Howdy, Stranger!
Categories
The materials in this website are in no way intended to replace the professional medical care, advice, diagnosis or treatment of a doctor, qualified personal trainer, therapist, dietitian or nutritionist Runners's World, Part of the Hearst UK well-being network © Copyright 2017
Comments
Forgot to add that my first run/walk lap was a PB, as was the cycle part.
Just looked at the race photos - I look awful! Will have to buy one as a memento though.
Well done BG!! You finished the course, enjoyed it, are keen to do the next one. Thats all that matters. So pleased for you. All that hard work has paid off.
Hi Richard, Back has eased off. Just got the pins & needles to deal with. Went for a 4 miler yesterday evening. Took me ages at a slow pace but I only stopped 3 times and walked for a little longer. It was so good to be out. Leg not too bad at the end . When I got to bed last night had a bit of tightening hot sensation and bit twitchy; took a long while to get to sleep. All ok today, just some minor tingling. Have been taking my concoction of pills religiously & is helping.
Its a beautiful afternoon and my OH is hoping to be back a little earlier so we can go out for a bike ride.
Sarah - Hope you're managing to get out & about. Forget other people and focus on the positive.
Had an X-ray last week and something has been found. My appt has been bought forward 2 weeks so the results can be discussed with me. Not concerned as hospital would have contacted me sooner if it had been serious. Roll on 8th May.
Meanwhile, only managed very slow run/walks. Furthest distance 5 mls (tonight, was spurred on by watching the FLM; mixed emotions of envy and admiration). Been sitting on an icepack trying to relieve the aches at top of thigh/hip/bum area. Great day for watching FLM, looked very hot for the runners though. A friend was running but I haven't heard his time yet.
Hi all,
Glad you have an appointment Doris, sitting on a bag of ice doesn't sound to appealing! Watched theFLM it looked amazing and have spent all day today trying to register for next years ballot 2nd time lucky maybe.
Have started building up the mileage again, went out 4 times last week with a 9 miler on saturday around my local resevoir which was great , already having trouble finding time for a log run next weekend even with te extra day off.
Hello everyone!
BG - Well done!!!!!!!!!!!!! Have you got your official time yet?
Doris - I'm sorry to hear your still not 100% As you've said roll on the 8th May and fingers crossed for some positive news after that.
Richard - Have you managed to register yet?
I've not done any running since the last time i was here. I've lost all drive for it and even when i was watching FLM i wasn't thinking "God i'd like to run that" I was thinking "I'd quite like to walk that!" Anyway i've got myself a wii fit and daft as it sounds i'm jogging on that program and yesterday i bought a bike. I have to say i'm a little nervous about going out on it as i havn't riden a bike since first school and i've a lot further to fall now!
Glad to here you've got an appointment, Doris. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
I've got Wii Fit too, Sarah - it's great fun. DH bought me My Fitness Coach a few days ago - haven't used it much yet, but seems pretty good with lots of different types of exercises. Tried the yoga session and did something to my shoulder though.
Good luck with the bike. DH and I got bikes last year, after last riding as kids, and we really enjoy it. I was nervous at first and stuck to cycle paths, but have got more confidence the more I've cycled. Go for it - it's a lovely way to get out and about.
My official time was 2:17:20. Am going to start working towards the next one now, which is 9 weeks away. Have been stuffing myself silly and doing hardly any exercise since duathlon, so tomorrow need to get brain in gear and get going.
I'm very nervous about riding. I was wobbling over the place feeling a right prat. And i was too frightened to turn corners on the thing or go down hills. I can't seem to go in a straight line and i fixate on objects and nearly end up crashing into them! I know it was only my first time out but i thought it would be easier than that!
Hi Sarah. Take confidence from the fact you've done it once and survived! You probably felt you were wobbling way more than you actually were. Can you find a quiet cul de sac or off road cycle path nearby? You could walk your bike there and then ride up and down a bit to get the feel of it. Plus have you got the saddle and handlebars set up correctly for your height - that can make a difference. A good bike shop will help you there.
Keep at it, you're doing great.
Well done Sarah for getting out and about on the bike. Agree with BG, make sure the saddle and handlebars are set up for you. Also definitely worth investing in a gel saddle. Don't know about anyone else but I find anything longer than about half an hour and my bum is sore!
Tesco's do a really good one (their own brand/make) and its only around a fiver or so.
Probs with trapped nerve/back still ongoing. Had to go to docs again tuesday as got so bad I couldn't get out of bed properly in the morning and even had problems driving to the surgery cos I can't sit in one position for very long (can't stay on my feet for long either, all very frutsrating). GP has said no running, no biking, nothing until the hopsital. GP reckons going out on the bike on the roads has probably done some additional damage and unless I have an indoor exercise bike, to forget that activity for a while. Only thing she's happy for me to do is swim or short walks to keep myself mobile.
I actually bought the gel seat before the bike! Been getting slightly more confident although i still have not dared go on the actual road yet just been stick to side streets, paths and trails. I'm tempted to say i'm enjoying it more than running!!!!!!!
Dara - how's your back today?
Hi Everyone - not sure what happened but stopped getting the email notifications.
Hope you are starting to feel better Doris, sounds like you are really suffering at the moment.
How's the cycling going Sarah, did you get out this weekend?
Hi everyone,
Not posted for a bit as things not going too well at the moment. No one really quite sure but general concensus seems to be that one of my lower back discs has been slightly dislodged and is nipping sciatic nerve (as suspected). More x-rays mentioned but will have to wait till next week's appt. Didn't seem that bothered about the sacroilliac joint imflammation.
Have had an awful time this last week and haven't been able to go to work since tuesday cos i can't sit down (well I can but only for very short periods) and suffering dreadful burning sensations from lower back right to the bottom of my coccyx. Have been told to keep as mobile as possible but at the same time to rest and not over exert myself. Sadly its come down to only being able to slow walk about 20-25 mins before my back stiffens up and I get the almost dead leg feeling. Have been taking a cocktail of pills and thats also partly why I can't go to work as they are making me very dizzy & nauseous hence Ive been told not to drive. Am taking muscle relaxants at night which do seems to give me relief as they completely knock me out and stop me from tossing & turning in bed (which hasn't been helping me in the past as I can't lay on my right side at all).
Trying to keep upbeat over it all but to be reduced to short slow walks from running good distances and improving times is just so soul destroying.
Let me know how you are all doing and cheer me up!
Hey Doris, how are you holding up? Has there been any improvements?
I haven't been running in ages. I'd been getting a lot of pain in my left big toe and thought maybe i was running funny but i started getting it whilst walking too. On Monday i was in so much pain i couldn't walk and i began to convince myself i'd broken it. On Tuesday i went to the doctors because the pain had lessened but not gone away. The doctor did a really good examination and told me she almost 100% certain that i have gout. Bit of a shock given that i'm only 29 but i think it's put paid to any running plans at the moment. I can't quite believe it to be honest....... Gout at 29????? Anyway nothing i can do about it now. Might nip onto the Health side of the forum and see if any other runners have it and how they cope.
Sorry to hear about your problems, Doris. It sounds dreadful. I do feel for you.
And Sarah - don't know much about gout, but it doesn't sound pleasant. What can be done about it?
I'm not doing very well on the running front at the moment, but not because of injury - I just can't get myself motivated. My eating is out of control, and I just can't be bothered to exercise. Can't seem to shake off my down-in-the-dumps feeling and get back into it. Next duathlon is only a few weeks away and the more I think about how I want to be training and getting better for it, the less I feel inclined.
I have continued to go to spin classes, so I suppose that's something.
Anyone care to give me a kick up the bum?
Don't know about a kick up the bum BG, Ive got the pain in the bum!! Sarah - Don't know much about gout either, will google and see. Thought it was more of an old man's thing?? We all seem to be on a bit of a low ebb don't we?
Was at the hospital again this morning seeing the physio. No one can decide on whats causing the problem. Physio now thinks the nerve is being irritated somewhere within the pelvic area rather than being trapped by a disc. Sacroilliac joint was a little sore too by the end of the session. Weird sensations & tingling all over the place. Physio referring me to another colleague who specialises in upper back (thoracic spine, ooer, get me) to see if she can shed any light on why Im now getting tingling & pins n needles in my right arm (although only on occasion) and tightening of the whole spine/back (seeing 2nd physio 1st June). The tightening only happened recently and tends to be if Ive sat down for too long and also at the end of a busy day. Her opinion now, sciatica.
Doing exercises to gently stretch out my back and a sort of a pelvic tilt. Told to keep the walking down to 20 mins max and to stop if I start to get sudden increase in the symptoms intensity.
Still feeling pretty despondent about it all. Had another cry in the bath the other night, came on in pure frustration.
Doris: are they going to do any scans to see if they can find out what's causing all this? It must be very frustrating being bumped from one person to another, each saying it may be something different.
Did a long run with my trainer on Friday (ok, long walk, with short running bits) and we discussed my motivation and what we can do about it. Didn't reach any breakthrough exactly, but am feeling more motivated anyway. Went for a long cycle yesterday before breakfast, then went to a cafe for a fry-up as reward! Been spinning today, following by my weights programme. Short run planned for tomorrow.
Going to spend this afternoon in the garden relaxing.
Mmmmmmmmmmm fry up as a reward now I am feeling hungry!
Hi Everyone,
Sorry to hear about the continuing problems Doris it sounds so frustrating (and painful) not knowing or getting treatment.I can symphathise about feeling despondant as I went through similar last year trying to find a diagnosis.
Don't know what it is about motivation and sometimes lack of it, I think it hits us all at some stage so keep in there BG, it sounds like you are keeping busy.
Hi everyone,
Sadly nothing new to report really. At hospital again today, with a further visit this Friday.
Pins & Needles and burning sensations now progressed to both sides of my body. Had embarassing moment last week whem had to attend a departmental meeting and ended up having to kneel down and lean across a chair as I couldn't bear any pressure on the lower half of my body. Actually, everyone was very understanding and mercifully kept the meeting as short as possible for my benefit.
For my Friday visit to hospital Im seeing a neuro physio. Apparently Im experiencing hypersensitivity from within the central spinal nerves? Will get a better explanation from this physio. Must admit I couldn't keep up with all of what was being said today as Id been pulled about and my lower body was on fire, concentration had waned by then. Also seeing GP tomorrow as been told I will need to be signed off work for between 2 - 4 weeks to completely rest so as not to irritate the nerves and to enable me to up doses of medication. Feel very drained, mentally & physically.
I did ask about my future prospects with regards running. Was told at this stage to stick only to short walks, could be sometime before I can even try a gentle trot. Physio then proceeded to tell me about how her training was going for the RFL (Hmmmm, kick me when Im down). Also have had to pull out of the north Wales mountain climb in September as Im a 'health & safety risk', which is fair enough, but Im gutted. It was the one thing I was looking forward to if I couldn't get back into running.
Enough of my woes, how's u all?
Hi,
So sorry to hear there has been no improvement Doris , let's hope the neuro physio can help.
I completed my 20k on Sunday, rather disappointing as suffered from the blocked sinuses again so could not breathe through my nose and if I tried keeping a good pace my ears blocked and started feeling dizzy so had to keep the pace slow. Finished in 2:21:35 not quite what I was hoping for especially after all the training. Back to the training plan and hopefully find a solution to the sinuses.
Richard, That time is not to be scoffed at, well done you! You've certainly put the training in. What was the weather like? Been extremely warm down my way and if it was anything like the sort of heat here, again, thats a great time.
Could your sinuses be coinciding with the grass pollen season; its particularly high at the moment (according to telly) from east midlands/Lincs all the way down to the south & south west (can't remember if you're a HF sufferer)? My hubby is testing a herbal/alternative remedy this year as hes fed up with taking Clarityn or other HF type meds as they make him tired (even the non-drowsy sorts). They're called Pollenna and avail from Boots/Holland & Barrett. Suitable for HF and any other similar allergies. Seem to be doing the trick so far.
Hi Doris,
The email notification is not working on the website so have just seen your post.
How are you, any improvement or news on discovering a cause from your latest hospital appointment?
It was very hot last Sunday with plenty of people on stretchers and plenty of ambulances with sirens blaring, the race wasn't until 15:00 either so really hot.
Someone else has mentioned hay fever being a cause of my sinuses, never use to suffer but over the last couple of years grass pollen has been setting me off so maybe. Saying that I have come down with a cold this week so perhaps that was the cause!
Hi again Richard,
Saw neuro physio this morning. This guy was so good. Felt like he was really listening to me. Had another very thorough examination and came up to interesting poss diagnosis. Firstly said thinks there are two problem areas.
Lower back/sacral area - Thinks I probably did have sciatic nerve entrapment way back in the beginning. Reckons the nerve has released and unfortunately have been left with a kind of temporary nerve damage/hypersensitivity. He called it Allodynia (don't know how to link to a google web site but easy to look up). Because of where it is (mainly round very lower back/bottom area) and backs of thighs its causing the awful burning sensations whenever I sit for more than a few minutes.
Arms/Back tightening - Thinks a possible cause may be that one of the discs in my upper back may have been slightened nudged out of alignment (this was mentioned once before by GP in the past). Explained that although not in pain I get little shocks and pins n needles running down both arms and again those burning sensations. He tapped his fingers along my spine quite firmly from neck right down to coccycx and at one point there was definite tingling eminating down arms and towards lower back.
Conclusion - Is recommending that I be booked in for MRI and/or additional x-rays. He has to present his case at a treatment management meeting (consultants etc) early next week and they will decide whether they agree or not. Assume this is to do with funding as I know MRI's are very expensive and they don't just do them routinely. Has written to my GP and meanwhile I have to carry on with the meds and rest as much as possible in the best/comfortable position for me (laying on my front spreadeagled on the bed most of the time, or standing up!!). Am signed off work at the moment until 15th June then back to GP.
Feeling more positive that progress seems to be being made. Just want the burning and tightening to stop and for once to be able to sit down properly. Fingers crossed that I don't have too long a wait for the MRI.
Your neuro physio sounds really good, Doris. Glad you feel you are getting somewhere at last.
Well done on your 20k, Richard. Whatever your time, at least you completed it. I've had a cold this week too - there seems to be a lot about.
I've done hardly any training this week, because of the cold. Tomorrow I'm doing a 32 mile bike ride that's organised by the British Heart Foundation. It's not a race, but obviously I want to put in a good time. The weather forecast is for heavy rain. If it's really bad I don't think we'll bother - I don't want to let the charity down, but it'll be no fun cycling for 3-4 hours in heavy rain. Am keeping fingers crossed that it doesn't rain.
Only 4 weeks till my next duathlon, and haven't done as much running as I had planned, again. Do a long run once a week with trainer, and a short run at the gym on treadmill, but just can't get my bum in gear to do a middle run in between. Have booked some extra sessions with trainer, as I enjoy running when I go with her, just can't get motivated to go on my own.
Thanks, Richard.
Well I did it, and it wasn't that bad actually. It took 4 hours of actual cycling, and that included an extra couple of miles on the beginning and end to get me from home to the start and back again. The worst bit was when we had to get a ferry across a short bit of water, but it was a tiny ferry that only held about 30 bikes at a time, and with 1500 competitors it took a little while to get people through. It took me 2 hours to reach the front of the queue, so that was a bind. And the heavens opened just as we got on the boat, so sea breezes and rain meant we got very cold until we could start peddling and warm up again. Luckily I wasn't far from home then, so it wasn't too bad.
Heart rate monitor says I burned 2800 calories doing the cycle. Think I've earned a takeaway tonight!!
Thanks, Richard.
The ferry was part way round the race. The instructions at the start said there might be delays at the ferry so you could take an alternative route to avoid it, but I didn't realise quite how much a delay there would be. Next time I would definitely take the alternative route.
My quads are aching a bit today, but not too bad. Probably would have been a good idea to stretch out afterwards, but I just vegged on the sofa instead. Didn't get the takeaway in the end, didn't fancy it.
Got a middle distance run with PT tonight.
Blimey BG, keep up all that brilliant hard work & persistance!
Weather has been a bit of a mare over the last few days. When its like this it shows great character within yourself to motivate and get out there; you've got the balance right by the sounds of things. All that hard work, you fully deserve to veg out. Good curry does the trick for me!
Am having to be a bit careful food-wise now as obviously very inactive right now. Finding it a little hard as Ive always had a very healthy appetite and really enjoy my food. My hubby bought me a box of Green & Black's miniature chocolates when I was feeling quite low over the weekend and its taken a great deal of mind over matter not to wolf half the box in one go, although in reality don't know how many I'd manage as they are quite rich. Butterscotch ones are seriously moreish.
The butterscotch ones are totally moreish, you showing great will power Doris, not sure if I could.
Went out for a 4miler on Monday but sinuses are still blocked, gave the person I was running with a fright when I went all dizzy so off to the Dr's on Friday. Great here we go again!