On the DL list

[Bike Writer]

Jiffer, thanks for the link and additional information, it's a topic I need to delve into further.

Melalvai, thanks for the heads up.

[Bike Writer]

I'm thinking this is more serious than a rest up and gradual comeback.

Far too many thngs going on in my right leg at the moment. Knee pain, muscle weakness, strong cramping in my calf muscle and hamstring, sciatica pain and more that is enough to keep me off the bike and I'm considering getting total knee replacement on my right side. I suffered through much of this several years ago on the left side and had the TKN replacement surgery.

The Dr. always says that only you will know when it's time to get it done.

I think it might be time.

This might be a mighty short season.

Sad face girl here. It's killing me to think about having this done at this time of year...the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak...

[OakLeaf]

(((((((BikeWriter))))))))

Just make sure your ortho is aware of your spinal issues. I would recommend working closely with a PT before the surgery, if you decide to do it. As someone who just watched a family member go through multiple repeat surgeries with serious complications ... it really seems to me that doing a TKA at this point has a strong possibility of aggravating your neurological issues. Surgeons do tend to focus in like a laser beam on the precise area they're repairing (I've even heard this from doctors of other specialties). Which is good while they're doing the surgery, not so much when they're considering whether surgery would be an overall benefit to the patient.

[goldfinch]

Jiffer, thanks for the link and additional information, it's a topic I need to delve into further.

Melalvai, thanks for the heads up.

Stay away from Mercola. If you are interested in him or what he says I suggest starting with the Wiki on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola. From the wiki:
A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial criticized Mercola's marketing practices as "relying on slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics."[3] In 2005, 2006 and 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Mercola and his company to stop making illegal claims regarding his products' ability to detect, prevent and treat disease.[4] The medical watchdog site Quackwatch has criticized Mercola for making "unsubstantiated claims and clash with those of leading medical and public health organizations [and making] many unsubstantiated recommendations for dietary supplements."[4]


He even questions whether HIV causes Aids.

I also suggest reading:

http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/mercola.html


The Respectful Insolence and the Science Based Medicine blogs (two well respected blogs headed up by MDs) frequently call Mercola out on his psuedo-scientific nonsense, for example:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/20...1_influenz.php
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/20...hampoo_woo.php

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9903

[Bike Writer]

you are correct about treating the "whole" body. I also know folks who have had more complications after TKN surgery and problems afterward. PT is a very important component of bone and muscular surgery.

I am lucky to have a friend and neighbor who does PT in home health care and treats patients who have just returned from surgery before they can get out to a PT for rehab. I was lucky to have her be the person who treated me after my first surgery and I believe that part of the good outcome was because of having good PT care right out of the hospital and once I was able to get out to get to clinical rehab I did and followed orders religiously from them and from the surgeon both before and after the surgery. Having a good surgeon and knowing that he worked with the rheumatologist and primary care physician was important to me.

I was fortunate to know several other persons who have various orthopedic surgeries from this same surgeon and they had good outcomes. Divine intervention plays a role, sometimes surgeries don't come out well. It was about 6 years ago that I had my TKN on the left knee, much has changed in the world of medicine and technology and I will be anxious to hear what new improvements in surgeries and techniques are now available and if I would be a candidate for something different.

[Bike Writer]

I have plenty of reading and researching to do. I don't try to guide or steer a doctor in my care, I certainly am no expert and self medication is dangerous. But I do believe in being informed, being able to understand what the Dr. is talking about, carrying on an intelligent conversation with them and being in tune with my own body and subtle nuances that give me clues to my own health. A well informed and educated patient can be invaluable to a Dr. that is, provided the patient understands their role and does not try to take the Drs role.

[Crankin]

Thanks, Goldfinch for saying that.
I strongly believe in holistic health care; my degree was focused on holistic mental health counseling. But, I need to see empirically based research on anything, before I believe it. I did a major research project on using yoga to decrease anxiety/PTSD. We know it works, but we are just starting to see empirically based studies that show a relationship.
Sometimes we don't know why we feel like crap. Not to be flip, but I spent a year figuring out my own array of symptoms. When nothing serious showed up, I did agree with the fibromyalgia diagnosis, especially since I've had the symptoms for years. On the other hand, I didn't entirely fit the pattern for that disease and now I am not so sure. I dealt with it by using a whole bunch of complementary medicine strategies. The bottom line is, I know what sets me off and how it affects my cycling.
Bike Writer, you sound like you are taking a thoughtful approach to your issues.

[hebe]

I'm so sorry Bike Writer, I know how much you must be missing your cycling. No advice, just to say that I hope you can find a way back to full health and to your bicycle.

[salsabike]

Stay away from Mercola. If you are interested in him or what he says I suggest starting with the Wiki on him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola. From the wiki:
A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial criticized Mercola's marketing practices as "relying on slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics."[3] In 2005, 2006 and 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Mercola and his company to stop making illegal claims regarding his products' ability to detect, prevent and treat disease.[4] The medical watchdog site Quackwatch has criticized Mercola for making "unsubstantiated claims and clash with those of leading medical and public health organizations [and making] many unsubstantiated recommendations for dietary supplements."[4]


He even questions whether HIV causes Aids.

I also suggest reading:

http://www.quackwatch.com/11Ind/mercola.html


The Respectful Insolence and the Science Based Medicine blogs (two well respected blogs headed up by MDs) frequently call Mercola out on his psuedo-scientific nonsense, for example:

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/20...1_influenz.php
http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/20...hampoo_woo.php

http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/?p=9903

Thanks, Goldfinch. Good info.

[Bike Writer]

Thank you Hebe, The bike is one of the things I miss most but surprisingly even little everyday things mean a lot. There is so much I wanted to be able to get done over this long weekend but's it's just not happening. Even small little tasks require a long rest period. Yesterday driving a few errands brought me to tears, the sciatica pain was so intense.

Plus this is a campaign election year and that requires me to be mobile and active. Don't know where that's going to come from?

Well, better day's are coming.

Being homebound means I'm catching up more on bike reading and favorite blogs and finding new reads.