login
Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! (Page 2)
-
No new posts
|
 2009-06-03 1:43 PM in reply to: #2191381 |
 Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?!Rogillio - 2009-06-03 6:21 AM Slave Diver - 2009-06-02 9:57 PM How about another perspective? When you are able to train, do so...but take it REALLY easy (let that body HEAL), then show up on race day and have yourself a good workout...however long it lasts. As long as its fun, keep moving forward. When its no longer fun and you hurt, drop out knowing you got *something* out of that race fee. You've been there before, how many times will you have a chance to do an IM JUST FOR FUN?
I'm toying with this. Participate in the rae and plan to DNF? I could take it easy, stop and have some beer and pizza for lunch.....take a nap in the changing tent, etc. The problem with this is, I know me and once I was there I would push myself to meet the cut-offs. Many people have said "get healthy" but that was always a prerequisite. I would not do anything unless my doctor gave me the green light.
~Mike aquabike? Can certainly get through the swim and bike without injury. Just don't put anything in your T2 bag. I don't think you'd try to run it barefoot |
| 2009-06-03 5:25 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Champion  10154    Alabama | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! I got some more information RE the surgery.... I called to ask them how long I'd have to stay in the hospital after surgery and they said if I was going ok, I'd probably get to go home that night. The surgery takes about an hour. They will put a 25 - 30 mm titanium plate between the two vertebrate and secure that with 4 titanium screws. Between the vertebrates they will put a cadaver bone. "Uh...excuse me?! Did you just say cadaver bone?! You are gonna put a dead man's bone in me?" Yes, they put in a cadaver bone from the "bone bank" - I know our local Regions bank doesn't have any bones so it must be a special bank! The idea is this cadaver bone has been molded to fit in a lieu of a disc and then the vertebrate bones will grow into the dead man's bone and the three shall become one. I had some other questions but my haid kinds went blank trying to grasp the dead-man's bone thing. Oh, they also said I could lift no more than 8 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery....about the size of gallon of milk. Yikes! This is gonna be hard for me to keep in mind. . OK, I'm kinda freaked out now....IM this year doesn't sound like such a good idea right now. . ~Mike Edited by Rogillio 2009-06-03 5:29 PM |
| 2009-06-03 5:29 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Champion 19812  MA | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! I recently talked to someone who had upper back/neck surgery done with cadaver bone and it took 12+ months to fully heal as it takes awhile for bone to grow but the pain is much improved. I hope the surgery is a success and you have clear idea what is best for you. Sounds like '10 might be the next IM for you..didn't you mention you were thinking of AZ? That is my plan. |
| 2009-06-03 5:35 PM in reply to: #2193255 |
Champion 10471 Dallas, TX | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! Rogillio - 2009-06-03 5:25 PM I got some more information RE the surgery.... I called to ask them how long I'd have to stay in the hospital after surgery and they said if I was going ok, I'd probably get to go home that night. The surgery takes about an hour. They will put a 25 - 30 mm titanium plate between the two vertebrate and secure that with 4 titanium screws. Between the vertebrates they will put a cadaver bone. "Uh...excuse me?! Did you just say cadaver bone?! You are gonna put a dead man's bone in me?" Yes, they put in a cadaver bone from the "bone bank" - I know our local Regions bank doesn't have any bones so it must be a special bank! The idea is this cadaver bone has been molded to fit in a lieu of a disc and then the vertebrate bones will grow into the dead man's bone and the three shall become one. I had some other questions but my haid kinds went blank trying to grasp the dead-man's bone thing. Oh, they also said I could lift no more than 8 lbs for 6 weeks after surgery....about the size of gallon of milk. Yikes! This is gonna be hard for me to keep in mind. . OK, I'm kinda freaked out now....IM this year doesn't sound like such a good idea right now. . ~Mike OK, who has an extra bone Mike can use? Yeah sounds like rest might be in order after that surgery. We all know you will make the wise choice.  |
| 2009-06-03 7:13 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Veteran 237 WA | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! I just had surgery 6weeks ago for cancer and was training for Ironman CDA this year. I was able to exercise right up until the day before surgery and I cannot believe how much stamina I have lost in 6 weeks. I was allowed to start walking for exercise at 2 weeks but just got released to s/b/r this week. (of course I started last week) My heart rate just skyrockets everytime I try to go at my usual zone 2 pace. I decided before surgery to loan all my stuff out to keep me from doing something like going and trying to race. Part of me wants my stuff back but I know it's best to wait. I'm writing this one off and starting to train for next year now. |
| 2009-06-03 7:53 PM in reply to: #2188551 |
| Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! T in Liberty Lake - 2009-06-02 7:21 AM Which is more important to you? Having a strong back/neck 11 years from now or doing an IM in 11 weeks. Can you pull it off - maybe. X2. My wife had back surgery in January (L5 51 disectomy) ...yeah, seriously, don't do it - you're most-likely not going to be ready. Eeeeeease back into training slowly.
Edited by Dream Chaser 2009-06-03 7:55 PM |
| 2009-06-04 11:31 AM in reply to: #2187745 |
Elite 3235 San Diego | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! |
| 2009-06-04 6:17 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Member 24 | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! Mike I would have to agree with those who recommend against trying to do an IM in such a short time after surgery. While the incision is small, your pain will be much better, and your desire to train will be there think of this: It takes a minimum of 3 months for the fusion to "take". If it does not fuse you can be finding yourself in a situation of possibly needing more surgery. Any surgery takes it out of you for weeks to months. I typically tell my patients that it can take up to a year before you feel "normal". This includes pain, range of motion, endurance, strength etc. Go volunteer and get the race experience from the other side of the fence. If you have never done it, you have missed something VERY special. Do the HIM this fall. Then, plan for next year. Cheers Gray Stahlman, MD Surgery of the Spine Tennessee Orthopaedic Alliance Nashville, Tennessee |
| 2009-06-04 9:06 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Expert 1002 Wind Lake WI | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! Mike, I had back surgery 7 weeks ago, although a different procedure. Trust me, there is no way you'll want to do an IM this year. For me, slowly running a 5K is a challenge. Usually I'm one of the "go for it" crowd, but not this time. Good luck with the surgery! |
| 2009-06-05 4:52 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Elite 4547 | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! Be smart man, don't do it. Recovering from an injury years ago, I thought I could go out and run a 5K after not having run in over a year. I figured since I was doing a ton of elliptical work, I'd be fine! Right? Wrong!!! I couldn't walk up and down steps for almost a week. Come back strong fully recovered. Take your time. You'll be better for it. Good luck! |
| 2009-06-05 5:03 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
Champion 6503 NOVA - Ironic for an Endurance Athlete | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! Seriously, just grab another bag of Doritos and watch your tivo of the view. I think that you are really stretching. PS - You said that you wanted us to tell you NOT to do it, right? Edited by pga_mike 2009-06-05 5:04 PM |
| 2009-06-06 6:17 AM in reply to: #2198215 |
Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! pga_mike - 2009-06-05 5:03 PM Seriously, just grab another bag of Doritos and watch your tivo of the view. I think that you are really stretching. PS - You said that you wanted us to tell you NOT to do it, right?
No, I was daring someone to tell me I "can't" do it...then I'd do it just prove them wrong....becuase I'm just that kind of idiot. But the advice I got was that I could do it but it would not be wise. I really appreciate all the comments and suggesions. I have a better understanding now of what they actually did and what has to happen now for the healing to finalize. Pessing to get the IM in this year would mean risking the vertibrate bone fusion intregirty and is simply not worth it. I had the surgery yesterday and all went well. I now have a titanium plate, 4 titanium screws and a dead man's bone in my neck and a big cut across my throat. I am not healed but am postured to heal...if I can avoid doing anything stenuous until the bones fuse. Thanks again for all the comments on this! It's one thing to get opinions from my friends and co-workers but the comments from my triathlon brother and sisters - especially you iron-types - really means a lot to me.
~Mike |
| 2009-06-06 8:21 AM in reply to: #2192454 |
Elite 2768 Raleigh | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! bigfella3 - 2009-06-03 1:35 PM Ahhh...just do it. Whats the worst that can happen? Better do to it and know afterwards that it was a good/bad idea than not do it and never know. That's what life is about. Do. It.
And this my friends is the problem with BT.... |
 2009-06-06 8:46 AM in reply to: #2192454 |
| Subject: ... This user's post has been ignored. |
| 2009-06-06 11:55 AM in reply to: #2198843 |
| Champion 10154 Alabama | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! PennState - 2009-06-06 8:46 AM bigfella3 - 2009-06-03 2:35 PM Ahhh...just do it. Whats the worst that can happen? Better do to it and know afterwards that it was a good/bad idea than not do it and never know. That's what life is about. Do. It. I'm glad that there has been universal condemnation of this comment. LIke any on-line community there are good and bad suggestions. This one clearly does not have Mike's best interests at heart. Anyone who has talked with Mike knows that he is an outstanding guy who is a true asset to the sport and BT community. I bet almost every BTer who did IMKY knows who he is. What would you recommend to your wife/husband/child? Probobly not what was suggested by bigfella3...
Thanks Fred. That's one of the nicest things anyone has written about me on these boards! BTW, maybe bigfella3 was being sarcastic but forgot to use the sarcasm font/color. :-) ~Mike |
| 2009-06-06 8:14 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
| Veteran 269 Macon, GA | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! From someone that has fractured their neck and had a 2 level fusion - Don't do it. It took me a good year to fully recover. You only have one neck - you are going to have a long haul anyways - don't risk permanent injury for a race. there are races every weekend - only 1 neck. PM me if you have any questions about the surgery and recovery |
| 2009-06-09 1:54 PM in reply to: #2187745 |
| Master 1325 Lake Oswego, OR | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! While I had tried a couple of races in 2006, last year was my first year where I planed and trained to compete (in anything for 20 years) Unfortunately I fractured my scapula just after beginning my training in the winter. I had 5 weeks to get ready for Alcatraz, a far less challenging task then you face. I never knew if I was going to be able to do the race until less than 2 weeks before it. At that point I knew I could do the swim (I'm a swimmer), and ultimately concluded that if necessary I could walk sections of the couse. So my vote is go for it. Just adjust your expectations. |
| 2009-06-09 2:51 PM in reply to: #2198824 |
| Elite 3235 San Diego | Subject: RE: Couch to IM in 5 weeks?! trigods - 2009-06-06 6:21 AM bigfella3 - 2009-06-03 1:35 PM Ahhh...just do it. Whats the worst that can happen? Better do to it and know afterwards that it was a good/bad idea than not do it and never know. That's what life is about. Do. It.
And this my friends is the problem with BT.... Post of the year! |
|
|
|
|
View profile
Add to friends
Go to training log
Go to race log
Send a message
View album
CONNECT WITH FACEBOOK