6ix
Posts:485
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| 10/27/2013 09:33 AM |
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I'm still finding that my left leg is falling asleep/dead weight while riding and then stays that way for the rest of the day. I've suffered from DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and pulmonary embolisms in the past so it wouldn't surprise me if there is something a bit more serious going on.
Or it could be my Iliac artery is getting pinched, like Florencio in this article: http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/15709/Florencio-explains-narrowing-of-Iliac-artery-has-forced-his-retirement-will-take-up-a-sporting-director-role-with-Katusha.aspx |
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Pin0Q0
Posts:229
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| 10/30/2013 06:07 PM |
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| Make sure your saddle is perfectly horizontal using a level. If it is try tilting the nose down about two to three degrees. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 10/18/2014 03:26 PM |
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Finally figured out the problem!! Had an arteriogram yesterday to test the blood-flow in the artery in my left leg. All is good until I flew my calf. Then, the entire artery gets closed off just below my knee. It's called Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. I can have surgery to release the artery. Doesn't sound too awful pleasant and is further complicated by the fact I'm on blood-thinners. Once I find out what the recovery time will be, I'll make the decision on whether or not to proceed.
It's nice to finally have an answer. At least I'm not crazy as I was starting to wonder if I was making it all up. I've dropped over 50lbs and am now sitting at 159 with a power-to-weight ratio of just under 4 watts/kg. I'm pretty happy with that but it sucks knowing I'm being held back too. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/18/2014 03:38 PM |
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4 watts / kg?
Niiiice!!!
Sucks about the Entrapment issue. Let us know what you decide to do....I'll obviously be interested to see how you deal with the thinner issue. |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 10/18/2014 04:12 PM |
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I actually had to deal with the blood-thinners this time. I had to stop coumadin for 5 days prior to the operation and bridge with Lovenox shots. Lovely...injecting yourself in the stomach twice a day. Anyhow, that drops your INR but the Lovenox is there just in case any clots pop up. So now that the procedure is over and I'm in the clear, I'm back on coumadin but still using Lovenox until my INR returns to a therapuetic level. I'm supposed to be 2-3. If I go ahead with this other surgery, I'll have to do this whole song and dance again!!
I actually had my wattage higher earlier in the year but I also lost a lot of weight since then. I was only able to hold 290 watts during my last FTP test. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 10/18/2014 05:53 PM |
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I was *only* able to hold 290 watts during my last FTP test.
FTFY. Damn impressive.
I never checked my FTP when I was near my peak this year....but I averaged 267w at Nationals for the 40k bike. Seemed a bit high, especially since it was not a standalone effort and I forgot to calibrate the PowerTap before the race....if it was accurate, then my FTP would have been in the 280-ish range, I think.
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 10/18/2014 09:05 PM |
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Lovenox in the stomach… that smarts! I did that one time, the rest of the shots went in my quad and it was zero pain.
Congrats on finding the issue. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 10/30/2014 05:39 PM |
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Still searching for a surgeon to perform the procedure to fix the Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. Met with an orthopedic surgeon earlier this week only to be told he's never done the operation before and that he thought a vascular surgeon would do it anyhow. Well, nice waste of time there!
On the bright side, I did yet another 20-minute FTP test today on the trainer. I wasn't taking 95% of the wattage into my earlier calculations but this time I finished it with a 296 watts average at 72 kg (158 lbs.) That's 3.9 watts/kg!! I'm happy with that!! Think the highest I ever got when racing was around 4.2 or something so that's some major progress. And that's with my leg being silly.
Then I see what the professionals can do and I shed a tear. Darn freaks of nature. |
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6ix
Posts:485
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| 03/16/2015 08:47 AM |
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| As a little follow-up on this topic for anyone that's interested, I had surgery this past Friday at Univ. of Virginia. My vascular surgeon here in Asheville sent me a specialist there. The issue ended up being Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome. I have a 6-7" long incision in the shape of an "S" behind my knee where they released the artery from the muscle. Lots of pain as one would expect. Probably 5-6 weeks off the bike. At first I was thinking "whatever" when they said that long for recovery but now that I know how much pain there is, I understand.
When I would push down on the pedals before surgery, the pulse would disappear at my foot but that's been fixed. Surgery was a success! Now I just have to deal with recovery and doing nothing while the weather is beautiful outside. |
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Master50
Posts:340
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| 03/16/2015 08:57 AM |
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| I had similar symptoms that turned out to be 2 things. Shoes were too tight and Bont shoes cured that but the big one was the Iliac artery was the reason for the leg cramping up. Had the surgery and it has been good. |
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Cosmic Kid
Posts:4209
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| 03/16/2015 10:00 AM |
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Glad the surgery went well, 6ix....Heal fast!
Shoot me an e-mail when you get a chance....may have something to help fill the time while you heal.  |
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| Just say "NO!" to WCP!!!!
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zootracer
Posts:835
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| 03/16/2015 10:11 AM |
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| You should recover fast and be back on your bike in no time..... |
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Dale
Posts:1767
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| 03/16/2015 11:00 AM |
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| Good news! Heal up quick then get back and punish the bike. |
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ChinookPass
Posts:809
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| 03/16/2015 11:16 AM |
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| glad the docs found it. Riding should be fun again. |
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SideBySide
Posts:444
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| 03/16/2015 03:27 PM |
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Best of luck. Should we hope for bad weather? No, I don't think so.  |
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