"What is the vastus lateralis?" - What?? You
don't have Google?? Anyways, it is one of the quad muscles...it's the
outside one.
"What exactly is a HUGE tear?" (Yes, this was
asked by an engineer) - In my case the tear is 16cm x 4.4cm x 6.3cm. (To
the person that asked the question...ask your spouse, I am sure she/he would
consider that enormous.)
"How would you not know you had a torn muscle?" -
According to Lois I am rather insensitive on occasion. According to the
doctors I am dangerously insensitive when it comes to recognizing
pain...and this has caused me medical problems in the past.
"What is the wing speed of the South African
Sparrow?" - What??? Get outta here!
Not really sure what that is all about...but EnglishJim likes the cat pics...
Anyways...as far as the update goes...when we last left our
glorious story, I was dealing with the huge hematoma as a result of the
untreated muscle tear. The doctors prescribed ice, rest, Tylenol, and to
consult with a physiotherapist to make sure the muscle heals with minimal
scarring.
My hematoma didn't quite look like this...but close...
So rest I did (and am), ice I did (supposed to be for 15
minutes at a time but I applied for 40 minutes to an hour at a time attempting
to get the hematoma to shrink faster), and booked an appointment with a
physiotherapist.
So at the physiotherapist, a couple of days later...once his
jaw came up from the floor upon seeing the hematoma...he said that "Not
much we can do until we get that hematoma under control...and regardless of
what the doc said, it looks infected, it looks inflamed...and you have given
yourself serious frostbite from overicing, so now the skin is
damaged."
Well...just great...but I soon had proof that he knew what
he was talking about. That night as I was talking to my ma on the phone,
I felt something wet running down my leg (no, although I am old, that is not
something I commonly experience)...and looked down to see a milky line running
down my shin (again, no not a normal thing)...
So, a mad dash to the bathroom, where I whipped my pants
down (stop it!!), just in time, as the hematoma that had just started leaking
burst open, and gushed its contents into the world. Yes it was infected,
yes it was inflamed, and the release of the pressure build up felt
amazing...other than the torn muscle, I had mobility in the leg again.
At least it wasn't quite like this...
Or this...
This one is for EnglishJim....
This one makes no sense...I just think it's funny...
Anyways, to make a long epochal saga of a story (see what I
did there?) just a bit longer, the next day I called the doc to see where I should
go from here...was I ok to leave this as is...it was still draining some..etc.
Apparently, a hematoma breaking is a rather bad thing...so a rush to the
doc. The opening in my skin was about the size of a quarter (yeah, I
know, gross...sorry...I didn't make the story...I'm just telling
it...???)...(and why is Fig strangely excited by this???)
Anyways, the doc and nurse stuffed the wound with medicated
gauze (yes...does not feel nice at all), in order for it to heal from the
inside out. And I will have to return regularly (twice per week) to have
this packing replaced (oh yay...). I am also, once again, on antibiotics.
However, now that this is taken care of, I can focus on repairing the
muscle (still a 4-6 wk process), then hopefully get back to training.
(Also, now that I am somewhat mobile I can properly get back to my day
job!). As it is, I am volunteering, working the registration desk at the
race I was scheduled to race in this weekend; Short Hills Cycling Club's
Garden City Classic.
Also...a couple of great new sufferlandria videos are out
this weekend!! I will tell you what makes them great on a future post,
and keep you up to date on my recovery...and whatever the hell else comes to
mind.
Stay posted!
I also found it strangely exciting. (don't judge me)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the new Sufferfest vids!! Now, get back you your regularly scheduled healing