are putting 60lbs of addtional pressure on your knees!!  If you are 20lbs overweight...that's 120lbs of additional pressure on your knees.....imagine you are a 5'5" woman whose ideal weight is 135lbs.  You are 20lbs overweight...that means that you are walking around like a 255lbs woman.  Now...if you go out and jog, you are putting 255lbs of pressure with each step you take...
So, when you're thinking about the extra cheese, roll or added serving of high fat sauce, keep that fact in mind.....
How's that for your free tip of the day??

Progress of the knee

To all those who asked....I've been able to do the subway steps today...gently and slowly, but getting there.  The knee is becoming more and more flexible; stronger and stronger everyday.  Today, while during my physcial therapy exercises, I added shadowboxing into the mix...very carefully push kicking with my right leg and practicing knees with the left - imagining I was once again, back in the ring or training for another fight.

Read more about sports medicine, injuries and how to make a comeback from a physical injury by logging onto the link I've got listed on this blog.  You'll be surprised with how much you learn and how important it is to take care of yourself!!
http://www.kmondesire.com/sportsmedicine.html