Let’s ride! No wait, let’s not!

herzalot said:
In the spirit of this thread, I may be pulling off of the Big Bear/Skyline ride this Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke with a vaguely familiar feeling in my lower left leg - a feeling I had 20 years ago that started with a generalized ache and became excruciating pain. In 1997, that pain was caused by a blood clot in my leg. I've been on blood-thinners ever since - with no issues.

Yesterday, that same pain appeared, so in the spirit of "don't F@ck with blood clots" I went to my local ER (Mission - South Laguna). After a full day in the ER including bloodwork, ultrasound and a CT chest scan, they saw no evidence of a new clot. Just residual damage from the old ones in my leg. So what explains the excruciating pain that shot to 11 after I tried to walk to the bathroom? And the 20-30 minutes it took to recover from that pain until my leg stopped hurting again? And the fact that I can't walk? "Dunno..." What's the treatment? "Dunno..." What tests are next? "Nothing really... but we will admit you to the hospital overnight for observation." Well isn't that helpful! The doc did inform me that I am extremely healthy, according to the numbers. So I got that going for me...

Well since the leg was beginning to feel better (so I thought) and there was no plan, and no treatment, we decided to check out rather than spend the night. Oh - and I was supposed to report back to work today.

To my dismay, I didn't spontaneously recover overnight, and as I type this, I still can't walk more than ten steps without vaulting myself into severe pain. I have activated my primary care doc and the vascular surgeon with whom I work in the Hoag system in the hopes that they are better informed and equipped to help me.

Bottom line - I am unlikely to be attending this Saturday's shindig at Big Bear. :(
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Damn, that blows hard, Chris. Sorry you have to deal with it all. Ya do everything right and stuff still breaks down, so keep a good tude and stay strong.
 
herzalot said:
In the spirit of this thread, I may be pulling off of the Big Bear/Skyline ride this Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke with a vaguely familiar feeling in my lower left leg - a feeling I had 20 years ago that started with a generalized ache and became excruciating pain. In 1997, that pain was caused by a blood clot in my leg. I've been on blood-thinners ever since - with no issues.

Yesterday, that same pain appeared, so in the spirit of "don't F@ck with blood clots" I went to my local ER (Mission - South Laguna). After a full day in the ER including bloodwork, ultrasound and a CT chest scan, they saw no evidence of a new clot. Just residual damage from the old ones in my leg. So what explains the excruciating pain that shot to 11 after I tried to walk to the bathroom? And the 20-30 minutes it took to recover from that pain until my leg stopped hurting again? And the fact that I can't walk? "Dunno..." What's the treatment? "Dunno..." What tests are next? "Nothing really... but we will admit you to the hospital overnight for observation." Well isn't that helpful! The doc did inform me that I am extremely healthy, according to the numbers. So I got that going for me...

Well since the leg was beginning to feel better (so I thought) and there was no plan, and no treatment, we decided to check out rather than spend the night. Oh - and I was supposed to report back to work today.

To my dismay, I didn't spontaneously recover overnight, and as I type this, I still can't walk more than ten steps without vaulting myself into severe pain. I have activated my primary care doc and the vascular surgeon with whom I work in the Hoag system in the hopes that they are better informed and equipped to help me.

Bottom line - I am unlikely to be attending this Saturday's shindig at Big Bear. :(
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear this! take is easy and get better. Going to miss you in the car on the way to BB, guess I'll have to talk Steve's ear off instead...

On the Dr's comment you are extremely healthy, I think they see enough folks are age that are in crap shape that it's surprises them to see someone like you in great shape. Like my Doc said at my last physical, " whatever you're doing, keep doing it".
So, get better and keep doing it!!
 
Update:

Vascular doc assured me it's not vascular! Phew! He suggested based on symptomology that it's a ruptured popliteal cyst, but not being an ortho doc, and not having direct access to yesterday's ultrasound, he stopped short of confirming it. He went over what the typical treatment would be and the expected timeframe for recovery if that's what it is. The usual ortho routine - rest, ice, wrap, pain meds/Tylenol/Advil... but most of all, time.

Yay?
 
herzalot said:
In the spirit of this thread, I may be pulling off of the Big Bear/Skyline ride this Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke with a vaguely familiar feeling in my lower left leg - a feeling I had 20 years ago that started with a generalized ache and became excruciating pain. In 1997, that pain was caused by a blood clot in my leg. I've been on blood-thinners ever since - with no issues.

Yesterday, that same pain appeared, so in the spirit of "don't F@ck with blood clots" I went to my local ER (Mission - South Laguna). After a full day in the ER including bloodwork, ultrasound and a CT chest scan, they saw no evidence of a new clot. Just residual damage from the old ones in my leg. So what explains the excruciating pain that shot to 11 after I tried to walk to the bathroom? And the 20-30 minutes it took to recover from that pain until my leg stopped hurting again? And the fact that I can't walk? "Dunno..." What's the treatment? "Dunno..." What tests are next? "Nothing really... but we will admit you to the hospital overnight for observation." Well isn't that helpful! The doc did inform me that I am extremely healthy, according to the numbers. So I got that going for me...

Well since the leg was beginning to feel better (so I thought) and there was no plan, and no treatment, we decided to check out rather than spend the night. Oh - and I was supposed to report back to work today.

To my dismay, I didn't spontaneously recover overnight, and as I type this, I still can't walk more than ten steps without vaulting myself into severe pain. I have activated my primary care doc and the vascular surgeon with whom I work in the Hoag system in the hopes that they are better informed and equipped to help me.

Bottom line - I am unlikely to be attending this Saturday's shindig at Big Bear. :(
Click to expand...

I don't actually "like" this, but am acknowledging it. Here's to hoping it resolves quickly and with zero issues. If it's any consolation, I won't be at BB either...
 
herzalot said:
Update:

Vascular doc assured me it's not vascular! Phew! He suggested based on symptomology that it's a ruptured popliteal cyst, but not being an ortho doc, and not having direct access to yesterday's ultrasound, he stopped short of confirming it. He went over what the typical treatment would be and the expected timeframe for recovery if that's what it is. The usual ortho routine - rest, ice, wrap, pain meds/Tylenol/Advil... but most of all, time.

Yay?
Click to expand...
Did you feel a cyst behind your knee joint before the pain? Get well soon bud!! I think the 2 days you surfed you should have ridden.......probably the root of the problem:laugh::laugh:
 
herzalot said:
In the spirit of this thread, I may be pulling off of the Big Bear/Skyline ride this Saturday.

Sunday morning I woke with a vaguely familiar feeling in my lower left leg - a feeling I had 20 years ago that started with a generalized ache and became excruciating pain. In 1997, that pain was caused by a blood clot in my leg. I've been on blood-thinners ever since - with no issues.

Yesterday, that same pain appeared, so in the spirit of "don't F@ck with blood clots" I went to my local ER (Mission - South Laguna). After a full day in the ER including bloodwork, ultrasound and a CT chest scan, they saw no evidence of a new clot. Just residual damage from the old ones in my leg. So what explains the excruciating pain that shot to 11 after I tried to walk to the bathroom? And the 20-30 minutes it took to recover from that pain until my leg stopped hurting again? And the fact that I can't walk? "Dunno..." What's the treatment? "Dunno..." What tests are next? "Nothing really... but we will admit you to the hospital overnight for observation." Well isn't that helpful! The doc did inform me that I am extremely healthy, according to the numbers. So I got that going for me...

View from my LB Hospital room:
View attachment 56169

Well since the leg was beginning to feel better (so I thought) and there was no plan, and no treatment, we decided to check out rather than spend the night. Oh - and I was supposed to report back to work today.

To my dismay, I didn't spontaneously recover overnight, and as I type this, I still can't walk more than ten steps without vaulting myself into severe pain. I have activated my primary care doc and the vascular surgeon with whom I work in the Hoag system in the hopes that they are better informed and equipped to help me.

Bottom line - I am unlikely to be attending this Saturday's shindig at Big Bear. :(
Click to expand...
:thumbsdown::thumbsdown: I don't like to hear stuff like this @herzalot. The pain sounds terrific (in the bad way). Hope the Drs can get this sorted out soon. Oh, and two more of these because you won't be making the ride :thumbsdown::thumbsdown:
 
mike said:
:(

Sorry, @kingaucho. I need a week or so to get back on the bike. Conveniently, work is bustling, a nice distraction.

I had no idea how messed up I got from the couple of rock climbing falls I took over the weekend.

1) “Daisy” fall. Where you are moving from one gear placement to the next, and before you can unclip your daisy chain from the previous one, the new gear blows and you take a short fall onto said daisy. Climbers talk about rupturing internal organs this way. Maybe an exaggeration. I’ve taken a couple before, never had my back so jacked up by it. But this is more of the same injury I dealt with earlier this year, so no surprise. Don’t be cruel to your spine.

2) Fall onto rope. If there is a good amount of rope out, like over 50’, the stretch will soften the catch. But you take the unknowns that come with being completely out of control. You could hit a ledge, projection or slab. My hand had to have hit something –no way holding a MTB grip with any force. Hand and four fingers affected.

These happened halfway up the route, so I probably did half the damage just finishing up.

Time heals all. I should be RTR by the time the next wave of SoCal’ers come up.
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@herzalot hope all goes well in healing. I am finally there and ready to get going again. Hope you can get back on the bike ASAP!
 
Thanks, friends! :) Yep, a mellow ride today felt fine.

The body’s healing powers are impressive, but I did/am going all out with known protocols for my back. The hand/finger is what it is, they take forever whether you ride or not, but it did fine for a couple hours so I’m probably out of the weeds.

I never mind being benched, but hoped to get a good peak going for Rose to Toads in 3.5 weeks. Looks promising. :thumbsup:


PS: @herzalot, I hope you’re getting the upper hand on your situation :)
 
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mike said:
Thanks, friends! :) Yep, a mellow ride today felt fine.

The body’s healing powers are impressive, but I did/am going all out with known protocols for my back. The hand/finger is what it is, they take forever whether you ride or not, but it did fine for a couple hours so I’m probably out of the weeds.

I never mind being benched, but hoped to get a good peak going for Rose to Toads in 3.5 weeks. Looks promising. :thumbsup:


PS: @herzalot, I hope you’re getting the upper hand on your situation :)
Click to expand...
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
 
Went to Ortho doc today upon recommendation of vascular doc. She confirmed - looks and sounds like ruptured popliteal cyst. Hurts like hell for a few days and then resolves itself. Mirrors the feel of a blood clot. Excruciating, but not dangerous like a clot.

Soooooo, she suggests doing whatever my body says I can do, but don't expect to go better than 50% of what I could do - at least not for a few weeks.

So let's see, 50% of Skyline = ???? Chairlift?
 
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