Falling apart?!

[cyberknight]

If I remember rightly, you are a bit of a shorty...don't want you getting tennis elbow from riding a bike that is too big

I sure i can flog them for the few quid they are worth and get something decent

 

[vickster]

 

[VamP]

I am late to this thread and am sorry to see all the problems that you have had. I have had two serious tendinopathy experiences, one was a climbing injury in my twenties (bicep tendon, so kind of the opposite of tennis elbow) and one was a hamstring tendon injury that kept of my bike for best part of this season. Both were termed overuse injuries. Both have responded exceptionally well to eccentric exercise rehab.

There is a great deal of confusion in the medical world about tendon injuries, and continued application of NSAID, ultrasound and cortisone protocols that just do not have any evidence of success in treating tendinopathies. I would urge you to read these two articles, as they will allow you to take ownership of your injury rather than be at the mercy of the medical profession.

Article 1
Article 2

Don't let the fact that they deal with achilles tendon injuries put you off, as the principles transfer, but obviously you will need to work out an appropriate exercise protocol that applies to your specific injury.

I would then suggest that you find a sympathetic physio who will work with you on developing an appropriate eccentric exercise protocol. I have used eccentric exercises with great success for both my tendinopathies, and suggest that as your next medically recommended option is surgery which carries relatively low success rate, you would be well advised to explore all low impact alternatives available to you - and I cannot see in your history that you have been advised to try an eccentric exercise protocol.

Good luck!

 

[vickster]

Thanks, I'll have a read. I did about 4 months of physio before he recommended I see the specialist. Had the steroid jab which helped for a few months. Then back to the physio, again not helped, so back to the specialist. The physio really has tried everything

I am sure the spec will do another ultrasound tomorrow to assess what healing has occurred from the platelet jab - he can see a lot of damage on the tendon which hasn't improved since the start of the year - the steroid evidently helped the inflammation but as anticipated no healing, which wasthe aim of the PRP

I am not going to rush into surgery - although the surgeon reported a 90% success rate - and I need this better. Not being able to lift or carry anything is a pain, especially when travelling

 

[User16625]

Having had a healthy spring and summer cycling lots - 50-70 miles a week (across 5-7 days), so not much for many on here but was a big step up for me (having had knee issues since Sept 2009 which I have managed to minimise), I have basically been ailing for the last month or so - a heavy head cold, followed by a nice campylobacter gut infection last week (taking anti-b's) and now a nasty case of laryngitis (croak) which has led to me having to postpone my holiday to Florida by 4 days I also have tennis elbow which doesn't seem to be getting any better despite physio (overuse from cycling most likely )

Now, am I just getting old (big four-o next year ) , is it just winter with the predominance of bugs (I didn't have one cold last winter) or a mixture of stress (busy job, can be long hours, stressful especially at this time of year, some overseas travel with early starts and long days) and lack of sleep? Due to work , I have not actually taken any proper time off , a few half days working from home (other than yesterday and today as I am on holiday )


I eat ok, lots of fruit and veg, probably more sweets, processed food and carbs than I should but long hours do that. I have always struggled with weight, lost a lot 2009/2010, have kept it all off this year, probably lost a couple of pounds, another stone would be good. I was planning on carrying on cycling as long as possible, but my TE and health have put paid to that for a while.

Anyone else going through this?

Bah, miserable, Ribbit Ribbit

My condolences to your family.

Seriously tho that sounds unbelievably crap. What I sometimes get is a chesty cough and it always lasts for what seems like the rest of my life. I find that hard enough to deal with considering I frequently use my lungs at full capacity. This bloody hurts when they're infected or somethin. Rapidly breathing cold air also sets off short term coughing in me for some reason.

 

[VamP]

Thanks, I'll have a read. I did about 4 months of physio before he recommended I see the specialist. Had the steroid jab which helped for a few months. Then back to the physio, again not helped, so back to the specialist. The physio really has tried everything

I am sure the spec will do another ultrasound tomorrow to assess what healing has occurred from the platelet jab - he can see a lot of damage on the tendon which hasn't improved since the start of the year - the steroid evidently helped the inflammation but as anticipated no healing, which wasthe aim of the PRP

I am not going to rush into surgery - although the surgeon reported a 90% success rate - and I need this better. Not being able to lift or carry anything is a pain, especially when travelling

I had months of physio as well, but he was focusing on correcting biomechanical issues and never even mentioned the eccentric stuff. I was barely walking 12 weeks ago, with rigorous (daily) application of a tough eccentric protocol I am now racing cx and slowly building up running distances. Sorry to sound all evangelical, but if someone had told me 12 weeks ago that I would be racing this season I would have not believed it. It has been that kind of a transformation.

 

[vickster]

I had months of physio as well, but he was focusing on correcting biomechanical issues and never even mentioned the eccentric stuff. I was barely walking 12 weeks ago, with rigorous (daily) application of a tough eccentric protocol I am now racing cx and slowly building up running distances. Sorry to sound all evangelical, but if someone had told me 12 weeks ago that I would be racing this season I would have not believed it. It has been that kind of a transformation.

Thanks again

Having googled eccentric exercises for TE (no idea what those were), I was given those to do by the physio during the last bout. This time he is been very unwilling to give me exercises as it needs to calm down, it is seriously tender...I brushed the outside of my elbow on a door frame last night and ouch...ditto to anyone touching it.

I am concerned that there appears to have been no improvement (if anything it's worse) since the platelet jab - he injected 2ml of platelets packed full of growth factors into the tendon - I would have hoped for some healing I guess I'll know in 24 hours what the course of action may be.

I am not an athlete in any way, shape or form - I like to ride my bike - and to be fair unless I hit a hole or pull hard on the bars, there is no pain, until I get off and try to straighten the arm. But really I'd like to be able to carry my laptop bag, reach for something, pull a chair out or open a heavy door. Crap condition. Thank God it's my left and I'm right handed (although we have 2 for a reason)!

 

[VamP]

Thanks again

Having googled eccentric exercises for TE (no idea what those were), I was given those to do by the physio during the last bout. This time he is been very unwilling to give me exercises as it needs to calm down, it is seriously tender...I brushed the outside of my elbow on a door frame last night and ouch...ditto to anyone touching it.

I am concerned that there appears to have been no improvement (if anything it's worse) since the platelet jab - he injected 2ml of platelets packed full of growth factors into the tendon - I would have hoped for some healing I guess I'll know in 24 hours what the course of action may be.

I am not an athlete in any way, shape or form - I like to ride my bike - and to be fair unless I hit a hole or pull hard on the bars, there is no pain, until I get off and try to straighten the arm. But really I'd like to be able to carry my laptop bag, reach for something, pull a chair out or open a heavy door. Crap condition. Thank God it's my left and I'm right handed (although we have 2 for a reason)!

Awww that sounds like a totally crappy condition. I wish you every luck in getting it fixed - fingers crossed the PRP kicks in.

 

[vickster]

Thanks VamP. Saw the spec - the fact that the PRP hasn't helped at all isn't a good sign. It is refusing to heal. Going to have an op in early November, get it all tidied up.

 

[ttcycle]

bloody hell, sounds awful Vickster. Hope something helps it sort itself out.

 

[vickster]

It is a crappy annoying condition for sure. The tendon is only like an inch long but my whole arm can ache!
As recommended, I now have a granny splint for my wrist for when I travel and may need both arms for carrying - luckily it's black not beige!
One good thing, specialist won't chop the whole arm off - said it's messy and too much like hard work...love a surgeon with a sense of humour

 

[vickster]

Op booked for 2nd November. An overnight stay which doesn't bode well from a post-op pain perspective

 

[VamP]

Op booked for 2nd November. An overnight stay which doesn't bode well from a post-op pain perspective

Soon.

Sooner the better I suppose. Fingers crossed it works for you. And yes I expect it will be a slow and painful recovery unfortunately.

 

[Crackle]

Good luck with the op., Vickster.

 

[vickster]

Soon.

Sooner the better I suppose. Fingers crossed it works for you. And yes I expect it will be a slow and painful recovery unfortunately.

Soon is one advantage of private healthcare along with continunity of care and knowing who will be operating (taxman benefits too) ... I literally have a month window between getting back from Asia and going to Florida ... hopefully not too slow and painful.
I almost screamed today as I was trying to get my laden bike down some stairs Dutch style and it got away from me and I tried to hang on with that arm...owwwwwww

Thanks Crackle