Since most of us aren't teenagers any more, I'm pretty sure a large masters population is having to overcome all kinds of health issues on order to getin shape, and go as far as competing.
I was starting to get pretty competetive 4-5 years ago and setting a lot of PB's, when in my mid to late 30's I got slammed with a lot of health issues, couple of which (ick) caused a lot of rapid heart rate even at rest, and made me very exercise intolerant. Some of this is getting under control, other things I just have to live with, and accept I can't push as hard as I used to :(
I have a genetic blood disorder, thallasemia, which manifests itself in my case an untreatable chronic anemia, fast thyroid causing heartbeat irregularities (and other things), and one of arthritic conditions, scleroderma. In last couple years I'm just starting to figure out how to handle my newly dysfunctional body, and still keep active. It's been a very disheartening struggle, since at 40, I'm supposedly too young to be falling apart. Eh!
I'd like to hear from people who are having to manage their health issues, so they can keep swimming, and even competing... I'm hoping this can be motivating to a *few* people.
Spent the afternoon at Kaiser...here's the status report.
Peroneal nerve entrapment in the knee is the preliminary diagnosis. When she tested my strength on all of the other leg muscles I was "5 out of 5," except dorsiflection (lifting the toes up). I am scheduled for a nerve conduction study and Electromyography on Aug 3rd. She gave me a muscle relaxant to try to keep the cramps away at night.
Podiatrist kept telling me (at least 5 times) to KEEP SWIMMING. He said that it is very important to keep swimming since it will keep me trying to use those muscles. He also gave me some hints to minimize problems with my stumbling. He also said that these things often resolve on their own, but generally take 6 months to a year. He also said it might have been trauma to the knee that I don't remember that caused it. My podiatrist was a competitive swimmer, I keep trying to recruit him for Masters.
I need to be careful at the end of the day, when I'm tired, since that's when I tend to stumble the most.
Sounds like an appointment in the right direction. I'm glad you got the best diagnosis of all - keep swimming!
Spent the afternoon at Kaiser...here's the status report.
Peroneal nerve entrapment in the knee is the preliminary diagnosis. When she tested my strength on all of the other leg muscles I was "5 out of 5," except dorsiflection (lifting the toes up). I am scheduled for a nerve conduction study and Electromyography on Aug 3rd. She gave me a muscle relaxant to try to keep the cramps away at night.
Podiatrist kept telling me (at least 5 times) to KEEP SWIMMING. He said that it is very important to keep swimming since it will keep me trying to use those muscles. He also gave me some hints to minimize problems with my stumbling. He also said that these things often resolve on their own, but generally take 6 months to a year. He also said it might have been trauma to the knee that I don't remember that caused it. My podiatrist was a competitive swimmer, I keep trying to recruit him for Masters.
I need to be careful at the end of the day, when I'm tired, since that's when I tend to stumble the most.
Sounds like an appointment in the right direction. I'm glad you got the best diagnosis of all - keep swimming!
