The Take Home Message

[Dogmama]

I had my 2 week checkup and everything is progressing "as expected" even though I have no improvement in numbness and 50% improvement in pain . There was more damage than expected, so this will be a process.

On a good note, I'm cleared to do some light leg lifting (seated gym equipment only) and a recumbent bike at the gym.

The Take Home Message:

I should have had more pain. I didn't and as a result, I suffered more damage. I think (my opinion only) that we women cyclists have a higher pain tolerance than most people. So, the message is - if it hurts, gets numb or otherwise doesn't feel right, get it checked out thoroughly. I thought my deltoid pain was overuse injury (even though when I rested it, it didn't get better...dumb!) but since the surgery, it is much better. It was a signal that my nerves were being compressed.

So, I guess I'll turn in my "M.D." badge. I always wanted to be a vet anyway...

[CorsairMac]

Sorry to hear the damage was worse than expected but glad to hear that you're progressing in your therapy! and Yipppee Skippee on the recumbent! It's a start. As for being more pain tolerant - not sure about that but I am sure that as a rule - IMHO - women are just more accepting of things and so don't always realize just how much damage has been/is being done. (did that just make sense?) {it's ok if it didn't...we'll just count it as one of my meaningless, random "i'm trying to catch sadiekate" posts!)

[Nanci]

This reminds me of when I had LASIK eye surgery, to make it so I could see without contacts. (I was so blind I couldn't even see the eye chart!) I had done my homework, and was afraid of complications, and had decided to only get one eye done at a time so only one could be ruined!! After the first eye was done, you read all these accounts of how the patient was instantly able to see perfectly, which was not the case for me, and everything was blurry, and the doctor was pressing me to decide if I was going to do the other eye or wait. I said "Well, I can't really see anything, I thought I would be able to see better..." and he says, rather snappishly, "You've just had major surgery on your eye, what do you expect???" I went on to do the other eye, mainly because I was so scared I knew I'd never have the nerve to go back. At my check-up the next day, my vision was about 20/40, which is legal to drive, but much worse than the 20/20 I'd been corrected to with contacts. The doctor stressed that healing took time, and I needed to develope some patience. So I did, and several months later my vision tested at 20/13. It's hard to be patient when you are so vested in the outcome of the surgery, though!

Hopefully healing will progress for you and therapy will do its usual miracles!

Nanci

[Lise]

Hey, Dogmama,

I am glad to hear the progress report. It so seldom seems like enough progress when it's your own recovery. Your beautiful, strong body sustained a lot of injury in an attempt to keep you doing what you love to do. Now it's working just as hard to recover. It is tough to honor the healing process.

Nanci, I had Lasik this spring. Like you, I was so myopic that I couldn't even see the eye chart. I was scared to death to let anyone do anything to my eyes, but I really, really wanted to swim triathlons without worrying about my contacts. And...I was starting to date again, and wanted to see who I was kissing up close! It was the scariest thing I've ever done voluntarily. It worked out fine for me. I have my 9 month follow-up visit next week. I still have some driness, but other than that, I am so glad I had it done. Oddly enough, the guy I was dating decided he wanted "more freedom" the same week I had the surgery. My friends suggested that he realized I'd get a good look at him up close and he decided to break up with me before I just went ahead and ditched him! My main worry was that the crying I did would mess up my new eyes. I was more worried about the eyes than about the breakup, so good riddence!

Dogmama, I wouldn't be surprised if you became a recumbent racer or something! There's little that can keep us down. Looking forward to regular updates--Lise

[Embellina]

Dogmama -- Best of luck on your recovery. I've had some minor injuries in the past and I recall how very frustrating they were. I'll take to heart your words of wisdom about listening closely to pain.

Totally OT for Nanci and Lise. I've been thinking for a long time about LASIK, but haven't found any good advice for my particular problem, which is that I'm a huge wuss. I don't have terrible vision, but I should wear my glasses everywhere. I can't wear contacts, just the thought of them makes me cringe. I can't for the life of me get them out after managing -- after hours of agonizing effort -- to get them in. I am enormously vain, though, and walk around all the time sans glasses. Do you think LASIK would be an appropriate surgery for me? How conscious were you during the procedure?

[massbikebabe]

Dogma;

Please take it slowly...this from someone who is hell bound to be the fastest stroke recovery ever...listen to your body, and your brain. I have on several occasions pushed it just a little too far lately and have ended up going slightly backwards and not forward. I even tried to climb up on my trainer and only fell and cut my head and eyebrow wide open. I have come to accept the fact that I am sick and need time (and patience) to heal!! Most stroke victims do not make it half as far as I have, most cord surgeries don't get on recumbents 2 weeks post-op either. We are strong women indeed!!

Corsair; It has been my experience that women have a much higher pain tolerance than men...but they also are not very forthcoming with info. regarding their level of pain. If I had my choice in my next life I would come back as a black woman because it has been my experience that they are the strongest of all human species!!

karen
ranting...wanting to be in Sadies group

[Nanci]

They give you Valium, or something, to take before they do the surgery. I was more afraid of prescription drugs than the procedure, so I didn't take it. I probably should have, because I was very scared, and I think it would have helped. When I had mine done, five years ago or so, they didn't have the tracking thing that keeps the laser centered where they want it, so the patient had to focus their eye straight ahead and be careful not to move. That has changed now, so I presume you could be more drugged these days.

I would tell you, hey, it's ok, it's not scary, but it _is_ scary because it's your _eyes_! But it's not particularly painful, and the second eye is MUCH easier since you know what to expect, and when it's over it doesn't hurt at all. You go home wearing these guards over your eyes, or special glasses if you were smart enough to buy them beforehand, and take some naps, and put cooling packs on your eyes, and when you wake up in the morning, you can see!

Nanci- (#1 of my 1.9 posts per day!)

[DeniseGoldberg]

Dogmama -
I second what massbikebabe says - listen to your body and try not to get frustrated when you have days that don't progress as you'd like. I too am speaking from experience - from recovering from a serious accident as opposed to surgery or a stroke. But I do believe that there are similarities in the recovery from each of these things.

Although it's your body that is dictating / controlling your recovery rate, it's your attitude that's going to get you through this. And I'm sending more (fast) healing thoughts your way. I'm sure your bicycles are joining in with recovery wishes too.

--- Denise

[Dogmama]

Denise & MassBike,

I know you're right. One day I over did it (sat at the computer for more than 2 hours - sheesh!) and the next day I paid. But, it's like cycling. When you feel good - you just keep going & don't think about having to ride all the way back!

I'm scheduled off work until Jan 17, but might go back for a few hours/day next week on a mon/wed/fri basis. There is no way I can jump right back into 8-9 hours of sitting at my computer.

A funny note - my surgeon is a brand new cyclist as of Christmas. He was complaining about paying $150 for pedals, etc. If I had his money, I'd throw mine away!! I joked with him about the routes he road - told him that it would be very bad if I passed him on my bike next week.

[yellow]

Oh, Dogmama...injuries are so hard. Hang in there. I think staying sane while injured/recovering is harder than the physical recovery. Denise is right, it's your attitude (brain) that's really under pressure to perform right now!

[Lise]

Do you think LASIK would be an appropriate surgery for me? How conscious were you during the procedure?

Ummmm...heck if I know. But I started to consider it when my good friend's 70+ year old mom had it. I took the Valium, and wish I hadn't. I forgot that I turn into a whiney crybaby under the influence of Valium. I will never take it again. I was whimpering the whole time they were working on me. They actually gave me a stuffed animal to hold. Normally I'm pretty tough and stoic. I've just spent my whole life protecting my eyes, and there I was, with a James Bond-type laser beam aimed at them... Dramatic, eh?! I'm so glad I did it, though. By the next day, I could see almost perfectly. It's like a miracle. I would do it again. Good luck with your decision! Lise

[Embellina]

Thanks for your insight, Lise and Nanci! I'll let you know what I decide -- could be months and months before I make up my mind, though.

[annie]

I had my 2 week checkup and everything is progressing "as expected" even though I have no improvement in numbness and 50% improvement in pain . There was more damage than expected, so this will be a process.

Don'tcha know...... we always want to be the one that progresses BETTER and FASTER than expected...... Of course we should, because don't we take such good care of ourselves and stay in such good shape......?? Please, can't we heal faster than the normal human? I know that was what I hoped when I was broken. Of course, didn't happen that way. I had to accept healing at a normal rate and be pleased with whatever progress was made.

ALL progress is good, Dogmama! And it sounds like you are making that progress. I am positive that at some point, you will look back at this and be awed at the recovery you've made. Give yourself the time to make that recovery. And keep reading all these posts on TE Forums. That'll keep you laughing and in good spirits, of nothing else does.

annie

[RoadRaven]

Hey there Dogmamma... sorry to read damage was more than expected... wrapped to hear you are mending steadily

Wishing you speed in recovery and soon on your wheels...

Arohanui from Aotearoa