Date: 2009-08-03
From: Saint Paris, OH

To: Saint Paris, OH
Miles today: 0.0

FINAL UPDATE (26 Oct 2009): All is well! I went through about 6 weeks of physical therapy, then gave my knee some more time to heal, and I'm happy to report that I feel like I'm back to 100% and it didn't require surgery. I went hiking at a local state park two weekends ago and felt GREAT! The leaves were in their full glory. Since I didn't get to hike the southern section of the AT through the fall leaf change, I'll upload some of the shots I took here in Ohio on my weekend hike. Thanks to everyone for their prayers, well wishes, trail magic, friendship, and support of many kinds during the hike preparation days, the actual hike and the unanticipated post-hike "recovery" period. And a special thanks to everyone who donated to the A B Graham Memorial Center. The tally is over $5,000 and donations are still trickling in. If you would still like to donate, please visit www.abgraham.org for more info. I hate that my hike ended the way it did, but God can use all things for His good purposes. I've had many opportunities to serve Him right here at home that I would have missed if I had still been out on the trail. Signing off for now...Cheers...357 Magnum (cecilda_usaf@hotmail.com)UPDATE (2 Sep 09): Good news from the doctors! The final diagnosis was a severe sprain of the MCL with a minor tear that doesn¢t require surgery. There was also some bone bruising. All things considered, I¢m very happy with that diagnosis. I have a couple more therapy sessions and they want me to take it easy for another month (straight and level walking only). I¢m very happy with the healing process so far. My knee¢s range of motion and function has returned to about 90% and I can walk without a limp most of the time. I find that when I am immobile for a while it takes a bit of ¢warming up¢ to get it operating properly again. But, that seems to be true of most of my joints these days! ;-) Happy Trails¢¦MagnumUPDATE (17 Aug 09): MRI is 24 Aug, 1st PT is 25 Aug and post-MRI prognosis appointment is 1 Sep; swelling is way down, function is returning slowly, pain only when I move it certain ways (I know, don't move it that way); will keep you posted...UPDATE (12 Aug 09): Well, I'm told I've probably got an MCL tear and possibly a meniscus tear. I am being scheduled for the MRI (no appt yet) and will start physical therapy on 25 August. Seems strange to me to be scheduled for PT before the MRI is done, but I trust that they know what they are doing. I learned a bit about these injuries by going to http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/kneeinjuries/a/mclinjury.htm if you're interested in knowing more. I feel pretty good about the long-term prognosis but know now that I made the right choice to get off the trail and come home. Thanks to all of you who donated to the A B Graham Center as a result of my attempted thru-hike. I completed just over 875 miles of the trail before the injury...I trust that will be enough considering the reason I had to quit early. If you haven't contributed, but have an interest in doing so, please visit www.abgraham.org to learn more about the charity and how to contribute. I'm considering another "group" trip to the AT this fall; most likely down south during the leaf change once I'm healed. Check back from time to time for news on that, about my healing process and for some "afterthoughts" about this attempted thru-hike. God Bless...DanUPDATE (5 Aug 09): My ortho appt is not until 12 Aug...won't know the extent of any ligament/tendon damage until then...will keep you posted!(3 Aug 09): I just updated pictures (about 100) and journal entries from 19 July to present. If you hadn't heard I fell on Thursday, 30 July and messed up my knee a bit. I was back in Ohio by Saturday and am in the process of getting the knee fully checked out. Initial findings are good. X-rays revealed no damage to bone in/around the knee. The next step is an MRI as soon as I can get an appointment with orthopedics. They gave me a knee brace and told me to keep pushing motrin to keep the swelling down. We should hear tomorrow when the next appointment will be. The swelling is down a lot and I can walk stiff-legged, but bending the knee is still quite painful. More to follow!