How my knees and liver taught me to heal my whole body
Keeping myself alive and upright has become the foundation of my self-care
Last week marked one of the two times each year when I see most of my doctors to check on my ailing liver. I call it “Doc Week.” It’s like “Shark Week” with a grueling marathon added that offers no medal at the end. The reward, however, is staying organized and on top of my health.
Maybe you have your own version of “Doc Week.” If you’re living with metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), you know it’s not just about the liver; it’s about the whole body.
This spring’s “Doc Week” began with an appointment with my internist and ended at the orthopedist’s office. For years, I’ve wanted to get my rusty old knees replaced, but my gastroenterologist has always put the brakes on that plan due to concerns about how my liver would handle surgery. It’s probably not something most liver disease patients think about — until one of the other bodily systems starts failing and they find themselves needing care outside of their liver issues. I’m no exception.
When I was just 3 years old, I was hit by a neighbor’s pickup truck while crossing the road. My mother watched in horror as I was knocked to the ground and then accidentally run over as he backed up. I can still remember the massive tire rolling over my knees, leaving track marks on my tiny legs. I was lucky to survive.
That accident, I’ve come to realize, cost me more than just healthy knees; it set off a chain reaction that eventually impacted my liver as well. After being bedridden for weeks, I was showered with love and sugar, including cakes, pies, candy popcorn, and every sweet thing imaginable. That sugar rush became a habit that followed me into adulthood and fueled my journey with MASH.
I’ve since learned there’s a link between bone and joint health and MASH, a realization that rattled me. But it also motivated me. These days, I’ve replaced those sugar bombs with leafy greens and other healthier choices. I’m nearly a vegetarian now, with the exception of seafood and the occasional ribeye steak (which I’ve finally mastered cooking to a perfect medium).
Larry the Liver, as I like to call him, is even helping out my knees in his own roundabout way. Keeping myself alive and upright has become the foundation of my self-care. Larry comes first, my heart comes second, and my knees — finally — have taken the bronze in my screwy health Olympics. If my blood work hadn’t shown two consistent years of improvement, I’d still be hobbling along with my joints playing their noisy soundtrack of snaps, crackles, and pops. Thanks to better liver health, I can finally turn down the volume.
You may have never thought about MASH this way, but trust me, your body will thank you later. What other health challenges or comorbidities are you managing? If you’re dealing with arthritis, diabetes, or anything else, getting your systems in sync may feel overwhelming, but it’s not impossible. If the least organized person in the world can do it (“It’s me. Hi, I’m the problem. It’s me“), you can, too.
Tell me about your version of “Doc Week” in the comments below. If you’re coping with MASH, I’d love to hear about it, and how it affects your whole body — not just that little football-sized organ tucked under your right breast. I’m grateful to still be here, creaky knees and all, walking this healing journey. My body is doing its best — and so is yours. Let’s be good to them.
Note: Liver Disease News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Liver Disease News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to liver disease.
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