Injured and pissed off

[ace]

Hi guys,

Just voicing my frustration here. The last several months have been really tough for me- a break of a relationship (I was dumped), working crazy hours (billed 110 hours/wk for about a month)...the only thing that has kept me semi-sane has been my beloved bike. I got really into biking this year, and was planning on riding the Cinderella, plus going on a week long bike tour of Tuscany next May.

So of course, I was at the gym with my personal trainer several weeks ago, he was having me do lunges in a studio, and some moron had spilled water on the floor. I slipped and fell rather spectacularly, and twisted and majorly banged my knee, and was basically non-ambulatory for a couple of weeks. Now I'm walking with some pain, but much better. An MRI showed no permanent damage, the pain is due to sinovitis probably, which is swelling of the tissue in the knee (though my doc says I have mod-severe wear on the cartilage in my knee caps, but this likely pre-existed the injury and never really gave me problems- I was doing 5 hour rides with no knee pain). I got on my trainer for the first time since my accident, rode 5 minutes at very low tension, and afterwards was in some serious pain.

I am just so pissed....I need to exercise, specifically to ride, to stay sane. I signed up for both the Cindy and the bike tour anyway, my doc says I should be fine in a few months. But I'm frustrated. I think I'm going to start swimming this weekend, maybe that'll be easier on my knee, and I can work up to the bike in a couple of weeks.

I know my problem isn't huge in the grand perspective, but I feel really thwarted.

Thanks for listening!
Amy

[Crankin]

I had a similiar injury when I first started cycling. I crashed when my son was passing a water bottle to me. There was a huge hematoma, but no real damage. After 2-3 weeks I did start swimming and doing some specific stretching exercises, along with alternating ice and heat. I was back cycling in about 4-5 weeks. Just be careful!

[Blueberry]

working crazy hours (billed 110 hours/wk for about a month)...

Amy-

I'm guessing you're a lawyer?? I've been in the same boat lately (work wise, that is...thankfully, no injuries)

Sorry to hear about the injury and problems. Be kind to yourself. Working those kind of hours is hard enough on the body without anything else - how do you even manage to find time to ride?! So...take it easy...do what doesn't hurt, and let your body heal! And come vent here anytime - we understand

Carrie Anne

[ace]

Hey Carrie Anne-

Very good guess. I am a lawyer, but don't work as one anymore. But I'm a technical consultant in the lit support field, so we work lawyerly hours. I actually only rode once during those 100+ hour weeks, and I was so distracted, I forgot to unclip and had a nice little fall (scrapes only)!

Right now work is slow, so I could be out there spinning in the crisp fall air....but hey, I think the trick is to appreciate what I have, and I have so much (compared to most people). I just gotta remember when I get back out there and am struggling up the hills that I'm lucky I'm healthy enough to be on my bike!

Thanks for your good wishes,
Amy

[DeniseGoldberg]

Amy -
I would bet you have plenty of time to heal and to get (back) into great shape for both the Cinderella and your spring tour. I agree with Robyn based on my own experience. Give yourself some time off the bike - your plan to start swimming sounds like a good one. Then add riding back in (easy to start) once your knee starts to feel better. Time is your friend.

This is definitely a good place to vent, isn't it?
Sending healing wishes your way...

--- Denise

[Bikingmomof3]

Amy,
Give yourself time to heal. If swimming does not cause pai or delay your recovery then I say go for it. You will be ready for the Cindi ride. I understand what it feels like to be grounded from riding. I turned to running. It will all work out in the end. Come and vent anytime. Wishing you a quick healing period.

[mary9761]

Mine isn't a knee injury (this time around anyways) but I'm off the bike for an undetermined time due to a back injury of some sort that includes sciatic pain down the right leg. I just started 60mg of prednisone for 5 days (PLEASE let it ONLY be 5 days) and I'm having withdrawel with spazz out from the prednisone. I don't feel your EXACT pain, but having cycling being my lifeline to sanity, THAT I feel!!
Good luck!

[DDH]

I hope you have a quick recovery so you can get back out there.
I know that my biking is such a huge stress reliever to me. I don't get to go as often as I would like or need to but I sure go when I can, so I can't imagine if I was forced not to go for a while.
Of course thats like when your car sits in the driveway for weeks and you go no where, but the minute you don't have it you want to go somewhere.

Be careful and don't over do it so you don't injure yourself further

[Dianyla]

Type A personality, perchance? I'm the same way.

Try to take it a little easier on yourself. Maybe do an alternate exercise like swimming for a while to rehab that knee.

[Thistle]

it sucks when life keeps putting obstacles in your way ace

only thing i can say is they wont last forever. feel like i'm just starting to come out of a really miserable time. trouble is, when you're in it, it's hard to believe it's gunna end. but it will. (((ace)))

[crazybikinchic]

They say that swimming is one of the best excersises for you. It is the easiest on your joints/body, but the most effective in moving muscles that might otherwise not get used much. They use water for disabled people on a regular basis because the movement of the water again moves those muscles that are not normally used by them. Go for the swimming for exercise for now. Who knows, you might really enjoy it and start thinking about tri's (because we know that no cycling is not an option)

[Kathi]

Sorry to hear about your accident. I understand your frustration, last year I tore my MCL/ACL right in the middle of the best ski season in Colorado in years.

My ortho said the best thing I could do for it was to ride my bike on the trainer. It was tough at first because I could not bend my knee. So I raised my saddle so my knee didn't have to bend so far and used a platform pedal so my foot was unrestricted. At first it meant pedaling forward and backward until I could make a complete circle. It didn't take long before I was spinning away and could lower my saddle. I found that when I didn't ride I was stiffer and more sore.

After ACL surgery I was back on the trainer on the 9th day. After 4 weeks I was back up to riding an hour a day. My ortho let me begin riding outdoors (without clipless pedals) at 4.5 weeks.

I'm convinced that riding the trainer helped me recover faster by keeping the joint moving and the blood flowing through the injured ligaments.

Each day you will feel better and it won't be long before you're back to normal. Be thankful it wasn't an MCL or ACL.

[ace]

Thanks, all. You are such a nice group of women.

I'm already missing my ACL on that same knee I injured- an unfortunate dog park accident several years ago. I have learned to live without!

[tygab]

Thanks, all. You are such a nice group of women.
I'm already missing my ACL on that same knee I injured- an unfortunate dog park accident several years ago. I have learned to live without!

you are lucky. I couldn't even walk a normal gait without mine. I sure am grateful for what the doctor was able to give me back, because I love being active more than anything. Had it twice on same knee (bad luck really) but I knew what to expect for #2 and just stayed very focused throughout rehab.

Don't worry, you will get back to everything you love. And it's quite alright to vent too.