Weak in the Knees

All my life I've enjoyed running, and as an extension of my own passion my dogs have become runners too. While we may not have ran marathons, we've raced each other through neighborhoods in both sun and rain. The camaraderie of being on the same miniature track team has always been an excuse to practice training behaviors and an expression of joy.

On the weekends we took to the trails - but before or after work our favorite route is Portland's Willamette Boulevard. Our round trip of three miles passed scores of homes that we saw bought, remodeled and sold along our well tread sidewalk. While running I would marvel at the improvements made by new owners simultaneously trying to prevent the dogs from ruining newly planted grass. Hundreds of runs gave me a sense of ownership that extended well beyond my block and each workout made me feel not only stronger but prouder to live in North Portland.

The opposite side of Willamette Boulevard drops off into a bluff covered with dense weeds and an occasional tree that is far older than any of the homes lucky enough to be a neighbor. Far beyond our favorite path we can see out over the bluff to the powerful Fremont bridge connecting North Portland to what others might say is the more desirable addresses in NW Portland. I prefer my neighborhood that also looks out over the incredible expanse of Forest Park across the river. Occasionally the skies are so clear I can see crayola colored sunrises over Mt. Hood when we turn back toward home.  I wished that the dogs would look up and marvel at the sights but they have always been more interested in sniffing the shrubbery. When our pace came to a brief pause for the dogs to investigate I was allowed to catch my breath and then let it be taken away again by visions of the city I love.

A couple years ago Raleigh was running around on a walk and suddenly started limping. A visit to the veterinarian revealed she had blown out the canine equivalent of an Anterior Cruciate Ligament. Having wrecked both of my ACLs and having them both surgically repaired I felt it was important for a young dog to be made whole again. We invested my entire savings that year for corrective surgery and seeing her run again without a limp was well worth the investment.

Leaving Raleigh at the veterinary office was heart wrenching. She was so nervous and scared and I felt no better when the staff admitted each time that I called to check her progress that Raleigh was a little more stressed than the average dog. When we went to pick Raleigh up, she hobbled as fast as she could with her freshly shaved leg made monster-like by the angry looking incision set against a pale skin that I had never seen the color of. Raleigh buried her face in my legs, trembled and whined. I had left her in a situation she could not comprehend and now in an extreme amount of discomfort she forgave me as long as I just held her close.

The orthopedic surgeon had explained that Raleigh's genetic melange predisposed her to such injuries; when German Shepard and Collie mixed the resulting structure of her legs failed to meet in the normal manner and extreme amounts of jumping and braking inevitably led to her injury. By restructuring her leg and adding a metal plate the leg would be almost invincible if it healed properly.

The healing process meant eight weeks of restricted movement and close supervision. The first few weeks were easy enough because Raleigh was so loaded up on painkillers that she didn't want to move much. By week five she was getting restless and the second half of her recovery was like keeping a caged gorilla yearning for freedom. Slowly we began short walks and in time we were told it was safe to run again.

Then it was my turn. My left knee was starting to give me a huge amount of discomfort and my own orthopedic surgeon determined that a  large calcium deposit had formed in the knee. A year after Raleigh had her surgery I was hobbling around in recovery. Luckily I was not on restricted movement but I was told my running days were over just as Raleigh was ready to start training again.

Well intentioned friends have suggested I take up biking but it's not the same without my training buddy. I yearn to run and know that Raleigh does as well. Unfortunately her exuberance has once again caught up with her and the other leg now requires the same surgery. From what I'm told it's quite common for the second hind leg to go when the first is repaired. The veterinarian smiled meekly as he said, "On the positive side, it's the last time she'll need this type of surgery."

So now we're preparing for a second surgery this week, but this time I'm better armed to help Raleigh through the ordeal. Instead of just dropping her off and letting somebody lead her away, I'll ask to stay with her until she is sedated. To alleviate boredom her meals will be stuffed in Kongs and I'll provide some smoked bones because the extra calcium will help her heal. To keep her company at night we're moving into the guest room for the next two months.

While Raleigh is recovering I plan on stepping up on my own strengthening regimen. Instead of the occasional trip to the elliptical machine I'm going to add in strength training and yoga. In thirteen weeks when Raleigh is ready to run again, I hope to accompany her on at least a slow jog. And in the waning hot days of summer we can once again collapse exhausted on the grass of our nearby university, a place where we can rest in the shade before running back toward the sunrise and our favorite destination: home.

For more information about Weak in the Knees go to this article more about Weak in the Knees