Got to row this morning with my team! It was beautiful on the water-- full moon, crystal clear skies before the mist / fog rolled in, flat water. I think it was about 30 degrees, as all the cars had ice/frost on them. I love being out there.
So. When I exercise, other than on the bike (never any symptoms from the bike), I feel tingling fairly immediately; this is true even during physical therapy, and my PT believes that as long as the duration and intensity continue to decrease, I can continue with what I am doing. During my row, I had no tingling. The only "pain" I had was a little bit of back fatigue, which I expected since I have not been in a boat since November. I was very conscious of how I was feeling, as was my brother / coach. I was ready to stop at any time and ask to go in (though this would have shortened the practice for 8 other people... who are some of my dearest friends and would not have minded) if I felt like I needed to. I think I rowed really well in terms of the PT and how I need to change my stroke; not sure I helped the boat much as I was totally focused on what I was doing and how I felt.
Finished the entire practice. Was anxious to get on the dock because my symptoms usually present only when I am standing, and the onset is immediate and instantaneous. Got out of the boat. No tingling. Brought my oars to the boathouse. No tingling. Got boat in, dried, and on the rack, thinking how am I NOT feeling anything yet? Chatted for a few minutes, walked to the car. Nothing. Got home, warmed up in the shower, dressed, breakfast, couch, ice... no pain, no tingling.
Anyway, it's mid-winter break, so I'm at home. I've iced once and will do so again in a few minutes. Two hours later, I still have no pain, and not even a hint of tingles.
Workout was:
warm up, drills by 2's, 4's, 6's.
3' ON / 2' OFF for 3 sets
rest 5'
3' ON / 2' OFF for 3 sets
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Glad to hear that you're feeling ok after your row. Maybe you could post some pics from the boat (I know there's a proper name for it, but I can't for the life of me remember what it is right now - scull?) and/or of you and your team in action.
__________________
Tom
No "happy hours" makes for a lot of miserable days. - Mahler
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Cool pic - for whatever reason I thought you rowed with two oars (one to each side).
I race in eights, fours, or the pair-- all of those have even numbers, each rower with one oar.
With this injury, I might have to row only a single or a double-- both of those require two oars per person.
I own a boat and have only sweep riggers-- one for each side, for a port oar and a starboard oar. I've ordered sculling riggers, so that I can row with my same pair partner, but we'll both have two oars.
Scullers are more upright and don't twist at the hips.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Thanks Diane! I was so consumed during the row that I can't say it was all that fun... but still glad to be out there. A little sore today but I think that's more to do with the fact that I haven't been in a boat since November!
HEY!! Cool factoid! Anyone see on the news, the METEOR?!?!?!? We saw it when we were launching yesterday. None of us knew what it was, until we saw the news later and emailed each other. How fun!
Today's workout:
Warm up-- done circuit-style
Squat to stand 2 x 10
Russian Shuffle 3 x 10
Inchworm 3 x 10
Hip thingys over the smith machine bar (I know these have a name, but I'm at a loss).
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Sounds good. Are you doing any of the alleviate tiredness stuff -- ben gay, epsom salt bath, advil, etc?
It's just that I was really focusing on the PT's directives, and I was really worried about what would come of the experience. I've since relaxed, and I think I'll row again tomorrow. I don't seem to have any increased symptoms, 24 hours later.
The PT just canceled tonight's appointment, though, which is a bummer. I'm much better when someone tells me what I need to do.
Advil, immediately following exercise. Don't have any Epsom Salts, but maybe I should look into that.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Rowed this morning; pretty hard practice, too. I was stroking, which worried me (this means sitting in front, so everyone has to follow me) as it puts a little more pressure on me mentally. On Tuesday I had been so consumed with worry that I didn't have fun. Today, I figured what the heck, it is either gonna be good or it's not. I'll worry about the consequences later (don't get me wrong; I didn't feel that I was being unsafe, but at this point, a girl's gotta have some fun).
Anyway, we were on the water for 90minutes:
warm up
drills (these typically involve a lot of static positioning that is uncomfortable even in the best of situations)
Stroke pyramid:
10 on / 10 off
20/20
30/30
40/40
50/50
40/40
30/30
20/20
10/10
all at race pace, which generally is about 30 strokes per minute... so the intervals ranged from roughly 20 seconds, to 1 minute, 40 seconds.
(does anyone care about this stuff? I like to log it for my own sake, because this is easier than paper / pen for me, but I won't go into detail unless there's some general curiosity)
I feel great. Physically tired, but great.
Good news for the day: I have finally found a physical therapist who genuinely wants to, and believes he can, have me back on the water-- and enjoying life in general-- pain free. He comes highly recommended to me by a friend of mine at the rowing club. She has degenerating discs and had a minor bulge at this time last year. She is totally 100% FINE now. She told me that he's usually booked pretty solid and I'd probably have to wait a week, but he got me in this afternoon! I'm so happy, because lately I've been somewhat dissatisfied with my current PT. She's nice, and clearly knowledgeable, but I don't think she's a good fit for me. I can't wait for my appointment today!
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Does this translate to, "I'm not back on the water yet, so I'll find someone who'll get me there."?
No, not at all, though that is a really good question.
I am back on the water, with her full support and little negative consequence (other than that full recovery might be delayed, but as yet, no one really knows-- or is willing to tell me-- what that means).
I don't like that she knows nothing about weight lifting.
She is not a spine specialist.
She knows nothing about rowing and has never treated a rower.
I had a chat last night with my neighbor, who IS a spine specialist; she won't treat me because she's my friend, and I can't go to her office because it's too far away. But we talked a lot about the treatment I am getting, the effect of the epidurals, and and what my prognosis might be. She didn't readily agree with much of what my PT has been telling me and suggested that I seek someone who actually specializes in treating both athletes and spine injuries. By providence, I saw my friend today for the first time in months, and she suggested that I see this guy, who in her own words, "saved her life."
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
(does anyone care about this stuff? I like to log it for my own sake, because this is easier than paper / pen for me, but I won't go into detail unless there's some general curiosity)
Pretty, please continue.
Quote:
Good news for the day: I have finally found a physical therapist who genuinely wants to, and believes he can, have me back on the water-- and enjoying life in general-- pain free. He comes highly recommended to me by a friend of mine at the rowing club. She has degenerating discs and had a minor bulge at this time last year. She is totally 100% FINE now. She told me that he's usually booked pretty solid and I'd probably have to wait a week, but he got me in this afternoon! I'm so happy, because lately I've been somewhat dissatisfied with my current PT. She's nice, and clearly knowledgeable, but I don't think she's a good fit for me. I can't wait for my appointment today!
I am over the moon for you.
I am a firm believer in the right practitioner making all the difference. The orthopedic surgeon I went to is one that I purposely chose for my daughter in 2002 when she injured her ankle in gymnastics. He specializes in sports injuries. I chose him because I knew my daughter needed someone who would focus on getting her back on the floor w/o fear. Your instincts are there for a reason. If he is a better fit for you, then it'll help you adjust physically and mentally.
__________________ Just because your mother thinks you're special doesn't mean I do
I LOVE Cyndi Lauper; saw her live a couple years ago when she opened for Cher. IMO, they are both fantastic.
Quote:
Pretty, please continue.
I will, but let me know if it's boring
Quote:
I am over the moon for you.
I am a firm believer in the right practitioner making all the difference. The orthopedic surgeon I went to is one that I purposely chose for my daughter in 2002 when she injured her ankle in gymnastics. He specializes in sports injuries. I chose him because I knew my daughter needed someone who would focus on getting her back on the floor w/o fear. Your instincts are there for a reason. If he is a better fit for you, then it'll help you adjust physically and mentally.
Thank you. I feel bad that I have to cancel the other PT (though I won't do so until I've spoken with the guy I'll see tonight), but I think this is a really great step in the right direction for me. This stuff is too important to be treated by someone who just isn't quite "right."
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Thank you. I feel bad that I have to cancel the other PT (though I won't do so until I've spoken with the guy I'll see tonight), but I think this is a really great step in the right direction for me.
That's definitely a good strategy.
I understand feeling bad. If she's a good PT, she should understand too.
Quote:
This stuff is too important to be treated by someone who just isn't quite "right."
AMEN!!!
__________________ Just because your mother thinks you're special doesn't mean I do
I don't even know where to begin with my story from last night. I have students coming in soon, so I'll try to be brief.
I went to see the new PT (got lost on the way, which totally stressed me out). He was very welcoming; but took one look at me when I walked in and said "I know you told me that you have a herniated L5-S1, but you've got a host of other issues, too." WTF?!? Anyway, he examined me for 90 minutes-- no machines, no manual therapy, no imagine, just a table and me. He had me do a million different movements and every time, he wrote something down and then explained to me what he was seeing (among other things, crazy-tight IT bands and super loose hamstrings). No one has ever paid this much attention to me! He found a number of imbalances, and each time he found something new, he said "I can't tell you that this caused your herniation, but I can't tell you that it DIDN'T, either. And either way, you have to get this straightened out if you want to be a powerhouse." He said that I'm one of the strongest women he's ever had walk in off the street, and that he's excited to work with another rower. He finds our sport intriguing.
There's a bunch of other stuff, but I'll summarize the highlights:
1. Work with him once per week. I mentioned to him that my insurance will only cover 10 more sessions with a PT for the year. His response: "Well who the hell knows that you'll be ok in 10 more sessions? That's ridiculous, and should be the least of your worries. We'll work out a cash payment system; you can just pay me your copay for any remaining sessions." How cool is that?!?
2. Row as much as I want, any time I want-- he's convinced that the rowing was never the problem, and since I've had no symptoms from rowing, he said "go for it."
3. Seek a surgical consult re: Microdiscectomy. He said this was a pretty simple, outpatient procedure, and I can absolutely continue rowing after / if I get it. More on that in a minute.
4. See my sports med. doctor and inquire about Mobic, an oral anti-inflammatory.
5. I'm strong, he knows this... but after everything he did (and he kept saying "no one has done this to you yet? No one has tested you in this way? This way? How about this way?" No, no, and no... so he has me do one final test, and it was his aha moment. I was sitting on a table with my legs bent under (so the table was between my heel and my butt). He pulled on my left ankle as hard as he could, and he couldn't unbend my leg. Did the same thing to my right, and I nearly threw him across the room. The result? I have absolutely no motor control in my right hamstring = nerve damage stemming from herniated disc, which might repair on it's own, but might require surgery.
6. Get another epidural in a couple weeks.
I think that's it. I am so excited about all of this. I *finally* feel like I have some control over this, like I can still do what makes me happy (as long as there are no symptoms from that activity), and I have a future that can be pain-free.
Last night's workout:
Deck of Cards
Bw squats
push ups @ 30 degrees (don't really know why I did those like that)
horizontal rows (forgot the bands for asst. chins)
step ups
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
Willie, reading your post about the new PT brought tears to my eyes. I can just imagine the relief and hope that must come from being treated like that. I'm very happy for you!
Willie, reading your post about the new PT brought tears to my eyes. I can just imagine the relief and hope that must come from being treated like that. I'm very happy for you!
mel
Ditto mel, but I was shouting as well.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Willie
His response: "Well who the hell knows that you'll be ok in 10 more sessions? That's ridiculous, and should be the least of your worries. We'll work out a cash payment system; you can just pay me your copay for any remaining sessions." How cool is that?!?
2. Row as much as I want, any time I want-- he's convinced that the rowing was never the problem, and since I've had no symptoms from rowing, he said "go for it."
There is so much good karma going on here, I'm at a loss for adequate words.
Quote:
re: Microdiscectomy....Mobic
You know I had to go look these up. I found the coolest video on microdiscectomy.
Quote:
Deck of Cards
Describe please.
Still over the moon for you.
__________________ Just because your mother thinks you're special doesn't mean I do
Willie, reading your post about the new PT brought tears to my eyes. I can just imagine the relief and hope that must come from being treated like that. I'm very happy for you!
mel
Thanks, Mel. This last meeting completely changed my outlook. I felt so foolish for being so depressed about all of this; there are far more important things, after all... but I did feel horribly sad, and now I feel like I have complete ownership of my recovery. It's good. Really good.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
There is so much good karma going on here, I'm at a loss for adequate words.
You know I had to go look these up. I found the coolest video on microdiscectomy.
Describe please.
Still over the moon for you.
Thanks Tracey. If I wasn't home, lying on the couch with a nasty cold, I'd be over the moon too.
I'll have to check out the discectomy video... maybe
Deck of Cards:
You assign an exercise to each of the four suits in teh deck. Shufffle, and then flip through the deck, doing the number of reps that correlate to the card's suit and number. Face cards are 10.
So, 10 hearts = 10 pushups
Jack diamonds = 10 bw squats
5 clubs = 5 horizontal rows
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
The new PT sounds like a winner and you sound so much better. Great news.
__________________ 'I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. ' ~Frank Sinatra
WARNING: The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher,
smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
that's great news on the new PT and the optimistic outlook - and good news on the rowing front as well - sounds like you're on your way
Thanks Lisa!
Today's workout, after sleeping for nearly 16 hours.
Warm up: quad and calf mobility stuff, inchworm, squat to stand, light 1-arm clean and press*
Goblet Squats **
1 x 20@ 45, 3 x 20 @ 55
Incline db chest press 1 x 12 @ 30/e, 3 x 10 @ 35/e
Asst. Chin up 4 x 10 @ 64
Pike Press from bench 3 x 12 @ bw
Cuban Press 3 x 10 @ 7.5/e
Step ups on 18" box 4 x 10 @ bw (10 each side = 1 set)
Plank on ball 3 x 40"
Tabata bw squats, one round, btb***
* The new PT said that I could do anything I wanted to, but to be careful, and to take notes about what hurts / brings on symptoms. I've really missed using my kettlebells, so I thought I'd get my clean and press technique down while my husband was there to help me. I did a lot of high pulls @ 12.5 lbs., and probably only 10 actual clean and presses per side. I was not hurting at all, though I could definitely feel these. Still, I'm glad to work on them, and will continue doing so at a light weight. I'll ask the (new) PT specifically about these on Wednesday.
** Per the PT, I can also lift whatever I want and that includes heavier squats, but he doesn't want me to load my spine until he can take a look at my technique. I'm loathe to do it anyway, so I'm still stuck at ridiculously high reps to get any fatigue in my legs.
*** BTB= rest in a static "down" squat position instead of standing up. It pretty well stinks.
I'm walking 60 miles for a breast cancer cure, September 11-13, 2009! Please support my walk and help me raise funds for cancer research by donating to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer 3-Day: http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/...nal&fr_id=1300
OMG!!! So happy to read this. It brings me to tears too. I had a really good PT as well but next time I am in a PT office it will be in one that knows what I do. (ie running/lifting) I could have progressed much faster if I had that sort of instruction. Congratulations to ya!!
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