From modified exercises during injury onwards

[crazycanuck]

Ok ladies I need some assistance & i do hope this makes sense

First, my knee ligaments are healing nicely but not 100% yet. In addition, my collarbone/clavicle is coming along too. Second, i'm starting to get back into modified forms of exercise-swimming, water walking and pilates. Third, i start physio on Dec 17th (can't wait to start!!!) as the leg brace is no longer required after the 15th..

If you've ever had an injury that takes quite a while to heal can you please tell me how often you exercised??

My question is how often should i swim & for how long especially if my left area near my collarbone ends up tight and doesn't feel right after? I can swim for 1/2hr straight at the moment and wonder if that's too much 4x's a week. Would combining swimming along with water walking be the right equation?

What about loosening up the left side after exercise? Do i apply heat or just do some type of stretch?

Oh so many more questions but they'll have to wait until i start physio & bend my knee 90 degrees...

Thanks again for your help

C

[RoadRaven]

CC, I haven't ever had injuries as comprehensive as yours, or had to support someone with something similar

But I just want to say how impressed I am with your no-quit, pragmatic attitude to getting on with healing.
I wish we didn't have the ditch between us cause I'd love to be a friend who gets you out of the house for coffee occasionally

Hugs

[crazycanuck]

Thanks RoadRaven..((((RR)))) The next time we're in Rotorua i'll try and drive to Napier to visit.

All i can say is, the past month with the leg brace has been the easyish bit...it's the next bit that will be interesting & hard part. Balance, pushing with my toes while walking etc etc..plus the feelings in my knee are returning..ow...

The exercise will help!

C

[Trek420]

If you've ever had an injury that takes quite a while to heal can you please tell me how often you exercised??
C

How about an injury that never healed and effects me still?

In a way, while I'd rather that my various boo boos never occured they are the best thing for my training. I've realised that I can do the preventative work, or try to rehab it.

Prevention; stretches, yoga, rides, spin, swimming, Aikido is fun and work out to me. Rehab like back into physical therapy is not much fun.

Keep doing whatever works

[LBTC]

CC - I had only the one major injury to recover from, and I know that I started exercising with weights on the rest of my body one week after surgery. For the 4 weeks while the pins were in I faithfully did weights, slowly and carefully every day - but what would have been a 30-45 workout would take hours. When I started physio it was 3 times per week. I talked a lot with my PT, and discussed every little sensation, all the ways I was feeling when I did this or did that - probably nearly drove her mad - but it really helped. She helped me determine when I was pushing too hard (sharp shooting pain - bad; muscles soreness - probably not bad); and showed me the things I must include to help strengthen the shoulder while working on increasing mobility.

So, really, I think it's all about listening - to your body, to your phsyiotherapist, to your acupuncturist (if you keep going), to your doctor, but mostly listen to your body.

You know you'll get your strength and fitness back. Who knows? You might even come back better than before after all of your attention to detail!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[Trek420]

CC - .... You might even come back better than before after all of your attention to detail!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

What she said

Don't think of it as a set-back, think of it as time to focus on other aspects of training, learn stuff, to listen to your body.

[crazycanuck]

Thanks girls

I know it's all down to listening to my body and it's something i struggle with. I will be taking it easy once the leg brace isn't needed as i know every little crack, bump etc in the pavement will be a block.

I think i often let my mind get ahead of my body & don't realize it..
I guess it's similar to knowing you can have something within reach but aren't allowed to have it until you learn to accept the small things in life..

I hope i make sense...

C

[LBTC]

Yes, CC, you make perfect sense. I'm sorry there isn't an easy answer, I wish there were!

Listen to your body, visualize butterflies, let yourself heal at your own pace.

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[KnottedYet]

When I started physio it was 3 times per week. I talked a lot with my PT, and discussed every little sensation, all the ways I was feeling when I did this or did that - probably nearly drove her mad - but it really helped.

More than half the physio's job is simply educating people. An educated patient is a powerful patient! I'd rather have someone ask me a million questions and walk out knowing what is what; then they know how to take care of themself and how to monitor themself and modify exercises according to their changing needs.

Our goal is to make ourselves obsolete!