Doctor's Visit

[Veronica]

I went in for my annual physical today and talked to my doc about the knee and upper back, right at the base of my neck, issues I've been having.

She couldn't feel any sort of cyst behind my knee, but she did say both my IT bands felt very tight. And she is sending me for an x ray and ultrasound on the knee. I could feel a difference between my left and right knees when she was checking them. The right was definitely more tender.

I think I've just been too tense on my last long rides and that is what has caused my upper back to hurt. She couldn't find anything that felt weird with my back. If I still have issues on Sunday's 200 K I'll go for an x ray and sonogram for that too. She said maybe it's arthritis. Great.

Maybe this year I'll actually get my mammogram and do the blood work she's been trying to get me to do for 4 years. :D

I'm usually in and out when I go see her once a year and she doesn't see me in between (except to remove stitches.) So it was kind of weird to actually have some issues.

V.

[Zen]

Google "piriformis syndrome" and "baker's cyst".
I'm on my way out the door, will add later.

[Veronica]

A funny thought - I'd been thinking about taking Monday off since I'm doing a long ride on Sunday. I just scheduled my mammogram and ultrasound , guess when... Monday. :)

V.

[maillotpois]

Good! Get that mammo done! Very important.

Oh - and the bike fit, too! :D

[Veronica]

Well, now I'm reluctant to call them, because what if they want to see me on Tuesday...

But I'm gonna do it anyway. :p

V.

[maillotpois]

Last I knew they were booking 4 - 5 months out for bike fit. But that was 2(?) years ago.

[Veronica]

Now you tell me... I just called and left a message.

V.

[SadieKate]

I thought you were going to get that done during spring break! Tsk-tsk. :p

Old age. You're just falling apart.

[Trekhawk]

Now you tell me... I just called and left a message.

V.

Sorry to hear about the aches and pains. I hope you get the knee and back sorted.

Are you going to get your fit where MP went??

I had mine done there and they are great guys.

LOL that is the place I met Robin Williams, hee hee I had to have one brush with fame while living in the States.:D

[jobob]

No worries V, I'll go really easy on you Sunday.

Like hopefully you won't need to wait for me too long :rolleyes:

Can you tell I'm being really optimistic about this ride? I've been a total lazybutt the last couple of weeks and methinks that's going to bite me in the, er, lazy butt :cool:

[maillotpois]

Why didn't I meet Robin Williams when I went to PK? :mad:

:D

[Trekhawk]

Why didn't I meet Robin Williams when I went to PK? :mad:

:D


Because you needed to let this Aussie have a tale to tell her mates. :D

[yellow]

V, during my last visit and round of Xrays my doctor used the term "arthritic change". I think that must be like "perimenopause". Almost, but not quite. :p

(My back is still bugging me from my cleat issue almost 2 years ago. But he says it's "arthritic change". Having it relate to some activity is so much more dramatic and glamorous.)

[Veronica]

My appointment with PK is on Thursday at 10 AM. I just got back from riding Diablo. I'm tired. :rolleyes:

V.

[maillotpois]

Wow - that's quick! I had to wait several months. Not that it mattered. It was during the 6 month embolism hiatus. :rolleyes:

I will be really interested to hear what he does to your fit.

[Veronica]

V, during my last visit and round of Xrays my doctor used the term "arthritic change". I think that must be like "perimenopause". Almost, but not quite. :p

(My back is still bugging me from my cleat issue almost 2 years ago. But he says it's "arthritic change". Having it relate to some activity is so much more dramatic and glamorous.)

Yeah, she mentioned the "a" word. So far, yoga cycling has been keeping the upper back pain at bay. That's what I call it when I feel myself tensing up in my upper back. I think about relaxing and it's working. But I've only done 40 miles or so at a pop since my last brevet. Sunday will be the real test for yoga cycling. :)

V.

[Di bear]

Generally, Baker's cysts don't hurt (I do ultrasound and none of my patients have had a painful cyst). They'll look behind your knee, where they form. If you do have a Baker's cyst, then arthritis is a huge possibility. I was actually able to find the source of a Baker's cyst to the joint on one patient, which is miraculous, because the leg tissues surrounding the knee aren't very ultrasound friendly, with the exception of an area on the back of the knee (there's a lot we can't see through with ultrasound, so we have to find "windows").

WHERE is your knee pain?

I have tight IT bands and I have to do stretches quite regularly to keep the pain down. I was have knee pain, mostly on the front side. I was told this is because the IT band was pulling the patella out of alignment. Ouch. The stretches have helped tremendously.

I put my routine on my blog if you want to check it out: Cycling + Pain + Yoga = Happy Cyclist (http://moronacity.blogspot.com/2008/03/cycling-pain-yoga-happy-cyclist.html)

A reputable chiropractor might be able to get you back on track as well (they're not just for backs!).

[Veronica]

My pain is on the back of the knee, kind of in the middle and towards the inside.

V.