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For those who are wondering, my leg is better today. Or, perhaps, the medication is better.

I switched from Extra-Strength Bufferin to Ibuprofin (Advil).

I take a little bigger than indicated amount with the Advil. My dentist said it is OK.

I know. He isn't an orthopedic surgeon. So what? It is the same question and the same answer. All of it for the short term. 1200 mg / day is the max on the bottle. You can take up to 1600 easy without any adverse effects.

I went to the gym and did the bike. It didn't hurt to work it that way.

I did my weight work.

I can walk pretty well. A slight limp favoring the tight upper calf.

It is localizing.

I can sit and lie without any discomfort.

So it is on the mend.

I also get used to the pain and go through it. I am not a stoic but I don't usually give in to pain. I experience it and let it go.

I don't do anything stupid though.

I know I am supposed to work it so that it repairs appropriately in the right fiber layers and all. It is surely a tear.

Muscle.

So that is it.

I tried the cane a bit last night but that is a hinderance not a help.

Labels: health, leg

WHHUUUP!!!

I went to the scene of the crime this morning.

I rode my bike on the same route that I had my accident.

It was OK until I got close to the spot.

First, I obsessed about the condition of the roadway. It was wet.

Could it be frozen?

No. It was about 60 degrees out. I could see water running off the sidewalk into the gutter.

OK.

I still went slowly.

Then I got to the corner just before the spill and as I turned I had this huuuuge sensation of spilling over sideways!

I almost compensated to the other side which would have leaned me way to far away from the 'mental spill'.

Is this post traumatic stress syndrome?

Whatever it was, it was quite realistic.

I really felt in my gut that I was going over.

This all passed, of course.

I had a good ride.

My leg feels fine, incidentally.

This would be the time of trouble. The first day after my first day back.

No problem. And by that I don't mean 'thank you' if you remember my previous post on that subject.

Labels: bicycle, ice, leg

PHASE I REHAB

I have been doing pretty well with my ice-bruised left leg.

A few days of pain free traveling had me plan two phases of recovery.

I would launch Phase I by taking Franklin for his walk today.

Mission accomplished.

The leg got a little tired but nothing serious. A good time was had by all.

I had planned to launch Phase II tomorrow. I would get the bike ready today and take it out in the AM for a modest spin.

My plans got waylaid.

I put some air into the tires and, on the second one, I could not get the pump gizmo off the valve stem. When I pulled, I pulled the whole valve stem right out of the inner tube.

Whooooossssshhh.

55 pounds air pressure let go in an instant.

My hair blew back.

I took this as a possible sign from the universe that perhaps Phase II was too ambitious.

At least too ambitious for tomorrow.

John helped me load up the bike and I took it to the Cyclery. On the way, I remembered that I was having some noise from the 'bracket'; the bearings that support the pedals.

When I got help taking the bike out of the Jeep, the kid noticed that the back wheel might also have a hub problem. Simplest case is a loose clip.

Could be. That is the side of the bike that hit the ice and I have not been on it since I rode back 6 weeks ago.

Gotta take a look.

So, with the tire, the bracket and the wheel hub we got a week in the shop.

Now, I do have Randy's bike all set to go. His seat settings are the same as mine and all.

But, I reconsidered my Plan II schedule and decided that it might be better for me to get the dog walk muscles all set this week and then work on the bike next week.

The universe notwithstanding; it would probably be a good idea to be conservative anyway.

I do not want any more setbacks.

It has been 6 weeks.

That is enough. Enough.

Labels: bicycle, leg, rehab

BOBBLEG

I am now in my 4th week of recovery from the ice spill.

I gave up the cane a week ago or more.

I am no longer limping.

I have just a slight bobble now.

Sometimes not even that.

Another injury chapter closing

I am starting up the afternoon dogwalk again. John has been a good trouper to stand in for me.

I hope to be on the bike next week but a lot depends on my strength on the down stroke. I am doing some walking up steps with the leg just to get it ready.

Onward and upward.

Labels: health, leg, me me me