Advice for post-workout immobility
blanphere
Posts: 82 Member
Before I completely give up all hope on doing weight-bearing exercise (walking, hiking, etc.) I thought I would see if anyone here has had the same issue(s) as me.
I have tremendous difficulty walking for more than 10-15 minutes, before my left leg goes unresponsive. I get a drop foot / slap foot like result, and a completely dead hip flexor, sometimes to the point that I am dragging my leg behind me. Same thing happens on a treadmill. The most annoying part is that I trip over my toe, stumbling, because I don't life my foot high enough to clear the floor. I have had two meniscus tears on my left knee, and two surgeries to repair them (no more cutting me open!) The last surgery was Fall of 2010, and I never bounced back afterwards...I have just gotten progressively worse since then.
The really interesting thing is, I can ride a road bike or a spin bike for over an hour, and not have any problems. I have noticed recently, as I have been increasing resistance, cadence, etc., that my left knee tends to dive in to center. If I pay attention to my form, don't try and spin too fast or crank the resistance up too high, there is no problem. I get a fantastic workout, and it's something I truly love doing. Endurance isn't an issue for me. I have plenty of stamina. I've been cycling for almost a year now, either road / mountain bike, or on a spin bike inside.
The problem is, when I get off the bike, I can't walk. My left side is a total noodle. The right side takes all the weight / effort. No amount of stretching before, during, after a ride changes anything. My left leg seems to hyperextend and then lock in place when I put any weight on it at all. I end up limping around, having to hold onto a wall, railing, bikes, people, as I go from point a to point b. It's usually at least an hour before it feels "normal" again. This is the same result after any continuous use of the leg...including standing in the kitchen cooking dinner, vacuuming, shoveling / raking, grocery shopping.
I do strengthening with isometrics, weights (lower body - cable machines; upper body free weights), etc. I've built up hamstrings, quads, glutes, but still no improvement on the mobility. On the leg press, I am doing 115lbs with both legs, 65-70 with one. Forward leg extension - 45lbs both; 30-35 Rt only / 25-30 Lt only. Hamstring "kick-back", 10-15 lbs Lt; 25-30 lbs Rt. When I started hamstring, I could barely do 10lbs with the left. The back of my leg (still does) gets a warm, sort of wet, sensation running down the back (completely freaked me out the first few times - thought someone spilled water on the back of my leg). Have found that I can do more weight if I do strength before spin, before my legs are fatigued. I stretch for a good ten minutes before and after a ride, making sure my muscles are warmed up. I have little or no lower back pain, neck pain, etc. Yesterday I did a 70 minute class and then worked a 10 hour day, and felt awesome...so what am I complaining about?? It's not always that way - very rarely, as a matter of fact.
It's extremely frustrating to not be able to walk from the locker room to the spin studio, or up the stairs to the free weights. What 40yo wants to take an elevator up a flight of stairs when you are at the gym to exercise? But the terror I feel when I mis-step coming down the stairs and my leg locks, makes the elevator look pretty good. Today, I shoveled snow for 34 minutes and spent most of the time leaning on the shovel - just walking up and done the drive wrecked me. Once I got inside, I rested for an hour, and was pretty OK. Complete polar opposite of how I had felt just after shoveling.
I have seen a neurologist, knee surgeon, rheumatologist, did 6 months of Rolfing, worked with 3 different physical therapists, currently doing x2 week adjustments from a chiropractor (this and MAT are the only two things that have actually made a difference), and regular sessions for Muscle Activation Therapy, and I see a naturapath. I use a foam roller after every work out - some days the left IT band is excruciatingly painful, as well as the left quad. My left psoas is typically where I spend the most time during my MAT sessions. Seems like it is always grochy - but I don't know how to stretch / manipulate it myself to get it to respond. Everyone has their own take on what's "wrong" with me, but no one really knows what to do about it. Other than telling me to be patient, keep at it, do these exercises, etc., etc., etc.
What I want to know - is there anyone out there that has had anything that sounds familiar and what have you done to help improve your condition.
I'm a librarian in a very busy branch, and walking and standing all day are a part of my job. If I can't do at least 2, 1 hour long, floor shifts on any given day, I'm in trouble.
If it turns out that cycling is all I will be able to do - with rest and recovery between rides - then I can live with that. Not being able to do basic things like walking my library, walking my dogs, hiking in the mountains in my back yard - that all effects my quality of life, and I am far too young to give up on doing the things I love.
Any positive, constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.
I have tremendous difficulty walking for more than 10-15 minutes, before my left leg goes unresponsive. I get a drop foot / slap foot like result, and a completely dead hip flexor, sometimes to the point that I am dragging my leg behind me. Same thing happens on a treadmill. The most annoying part is that I trip over my toe, stumbling, because I don't life my foot high enough to clear the floor. I have had two meniscus tears on my left knee, and two surgeries to repair them (no more cutting me open!) The last surgery was Fall of 2010, and I never bounced back afterwards...I have just gotten progressively worse since then.
The really interesting thing is, I can ride a road bike or a spin bike for over an hour, and not have any problems. I have noticed recently, as I have been increasing resistance, cadence, etc., that my left knee tends to dive in to center. If I pay attention to my form, don't try and spin too fast or crank the resistance up too high, there is no problem. I get a fantastic workout, and it's something I truly love doing. Endurance isn't an issue for me. I have plenty of stamina. I've been cycling for almost a year now, either road / mountain bike, or on a spin bike inside.
The problem is, when I get off the bike, I can't walk. My left side is a total noodle. The right side takes all the weight / effort. No amount of stretching before, during, after a ride changes anything. My left leg seems to hyperextend and then lock in place when I put any weight on it at all. I end up limping around, having to hold onto a wall, railing, bikes, people, as I go from point a to point b. It's usually at least an hour before it feels "normal" again. This is the same result after any continuous use of the leg...including standing in the kitchen cooking dinner, vacuuming, shoveling / raking, grocery shopping.
I do strengthening with isometrics, weights (lower body - cable machines; upper body free weights), etc. I've built up hamstrings, quads, glutes, but still no improvement on the mobility. On the leg press, I am doing 115lbs with both legs, 65-70 with one. Forward leg extension - 45lbs both; 30-35 Rt only / 25-30 Lt only. Hamstring "kick-back", 10-15 lbs Lt; 25-30 lbs Rt. When I started hamstring, I could barely do 10lbs with the left. The back of my leg (still does) gets a warm, sort of wet, sensation running down the back (completely freaked me out the first few times - thought someone spilled water on the back of my leg). Have found that I can do more weight if I do strength before spin, before my legs are fatigued. I stretch for a good ten minutes before and after a ride, making sure my muscles are warmed up. I have little or no lower back pain, neck pain, etc. Yesterday I did a 70 minute class and then worked a 10 hour day, and felt awesome...so what am I complaining about?? It's not always that way - very rarely, as a matter of fact.
It's extremely frustrating to not be able to walk from the locker room to the spin studio, or up the stairs to the free weights. What 40yo wants to take an elevator up a flight of stairs when you are at the gym to exercise? But the terror I feel when I mis-step coming down the stairs and my leg locks, makes the elevator look pretty good. Today, I shoveled snow for 34 minutes and spent most of the time leaning on the shovel - just walking up and done the drive wrecked me. Once I got inside, I rested for an hour, and was pretty OK. Complete polar opposite of how I had felt just after shoveling.
I have seen a neurologist, knee surgeon, rheumatologist, did 6 months of Rolfing, worked with 3 different physical therapists, currently doing x2 week adjustments from a chiropractor (this and MAT are the only two things that have actually made a difference), and regular sessions for Muscle Activation Therapy, and I see a naturapath. I use a foam roller after every work out - some days the left IT band is excruciatingly painful, as well as the left quad. My left psoas is typically where I spend the most time during my MAT sessions. Seems like it is always grochy - but I don't know how to stretch / manipulate it myself to get it to respond. Everyone has their own take on what's "wrong" with me, but no one really knows what to do about it. Other than telling me to be patient, keep at it, do these exercises, etc., etc., etc.
What I want to know - is there anyone out there that has had anything that sounds familiar and what have you done to help improve your condition.
I'm a librarian in a very busy branch, and walking and standing all day are a part of my job. If I can't do at least 2, 1 hour long, floor shifts on any given day, I'm in trouble.
If it turns out that cycling is all I will be able to do - with rest and recovery between rides - then I can live with that. Not being able to do basic things like walking my library, walking my dogs, hiking in the mountains in my back yard - that all effects my quality of life, and I am far too young to give up on doing the things I love.
Any positive, constructive advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Replies
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I'm not a doctor or any sort of health professional, but it's obvious that something is very wrong with your leg. Have you had an MRI since your last surgery? It almost sounds like something either wasn't repaired properly or another injury occurred, either during or immediately after the procedure. It certainly needs further investigation. I would insist on a current MRI.0
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Some sort of nerve entrapment or similar going on? I'd see a different neurologist, myself. Good luck! It sounds awful
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What you are describing is frequently caused by spinal issues.0
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Hi! This sounds kinda crazy. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with this! I second other posters recommendations that you get another doc to take a look at you, especially a second neurologist. I am not a medical doctor, and we can't diagnose you over the Internet, as you know. This sounds a bit like a friend of mine who has a very mild case of cerebral palsy, that when he gets tired or his muscles get too strained, he drags his weaker leg.
Good luck figuring this all out!!!0 -
Questions..
What did the neurologist and rheumatologist think it was?
And why did you see a rheumatologist?
Did you have symptoms before the first knee surgery?
What is the MAT treatment that helps? Is it massage?0 -
By the way, what caused the meniscal tears?0
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Questions..
What did the neurologist and rheumatologist think it was?
And why did you see a rheumatologist?
Did you have symptoms before the first knee surgery?
What is the MAT treatment that helps? Is it massage?
Neurologist - inconclusive. Had nerve conductivity tests done, but they weren't able to do the full "probe" since I am on an anticoagulant and they didn't plan ahead. Since the "topical" tests they performed didn't show anything, I didn't go back. I did have several MRIs done, but they were all head and neck. No plaque, no thinning of the mylar, nothing stood out to them that there was anything neurological.
I see a rheumatologist for a blood disorder that has no connection to my mobility issues. I was diagnosed with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome when I was 19, and have a history of DVT and blood clots. Nothing that would cause my current symptoms. My last clot was in 2009, between surgeries, and not a DVT. Spine compression does make sense, but when/how? I have never been in an accident or sustained any significant injury.
My knee problems were the result of a sports injury - a charity volleyball match gone bad, then kickball, then floor hockey. Should have stopped at the volleyball, but my charitable spirit wanted to push through the pain. I tore it the second time during "rehab" - managed to start running again and cycling, and pain came back. I went to a different knee doctor and had an MRI. Both medial and lateral were torn, and I needed to have a chunk taken out of the center.
MAT - kinda like deep tissue massage but the focus is getting muscles to "fire" correctly. http://www.muscleactivation.com/
That's probably WAY more about me than anyone online needs to know!0 -
Spine compression does make sense, but when/how? I have never been in an accident or sustained any significant injury.
Maybe the altered gait after the knee surgery Or just good old gravity. Have you tried an inversion table?
You can improvise with a decline ab bench, if it's steep enough:
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