@Fit4Family Oh boy, the highs and lows of a long recovery. It's so
difficult at times, especially when it's been going on for what must seem to you to be an eternity. hugs to you!!
Soft tissues,, esp. angry ones, take a long time to calm down. Have you ever heard somebody, with a sprained ankle, say that their Dr said they would have been better off to have fractured it? Bones knit faster, but soft tissue, which is our support team; our "go to guys" need a lot of time. Mainly because, even with being injured or inflamed, we still ask them to help us walk, carry, rise out of our seats-etc.
So, it sounds like you are healing and your doctor has reassured you, but it's so hard to be patient, isn't it?
The knee is a very complex joint with several attachments swooping down and around the joint. I think that is why your knee is so sore and wonky.. it's the attachments of those tendons(muscles) and they are super grumpy.
I'm happy to read about your massage therapist, a good one is a valuable addition to your care.
If yours has the extra training and certifications for corrective medical, then she/he is most likely perfect for you. It's important to research anybody who will be working with you and your body and just like any specialty, there are good ones and bad ones.
I had my second massage yesterday and boy did it ever help.. I am very vocal in asking for work in the areas that I know need help-- tensor fascia latae, iliotibial band, which inserts down at the knee joint and like you my rectus femurs is a very whiney child who needs coddling.. hahah (sigh) I thought I would only be able to handle light pressure but found moderate pressure to be heaven!
Then she was able to "search and recover" some of the cranky muscles on my lateral calf.
One of the bonuses of massage is the extra flow of blood to the tendons and ligaments, I was taught that our tendons/ligaments don't have a direct blood supply so just imagine how a gentle massage can flush those areas with oxygenated blood!
I had a discussion about this with my husband just last night and he is now going to have another duty on his already long list.. I want him to do a 5-10 minute massage on my leg each night so it's getting an extra boost while I sleep and regenerate. Nothing deep or technical, rather a flushing of the soft tissues.
Wish me luck with this, he is less than thrilled..
We are having gorgeous, sunny weather this weekend. I am practicing my thankfulness for the weather and for the ability to enjoy it. I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday, too!