It's killing me but..........

Alex Simmons

Thanks for the thoughts and info/suggestions. I will absorb it in more detail a bit later.

I haven't met the sort of specialists you are talking about. I'm not even sure if some exist here. You are right in that I am unusual - most of the other amputees I met in hospital and afterwards were diabetics, elderly, result of infections or other nasty stuff. Other than that it is accident victims. Sadly, in the US there is a growing population of war vets with similar afflictions.

My rehab Doc sold himself as working with para athletes but I think I may need to search elsewhere. I have not pursued working with him. It is my prostheticist I am relying at present.

I have a good buddy in Texas who has exactly the same as me and he's been great sharing his experience (he attempted to make the US paracycling team). I managed to return a favour by helping to organise his visit to the wind tunnel testing in Austin and help him understand the role of aerodynamics.

BTW - While I did study science and have an undergraduate degree from the ANU (mathematics and physics) and maintain a strong interest in the science of cycling, I am not however a scientist.

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Felt_Rider

I was Googling today looking to see if I could find anything and there were more web pages to do with treating war vets.

There has to be a solution for your issue.

I have seen Scott Rigsby once cycling from our typical start point.
Scott's webpage
Scott's blog

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Alex Simmons

Oh there will be.
It'll be a combination of HTFU and something more technical.

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wiredued

I do like the feel of high inertia and the sprint and standing start stuff makes sense but I don't do alot of sprinting cause it aggravates my knee joints when I get over 1,200 watts. IMHO the other side of core strength in the abs seems to be where I need it and the low enertia of my 3.5 inch rollers keeps me unweighting the pedals on the upstroke enough to give me a more solid core... hope I don't cause a PC avalanche with that comment.

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Alex Simmons

Have had a read, some other interesting links in there.

I'm pretty sure it's organic and not phantom, although I wouldn't say it's edema or bursitis either. I'm also pretty sure it's a stump-prosthetic interface issue. Minor skin breakages and blood inside the liner when I take it off confirms that. It's tricky as most of the nerves around that area don't work any more (which means the skin is more susceptible to problems).

I need to work with my prostheticist on the interface (he has the same amputation and is very well attuned to the issues). Tricky when you lay down >$5k for a socket.

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Felt_Rider

Looking at some amputee forums there is plenty of talk about different liners and antiperspirant use on the stump and a pubmed article that maybe you have already seen and considered.

More links

Link

Link

It seems like there will be a lot more added to your day of training in skin hygiene, but I think these are the things of necessity as you know. I often get questions about body composition and weight loss, but the one thing I have done for the past 20 years for training and control is consistently preparing the next's days meals each night, load them up in different containers and take a cooler with me to work each day. It is a routine that now is just a part of my daily schedule. I can see now with amputee's and those who compete have to add another ritual in their day that most do not. I am prone to saddle sores and I have to add pre-ride and post-ride care, but not to the extent that an amputee would have to do. Mine only takes a few minutes with pre & post ride antibotic gel in the saddle region, quickly change shorts for the ride home in the car and quickly get in the shower helps reduce my issues.

I suppose this is something you will adapt to in your daily routine and after a few years it will become almost a thoughtless habit like brushing teeth. That is what meal preparation has become to me, though I admit somedays I would like to just sit down on the couch and rest.

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kopride

This is the big issue my dad is working on with the braces and prosthetics for his condition. Due to sensory loss, the patient doesn't feel excess mechanical stress so there is additional tissue breakdown, then infection, etc.

Alex Simmons

Thanks for all the info guys. It's really helpful.

Because it's all new to me, sometimes I don't actually know what questions to ask.

I have an appointment with my prostheticist on Monday so we can review what's happening.

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Alex Simmons

Just an update. Saw my prosthetics guy today. Talked through what was happening. It's all in the way I use socks.

I won't go into the detail but precisely how thick and how long my stump socks are is very important and makes a big difference. I had been using too much sock up top and not enough down low on the stump (under the fib head).

It's quite an irony, as it was a pair of socks that got me started in competitive cycling in the first place. But that's another story.....

Anyway, it feels better and I did 1/2 hour on ergo today and it seems OK.
Train again tomorrow.

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kopride

That's great news. Socks are a managable issue. Again, I have watched my father struggle with minor issues (to us, major to him) like socks, velcro, and shoes, all his life. When he would find a sock or shoe that worked with his various braces, he literally would buy out the store out of fear that the sock would be discontinued. And he would save all this old stuff for fear that he would have to go back to that particular device. I had to move a closet full of stuff for him a few years back and counted 18 pairs of Flosheim military oxfords sized 9 1/2 EEEEE, some almost never worn, some that had to date from the 50s. He would wear these black dress shoes to the beach or anywhere. For a long time, there were almost no casual shoes or sneakers that could accomodate his devices.

As an old school irishman, he never let anyone, including family members, see his braces and never wore shorts except for the rare occasion on a very secluded beach where he would take a swim. He would rather people think he was stuffy, than look at him like a cripple. I can vividly recall blistering hot days where my dad would be wearing wool dress pants and black oxfords as he watched one of his 5 kids play some sporting event on an unshaded bleacher. Even things like the scratchiness of the velcro backer on the braces could make or break a month for him and/or lead to an infection. Now, the products are much better and the internet has been a real help in finding shoes, socks and appliances to help him.

When my Dad's condition was diagnosed in the early 40's, the local catholic school recomended that he be transferred out and was "nice enough" to find him a spot in an "institution for crippled children." My Grandmother, according to family lore, told the priest that her son would stay in regular school and that nobody would know that he had any handicap. Different times.

My Dad also has neuromuscular deficits in his hands and feet so simple things like jogging or throwing a ball are all but impossible. Because he lacks the hand strength to really depend upon a cane, we are basically counting down the days until he eventually has a fall that confines him to a wheelchair. Again, there are crutches that work from above the elbow (where he has strength), but his God D!&#$ Irish stubborness and pride makes him prefer to walk around like a sailor during a storm than to increase his stability with crutches. Very frustrating. He came by it honestly.

Good luck finding the right combination to make us less challenged riders feel green with envy at your power numbers.

PaulMD

Tyson, how are you doing? Where are you?

Your last message is from more than a month ago!!

I hope you are allright!!

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Alex Simmons

Today I did an hour at DGV, some solo cruising around, some solo riding up track, a bit of skill work up high with another rider (simulated sprint tactical stuff), some paceline riding and a couple of accelerations. NP of 206 watts for the hour (although it was really 2 x 1/2 hour efforts), so that's not bad going. I go again tomorrow.

There is still much to work on. I still get sore but seem to be managing. Will be starting a proper program later this week. The sock thing is weird, I sorta need to get a few custom ones made as I am finding at times I'm in between not enough and too much.

Also tried something I read about in a research study on amputees somewhere after I went through some of those links posted earlier. I sprayed my leg/stump with anti-perpirant before getting on the bike. The idea being to reduce the level of sweating under the liner, which is a big hassle when riding (basically I have to stop once it gets going). It seemed to work but I have no idea if it's a good idea or not. Provided the skin doesn't get irritated or show signs of degradation, I can't see why not.

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Alex Simmons

On another front, I had a pretty cool thing happen today.

It sure made up for a prick of a night where due to some stuff up by my car dealer last Dec when I got a new car (I had to change since I can't drive a manual transmission anymore), I discovered I was driving an unregistered vehicle WTF?

But the fact that it was a Highway Patrol that made the discovery was what hurt more. Their auto detection system alerted them. I had no idea. It was registered OK AFAIK. When they checked the system it was still in the dealer's name and it had expired, hence why I never received a renewal.....

A fine, must leave car here, "can we call a taxi for you sir?" $450

Tow to get home. $200

Rego & related charges this morning to get it fixed. $1800

A phone call this morning from none other than Stuart O'Grady, who was at the airport about to leave and go back to Europe (he'd come back to Australia for a while after Beijing). He'd recently heard about my accident so called to wish me the best in my return to the bike. Priceless

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wiredued

It would of been nice if they gave you a break I got pulled over for crossing the yellow line to get past some traffic to take a left at the lights. It was quiting time around 5:00pm and the cop noticed my stickers were expired. He asked if I renewed and said if I call this in is it going to be registered? I said I thought I did but maybe that was for my wife's car. Then at the thought of waiting for a tow truck he said just go home and make sure you're registered... Does the auto detection system "call it in" for them?

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