Ok, for about two weeks now I wanted to write a post about spring. The weather was getting warmer, I was ready to get my bike out and thinking about riding. Signed up again for the MS Ride - this year it is the Mason Dixon Challenge and takes place in Gettysburg July 21. I have been riding my bike indoors, (I have a special stand for it) but that isn't the same at all. We need to get busy and ride, M & I are signed up to do a Ocean to Bay ride that takes place down in DE (Bethany/Fenwick Island) on April 16th. I'm not sure I'm up for doing 30 miles. Actually I'm as much concerned about stopping & starting as I am riding. My left knee seems to have issues, and visions of how I broke my ankle last January keep coming back. But I can't let that stop me.
So, we had the warm weather, even got up to close to 70 once or twice. Really nice! But mother nature wasn't through with us. So yesterday it dropped back down in the mid 20's to mid 30's and they predicted snow flurries over night. We didn't seem to get them, but I did see it spitting snow this morning. Not enough to run my windshield wipers but enough you could see it. So we are back to damn bitter cold and I don't like it. My knee doesn't like it much either. So I guess I'm back to riding my bike inside the house. Or else wrapping up really well and trying to brave the wind. Even without a wind, you still pick up quite a breeze riding.
I'm more than ready for winter to go away and spring to stay.
Showing posts with label MS Bike Ride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MS Bike Ride. Show all posts
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
generosity of people
I'm rather amazed at how much I was able to collect for the MS Bike Ride. As of right now, the total is $1350. M was able to raise $381. When we first started talking about riding in it, M was concerned about being able to each raise the $250 minimum to ride (actually it is $150 to ride 1 day, $250 to ride both days.) Originally we were going to have a team, made up of me, M, W & M's sis and her partner L. W started having problems with his back and leg and decided he wouldn't be able to do the ride. He did try the French Creek ride a few weeks prior (which is similar hilly terrain) and was only able to do a couple miles, so he would have had a hard time with the MS Ride. M's sis and L thought the cost was too great - not the registration fee since that was similar to other rides, but the idea they would be required to raise at least $150 or $250 each to participate. So they opted out fairly early. L would have had as hard a time with the ride as I did, but Sis could have done it as easily as M.
Next year we are planning to do the Gettysburg MS ride instead which should be a lot flatter. I should be ok with that one. I just can't handle the large hills, especially during the heat of summer. But I'm not going to kid myself, I couldn't have handled the hills even if the weather was cool. Now sis is saying that she will join in and ride with M next year since M finished this one by herself. Of course talk is cheap, neither M or myself will hold our breath to see if sis decides to join us next year. When the time comes she will once again worry about how much $ she would have to raise, and feel like that $ was coming out of her own pocket. As it is, neither Sis nor L made a single donation to either me or M for this years ride.
So back to the point of the post. Granted times are tough these days with the economy being the way it is. Everyone is having a hard time. Different people also have different beliefs about what and where they want to support when it comes to charitable donations, if they even want to dontate at all. With money tight, I can certainly understand the feeling that "charity begins at home" I am not so free with making donations to just anyone or anything. However, if someone I know is trying to raise $ for a good cause, I'll make a contribution. Even a couple bucks is that much. And this is a personal cause for me. So maybe I take it a little more personal. Why wouldn't you contribute at least $5 to a cause that is raising money for research that might impact the health and future of someone in your family? Even M was disappointed with her sis and L for not making any contribution. I think she was more ticked off by that than I was.
Both M & I were a little worried about meeting the $250 goal we each were targetting. In the beginning dontations were slim. A dollar here, $5 there. I got most of my donations from people I work with. Some of them people I really don't know, other than to say hi in the hall, and maybe not even be able to tell you their name. My circle of "friends" here at work - the ones I eat lunch with, sometimes see outside of work on occasion, consider as friends. They contributed. Others I work with that I would have thought would, didn't. And lots of people just at random because they all "know" someone with MS, and believe this is a worthy cause. I am impressed. Our company does a $ for $ match to chartible contributions made to qualifying entities. So a good amount of my fellow employee's donations were also matched by the company. So I think I feel somewhat humbled by my fellow employees and how much they were willing to give. Some of them to a cause for a complete stranger. Pretty cool really. M was a little surprised too. She says it all has to do with that I work with a different class of people than she does. She was happy to get a dollar here or a couple bucks there from the people she works with.
I guess what impresses me is that people who are connected - inlaws, my family (with the exception that my mother did donate, and my daughter who is a struggling student and I didn't expect her to) didn't, couldn't, wouldn't bother to come up with even a $5 to contribute. Sad really.
Next year we are planning to do the Gettysburg MS ride instead which should be a lot flatter. I should be ok with that one. I just can't handle the large hills, especially during the heat of summer. But I'm not going to kid myself, I couldn't have handled the hills even if the weather was cool. Now sis is saying that she will join in and ride with M next year since M finished this one by herself. Of course talk is cheap, neither M or myself will hold our breath to see if sis decides to join us next year. When the time comes she will once again worry about how much $ she would have to raise, and feel like that $ was coming out of her own pocket. As it is, neither Sis nor L made a single donation to either me or M for this years ride.
So back to the point of the post. Granted times are tough these days with the economy being the way it is. Everyone is having a hard time. Different people also have different beliefs about what and where they want to support when it comes to charitable donations, if they even want to dontate at all. With money tight, I can certainly understand the feeling that "charity begins at home" I am not so free with making donations to just anyone or anything. However, if someone I know is trying to raise $ for a good cause, I'll make a contribution. Even a couple bucks is that much. And this is a personal cause for me. So maybe I take it a little more personal. Why wouldn't you contribute at least $5 to a cause that is raising money for research that might impact the health and future of someone in your family? Even M was disappointed with her sis and L for not making any contribution. I think she was more ticked off by that than I was.
Both M & I were a little worried about meeting the $250 goal we each were targetting. In the beginning dontations were slim. A dollar here, $5 there. I got most of my donations from people I work with. Some of them people I really don't know, other than to say hi in the hall, and maybe not even be able to tell you their name. My circle of "friends" here at work - the ones I eat lunch with, sometimes see outside of work on occasion, consider as friends. They contributed. Others I work with that I would have thought would, didn't. And lots of people just at random because they all "know" someone with MS, and believe this is a worthy cause. I am impressed. Our company does a $ for $ match to chartible contributions made to qualifying entities. So a good amount of my fellow employee's donations were also matched by the company. So I think I feel somewhat humbled by my fellow employees and how much they were willing to give. Some of them to a cause for a complete stranger. Pretty cool really. M was a little surprised too. She says it all has to do with that I work with a different class of people than she does. She was happy to get a dollar here or a couple bucks there from the people she works with.
I guess what impresses me is that people who are connected - inlaws, my family (with the exception that my mother did donate, and my daughter who is a struggling student and I didn't expect her to) didn't, couldn't, wouldn't bother to come up with even a $5 to contribute. Sad really.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The ride and recovery, and knees and things
So we survived the MS Bike Ride. M did the whole 25 miles - she claims she actually did more like 27 miles due to getting lost with another MS Biker that had trouble following the course. I only made it less than 3 miles. I did at least 2.5, but less than 3. So I guess that makes me a 10%-er. Kind of fitting in a way. I am a leftie - like supposedly 10 % of the population. I am gay - another supposed 10% of the population. Who knows there is probably lots of other things I am that matches only about 10% of the population.
Saturday was extremely hot - it was almost 90 at 6:30 when we arrived to register. Plus the heat index. The route was all rolling hills, and not gentle ones. I don't do well with hills. Especially steep ones. My knees can't handle it. So after pedaling what I could and walking the bike up the worst of two really big hills, I was on the side of the road catching my breath. Wondering the wisdom of even being out here in the heat, when a SAG vehicle came by to ask if I was ok. I took him up on his offer of a ride back to the start/finish. He said no shame in calling it quits. Which I didn't feel any shame. I got out and I struggled and I did what I could handle. If I had kept going, I could have gotten myself in a serious mess. M asked me if I was sure I didn't want to keep going, and I said no. I did the right thing for me. I did what I set out to accomplish. I raised over 1175, and I went out and tried. Next year, we are opting for a "flatter" event. Flat and gentle hills I can handle.
Other than trying to ride on a day that was way too hot - temp & humidity, I've been enjoying being back on my bike. I am making an effort to get out and get more exercise and to eat healthier. I know that if I was to lose some weight it would help with my knees. Course that too is a catch 22. If I felt better, I would feel more like exercising, if I lost some weight my knees would feel better, making it easier to exercise to lose the weight to feel better to exercise. Oh well, it is easy to procrastinate, and find excuses. It is time to just get busy and "do" and stop waiting for something to magically happen.
I am trying to decide whether I want to plan to have a knee replacement next year or not. I want to lose some weight and get physically stronger, and get my knee especially physically stronger before doing that. Originally my osteo wanted me to wait until I was 52 at least. Now he seems to think I'm a candidate now, whenever I want to do it he will refer me (he doesn't do that surgery, he does the non-invasive stuff, and surgical alternatives). So seems to me he is saying it's getting time to do it. My concern is that I want it to help give me more of my life back. But what if it doesn't? Not being in pain all the time would be a great thing. If it gave me the ability to exercise and not constantly evaluate things as to whether or not my knee will allow me to do this or that... those would all be pluses. On the other hand, I've also read and heard it isn't for people who are looking for some miraculous cure, or that it won't eliminate all the problems, just will help with the pain, that with a replacement you aren't suppose to run or jump (ok, not that I do either now anyway), but I also can't kneel, crouch, etc. One reason I was always told to wait, and hold off is that the life span on the knees (the plastics) is only 10-15 years, and since you can only replace the knee 2x per knee in a person's lifetime I didn't want to end up not being able to walk at the end of my days. The other thing I keep thinking is that if I keep putting it off and wait for some magic time frame to arrive, what if I wait too long, and MS strikes and I can't walk anyway. So, I've decided I just have to determine if it will help me today. if so, then I should explore doing it. If it won't help me today, then I should wait.
Saturday was extremely hot - it was almost 90 at 6:30 when we arrived to register. Plus the heat index. The route was all rolling hills, and not gentle ones. I don't do well with hills. Especially steep ones. My knees can't handle it. So after pedaling what I could and walking the bike up the worst of two really big hills, I was on the side of the road catching my breath. Wondering the wisdom of even being out here in the heat, when a SAG vehicle came by to ask if I was ok. I took him up on his offer of a ride back to the start/finish. He said no shame in calling it quits. Which I didn't feel any shame. I got out and I struggled and I did what I could handle. If I had kept going, I could have gotten myself in a serious mess. M asked me if I was sure I didn't want to keep going, and I said no. I did the right thing for me. I did what I set out to accomplish. I raised over 1175, and I went out and tried. Next year, we are opting for a "flatter" event. Flat and gentle hills I can handle.
Other than trying to ride on a day that was way too hot - temp & humidity, I've been enjoying being back on my bike. I am making an effort to get out and get more exercise and to eat healthier. I know that if I was to lose some weight it would help with my knees. Course that too is a catch 22. If I felt better, I would feel more like exercising, if I lost some weight my knees would feel better, making it easier to exercise to lose the weight to feel better to exercise. Oh well, it is easy to procrastinate, and find excuses. It is time to just get busy and "do" and stop waiting for something to magically happen.
I am trying to decide whether I want to plan to have a knee replacement next year or not. I want to lose some weight and get physically stronger, and get my knee especially physically stronger before doing that. Originally my osteo wanted me to wait until I was 52 at least. Now he seems to think I'm a candidate now, whenever I want to do it he will refer me (he doesn't do that surgery, he does the non-invasive stuff, and surgical alternatives). So seems to me he is saying it's getting time to do it. My concern is that I want it to help give me more of my life back. But what if it doesn't? Not being in pain all the time would be a great thing. If it gave me the ability to exercise and not constantly evaluate things as to whether or not my knee will allow me to do this or that... those would all be pluses. On the other hand, I've also read and heard it isn't for people who are looking for some miraculous cure, or that it won't eliminate all the problems, just will help with the pain, that with a replacement you aren't suppose to run or jump (ok, not that I do either now anyway), but I also can't kneel, crouch, etc. One reason I was always told to wait, and hold off is that the life span on the knees (the plastics) is only 10-15 years, and since you can only replace the knee 2x per knee in a person's lifetime I didn't want to end up not being able to walk at the end of my days. The other thing I keep thinking is that if I keep putting it off and wait for some magic time frame to arrive, what if I wait too long, and MS strikes and I can't walk anyway. So, I've decided I just have to determine if it will help me today. if so, then I should explore doing it. If it won't help me today, then I should wait.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
whitewater rafting, biking on vacation, and getting ready for the msbike ride
ok... it has been over a month since I posted. Life is flying by. Next week is the MS Bike Ride, we are planning to ride on Saturday. M has said she has decided to stick with me and make sure I finish, that I am ok, and that I have plenty of water/gaterade. She is worried about the heat. It is going to be hot. It has been hot. Why do they plan a MS bike ride for the hottest part of the summer? I suppose most of the participant riders don't actually have MS? who knows.
We just got back from our vacation at Ohiopyle. great place. known for whitewater rafting and bicycle riding. M & W and I rented a log cabin at a local camp ground. Not exactly camping - but that was ok (great actually) we were there 5 days. The cabin slept like 6 or 8, and had 2 bedrooms, one for me & M, and one for W. Double-beds in each. Also bunk beds but we didn't have anyone else along for this trip. The cabin had AC which was great. We ate all our meals at the cabin. it had a kitchen, plus we brought a grill. We got there on Monday 7/5. Tuesday we went for a bike ride, and mistaking the instructions from the girl from checking in at the campground we turned right on the trail instead of left and travelled about 11miles downhill (2% grade) toward Connesville when we thought we were going uphill toward Confluence. Easy ride, until we turned around. we stopped for lunch figured out what went wrong and started making our way back. That 2% grade was constant, and while it really wasn't enough to notice when we headed downhill, it made a difference going uphill. I was struggling, so I let M & W head on and I was going to take my time and snap some pictures. I was about 4.5 mi away from the car on the way back and had stopped to shoot some photo's of some rafters going down the rapids, when I heard a pfft and hssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, yep, I looked over at my bike, and the back tire was flatter than a pancake. it was now riding on the rim. no way I could ride it that way. I started walking it back, and realized after about 1/2 mi that I was now only travelling about 2 mph. Which meant with 4 mi left it would take me 2 hrs to get back to car. I called M to warn her I was walking. Sweet woman that she is, she pedalled back with a pump to try to pump my tire back up, but we found there was hole in tube and no stem showing. So she walked my bike and let me pedal out on hers. Saying she could walk it out faster than I could limp. Very true.
I'm doing pretty good on the bike now. It feels good to be back to riding. I really need to focus on excersising and getting my strength back. After doing the almost 22 miles last week on the vacation, I feel confident I will make the 25 miles next weekend for the MS Ride, just need to take plenty of water/gaterade. My walking isn't so good. Sometimes better than others. My left leg is definitely weaker than the right. Stairs are a problem. For a change it is now harder going down stairs than climbing up. Think that is the ankle. I'm at the point that I am thinking seriously about planning to have a knee replacement next year. I think it will help with quality of life. Also, I'm thinking I want to have it done now while I can enjoy it, and be active before I might get hit with more mobility issues from the MS and maybe won't be able to do that much anyway.
The vacation was great. On thursday we did a pedal and paddle, we rode bikes 9 miles up river, then rafted the 9 miles back down over some small rapids. it was lots of work but also fun. The water was low this time of year so we struggled a few times getting stuck on some rocks. But we made it. I felt sorry for M, she was stuck with most of the work travelling along with her 70 yr old dad, and gimp of a gf. but we all did our best and we made it.
We had some sadness in the family right before we left for our trip. M's dog was diagnosed with Lympoma a week prior, and we were hoping he would hang in there and make it the 4-8 months the vet predicted. Hunter went downhill fast though. We realized he wouldn't make it til we got back from our vacation. M made the decision to put him down before we left. We will all miss him. The house is much quieter without him. Even the cats all know something isn't right and I think they wonder where the big guy is.
M has been really taking it hard. Hunter was her baby. He was 11 and she raised him from a pup. It is never easy losing someone close to you. Even the animals who become such a part of our lives leave a big hole when they go. I miss him too. I also try to be understanding. Sometimes that is easier said than done. If you take two pre-menapausal (or menapausal - the pre may be debatable), emotional situations, it sometimes isn't pretty. Most of the time I have a lot of patience. Most of the time I can be very understanding. but there are times when you can step on my last nerve and I can't handle any more. Let's just say some days have been rough. M is the type though to sleep and wake up and it is a new day and yesterday is forgotten. I have trouble with that. Because I know a lot of it is because of Hunter I try to let it go. Also because of the various health conditions I have that are all exerbated by stress I try to let it go.
Focus on the good and let the bad slip away.
RIP Hunter Wood 1999-2010 - you will be missed.
We just got back from our vacation at Ohiopyle. great place. known for whitewater rafting and bicycle riding. M & W and I rented a log cabin at a local camp ground. Not exactly camping - but that was ok (great actually) we were there 5 days. The cabin slept like 6 or 8, and had 2 bedrooms, one for me & M, and one for W. Double-beds in each. Also bunk beds but we didn't have anyone else along for this trip. The cabin had AC which was great. We ate all our meals at the cabin. it had a kitchen, plus we brought a grill. We got there on Monday 7/5. Tuesday we went for a bike ride, and mistaking the instructions from the girl from checking in at the campground we turned right on the trail instead of left and travelled about 11miles downhill (2% grade) toward Connesville when we thought we were going uphill toward Confluence. Easy ride, until we turned around. we stopped for lunch figured out what went wrong and started making our way back. That 2% grade was constant, and while it really wasn't enough to notice when we headed downhill, it made a difference going uphill. I was struggling, so I let M & W head on and I was going to take my time and snap some pictures. I was about 4.5 mi away from the car on the way back and had stopped to shoot some photo's of some rafters going down the rapids, when I heard a pfft and hssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, yep, I looked over at my bike, and the back tire was flatter than a pancake. it was now riding on the rim. no way I could ride it that way. I started walking it back, and realized after about 1/2 mi that I was now only travelling about 2 mph. Which meant with 4 mi left it would take me 2 hrs to get back to car. I called M to warn her I was walking. Sweet woman that she is, she pedalled back with a pump to try to pump my tire back up, but we found there was hole in tube and no stem showing. So she walked my bike and let me pedal out on hers. Saying she could walk it out faster than I could limp. Very true.
I'm doing pretty good on the bike now. It feels good to be back to riding. I really need to focus on excersising and getting my strength back. After doing the almost 22 miles last week on the vacation, I feel confident I will make the 25 miles next weekend for the MS Ride, just need to take plenty of water/gaterade. My walking isn't so good. Sometimes better than others. My left leg is definitely weaker than the right. Stairs are a problem. For a change it is now harder going down stairs than climbing up. Think that is the ankle. I'm at the point that I am thinking seriously about planning to have a knee replacement next year. I think it will help with quality of life. Also, I'm thinking I want to have it done now while I can enjoy it, and be active before I might get hit with more mobility issues from the MS and maybe won't be able to do that much anyway.
The vacation was great. On thursday we did a pedal and paddle, we rode bikes 9 miles up river, then rafted the 9 miles back down over some small rapids. it was lots of work but also fun. The water was low this time of year so we struggled a few times getting stuck on some rocks. But we made it. I felt sorry for M, she was stuck with most of the work travelling along with her 70 yr old dad, and gimp of a gf. but we all did our best and we made it.
We had some sadness in the family right before we left for our trip. M's dog was diagnosed with Lympoma a week prior, and we were hoping he would hang in there and make it the 4-8 months the vet predicted. Hunter went downhill fast though. We realized he wouldn't make it til we got back from our vacation. M made the decision to put him down before we left. We will all miss him. The house is much quieter without him. Even the cats all know something isn't right and I think they wonder where the big guy is.
M has been really taking it hard. Hunter was her baby. He was 11 and she raised him from a pup. It is never easy losing someone close to you. Even the animals who become such a part of our lives leave a big hole when they go. I miss him too. I also try to be understanding. Sometimes that is easier said than done. If you take two pre-menapausal (or menapausal - the pre may be debatable), emotional situations, it sometimes isn't pretty. Most of the time I have a lot of patience. Most of the time I can be very understanding. but there are times when you can step on my last nerve and I can't handle any more. Let's just say some days have been rough. M is the type though to sleep and wake up and it is a new day and yesterday is forgotten. I have trouble with that. Because I know a lot of it is because of Hunter I try to let it go. Also because of the various health conditions I have that are all exerbated by stress I try to let it go.
Focus on the good and let the bad slip away.
RIP Hunter Wood 1999-2010 - you will be missed.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
knee surgery round 2
Had the left knee surgery this morning. This time I'm using one crutch to get around. This one is definitely more sore than when I had the right one. I woke up after the other surgery with my knee actually already feeling better. This time I woke up and it ached. The Dr says he cleaned out a bone spur and that I might be feeling that. Also seems to think this knee is worse than the other one. But then I have felt that all along. In spite of what the xray's showed, I had always thought the left was the bad one. New meaning to "bad to the bone". He also said this one is definitely a candidate for knee replacement. Not sure yet if that means sooner than originally planned or not.
I'm resting (sleeping and dozing) and keeping my leg propped up with ice on the knee. Hopefully in a few days it will be better and this will have been a big improvement. I am thinking positive. I needed to do something, so this was the first step.
M signed us up for a bike ride on Sunday. I had said I wasn't sure if I would be up for riding due to the surgery 3 days before. She wanted me to move the surgery. I couldn't do that. I mentioned after the surgery and after realizing this one hurts more and will take a little more recovery that I wouldn't feel up to riding, she suggests I just wait and see how it turns out. Right now I'm limping with a crutch. But I guess I will see what sunday morning brings. W is also having knee or hip - or maybe just problems with the muscle in his thigh. So he isn't sure he will be up for riding Sunday either. M is is frustrated with both of us.
I just had my 6 month follow up appt with my neurologist yesterday. All is going well there. According to the neuro exam, my reflexes and responses are all good. Dr says this was best neuro exam results yet. I'm to stay on the copaxone and continue on and come back again in 6 mos (or call if anything new, etc).
I have officially started the fund-raising for my MS Bike ride. While I don't think I'll be up for riding in this bike event this weekend that M signed us up for, I do think I'll be ready for the MS ride toward end of July. I just hope it isn't too hot. So far I've raised $85 toward the $250 minimum needed. We are still riding whenever we can to get in shape for it. We went this past weekend and it rained. Riding in the rain (slow drizzle) actually felt pretty good. It wasn't a lot of rain, and it help cool things (and me) off. Only did 6 miles though. I really need to build my endurance back up.
I'm resting (sleeping and dozing) and keeping my leg propped up with ice on the knee. Hopefully in a few days it will be better and this will have been a big improvement. I am thinking positive. I needed to do something, so this was the first step.
M signed us up for a bike ride on Sunday. I had said I wasn't sure if I would be up for riding due to the surgery 3 days before. She wanted me to move the surgery. I couldn't do that. I mentioned after the surgery and after realizing this one hurts more and will take a little more recovery that I wouldn't feel up to riding, she suggests I just wait and see how it turns out. Right now I'm limping with a crutch. But I guess I will see what sunday morning brings. W is also having knee or hip - or maybe just problems with the muscle in his thigh. So he isn't sure he will be up for riding Sunday either. M is is frustrated with both of us.
I just had my 6 month follow up appt with my neurologist yesterday. All is going well there. According to the neuro exam, my reflexes and responses are all good. Dr says this was best neuro exam results yet. I'm to stay on the copaxone and continue on and come back again in 6 mos (or call if anything new, etc).
I have officially started the fund-raising for my MS Bike ride. While I don't think I'll be up for riding in this bike event this weekend that M signed us up for, I do think I'll be ready for the MS ride toward end of July. I just hope it isn't too hot. So far I've raised $85 toward the $250 minimum needed. We are still riding whenever we can to get in shape for it. We went this past weekend and it rained. Riding in the rain (slow drizzle) actually felt pretty good. It wasn't a lot of rain, and it help cool things (and me) off. Only did 6 miles though. I really need to build my endurance back up.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Weekend Getaway, bikes, and things
This past weekend M and I went down to the shore. She rode in the annual Ocean to Bay ride, 25 miles. I am really proud of her. Just think last year neither one of us was riding at all. And this past Saturday she rode over 30 miles altogether. I really wish I had been up to riding as well, but I was afraid to try it. The ride looked great though very little grade. Which is really great for me. We have plans to do it again next year. It was really nice chance to get away from it all too. Good to have a break from work. Good to have some time together. The weather was great. Just a great weekend.
Actually I am a afraid to get back on the bike. Afraid of falling again. Afraid I won't be able to catch myself if I tip over. Afraid to get hurt. I hate being afraid. Seems as the years go by, I lose more and more. I thought it was a part of getting older, but now, I guess it is much more.
I am still doing the Physical Therapy. It helps. I can tell I am re-gaining the strength in my left knee and ankle, the range of motion in my ankle is almost back to normal. I still have trouble with stairs. My knee can't quite pull me up going up steps and my ankle hurts on the way down. My therapist told me today that that is also a function of my lack of strength in the thigh muscle which effects my ability to go up and down. The muscle gives way, and so i feel it in my ankle. Makes sense.
I saw my orthopedic dr last Friday. He said I was back too soon to get new xrays of the ankle. But we talked about the ankle and it seems to be doing fine. Then we talked about the knees. Basically it isn't anything we didn't already know. According to him my knees are well into their late 60's. My actual age is 47. People don't seem to think I look it. I tell people I have a 25 yr old daughter and I'm told there is no way. I guess that is lucky. I don't really have wrinkles. Probably partly due to being overweight. I don't have any grey hair. My mom didn't really go grey until she was in her 60's and then it looked like her hair was frosted. My dad was the same way. I do have liver spots on my hands. so my skin looks old. Anyway, I also talked to the dr about scheduling the orthoscopic surgery on my right knee since my kneecap is driving me nuts. It is very hard to sit still for any length of time. So he gave me a cortisone shot in my left knee to see if that would help it. Normally the shots do help it. And we scheduled surgery for next Thursday 4/29. I hope I'll be ready. But the plan is to get it done and move on.
I have no idea if I will be able to get back in shape to do the MS bike ride in July but that is still my goal. M says I will make it.
Actually I am a afraid to get back on the bike. Afraid of falling again. Afraid I won't be able to catch myself if I tip over. Afraid to get hurt. I hate being afraid. Seems as the years go by, I lose more and more. I thought it was a part of getting older, but now, I guess it is much more.
I am still doing the Physical Therapy. It helps. I can tell I am re-gaining the strength in my left knee and ankle, the range of motion in my ankle is almost back to normal. I still have trouble with stairs. My knee can't quite pull me up going up steps and my ankle hurts on the way down. My therapist told me today that that is also a function of my lack of strength in the thigh muscle which effects my ability to go up and down. The muscle gives way, and so i feel it in my ankle. Makes sense.
I saw my orthopedic dr last Friday. He said I was back too soon to get new xrays of the ankle. But we talked about the ankle and it seems to be doing fine. Then we talked about the knees. Basically it isn't anything we didn't already know. According to him my knees are well into their late 60's. My actual age is 47. People don't seem to think I look it. I tell people I have a 25 yr old daughter and I'm told there is no way. I guess that is lucky. I don't really have wrinkles. Probably partly due to being overweight. I don't have any grey hair. My mom didn't really go grey until she was in her 60's and then it looked like her hair was frosted. My dad was the same way. I do have liver spots on my hands. so my skin looks old. Anyway, I also talked to the dr about scheduling the orthoscopic surgery on my right knee since my kneecap is driving me nuts. It is very hard to sit still for any length of time. So he gave me a cortisone shot in my left knee to see if that would help it. Normally the shots do help it. And we scheduled surgery for next Thursday 4/29. I hope I'll be ready. But the plan is to get it done and move on.
I have no idea if I will be able to get back in shape to do the MS bike ride in July but that is still my goal. M says I will make it.
Monday, March 22, 2010
broken ankles, getting back on the bike....
It's been a while since I posted. I'm still healing from the broken ankle - I have taken the walking boot off. But I can tell that ankle is weak. It gets sore when I use it, I'm going to have to work at it to get the strength back on that side. Between the left knee and the ankle that is definitely my week side.
I go back to the Dr this coming Friday to have a new set of x-ray's and to make sure all has healed. However this weekend was 9 weeks since I fell and broke it, so I decided it had been long enough. I was supposed to have gone back to the Dr on the 15th and have the x-ray's and find out how the ankle was doing, but between a combination of not getting enough sleep over the weekend, having brain fog over the daylight savings time change and somehow screwing up my alarm, I over-slept. I called to re-schedule and was given a Friday appt. Silly me, I thought we were talking about last Friday (3/19) and only found out that it was not until 3/26 when I showed up only to find my Dr wasn't in. Since it had been 8 weeks on the 14th, and almost 9 weeks by the 19th, I decided I didn't need to wait for 10 weeks to take off the walking boot and that maybe it would be better for me to start using it. I've just taken it easy on what I've been doing.
I have discovered that walking around on bumpy terrain is a challenge. I feel really unsteady, part of it might be the MS, part of it the weak knee that sometimes feels like it will just "go out" without warning. Some of it is that the ankle isn't sure about twisting in all sorts of angles and directions and still holding up my weight. When I see the Dr I am going to request getting some PT to try to work on strengthening it.
I also am really nervous about getting back on a bike. Getting on it and riding is fine. That I can do. It is the "stopping" and getting off that worries me. That and how to face going up a hill. What if I get part way up and realize I'm not prepared and can't finish it. So far I haven't been real successful on stopping without falling off. Falling off and bruising my pride is one thing. Breaking ankles is a whole other thing.
I go back to the Dr this coming Friday to have a new set of x-ray's and to make sure all has healed. However this weekend was 9 weeks since I fell and broke it, so I decided it had been long enough. I was supposed to have gone back to the Dr on the 15th and have the x-ray's and find out how the ankle was doing, but between a combination of not getting enough sleep over the weekend, having brain fog over the daylight savings time change and somehow screwing up my alarm, I over-slept. I called to re-schedule and was given a Friday appt. Silly me, I thought we were talking about last Friday (3/19) and only found out that it was not until 3/26 when I showed up only to find my Dr wasn't in. Since it had been 8 weeks on the 14th, and almost 9 weeks by the 19th, I decided I didn't need to wait for 10 weeks to take off the walking boot and that maybe it would be better for me to start using it. I've just taken it easy on what I've been doing.
I have discovered that walking around on bumpy terrain is a challenge. I feel really unsteady, part of it might be the MS, part of it the weak knee that sometimes feels like it will just "go out" without warning. Some of it is that the ankle isn't sure about twisting in all sorts of angles and directions and still holding up my weight. When I see the Dr I am going to request getting some PT to try to work on strengthening it.
I also am really nervous about getting back on a bike. Getting on it and riding is fine. That I can do. It is the "stopping" and getting off that worries me. That and how to face going up a hill. What if I get part way up and realize I'm not prepared and can't finish it. So far I haven't been real successful on stopping without falling off. Falling off and bruising my pride is one thing. Breaking ankles is a whole other thing.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
staring at the walls, recovering
So it has now been a week since I fell off the bike. I'm still hobbling on crutches (doc did say it would be 3 weeks), I can now put some weight on my bad leg if I use the crutches to distribute the weight. W says it would be easier with a walker, he's probably right.
I'm getting a bit tired of staying in, but yet don't quite feel brave enough to face the stairs. We live in a split level, and I managed to drag myself up to the main floor last saturday with sheer determination. I think I can get back down now if I use the crutches right, and slowly make my way down. Getting back up again will be harder, but guess I can always do the same butt scoot I did the last time.
The team went out for another bike ride today, I am sorry I missed it. They went about 12 miles around and near wildwood park. Since it appears we can't go without having some form of excitement, W was the designated clutz and fell off his bike while going up a slight incline. He said it was similar circumstance in that there was dogs involved and he didn't shift down enough to make the hill. He rolled down an embankment and avoided going in the pond thanks to a wisteria bush. He's ok, just a little sore.
I am sort of dreading going back to work this coming Wednesday. Not only will I have to drag myself across the parking lot to the building, (now is when one of those handicap things would be handy), but then I will have to be there all day. I find that my routine here involves short time spans of working in my office (organizing my desk, wasting time on facebook and other things that take up exorbitant amounts of time), and sitting in the recliner in the living room and either reading (mostly), watching tv (not so much), or napping (popular especially in the morning or late afternoon). I won't have those options while at work. I will have to somehow stay focused and working at my desk for 8 hrs. I was also talking about it to M and mentioned that I wasn't even sure what I would wear. She wanted to know what I meant. Well, I can't fit a shoe over the aircast and don't want to go all day and/or do that much walking wihtout it. She said just put a shoe on my good foot and leave a sock on that one. I guess. Did I mention that it is a big parking lot? I think I may park in one of the visitor spots that are about as close as the handicapped. Although they are often taken. Most of the handicapped spots are always open, with only one or two having any cars in them.
M says to quit worrying about all that until after I see the dr on Monday. I guess sometimes what drives me the most nuts is the unknown. But since that is such a big part of MS, I guess I need to get used to dealing with it.
I'm getting a bit tired of staying in, but yet don't quite feel brave enough to face the stairs. We live in a split level, and I managed to drag myself up to the main floor last saturday with sheer determination. I think I can get back down now if I use the crutches right, and slowly make my way down. Getting back up again will be harder, but guess I can always do the same butt scoot I did the last time.
The team went out for another bike ride today, I am sorry I missed it. They went about 12 miles around and near wildwood park. Since it appears we can't go without having some form of excitement, W was the designated clutz and fell off his bike while going up a slight incline. He said it was similar circumstance in that there was dogs involved and he didn't shift down enough to make the hill. He rolled down an embankment and avoided going in the pond thanks to a wisteria bush. He's ok, just a little sore.
I am sort of dreading going back to work this coming Wednesday. Not only will I have to drag myself across the parking lot to the building, (now is when one of those handicap things would be handy), but then I will have to be there all day. I find that my routine here involves short time spans of working in my office (organizing my desk, wasting time on facebook and other things that take up exorbitant amounts of time), and sitting in the recliner in the living room and either reading (mostly), watching tv (not so much), or napping (popular especially in the morning or late afternoon). I won't have those options while at work. I will have to somehow stay focused and working at my desk for 8 hrs. I was also talking about it to M and mentioned that I wasn't even sure what I would wear. She wanted to know what I meant. Well, I can't fit a shoe over the aircast and don't want to go all day and/or do that much walking wihtout it. She said just put a shoe on my good foot and leave a sock on that one. I guess. Did I mention that it is a big parking lot? I think I may park in one of the visitor spots that are about as close as the handicapped. Although they are often taken. Most of the handicapped spots are always open, with only one or two having any cars in them.
M says to quit worrying about all that until after I see the dr on Monday. I guess sometimes what drives me the most nuts is the unknown. But since that is such a big part of MS, I guess I need to get used to dealing with it.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
MS bike ride, getting involved
One of the incentives of trying to get in better shape, is that M is determined that we participate in the MS Bike Ride this year. She wants us to form a team, the two of us, her dad, her sister and her partner would be members (least at the moment). The ride near us is June 24 & 25 from Paradise and back. For more info see: bike MS: To Paradise and Back 2010. Sounds ambititious. When M first looked at it, she wanted to plan to do 150 miles - 75 each day and go for broke. Considering we just got back on a bike this past summer that seems a little over the top to me.
After checking into it finding out more details, we discovered that in ordre to register you have to pledge to raise at least $150 if you ride 1 day, or $250 if you ride both days. Both days they have 25, 50 and 75 mile loops that you can ride. If you form a team, then each team member still has to meet that minimum individually. I'm not sure we will have a team. But I do want to do the ride. Right now we are talking about just doing 1 day, and we can wait to decide how far. M is now thinking maybe going for 50. I'm thinking I'm shooting for 25 to start with. The money raised goes to local programs and services for the local chapter(s) of the NMSS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) and to research. I think last year the Paradise ride was co-sponsored by Central PA and the Greater Delaware chapters. I didn't know anything about it last year. But then I didn't really know anything about MS last year.
Once we have registered and I can figure out how to link that to here, I will post where someone can go in and pledge to sponsor me or my team.
Right now I'm working on trying to get in better shape so as to survive 25 miles on a bike at the end of June. I only went a couple times out around locally before winter and we averaged about 10-12 miles so I think 25 is do-able. I'm hoping that if I have the surgery (or for that matter if I don't) on my right knee that it won't effect the plan for us to ride.
After checking into it finding out more details, we discovered that in ordre to register you have to pledge to raise at least $150 if you ride 1 day, or $250 if you ride both days. Both days they have 25, 50 and 75 mile loops that you can ride. If you form a team, then each team member still has to meet that minimum individually. I'm not sure we will have a team. But I do want to do the ride. Right now we are talking about just doing 1 day, and we can wait to decide how far. M is now thinking maybe going for 50. I'm thinking I'm shooting for 25 to start with. The money raised goes to local programs and services for the local chapter(s) of the NMSS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) and to research. I think last year the Paradise ride was co-sponsored by Central PA and the Greater Delaware chapters. I didn't know anything about it last year. But then I didn't really know anything about MS last year.
Once we have registered and I can figure out how to link that to here, I will post where someone can go in and pledge to sponsor me or my team.
Right now I'm working on trying to get in better shape so as to survive 25 miles on a bike at the end of June. I only went a couple times out around locally before winter and we averaged about 10-12 miles so I think 25 is do-able. I'm hoping that if I have the surgery (or for that matter if I don't) on my right knee that it won't effect the plan for us to ride.
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