And in answer to the question, "Who the hell is 'Bazza'?" - the poor fool that
ruptured his achilles tendon minutes into his 2nd training session last Oct!!!
Hi there! Sorry, for the absence.
It's like this....
Last saw you all at the Christmas party.
I'd previously been told by my Doc that I should lay off anything involving impact and heavy exercise until the New Year. So, after New Year, I thought it was time to start shifting some of the weight I'd put on whilst out-of-action. So, I started watching what I ate, and got on my bike. I was doing 12miles every other day, working up a good pace, starting to get my cardiovascular back.
Three weeks into the New Year, and I was doing great. My physio was amazed at how well I'd recovered. My fitness was rapidly returning. And the weight was dropping off.
Then.... after returning from a physio appointment, I was rushing from the bike shed at work to the main reception (as it was pee'ing down!), when my leg went - again!! Not as dramatic as when it first went.
So, I did what any man would do. I dropped to the ground. Rolled around in the puddles. And turned the air blue with some chosen Anglo-Saxon.
Once I was found, and brought into reception I called the physio dept. discussed it with them. And was told that it sounded like I'd done it again. Time to visit A&E again.
The short of which is - I was told to go back to wearing the air-cast again for 4 weeks. No more physio. No cycling. No exercising. No stressing of the AT/etc.
So, from late Jan, to late Feb, I was pretty much house-bound. I was just about able to hobble the short distance to/from work. But, that was about it. So, this time I decided to ditch the beer/junk-food, watch what I eat, and see if I could shift some weight without exercise.
By late Feb (having shifted 1st3, which was rather good!), I went back to see the Doc, he was happy that the re-rupture had healed (again), and that I no longer needed the air-cast. So, I dropped my bomb-shell on him - "Doc, I'm going snowboarding this Saturday for two weeks in Canada".
The look on his face was priceless.
I'd already called my holiday insurance company, and asked about my AT - I couldn't afford for it to go whilst snowboarding, and for my medical costs to not be met. They said I was covered, as long as I "wasn't going against my Doc's advice".
Doc said I had to see the Physio dept.
So, got an appointment. Went to see.
Physio said - "I can't advise you that going snowboarding is a good idea. However, barring any unforseen circumstances, you should be ok". And he gave me a load of exercises/stretches to do. And, if I didn't do them, then woe betide me.
That'll do me.
I went. And the air-cast was packed into my checked-in luggage. Just in case.
On day 1 of snowboarding, getting off my first chair-lift ride, my friend managed to fall over taking me with him. The AT was ok, but, I twisted my knee (due to the way that a snowboarder has to have one foot out of the bindings). But, was okay to continue.
... more snowboarding happened ...
And, on the 2nd last day of my holiday, same thing happened. Two of my friends (sat either side of me) did the same. This time the knee twisting was much worse. Again, dropped to the ground, and uttered some choice Anglo Saxon.
Hobbled out of the way, and found a chair to sit on. Had some pain-killers in my backpack, so necked them (dry), and waited for them to kick in. After about 30-40mins I was okay to snowboard down (gently). Which was handy, as it was bloody freezing up on top of that mountain (no surprise there).
Found the bar, drank 2 pints of beer. Started to feel ok. And continued to snowboard for the rest of the day on my own. I knew that tomorrow wouldn't be a good day.
Last day of holiday - knee was swollen, barely working. Sat it out. Went to ice-hockey game that night. For a peace-loving nation, them Canadians sure know how to throw a punch.
And then the holiday was over, and I came home.
That takes me up to last weekend.
In the last week my knee is almost healed. I can lock it out now, which helps greatly in *not* walking like a pimp from a 70's movie.
I see my physio next tuesday, and hope to start up'ing my training.
I can just about stand on both tip-toes at the same time. But, have no chance of doing that on just the bad leg. The consequence of that is, I can only bear my weight on my right foot if it is flat. So, no running. No walking fast. No pushing off from that foot.
My right calf is now 1in thinner (in diameter) than my left. However, my right ankle is 1in thicker (dia) than my left. Which is nice.
Now that I'm on the mend (again), I'm hoping to start showing my face a bit more down the club. As soon as I think I can risk a training session, then I'll be there. Not to actually join in. But, at least to help out. Given how I can't run/jump/push from that foot, I definitely can't do anything too strenuous. But, I'll at least help out, where I can.
I'm afraid I won't be able to turn up to support the seniors game today @ 1pm. But, I might be able to get down for the England vs Ireland game in the clubhouse.
So, there you go. Bazza is on the mend. And I've a long way to go yet before I'm back to 'normal'. But, I'm getting there.
Give my regards to all. And make sure there's some Guinness in the barrell.
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