Chapter 16: Les retrouvailles
On Oct 31, 2018 at 5:43 PM CH wrote: Subject: Colette's Condition
Katerina - thank you for your patience. The MRI showed a partial tear of the muscle/tendon junction between right thigh and pelvis Therefore the doctors had asked me to stop all teaching activities. But I did not stop. And the situation of pain and inflammation got worse. Then the doctors advised to meet with an orthopedic surgeon specialist.
In my mind, that meant at least 3 months of total rest and/or surgery. In other words, the end of my 35 years of intense tango dancing and teaching.
However, I had an appointment with the specialist. She went through with a methodical and full dynamic test exploration of my legs and pelvic area and concluded that the issue is NOT so much the damaged tendon but a moderate osteoarthritis affecting mainly the "superior labrum" (cartilage degeneration). The muscle/tendon pain is just a consequence and symptom of it.
I was told that, luckily, because of my light weight and excellent health plus a lifetime of activity and very intense bodily movements due to my profession, she believes that the degenerative process can be stopped and even reversed as it has been caught on time.
She wants a multifaceted approach therapy:
Cortisone shots at the joint.
Specific physiotherapy to alleviate pain and increase limb functionality
Natural ingredients in over-the-counter pills (turmeric-based) to help cartilage regeneration.
Conclusion: It seems that there is hope for me! She said I can keep teaching with moderation, and that, if all goes well, I could eventually attain full recovery.
Thankfully it has been discovered on time by a specialist!
So, tomorrow, my first rehabilitation session with a physiotherapist to decrease the pain and increase strength and range of motion
I am going to Buenos Aires with Katerina. This is a fact of life!!!!! I would have never expected such good news today!
Colette's medical update brought unexpected hope. What doctors had initially feared might end her dancing career had transformed into a manageable condition with a promising treatment plan. The final words of her email resonated with her characteristic determination: "I am going to Buenos Aires with Katerina. This is a fact of life!!!!!" I felt myself exhale for what seemed like the first time in weeks. Still, as the Palm Springs conference approached, her health dominated my thoughts, creating a background anxiety that no amount of professional focus could entirely dispel.
The conference itself presented its own challenge. In that small-world way that haunts queer women everywhere, my ex, the first woman I had ever loved, was the keynote speaker. In another time, this coincidence might have consumed my attention. Now, it registered as merely a footnote to my concern for Colette. Still, I maintained my professional composure, engaging with colleagues and delivering my presentation with practiced focus.