Rabbit's epic healing thread ;-) (feel free to ignore)

[Jolt]

Yikes, sorry to hear things are rough! I wouldn't worry too much about the DOMS when you've just started something new. That is a normal thing that happens (I've been having it lately myself, having recently started doing some strength training and experimenting with running barefoot) and should decrease after a few times of doing the new workout. Definitely keep working on those knots; that twinge around the outside of the knee could well have been from one in the vastus lateralis rather than an ITB problem and if your quads have been having issues it's pretty likely. Keep an eye on that though (and make sure you don't have a trigger point in the TFL on that side--that can make it tight which of course makes the ITB tight)--IT band syndrome is a bummer. Good luck and keep us posted.

[alpinerabbit]

Yes thanks - as I was writing humorously, it might not have gotten across that I'm pretty sure it's not ITBS, but at the moment I felt it I freaked.

I'm keeping the TFL in mind when stretching and massaging*, and I actually appreciated the sore muscles I get from that exercise. It means something's happening and it pointed to the muscle that is weak, so that's a good thing in my view.

Today I'm really, really good and the mood is far away from the "panic" range of the color scale.


*it's hard to get at but the massage ball is doing the trick

[Jolt]

Yes thanks - as I was writing humorously, it might not have gotten across that I'm pretty sure it's not ITBS, but at the moment I felt it I freaked.

I'm keeping the TFL in mind when stretching and massaging*, and I actually appreciated the sore muscles I get from that exercise. It means something's happening and it pointed to the muscle that is weak, so that's a good thing in my view.

Today I'm really, really good and the mood is far away from the "panic" range of the color scale.


*it's hard to get at but the massage ball is doing the trick

Glad to hear today is better. I know what you mean about appreciating the sore muscles--it means the exercise is working! And I agree about the TFL being an awkward spot to massage; I use a firm rubber ball (smaller than a tennis ball) on the floor and that works pretty well.

[eclectic]

Wow alpine! I haven't been on for awhile - you certainly are having a time of it. Glad to see you are making some progress. Don't give up on tris yet. Heal, strengthen and condition slowly w/ sense and you will be back at it.

Sorry to hear about your shoulder
When you swim do you x-train strokes or just do freestyle?
The majority of what we do is freestyle but it is mixed up w/ full IM strokes. I have found that has helped me keep all my joints and muscles in balance also I can do backstroke and butterfly a lot better than when I first started

- Have to share this story - one of my students came w/ a support on his foot (whatever they are called as they don't cast any more) He had cracked some bones in his foot. I asked him what he had done. It was a swimming injury. Like he said "I am doing the lowest impact and totally non-contact of all sports and I break my foot" Apparently he was coming into the wall fast, missed the turn and broke it on impact and push off. Go figure . . .

[alpinerabbit]

Wow. what crappy luck :-(

I do all strokes in guided practice, and mostly freestyle on my own with some breast. I think I simply overdid it, although I think attempts at fly might have contributed to the strain. I also think my backstroke is not up to par (catch and push phase).

[Dogmama]

Rabbits, for what it's worth - lunges will cause major DOMS at first. Everybody complains about it. With your history, I would suggest that you be very careful about lunging correcting - be sure your knee is tracking directly over your foot (not side to side) and try to keep your knee behind your toes at your lowest position.

[alpinerabbit]

@Dogmama, I'm aware of that, side-to-side is no problem; the knee over the foot thing I'm looking out for.

So I had another appt. with the doctor and she prescribed me another round of PT (9 sessions - I'm paying myself anyway), to get some more exercises but also to get more deep massage work.

I sat on the trainer for the first time this year tonight and I also noticed a difference in strength doing one-leg drills. Wonder if I should just do that more on the right side than the left.

I've run 3x last week and I feel pretty good. have to keep at the rolling&balling - think this will be my fate from now on?