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Dave Ramsey Stinks?!

I actually found this search in my web logs today. One can only assume that the truth hurts so bad people have to actually LOOK for negative things that others might have said about him. Well I Googled said search and could not find ANYONE so bold as to say that Dave "stinks". Also, who knew that one little post about Soothanol would generate so much traffic? On a note about Soothanol, while it is certainly not the cure that so many clamor about, it is a great super fast pain reliever. Worth the expense? Don't ask me I got the bottle from my neighbor for FREE so the price was right! ;)

ITBS - Ionto - Massage - 22 Minutes - Lance in Georgia

I've gone back to my PT to get the Decadron or Iontophonesis or whatever the anti-inflammatory is called. He has also started working solely on the ITBS doing deep tissue type massage and stretches. The first day of the massage I nearly jumped off the table it was so painful and the stretches, well, the stretches suck as the Iliotibial Band (from what I've read) has no stretch "receptors" and the stretches require somewhat awkward positions that look as though Im about to break into Riverdance.

In all my complaining though I must admit I am feeling some progress after the physical aspects of my recovery, the stretching and the massage. Im actually starting to notice a difference. After having read about foam bolsters helping with ITBS and not having had one handy I've started wrapping a rolling pin inside a blanket and lying with the ITB on top of it then rolling back and forth. Sometimes this seems to help other times not so much. In case any PT's or Orthos come across this I've done the rolling pin deal OUTSIDE my doctors advice ... he didn't tell me to do it.

I've yet to notice any major developments as a result of the Ionto. This however is something I know nothing about and may take more than 2-3 treatments before it starts to work.

Some Workouts
These developments have led me to the ability to FINALLY start running a little bit on the treadmill. After the second massage the PT put me on a treadmill and I was able to go for 18 minutes pain free. Two days later I did 22 minutes! While it is only a treadmill and it requires a lot of stretching both before and after, a longer warm up and cool down than I am typically used to its worth the cost of admission. Im not complaining even a little bit.

I also did an hour or so group ride yesterday in which I went anaerobic within the first 3-5 miles and was completely dropped by everyone. A nice guy in the group stayed back with me despite my pleas not to let me ruin his ride and to continue on. This was my first ride with any sort of effort since JANUARY so the loss of fitness and endurance was expected it was just great to be out.

So things are looking up. I've still got what feels like a little pulling on the side of my knee and the top of my tibia. I can also tell that if I really went all out I could easily return to pain so I won't be racing any time soon. However I've been relatively pain free and have great hope that it seems to be getting a little better every day.

Lance in Georgia
On an even better note we went up to the Tour de Georgia this weekend, St. Anthony's Weekend :*(, and I got to see Lance ride if even for only about a minute total. After driving several hours throughout the mountains of north Georgia with my wife needling me about hunger pangs we were finally able to get ahead of the peloton and see them twice. My poor baby I drug her all over the place chasing a bunch of dudes in spandex on bicycles. She was a good sport about it she's the best. North Georgia is one of the most beautiful places on earth it's one of the reasons I know Im going to have a retirement home up there somewhere someday. Western North Carolina, Eastern Tennessee, North Georgia its a spiritual experience. Anyway, it was really cool to see Lance before he retires.

I was really disappointed in the local medias coverage of the event and ESPN radio. I realize its the NFL draft and all but for crying out loud few NFL stars will ever have near the impact on the lives of so many people as Lance and they couldn't provide even a news brief on who was leading or who had won the days stage. I had to wait until we got back to the hotel to look it up on Velo News. Oh well chalk it up to a story I can tell Maddie when she gets older she saw the greatest cyclist who ever lived when she was too young to remember.


An apology for the long post
I've been working weekends late nights the whole deal on a project over the last couple of weeks. In this time we have also been looking at a new home which would also mean selling our home. After much debate and number crunching we have settled on asking ourselves "What would Dave Say?". The answer: We have decided to refi to a 15 year mortgage and pay off the house. Folks, I've had the link to Daves book on my site for roughly 5 months and have only had one person follow through on a purchase. And only had a handfull of clicks. Look you don't have to give me the commission go to Amazon yourself and get his book. It will change your life. I personally guarantee it.

Later :)

New doc same Rx

Well surprise surprise its the same Rx 'do nothing and it will go away'. In anger I went out and ran a 5k the night after my appt. This was about all I could do before the pain just stopped me in my tracks. My first attempt at running in over 8 weeks. I asked the nurse if she felt I would do damage by running through the pain and was told that while I would probably not do damage I would just prolong the inflammation...at this point I think I could live with that! :) How could it be any more prolonged? (Is that proper English?...more prolonged?)

The sports med doc says ITBS and gave me a script for Decadron that I will be getting from the PT however I realize that is only going to mask the symptom much like cortisone would.

At this point Im debating even going to get the Decadron as it will really only help for a few weeks. Information on Decadron over the internet seems in short supply with the exception of sites that are selling it. So, if you know of any please pass it on.

I have a neighbor who is a naturalist who gave me a bottle of Soothanol X2. This stuff is like a high powered sports cream only in oil form. It kind of reminds of horse liniment that I've only seen people in Michigan use ON PEOPLE. The Soothanol makes the area so hot how could you possibly feel pain? Word of warning this stuff stinks but better to live with the stink then take a hot shower after application as it B-U-R-N-S! It does not say that on the label.

Im considering writing the tri year off and maybe taking up weight lifting because at this point Im just gaining weight and no one knows better than I what a dangerous position that is for me. Ironically I received a renewal letter for my USA Triathlon membership in the mail yesterday. I wish.

Some Knee Knews

I've done everything I was supposed to as far as rest goes to allow this knee to get better and I can tell there has been absolutely NO change. It feels like it has gone away but any cold day is an instant reminder that the problem is still there.

I've had an upper respiratory infection this week and went to see my GP. I mentioned to him I was dissatisfied with the orthos I had been seeing as they lack a proactive approach to recovery. I mentioned to him that one of the Orthos business cards says "Sports Medicine" but when I mentioned the name he said he felt that was a bit misleading. He told me to stop letting the local orthos tell me to sit around and do nothing and find an actual sports doc even if I have to drive hours to get there...So I did.

The GP said most/many orthos are of the mindset that if they cant just cut the problem out they're not going to bother. So, using the USA Triathlon (Clermont) site I found a sports medicine specific doctor. Just in my initial phone call I was filled with confidence when the receptionist said "his goal is to get his patients back to their sport". Im gonna go postal when he tells me "It will go away eventually" as I've literally heard that exact phrase from all 3 docs I've been to so far.

My GP also gave me a script for Celebrex to replace the ibuprofen I had been taking so we'll see how this goes. (Yes! I am aware this is in the Cox-2, Vioxx like, medications.) Im still swimming a couple of days a week as even exercise bikes and elliptical trainers aggravate it.

Mentally this whole thing has been an enormous depressing drain. And for the first time since starting triathlon I had two anxiety/panic attacks over the last month. My appointment with the new ortho is Monday April 11th. See you then. :)