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Maybe get a different PT or other practicioner? I've torn or sprained both my rotator cuffs skiing, and in both cases it took well over a year of stretchy band work and very light weight work to get back funtioning. IIRC you aren't a fan of chiropricatic, but I do know that not all PTs are the same, either.
not much help, sorry!!
Irulan
SEVEN inches of snow overnight! Woo-hoo!! ski time!!
Thanks Irulan. Hearing that it takes a long time for other people too helps. Hearing about snow is frustrating- I wanna go skiing!:D
The rotater cuffs have really come along nicely; the clavicle is the big sticking point (bad pun!). Ortho called and wants me to come in and discuss my x ray- bad, but maybe they know what's wrong?
Lizzy
Hey lizzy, sorry about your shoulder pain. I'm not sure what the answer is, I'm just letting you know you're not alone. I have a left neck/shoulder issue and must limit my road bike time. Am getting into mtn biking to replace some road biking, the crouched over position of road riding irritates my neck. Am finding yoga stretches that help - but down dog is very hurtful if held for more than 15 seconds or so. Buckwheat hull pillow for a change will help sometimes, hot hot showers, and massage is heaven. Am also working with a friend who had a car accident yrs ago and has moved his handle bars more upright using a stem extension. I may try this with mine.
Fortunately/unfortunately I just love that gliding feeling of biking and can't stop, i know we'll find something to make us more comfortable.
How about the old "sit up & beg" bike? Raise your handlebars to get the weight off of your shoulder? I know you have several bikes and lots of duct tape - just make that stem really long! Red neck bike - here we come! Seriously, your aerodynamics will be shot, but you'd be riding. And with your new jersey, the upright position will allow others to admire your new outfit.
OK, maybe not duct tape for the stems. How about PVC? Light weight & durable & it won't rust! Yahoo! You can even sign your name on it...if you dare.
Seriously, I know what it's like to have pain on a bike. I remember ten years ago I could ride forever. Now, if I don't keep my conditioning up, I feel like the Tin Man when I get off my bike. And I haven't even had any major accidents like you have. So my hat is off to you for your perserverance.
Kim (who is totally pissed off that she isn't riding 109 miles in Tour de Tucson tomorrow because her *^&%$ job got in the way of training this year! Grrrr!)
I appreciate you all so much! :D Just got a great big laff- "The Sit Up And Beg Bike"! I actually have one, now that I think about it, my trashy bar crawl bike. I'm too weak in the hands for the awful brakes, but maybe I can scare up some other ones... I could ride it around town and not freak about locking it up. Too ugly to steal.
Running errands "a velo" is the most awesome conditioning thing.
Actually, the best days are spin class days, the hard aerobic work warms up the muscles and the upper body part, such as it is, has really helped the whole cuff problem. I put riser bars on the Mt beast and it fits all comfy, I'm just weak in the upper body and all head tripped about the psychos on the phone in their SUVs. If I didn't have stinkin' PT I could go to the country and ride nice safe dirt for a week and be a new woman. So I fantasize... Some happy time on a country road would help, I just can't get out of town.
I forgot- the shoulder should actually work for that trip, huh?
Lizzy
Spin is boring.
Lizzy,
As I recall, you're pretty good with a wrench. Take your trashy bar crawl bike (great description!) and put coaster brakes on it. Voila! No hand brakes!
You're right about the psycho's, cell phones & SUV's. Why did God allow man to create those things? Like anybody is actually going to take a Lexus SUV off road? One day it rained really hard & those SUV's tucked tail & ran like cur dogs at all puddles. My little Toyota Corolla just "tankity-tank-tanked" through them.
Of course, custom made bikes are totally diffferent <grin!> Like your bar crawl bike! Totally custom! Lock that puppy up! It will be great for Mardi Gras! Stand on the seat & catch beads
When I got my first mountain bike, one of the reasons what that I had been in two car accidents and couldnt' ride laid out due to neck pain. That thing had so many risers on it , it wasn't funny. BUt... it got me back riding, after a lot of years, I've finally gotten to the point where I ride pretty much in an XC race position. I still am not comfortable in road position tho, just the way you have to hold your head.
I think one just has to be really patient with these kind of injuries.
Dogmama, you avatar is cool!!
Irulan
Actually, I got out the Mardi Gras bike and looked it over. You can't drive in the city at the Gras, but a bike is the thing- it has glitter all over it, wear it with the costume and ride down St Charles Avenue at dawn throwing the beads! See, I go down town and lock it outside the bar where the Krewe of Cosmic Debris forms, and if I come back at 5 PM amd somebody screwed with it, read knocked it over, puked on it, ect.) big deal. I took an old Raliegh touring bike and swapped the drop bars for these bizarre bright red high rise bars, put an old Weinmann center pull brake on the front for more stopping power, used old old Mt levers. I think the levers are the problem- No trouble a few years ago, but I can't over power them now. Very sticky. Need to cruise the junk pile at the LBS for better levers. And I think the bike needs rhinestones glued on. I ditched the front derailleur when I rebuilt the bottom bracket, so it ain't fast but it's stylin. Think Art Car. Think Haitian sequin voodoo flags. Did you all know I have a painting degree?
I just looked at it again, and there may be a reach adjustment that could fix this lever issue. I think it's set up for two finger super fit hot singletrack chick hands, and that may be the problem. I still wanna settle this shoulder xray first, but riding the silly low tech bike may be a good way to go. There's no place safe enough to lock up my spiffy hardtail anywhere!
Lizzy