A Season of Recovery

[stingo]

Originally Posted by Willie

Dammit. Just when I was getting good and grumpy, feeling sorry for myself, my husband sends me this:

Alwyn Cosgrove's blog: Inspiration

Very inspirational indeed. I'd also add that Cosgrove himself is a cancer survivor.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by stingo

Very inspirational indeed. I'd also add that Cosgrove himself is a cancer survivor.

Hmmm. You're not helping me wallow in self-pity either. What is it with you people!?!

No, really, the vid is amazing, and huge props to Alwyn for pushing through his own battle (my mom died of cancer; it's always on my mind). I once ran a marathon with a cancer survivor-- total stranger, too, we met at mile 14-- was one of the most moving, transformative experiences in my life. I cannot imagine that kind of strength...

[Willie]

Loggity log...splinters and board feet

And this is why I think my husband is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

[LisaS]

I saw that from him - you're a lucky woman.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by LisaS

I saw that from him - you're a lucky woman.

Indeed I am. Sometimes it still surprises me, how lucky I am.

(note to self, read above self-pitying posts, and then read this. Read above, read this. Repeat as necessary.)

[DanceDiva]

I agree. He's now "apologizing" re Lisa's comment. He needs to go encourage his wife. I'm sure she likes it.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

I agree. He's now "apologizing" re Lisa's comment. He needs to go encourage his wife. I'm sure she likes it.

Yeah... I kind of feel bad for her, which isn't really fair, but geez... I eat men like that for lunch!

(really tempted to edit that out, because it sounds a little... I-don't-know-what... but after working in collegiate athletics for several years, I am sick of the notion that women aren't strong. Kinda gets my goat.)

[Bill2380]

Kate, tell your husband "good find" from me for that video. My son was wrestling at a college open wrestling tournament, mostly D1 guys. I saw a kid with a Penn State shirt in a wheel chair and thought," isn't that nice, they have a handicapped manager with their team". A few minutes later he rolls up to a mat, pulls off his shirt and goes out on the mat to wrestle, with no legs. I pretty sure he went 1-2 that day against good, D1 competition. He impressed the hell out of me. Not for his abilities, but because he didn't ask for any special treatment and he sure as hell didn't get any from his opponents. I'm not real sure what the moral of the story is, other than most of here are pretty lucky. I'm sure you'll get the back thing worked out.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Kate, tell your husband "good find" from me for that video. My son was wrestling at a college open wrestling tournament, mostly D1 guys. I saw a kid with a Penn State shirt in a wheel chair and thought," isn't that nice, they have a handicapped manager with their team". A few minutes later he rolls up to a mat, pulls off his shirt and goes out on the mat to wrestle, with no legs. I pretty sure he went 1-2 that day against good, D1 competition. He impressed the hell out of me. Not for his abilities, but because he didn't ask for any special treatment and he sure as hell didn't get any from his opponents. I'm not real sure what the moral of the story is, other than most of here are pretty lucky. I'm sure you'll get the back thing worked out.

Kind of puts things into perspective for me.

I would have loved to see that wrestling match.

[nutbar]

Aw, man, sorry your optimism got shot down a bit. How long until you know about the surgery verdict?

[Willie]

Originally Posted by nutbar

Aw, man, sorry your optimism got shot down a bit. How long until you know about the surgery verdict?

Thanks

We wait to see if this epidural "takes"-- probably two weeks from now. In the meantime, I speak to a neurosurgeon and another doctor (a sports med doc that I've not seen yet, mainly for a second opinion), and then we go from there.

I can't imagine that I could even get the surgery until the school year is over, so... I guess it doesn't really matter until then. I AM getting better, and am content to be patient for a little while longer (though it is totally against my nature. I figure that I spend all my patience on my students; I don't have any left for me).

[J.B. Zero]

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Kate, tell your husband "good find" from me for that video. My son was wrestling at a college open wrestling tournament, mostly D1 guys. I saw a kid with a Penn State shirt in a wheel chair and thought," isn't that nice, they have a handicapped manager with their team". A few minutes later he rolls up to a mat, pulls off his shirt and goes out on the mat to wrestle, with no legs.

The guy from Penn State is named Rohan Murphy. I'd heard of him before as well, but sort of forgot about him. Puts things in perspective.

[Bill2380]

That's him. Thanks for finding that.

[DanceDiva]

Hope you had a fun Valentine's Day.

How are you feeling?

[Willie]

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Hope you had a fun Valentine's Day.

How are you feeling?

Thanks! It was fun... let my students pass out Valentines first thing in the morning and then gave a grammar-unit final test

Then took 150 Middle Schoolers to the roller rink (ooh! ooh! and watched them hold hands!!). I swear, I've showered twice and I STILL smell like stale rollerskates. (I didn't skate).

My back feels... stiff. This is the longest I've gone without exercise in probably 10 years. I know that it's good for me, but I can't hold out much longer because I'm starting to feel icky and stiff and now I think the pain in my back is from too much sleep/not enough activity...

Anyway, as far as my leg / back goes (are you sorry you asked yet?), it's good, I think. I'm over my depression and realize that I can only do what my back will allow, and there are lots of other options out there for me. Since Tuesday, I've only had one or two "tinglies" whereas prior to this epidural I was getting them at least two or three times per day. I've since managed to walk from my car to my classroom without pain, three times, and back!

So, I'm feeling cautiously optimistic.

And, happy post-Valentines Day!

[nutbar]

Originally Posted by Willie

Then took 150 Middle Schoolers to the roller rink

Holy crap. And you lived to tell about it??

[Willie]

Originally Posted by nutbar

Holy crap. And you lived to tell about it??

I did, but I can still smell it.

Only one broken arm this year, though!

[nutbar]

I think I last saw the can of Lysol being passed around over on Julie's thread.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by nutbar

I think I last saw the can of Lysol being passed around over on Julie's thread.

I'll go hunting for it after I've graded my papers.
Long weekend coming up; my goals for the weekend:

1. take no grading home (I have enough other stuff to do).
2. Exercise, pain free
3. Talk my dad into buying sushi lunch for my hoosband and me.

[DanceDiva]

Originally Posted by Willie

Thanks! It was fun... let my students pass out Valentines first thing in the morning and then gave a grammar-unit final test

Mean, mean teacher. However I was one of "those" who would have wanted my test first so I could enjoy my valentines. Ugh, middle school and valentines (too much angst).

Then took 150 Middle Schoolers to the roller rink (ooh! ooh! and watched them hold hands!!).

See...Angst

I swear, I've showered twice and I STILL smell like stale rollerskates. (I didn't skate).

Oh, and your back thanks you verrrry much!

Anyway, as far as my leg / back goes (are you sorry you asked yet?), it's good, I think. I'm over my depression and realize that I can only do what my back will allow, and there are lots of other options out there for me. Since Tuesday, I've only had one or two "tinglies" whereas prior to this epidural I was getting them at least two or three times per day. I've since managed to walk from my car to my classroom without pain, three times, and back!

This is what I wanted to hear about. It's okay about being bummed. Talk to us. We like to make you

And, happy post-Valentines Day!

It was good. I fried catfish, and my husband gave me a chin-up bar (that I didn't ask for, so was a happy surprise).

Only one broken arm this year, though!

See, I told you, you are a mean teacher

[Willie]

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Mean, mean teacher.

I do have my moments, but this in particular was for good reason: we're trying to cut down on parties and junkfood, hence the rollerskating... so if I don't give much emphasis to these things, they won't know what they're missing!

See...Angst

You have no idea.

This is what I wanted to hear about. It's okay about being bummed. Talk to us. We like to make you

I appreciate that... I'm trying to stay positive, really. I'll know more on Tuesday after I get to row again (yay!!!).

It was good. I fried catfish, and my husband gave me a chin-up bar (that I didn't ask for, so was a happy surprise).

That's a great gift!

See, I told you, you are a mean teacher

They only tell me that I'm mean when I beat them in an arm wrestling tournament!

[Willie]

I finally got to move today! It's been since Tuesday morning that I've not worked out. I'm stiff and cranky, but my back has not hurt much at all.

Tonight:
8 x 30" on / 1' off
2' warm up, 2' cool down

PT exercises.

I forgot what it felt like to do work on "fresh" legs. It was nice, and hard enough, though I would have liked to do a bit more.

I felt good through the entire workout... until I did something weird during one of the PT exercises-- the quadruped on the ball-- so I raced home for some ice.

Now, I'm just cold

[Bill2380]

I'm stiff and cranky,

Every student's dream, a cranky teacher who can kick their ass.

Tonight:
8 x 30" on / 1' off
2' warm up, 2' cool down

What's this?

Now, I'm just cold

I hope this means your back still feels better. Have a great weekend.

[Willie]

Originally Posted by Bill2380

Every student's dream, a cranky teacher who can kick their ass.

Heh heh. I do my best They keep asking me how much I can bench (145 in December), and we often have arm-wrestling matches.

What's this?

It's rower-speak

8 intervals of 30" "ON" and 1' "OFF"
When I make our rowing workouts, I write it like this:
8x30/1

I hope this means your back still feels better. Have a great weekend.

Thanks. I think it does, but I have a tendency to be overly optimistic. I just worked out (will log below) and am icing now.

[Willie]

GRR. I just wrote a lengthy post about my plans, but it got eaten.
The gist was: I feel good, not great, I'm still frustrated, but not feeling sorry for myself, I don't want surgery, but it's a viable option, and I have lots of doctors to speak with soon.


I'll digress, then, and list what I did today.


Warm up
squat to stand 2x10
push up 2 x 10
russian shuffles 3 x 20

Alternating Sets

DB Squat
1 x 15 @ 35, 3 x 15 @ 50
Flat Bench Press
1 x 8 @ 65, 1 x 8 @ 95, 2 x 8 @ 115, 1 x 4 @ 125 (just playing there, seeing what I could do, but I didn't have a spotter)

DB Shoulder Press
3 x 8 @ 35/e
Assisted Chin ups
1 x 8 @ 64, 2 x 8 @ 58

Step ups
3 x 10 @ 25/e
Cuban Snatch
3 x 8 @ 12.5/e

BW Squats 8 sets of 45" on / 15" off


So... I'm a slave to my routine and I have to set something up so I don't go nuts, and I can't do NROLW Stage 2.

I was thinking-- 3 x week

A-- heavy, sets of 8, "push" centered, followed by intervals of bw squats

B-- lighter, focusing on form, push ups, pike press, band assisted chinups (can link 3 right now with no assistance and would like to make that a solid 5), core stuff-- Still not sure about this so bring on any suggestions!-- followed by 2 x tabata bike

C-- heavy, sets of 8, "pull" centered, followed by intervals of bw squats

** My legs are limited to light weights (50lbs max, not loaded on spine), and these exercises: lunge, squat, split squat, step ups. I'll do 2 of these every day.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

[Willie]

Sore today. The "pain" has moved into my back, and my leg seems to be somewhat un-bothered by it... though I haven't been on my feet much. I wrote "pain" because it doesn't really hurt. It just feels... weak and kind of... off.

I get to row again on Tuesday, but I'm not holding my breath that it's going to go well. We'll see.

Later today, I think I'll do some HIIT on the spin bike.

[Willie]

Not so much HIIT, according to a thread in the Training Discussion forum, but anyway:

Spin bike:
2' warm up
30" hard / 30" easy
1' hard / 1' easy
2' hard / 2' easy
1' hard / 1' easy
30" hard / 30" easy
2' easy
30" / 30"
1' / 1'
2' / 2'
1' / 1'
30" / 30"

cool down.
"Hard" intervals were all at HR 160+ (got there by the 15th second of each interval)
"Easy" was as easy as I could go; just tried to get my hr down as much and as quickly as possible.

Notes:
I followed this with traction, which felt fantastic.
I got through the entire workout with no symptoms.
I drove to the grocery store and then managed to get all of the groceries AND walk back to the car with no tingling or pain. This is good.

[Willie]

Had a great session of PT today. Whereas the anesthesiologist basically told me on Tuesday that surgery was my next option and that I should speak to a neurosurgeon asap, the PT told me today that I was showing great improvement. She said that throughout the last month, surgery had not even occurred to her. She said (and my doctor agreed) that I should get at least one more epidural before we even consider a next step.
Improvements since the epidural on Tuesday:
Literally, no pain Tuesday through Friday-- though I was not exercising either.
Rode the bike for some intervals on Friday night-- no problem.
Lifted Saturday-- was a little aggravated, painful by the end, but still not as bad as it was before the epidural.
Intervals on Sunday-- no problem.
PT today-- ROM with no symptoms has improved greatly. And, when I bent forward, she actually said "wow!"
Lifted after PT today-- barely any pain.

Anyway, my workout:
Warm up: 2 x 10 squat to stand and inchworm
3 x 10 Russian shuffle (10/leg), push ups

50lb squats 4 x 15

Alternating sets:
DB Piston Chess Press 8@35, 3 x 8@40
1-arm row 8@ 40, 3 x 8@45

Asst. Chin ups 3 x 8 @ 64
Pike Press 3 x 8 (two from knees on the bench, one from feet on the platform... will do feet / platform next time).

Step ups 3 x 10/leg @ bw, 1 x 10/leg@10lbs
**did these with no / light weight today to really focus on form and challenge. This is good, since I am not allowed to move up in weight anyway.

Followed with 2 x tabata on the spin bike

Traction and stretching

Had sushi dinner with my dad and his wife tonight, which was both delicious and fun. My metabolism has been on fire for the last 2 days, presumably because I took 4 days off (?). I'm not hungry right now, but I feel like I have been for 48 hours straight!

[DanceDiva]

Originally Posted by Willie

Had a great session of PT today. Whereas the anesthesiologist basically told me on Tuesday that surgery was my next option and that I should speak to a neurosurgeon asap, the PT told me today that I was showing great improvement. She said that throughout the last month, surgery had not even occurred to her. She said (and my doctor agreed) that I should get at least one more epidural before we even consider a next step.
Improvements since the epidural on Tuesday:
Literally, no pain Tuesday through Friday-- though I was not exercising either.
Rode the bike for some intervals on Friday night-- no problem.
Lifted Saturday-- was a little aggravated, painful by the end, but still not as bad as it was before the epidural.
Intervals on Sunday-- no problem.
PT today-- ROM with no symptoms has improved greatly. And, when I bent forward, she actually said "wow!"
Lifted after PT today-- barely any pain.

Anyway, my workout:
Warm up: 2 x 10 squat to stand and inchworm
3 x 10 Russian shuffle (10/leg), push ups

50lb squats 4 x 15

Alternating sets:
DB Piston Chess Press 8@35, 3 x 8@40
1-arm row 8@ 40, 3 x 8@45

Asst. Chin ups 3 x 8 @ 64
Pike Press 3 x 8 (two from knees on the bench, one from feet on the platform... will do feet / platform next time).

Step ups 3 x 10/leg @ bw, 1 x 10/leg@10lbs
**did these with no / light weight today to really focus on form and challenge. This is good, since I am not allowed to move up in weight anyway.

Followed with 2 x tabata on the spin bike

Traction and stretching

Had sushi dinner with my dad and his wife tonight, which was both delicious and fun. My metabolism has been on fire for the last 2 days, presumably because I took 4 days off (?). I'm not hungry right now, but I feel like I have been for 48 hours straight!

Hi Miss Kate,

First the good: it's so nice to here that you're back is responding to the non-surgical procedures.

Now the concern: looks like reading this you took 3 1/2 days off then had four days on and noted some painfulness at the end of both lifting sessions. I'm not going to become a nagging/annoying person posting in your log, however this looks like pushing it to me. Why did you feel the need to lift after PT instead of looking at PT as your movement for today?

[Willie]

Originally Posted by DanceDiva

Hi Miss Kate,

First the good: it's so nice to here that you're back is responding to the non-surgical procedures.

Now the concern: looks like reading this you took 3 1/2 days off then had four days on and noted some painfulness at the end of both lifting sessions. I'm not going to become a nagging/annoying person posting in your log, however this looks like pushing it to me. Why did you feel the need to lift after PT instead of looking at PT as your movement for today?

I appreciate your concern

The PT knows that I can't NOT work, and the PT work isn't really much at all. She said I could lift, as long as I stick to the prescribed, spine-neutral exercises. Pushing too hard is, and has been for years, a problem of mine. I'm guessing it's a symptom of not having pushed at all for the first 18 years of my life. Those three days off were really hard for me.

I don't have anymore answers, really... We're just taking it one step at a time, trying to figure out what I can and cannot do, comfortably.