Diary of a wanna be :)

yop

This is a log with a difference possibly, I am a cyclist who will be curtailed for a while, the while been the unknown.

Background - 2009 Car crash left me with no car, bought heap of an MTB, cycled to work and home on a daily basis (16km) thought I was king of the hill
Took up running and adventure races and was at the time 16.5 st.
Did all the various buzz adventure races at the time but was a plodder. Was encouraged to join my local club in 2010 and rarely missed a Wedn or Sun training spin and then bought an entry level Giant. Was getting stronger and eventually bought a carbon Merida off a boardsie, the bike was a 2004 Merida but a high spec and I still have it.
Did a few local club races and charity spins including Mizen to Malin in 2011. Avg probably 200-250km per week during 2011. Late 2011 I was doing a lot of hill running and something didn't feel right in my right hip.
Got my self down to circa 14.5 stone at this stage.

2012 was a disaster as I slipped a disc in Feb 2012, spent 12 weeks either not able to walk or on crutches, was one of the organisers for our 1LifeCycle 500km over 2 days spin in Sept so HAD to do that.
Got myself back on the bike and with a lot of help from my mates got in good solid training and weekly physio sessions and managed to complete the spin.
Took a toll on me and my hip was in a lot of pain.

Did a good bit of core work then winter 2012 including yoga and pilates, squats and weights but it wasn't going away.

Did a lot of turbo including the SufferFest tour in Jan and Tour of California in March but the niggling wasn't going and was finding my saddle time was reducing before I had to get off and stretch.

Eventually got an MRI there in June and they have noticed a lump on my spinal cord, seemingly it was there also back in Feb 2012 but no one spotted it. Disc isn't too healthy either.

So appointment now on 17th July with consultant.

From someone who cycled nearly 7000 kms over the last 2.5 years to 0kms now for the last 2 months it tough going.


Aim is though to be doing 100km a week by the end of the year, could all be on the PS3 yet though

In the meantime I am going to see if I can "spin" lightly, maybe 5km at a session twice per week.
Weight was down to a good level of 13.6 st in March though that is gone up to 14.6st now.

I suppose I am starting this log with the intention of been back on the bike by .....
17th July will tell a lot about those dots.

Ryder

good luck with the log and with your treatment. maybe consider some weights if okayed by your medical team......most cyclists could do with some upper body work, and for the price of an excersise ball and some adjustable dumbells, you could get a good program going in your 'off season'

yop

Ryder wrote: »

good luck with the log and with your treatment. maybe consider some weights if okayed by your medical team......most cyclists could do with some upper body work, and for the price of an excersise ball and some adjustable dumbells, you could get a good program going in your 'off season'

Thanks v much
Was doing a lot of weights up to this for the core but have been told to leave every bit of exercise off until they have a look at the lump and the disc.
Used to do a lot of weights in a previous life so have around 150kg of weights and few benches waving at me now, they are enjoying the sun

Feeling the weight creep up on a daily basis now, its a dog as when I can't train I get well fupped off and don't watch what I eat as well as I should.

8 days to the appointment!! Can't come quick enough.

yop

After a weekend with the christening I think, as the TDF commentator said the other day, that I will fit into the "Guys with higher BMI" category!
The bike will bend in 2 at this rate.

Was v bad Sunday with headaches after about 18 hours continually on my feet Saturday getting the house ready and the power went totally around 8, so I had to go to bed.
This really can't come fast enough

They went and cancelled it for another 2 weeks with a letter this morning, but I lost ze plot with them on the phone, as this was the 3rd cancellation and they will now see me earlier than my original appointment tomorrow... by 1 hour

smacl

yop wrote: »

Eventually got an MRI there in June and they have noticed a lump on my spinal cord, seemingly it was there also back in Feb 2012 but no one spotted it. Disc isn't too healthy either.

My wife had something very similar a few years back, ruptured disc with leaked inner disc goo* putting pressure on the spinal chord and all the associated horrors. A reasonably small op in the Mater private and she was bouncing around again, after us wasting a small fortune on chiropractors, osteopaths, not to mention a truck load of Solpadene. Every case is different of course, but for this type of injury you really need to heed your consultant IMO.

Best of luck in your recovery, and FWIW my wife's recovery was 100% with no recurring pain in the intervening years.

(* I suspect there is a better technical term here)

yop

smacl wrote: »

My wife had something very similar a few years back, ruptured disc with leaked inner disc goo* putting pressure on the spinal chord and all the associated horrors. A reasonably small op in the Mater private and she was bouncing around again, after us wasting a small fortune on chiropractors, osteopaths, not to mention a truck load of Solpadene. Every case is different of course, but for this type of injury you really need to heed your consultant IMO.

Best of luck in your recovery, and FWIW my wife's recovery was 100% with no recurring pain in the intervening years.

(* I suspect there is a better technical term here)

Sounds similar enough, especially sponsoring all the physios in town

yop

Ok, put away the black suits !

The lump is a cyst they aren't worried about, saying its there and hasn't grown since the last scan 2 years ago and she has no concerns with it. So thats something!

2 lower discs L4 and L5 are very close together and catching the nerves, that hasn't changed since the last scan and the debris that was there is no longer there.
I'm having an injection onto the discs on Friday next to shield the nerves and HOPEFULLY help, if not then another injection.

If all that doesn't work then they will need to fuse the discs.

pgibbo

I hope it does work, because I'd hate to see you snapping the frame on that lovely bike :pac::pac::pac::pac:

yop

pgibbo wrote: »

I hope it does work, because I'd hate to see you snapping the frame on that lovely bike :pac::pac::pac::pac:

The bike told me it loves have a "real" cyclist using it now.

pgibbo

Who did you loan it to?

yop

pgibbo wrote: »

Who did you loan it to?

Slaps will be administered

yop

So injection had on Friday afternoon, epidural into the L4/L5 area. The doc froze the hell out the area and inserted the needle, was a little apprehensive as I read a few reports on what these were like
It was A1, in at 2.25, was out the door 25 mins later.

So 2 days later and it seems "ok", they are saying that it will take 4 days. So i will try some spinning to see what it does, also the lunchtime 20 min walk will tell a tale!!

yop

Ok, looks like this hasn't worked. Gutted.
Maybe a 1 or 2% improvement but not the magic bullet.

Out of frustration I went on the turbo for 20 mins, just to spin the legs, clear the head and burn some calories. Learnt that a highly insulated upstairs of an office now hits 29 degrees c when using a turbo, even with the windows open

I did some googling and found some "how to do herniated disc exercises" also, so I will start that process.

Don't know what I will do now, another injection might yield the same result.

I have contacted a very good physio here in Mayo to speak to him, a physio with herniated disc experience and correct exercises can get the disc into a better position.
I have decided to learn to swim (for the 5th time!) and do some yoga to see if that aides things

I REALLY don't want to do an op. I think I am too young for it.

yop

30 mins on the turbo late last night, was VERY warm again. Shocking that I struggled badly to hold 35/36kmph for 4 minutes, having to break off at 3 mins to reduce it to 30kmph.
That program I used to have no bother, all these weeks out and the fact my legs fell EXTREMELY tired aided to this.

Someone mentioned Phyical Therapy as oppossed to physio... have to look into this.

yop

Ok have done 2 small turbo session, both only 10km's, both circa late 20kmph avg but my legs cramped on one and just ran out of juice on the other, so things aren't good with it still.
Have decided to return to the physio who fixed my disc the first time and got me from zero ability to walk to 5 mins of walking after a few weeks to see what she thinks.
Epidural, I am not sure, people have said that sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Have to wonder whats the point then!

yop

Least the weight is coming off again. Looking v closely at what I am eating on a daily basis and haven't eaten after 7pm any day now for 2 weeks. Sitting at 14st 1lbs. See if I can get another 1/2 stone off for the "big return"

Beasty

yop wrote: »

I REALLY don't want to do an op. I think I am too young for it.

How old are you?

I've had back problems throughout my adult life - it bacame really bad in my early 30s and I had an epidural that didn't work. I ended up having surgery - first time aged 33 which sorted one disc out then had to have another less than a year later to sort the next one up. I managed to cope for the next 6 years (although put weight on and did have several bad spells). Then I had 2 further ops in my early 40s again one each on the lower two discs. Since then I've discovered cycling and lost a lot of weight. The discs harden as you get older and I think having the core strength means they are less likely to protrude (they are more jelly-like when you are younger meaning they can "escape" a bit easier)

The guy who operated was the Man U orthapaedic surgeon (he sorted out Pallister and Schmeicel's backs also) - he only ever took out the minimum amount of disc which is probably why I ended up with recurrences. However for the past 11 years I've been generally OK (my only major problem being coming back from the ECL Final in Moscow on a cramped plane in 2008)

Now I am happy with my overall fitness - still get sciatica but it doesn't really bother me. It's unfortunate that I ended up with 4 operations, but looking back I don't regret it given the condition I'm now in.

yop

Thanks Beasty, 37 but still look 22 (I'm kidding)

Interesting that I went to the physio this morning, the Orhtopedic doc in Galway clinic recommended here when the disc was in a bad way back in Feb 2012, at that stage I couldn't walk or bend, wash or dress myself. I got a shed load of drugs from the clinic and I went to the Physio, 6 sessions over 12 days and I finally got to walk again.
I wasn't able to drive for 8 weeks with it and eventually got back to fully walking after 12 weeks.

Anyway, went to her with the MRI discs and MRI report. She looked at my symptoms, week front right leg, numbness and loss of power in the right leg, spasms in the front of the right leg and she has concluded that with the herniation on the L4/5 that any issues would be down the back of the leg.
She also reckons that its nerve issues and not the disc that is causing all the symptoms

She is going to buzz my doc to get me referred to a neurologist as its something "nervy" which is causing it.

To get me back to normality, she spent an hour working on the groin, front of the leg and lower back and initially when I went to her at 9am I did a right leg strenght test, I was only about to hold out for .5 of a second, an hour later after her work I was doing 5 seconds, still not massive, but a big improvement.

So back to her next week and will get something done with the neurologist. Also she urged that i go to pilates/yoga during the week and the pool.

So I am wee bit more positive, I feel less "floppy" now in the hips even which is gas and the spasms haven't occurred since I came to work.

We will see, small acorns and all that

smacl

yop wrote: »

Also she urged that i go to pilates/yoga during the week and the pool.

Lots of very different types of yoga out there, some of which could exacerbate your condition. I'd talk to your physio and any yoga / pilates instructor about of specific regime of exercise to suit your needs.

Anyway, went to her with the MRI discs and MRI report. She looked at my symptoms, week front right leg, numbness and loss of power in the right leg, spasms in the front of the right leg and she has concluded that with the herniation on the L4/5 that any issues would be down the back of the leg.
She also reckons that its nerve issues and not the disc that is causing all the symptoms

Possibly worth talking to a neurosurgeon in addition to a physio if the problems persist, IMHO, it is much more their area of expertise. The specialist who treated my wife was Padraic O'Neill, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Every case is different, but he could be worth calling.

yop

smacl wrote: »

Lots of very different types of yoga out there, some of which could exacerbate your condition. I'd talk to your physio and any yoga / pilates instructor about of specific regime of exercise to suit your needs.



Possibly worth talking to a neurosurgeon in addition to a physio if the problems persist, IMHO, it is much more their area of expertise. The specialist who treated my wife was Padraic O'Neill, and the results were nothing short of spectacular. Every case is different, but he could be worth calling.

Thanks very much for that. I presume I need a doctors referral.
My doc is acting silly buggers, physio rang yesterday and told her that she looked at my symptoms and condition and suggested she referred me to a neurologist.
Doc says "no, think he should go back to the ortho consultant and let her refer him".
Fk sake, so I have to pay 150 euro to her to refer me to a neurologist!!!

:mad::mad:

yop

smacl I presume that your wife needed your doc to refer you? Letter from my physio would hardly do?

smacl

yop wrote: »

smacl I presume that your wife needed your doc to refer you? Letter from my physio would hardly do?

Yes, should have mentioned that, all after a massive amount of pain killers and various other courses of treatment that seemed to have more to do with treating the symptoms than underlying problem. Don't know how to circumvent the referral thing; maybe a frank and open discussion with your doctor regarding mounting costs and lost time due to ineffectual treatment. Alternatively, you could also contact the Mater directly, and ask what referral is required and how to go about getting it. For us, the Mater private was covered by VHI, but all the other bits and bobs of doctors visits, drugs, osteopaths, neurologists, etc... cost a small fortune, which was still less important than the amount of pain herself went through in he intervening period. Things went much faster after that, with the operation three days after the first visit and then back home the following day.

n.b. not giving any medical advice here, just recounting personal, anecdotal experience. YMMV. May contain nuts.

yop

Rang the consultant as my Doc told me to.
Spoke to reception and told me Consultant away for a few weeks, explained the situation and she said that I should go back and tell the Dr that she has to refer me to a neurologist and that the Consultant doesn't need to do it.

yop

Doc still hasn't come back to me on this now, not sure what the fook she is playing at.

Did 2 spins on the turbo, at 11.55pm on Sat night watching the soccer! I know, I have a sad life!

Then returned to this pilates/yoga class at 6.30 am. Plank was a no no, balancing on the gym ball was a no no. Anything which needed very stable hips didn't work.
Then had physio this morning, again she did the same routine as last week. I currently feel v good and very very little soreness.
Plan this week is 2 turbos. Maybe like 20km spin on the bike and MAYBE a couple of laps of the track. VERY slow jog. Have to stop any potential weight gain coming back.

yop

ok, doc came back.

Dr rang Consultant and spoke to her PA, not they are saying that in fact they are not finished with me and had told me to make another appointment, Dr has made an appointment for 21st Aug
Dr won't make an appointment with a neurologist until Consultant is "finished with me", that it will probably take up to 6 months anyway.
I explained to the receptionist that it stated on the letter that they should refer me to a neurologist and that you had also suggested that.
Dr has a prescription for pain killers..... told them I wasn't in pain, so no point in them, that the issues are nerve/spasms in the legs and shoulders and that the epidural made no difference to me.
I told her I wasn't happy with it at all, that going back to Consultant was as far as I was concerned a waste of time and money, they asked me to drop in for a chat tomorrow, I am away with work tomorrow.

I don't know to be honest, I am peed off and thats an understatement.

yop

Ok, update.
Another session of Extreme stretching this 6.30am. Was TOUGH as fook, but my physio does it also so she knows what i can and can't do.
Then a physio session with acupuncture.

Getting a 2nd opinion now tomorrow AM so fingers crossed that I a referral.

Fallen off the wagon a bit last weekend with regards bad food, when I can't train I find it hard to avoid Sh*!*! food.!!

yop

Halleluia!

Ok, met with new doc. He spent 30 minutes doing a shed load of tests and took 6 viles of blood to be sent off to the lab.
He has also booked me into a neurologist and neurosurgeon. Dates to be confirmed.

He doesn't think I have MS, though the signs aren't great. Definite nerve issue and muscle wastage but some of the more prominent MS signs aren't there. But he needs me to see a specialist before they can rule it out and see what is causing all the problems.

So at least there is progress, though the mention of MS or an neurological conditions are a concern.

yop

Waiting for the doc with the appointment, hope he comes back this week as he said it would be "days and not weeks".
I will hear back about the bloods sometime this week also, so that will tell a tale I am sure.

Decided to get back into the training, or as much as I could.
Saturday was all stretching and core work.
Sunday I decided to take the bike off the wall, was nearly 3 months since I was on the road and I had bought the Garmin 510 since then, so was looking forward to the new toy!
My missus was worried in case anything happened so been ubber techie i setup the Live Tracking on the Garmin via my phone and then she could watch me live on her tablet in the kitchen. Turned out the 2.5 year old spent all the time sitting in front of it watching the blue dot!

Weather was windy, a SW I think. So I headed off on my usual route, said I would love to do the hour. Wind was in my side face for first 5k, then swung a left and had it more on my back.
Once the blood started pumping it was super, sat around mid to late 30's kmph for the 18km trek to the turn I intended to take.
When I got there I was feeling good so went a little further, then realised that I would be bang on into the wind I said I would detour to try and avoid the wind. After the hour I felt good, very little pain in the hips.
So when I got to the next turn for home I kept going and did this another 4 times, eventually having to face into the wind and the pisnning rain with it.
Was delighted that I clocked just over 50km at an avg of 28kmph. I was sore getting off the bike, for the final 10km the hip and back were tight and I dropped down the avg big time.

Young lad was at the window as he could see my coming down our road on the tablet Technology is great.

Last night was squat, Romanian dead-lifts, press-ups, curls and a bridges as per physio instructions.

Tonight will be stretching and tomorrow is the 6.30am yoga/Pilates class and then physio at 8am.

yop

Okily Tues night did my now usual "free session", its just a 25 min spin on the turbo, I learnt my lesson last week doing a shed load of weights and suffered for it in the 6.30am class
Class was tough again, variation on star pressups, one arm pressups, side pressup, normal press up, the spider man pressup. Must have cleared over 100 press-ups during the class but felt might.
Straight into the physio again for a session.
Then buzzed the doc on Wednesday about the bloods, thank God nothing returned on the neurological issues, so MS is looking less and less likely.
I rested on Wed night as I was tired.
Tonight I did a loop around near my house, 40km and was good. Hip played up a little as on the return I tried to push it as much as I could. But delighted to get out.
Doc and physio have told me to continue with the training. But pain will dictate that, the minute I go to push it above comfort level I feel the legs starting to cramp, even at the start of a session! Mental, but I have to live with it for now.

yop

Friday night I was butchered so just did 30 mins of press-up and stretches that the physio outlined.

Saturday I was working for most of the day putting on a roof but did 90 mins on the turbo late on Sat night.
Sunday was in Dublin so only got stretches. Sitting on bus was a dog!

Last night was 40 mins of core.
Tonight was off as I didn't get home from work til 8.30.

For some reason I have signed up to the team 40k TT on Thurs night in Ballinrobe!!!! Don't ask me why I did it, 7 start in my team and 5 of us have to finish, I told them I would push it for 20k and then slide off so it will mean I will be doing 2 mins at a time and the boys 1 min. Thats ok though, just delighted to be able to get out... shud be interesting to see how the legs will hold out!!! Fitness will be rubbish but if it helps the lads get points then its worth it.

yop

Well I did the TT. Turned out that we had a headwind for the first 17km, so that just broke me. Clicked up at 35.9kmph avg for that section and it just blew me away, lost the wheel and couldn't get it back.
Ended up on my own for the rest, came home avg 34kmph which wasn't bad, started calf cramps at 29k so was a struggle the rest of the way.
Great to do it, no after affects today except for an awful lot of violent spasms, but they are gone now to reduced spasms.