The Sickies/Injured/Recovering Thread (Page 4)

I totally belong in here.  I've essentially been out since February, and I had to cancel all my races this summer because of my knee.  It was diagnosed as patellar tendonitis as first, so I went through PT almost all summer, just to feel a huge amount of pain when I started running again, so I finally got an MRI just to find that my patella is actually slightly torn AND pulling away from my kneecap.  Didn't find that out until August, and because of school, it's not really possible for me to get surgery until I'm on winter break, so surgery is December 22.

It'll be at least a 6 month recovery period, plus whatever amount of time it takes to build back up to where I was physically, so I'm looking at pretty much a full 2 years of being on DL. 

I've gone through ups and downs about it, and now I'm just itching to get that surgery so I can start recovery.  It's so FRUSTRATING!

Bopper - 2011-11-01 4:56 PM

1stTimeTri - 2011-11-01 5:26 PM Had a pinched nerve in the lower back the last couple of days.  Sure makes mobility difficult.

Tell your wife to stop pinching you then... sheesh!

Hey, Bopper!  How ya been?!

I have a fever.  And the cure is not more cowbell, but a Yanti *MelonPress*!

That sucks. I'm sorry you have to go through this.

So my rolled ankle feels really good and my hip/side that I fell on finally feels 100%.

I'm afraid to run.

I'm seriously afraid if I take one step running that something else will hurt. I've had a lot of injuries but I've always bounced back. I don't know what my problem is.

I keep thinking, just give it another day or two or three........

I fear a {MELON PRESS} will only cause you to lose oxygen and gain heat, but there you go.

Have had slipped discs where I still get nerve impingement from time to time, but thankfully it usually resolves quickly. It's a batch! Here's some nice _melon heat_ for your back.

x2

I'm glad nobody told me what I'd go through in terms of illness/injury and how long it'd be for. YARGH!

2 years is a long time.

I try not to think of time and healing now as getting back to where I was (that feels like circling backwards), but as its own different path, with different strengths and lessons.

1. That is excellent news!

2. Not so excellent news.

(This goes for everybody) Take everything I say with a grain of salt--I know people come here to vent and not necessarily get advice or thoughts, so if you don't want mine, please ignore them.

You might try going on a fast walk and every so often, break into a few running steps. It's a possible way to beat the bogeyman.

I've also been thinking a lot about your feeling that your proprioception isn't quite up to snuff. I'm a born clod myself (my ex-boyfriend called me a "walking disaster" and I was about to correct him when I walked my foot into that hard under-edge of the sofa).

I went through years of martial arts training, competition, and practice. I did an awful lot of work blindfolded. I literally learned and trained how to "feel" my way in space much better with my own body instead of depending more on external cues. This sort of thing may help you.

I recently did some work with a personal trainer who worked with Royce Gracie (one of the greatest martial artists ever, one of the progenitors of modern mixed-martial-arts and a small guy who consistently won over enormous fighters/grapplers) and Sheila Taormina (swimmer, triathlete, pentathlete, top of her game in all, and probably the world's best athlete, period). I also worked with Sheila. She feels that this kind of proprioceptive-type training gave her a critical edge in performance.

You do some strength training, which I think is great. I might suggest trying to do some of the easier work with your eyes closed. Then more of it. Then all of it. Work on sighting in the pool (swim with eyes closed and see where you get to). That kind of thing.

Just a thought.

Awesome attitude, Alicia, and CONGRATS on winning the most important race--your health!

Keep on, keeping on.

x2

Alicia your attitude is awe inspiring........

Ummm...no.....but I did insist, rather forcefully, that it would perhaps be best for her to go home and leave the wildcat alone to rage in solitude......

WOW - what a roller coaster! Happy to read you don't need any more cancer treatments. Best wishes for your recovery.

Interesting thoughts.

You know, I used to do Yoga once or twice a week but I've stopped. A therpist advised me to quit since I also have issues with my joints,ligaments whatever being too flexible and going out of place.

Maybe there is a different kind of yoga that will help with focus but not so much stretching. I'll look into that.

Swimming with eyes closed is a recipe for disaster I'm afraid. I was doing the back stroke in a lake one time. I swore I was swimming directly away from the boat. I was so clueless where I was I swam right into the boat. Never even felt I was close.

Note to people:  Wildcat != cougar (the symbol "!=" means "not equal" in programming).

No, but I'll give you a {{MELON PRESS}} anyway.

How's everyone doing today? Any newcomers? Freshly feeling sorry for yourself? It's cool, we will too

I'm doing a lot better today, better enough to be angry with my family and extremely stressed about figuring out care for my wacked out old parents.

No time for any activity, unfortunately. Maybe yoga later. I am really, really holding off on anything except super-easy stuff, no 'training,' until my body is absolutely, certainly not fighting anything anymore. I can't tax it. It's already been taxed way beyond its capacity and I've paid badly. Time to start saving and building up again.

Out of all of the shyte I've been through over the past 10 years, the one that's still REALLY bothering me is my back.  There hasn't been a night yet where I haven't been woken up by the pain as well as get up in the morning with pain.  There have been more days than I can count where I haven't been able to put on my own socks and I can't stand for too long, sit for too long, ride a bike for any length of time, or run any distance without hurting in a big bad way. 

So what can I do?  Keep going.  Life isn't going to stop just because I feel some pain. 

You are a warrior and lady of the highest orders, both.

Is the back pain from some identifiable source or linked to your illness or the rough therapies? Or is it just something that is?

I wrote it in my original post, but ever since the chikungunya (horrendous disease that makes things like dengue and typhoid look easy) ate my joints, I actually have osteoarthritis. I just deal with a chronic level of pain always. My bike fitter/coach/personal trainer guy (yes, THAT guy) was amazed at how little pressure it took on the joints (like just taking measurements) that would make me yelp.

The thing is, like all curveballs in life, is you do adjust, learn, learn to live well in spite of the pain, maybe even learn to live a little better because of the pain. Either you master it or allow it to master you. And I've had well enough of it mastering me!!!

I have learned very, very, very much from your spirit, dearest Monica.

You truly humble me, Yanti. 

The funny thing is that I just figure it's something that I will have to find a way to deal with for the rest of my life.  Breaking my lumbar spine when I was 12 caused spondylolisthesis between my L5-S1 vertebrae which has also led to fairly severe sciatica.  Earlier this year I went to an ART doc who said that he *should* be able to fix it, but that in about 5% of his patients, it actually will get worse.  Guess which part of the percentile I fit into? 

As with your osteo, it's more about pain management, than finding a cure as there isn't one other than surgery which is an option that I'm just not willing to explore at the moment (something about having my spine operated on gives me the heebie jeebies). 

You may be certifiably crazy, but you're also one of the strongest people I know Yanti, and your perpetual love for life is something that I try to emulate every day of mine.