My OG mend has started.

[Das MotorRad]

How is your diet? Not sure togos is absolute best for fueling healing. I would drop all the carbs from your diet, the alcohol/sugar is the hardest part. I believe that a no carb no processed food diet would speed your recovery time even more. Embrace the suck for a month and reevaluate then as far as extending the diet and signing on the dotted line for the duke.

Edit: we are rooting for you and look forward to the return of the highway aviator

 

[budman]

How is your diet? Not sure togos is absolute best for fueling healing. I would drop all the carbs from your diet, the alcohol/sugar is the hardest part. I believe that a no carb no processed food diet would speed your recovery time even more. Embrace the suck for a month and reevaluate then as far as extending the diet and signing on the dotted line for the duke.

Edit: we are rooting for you and look forward to the return of the highway aviator

It is pretty good. Yesterday. Togo's RB sandwich for lunch. Just a hamburger steak for dinner. No bun nada else. No booze. Soda water with a splash of cranberry juice was the treat. I only drink water during the day. I know I could do better, but time and hassle is the deal. The Mrs is 100% done cooking. Like I said she is quite tired of having a broken OG for a partner so I have to eat out.

@easy wind I am so on board with a massage for the leg / hip area. I am going to ask for a recommendation at PT today and as soon as the last digit is typed here do a google search.
I have a friend who has been fighting for health for years that I can ask. She is the real trooper. I am a part timer compared to her world.

 

[Rtmac]

I am so on board with a massage for the leg / hip area.

A good sports massage/body work person is worth their weight in gold!
I had a guy that was a miracle worker, but he retired. Since then it's been hit and miss. But it's like pizza (and bj's)... even the bad one's are pretty good.

 

[Das MotorRad]

It is pretty good. Yesterday. Togo's RB sandwich for lunch. Just a hamburger steak for dinner. No bun nada else. No booze. Soda water with a splash of cranberry juice was the treat. I only drink water during the day. I know I could do better, but time and hassle is the deal. The Mrs is 100% done cooking. Like I said she is quite tired of having a broken OG for a partner so I have to eat out.

@easy wind I am so on board with a massage for the leg / hip area. I am going to ask for a recommendation at PT today and as soon as the last digit is typed here do a google search.
I have a friend who has been fighting for health for years that I can ask. She is the real trooper. I am a part timer compared to her world.

My wife hasn't cooked for me in a couple years since I got on this no carb diet thing. I spend 15 minutes a day cooking my food...bbq six hamburgers and I am good to go. Frozen patties from Costco, I go between the 15% fat grass fed and the 25% fat delicious grain finished

 

[budman]

I have seen you note that before. I wish I could do that. Just not in the cards. I could easily do that sort of thing as I LOVE BBQ hamburgers.

Hmmmm. Maybe go to Kirks and order 6 burgers and just bring them home a couple times a week.
I am fine eating them cold really. Only 8 bux each. Hmmm. I do want to eat some veggies and fruit though. Can't see a 100% protein diet, but I can see a limited high protein thing.

Knowing I am losing a good year of living at 68 sucks, but chin up and head down.
Hope I am not driving to the first Rally.

 

[Rtmac]

I know a lot about low/no carb diets, and in my opinion, you are not someone that would need it. They are excellent for obese people that need to drop 50+ lbs fast, diabetics or pre-diabetics, people with very high blood pressure (usually these 3 things go together).
BUT... eliminating as much sugar as you can will benefit anyone... except possibly high-level athletes. If you eliminate sugar, your automatically going to lower carbs to a proper level. The hamburger bun is a great example, it's garbage... it's basically just a holder for the burger. Processed, packaged foods- full of sugar... read the ingredients. Sugar from fruit and alcohol is the same as regular sugar once it hits your blood stream. There is so much "hidden sugars" that it's impossible to eliminate it, but you can cut way back and never miss it. But yes, it's inconvenient.

 

[Rtmac]

You could also start working hard on your upper body strength.

 

[ThumperX]

Carbs from vegetables or other Whole Foods are necessary for converting nutrients into energy. To focus solely on macros and totally eliminating one component is like running one tire flat. When folks say “eliminate carbs” probably means eliminate processed carbs. Bread, white rice, cake etc naughty carbs.
This advice brought to you by the little teapot of humanity. Thump be short and stout.

 

[Rtmac]

Carbs from vegetables or other Whole Foods are necessary for converting nutrients into energy.

Sorry, but that's not accurate.
Again, it depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are strictly trying to cut weight, a carb is a carb... regardless of where it comes from.
When I was losing weight, after I dropped the first 50lbs, I stopped restricting green leaf veggies, but still never touched anything starchy. I had tons of energy and lost weight every single week for 18 months... average 1 to 3 lbs per week, some weeks more, but I never gained during that time.

 

[CDONA]

Thinking on that Ti Chi, big slow movements stretching your range, every step.
Doing this as a quiet stalker, cartoonish big steps with pointed down toes,
arms up for balance, as to say Boo.
Focus on every stretch, forward and backward, one foot balance
Trying to figure out how to low impact, stairs. Take some of the weight off.
All I got was hand over hand, rope pull up the steps. Needs an overhead anchor.
Thinking the ski poles would be too clumsy, hand rails not beefy enough.
And the schooching down the steps, feet in front & on your butt.

I too have pushed sugar/carbs from my diet.
I switched from early Mex. dinner 4pm, to breakfast, omelets, swap the spuds for fruit,
English muffin, 2 to 3pm, one meal, some no sugar snacks, fresh fruit.

 

[Rtmac]

This advice brought to you by the little teapot of humanity. Thump be short and stout.

It's not something I would recommend for the average person. I was literally in the life or death zone... extremely overweight with extremely high blood pressure!
I kept meticulous records of everything, with weekly weigh-in's (btw, I don't recommend weighing yourself daily).
It's kinda like a math equation, if one is willing to do it, they  will lose weight. Anyone that says "I tried keto and it didn't work for me" didn't commit to doing it correctly... it  has to work!
Again, what I'm talking about is not for most, probably very few barfer's, as most are pretty active people... but I would bet that 99% would benefit from a massive reduction in sugar intake.

 

[tzrider]

I have seen you note that before. I wish I could do that. Just not in the cards. I could easily do that sort of thing as I LOVE BBQ hamburgers.

Hmmmm. Maybe go to Kirks and order 6 burgers and just bring them home a couple times a week.
I am fine eating them cold really. Only 8 bux each. Hmmm. I do want to eat some veggies and fruit though. Can't see a 100% protein diet, but I can see a limited high protein thing.

Knowing I am losing a good year of living at 68 sucks, but chin up and head down.
Hope I am not driving to the first Rally.

Just checking in...

You may be losing a year of living the way you're accustomed to, but this creates space for living in ways you never have at the same time. Finding recreation in whatever you didn't have time for before could ultimately enrich your life overall.

I'm recovering from a recent spine surgery (two weeks ago). The process will be nowhere as grueling as yours, but has a few things in common: It would be a good idea to get lighter and I've started doing elementary Tai Chi. The latter has been good for gently building back mobility within the restrictions in place for six weeks post surgery. I can tell it has made a difference in balance by activating some abused muscles that don't quite know what to do. Weight loss at this point is a good idea for several reasons, the spine being only one of them. Probably the case for you too.

Your high protein approach should work, assuming portions aren't too big and hypoglycemic carbs are eliminated. Perfect is the enemy of the good. Keep at it and find things to celebrate.

 

[ThumperX]

Fer Gawd sakes boy,,,,, eat yer spinich!!

 

[budman]

Just checking in...

You may be losing a year of living the way you're accustomed to, but this creates space for living in ways you never have at the same time. Finding recreation in whatever you didn't have time for before could ultimately enrich your life overall.

Well... I can hope. Right now it is just day to day boring crap. I am having a hard time even visualizing any form of recreation I can do. Thumb wars with the Grandkids are fun, but not that fun.

Suppose movie editing is recreating sort of. The end product is cool, but the process is not that fun. I will be doing some of that again here soon.

I'm recovering from a recent spine surgery (two weeks ago). The process will be nowhere as grueling as yours, but has a few things in common: It would be a good idea to get lighter and I've started doing elementary Tai Chi. The latter has been good for gently building back mobility within the restrictions in place for six weeks post surgery. I can tell it has made a difference in balance by activating some abused muscles that don't quite know what to do. Weight loss at this point is a good idea for several reasons, the spine being only one of them. Probably the case for you too.

Luckily I had dropped 25lbs before I dropped my ass on the stair tread. I think I have lost 10 more over the 4 months. Unfortunately some of that is muscle and a pound is hair I assume.

I started Tai Chi level 2 and was disappointed. It was all mental prep and flow and then the actual exercise program was the same

Today's PT was very good. Got some good stretching in and some good strength building stuff.
Right now my leg is physically THE most tired it has been. The quad muscles are sore and if I had a rolling pin I would be happy to use it.

I assume your deal went well and you are headed back to full health. Hoping so!

Wish you the best Andy.

 

[atoyf]

Well... I can hope. Right now it is just day to day boring crap. I am having a hard time even visualizing any form of recreation I can do. Thumb wars with the Grandkids are fun, but not that fun.

Suppose movie editing is recreating sort of. The end product is cool, but the process is not that fun. I will be doing some of that again here soon.

Luckily I had dropped 25lbs before I dropped my ass on the stair tread. I think I have lost 10 more over the 4 months. Unfortunately some of that is muscle and a pound is hair I assume.

I started Tai Chi level 2 and was disappointed. It was all mental prep and flow and then the actual exercise program was the same

Today's PT was very good. Got some good stretching in and some good strength building stuff.
Right now my leg is physically THE most tired it has been. The quad muscles are sore and if I had a rolling pin I would be happy to use it.

I assume your deal went well and you are headed back to full health. Hoping so!

Wish you the best Andy.

cheer up - if you want to see someone ride your duc in front of you , let me know, i’ll ride it for ya

 

[CDONA]

I tried my slow balance thing, no room in my rig, couldn't get full extensions of my arms.
Outside, slow burn of holding balance, one foot, down to a crouch, and up again, waving arms working balance, and another exaggerated step.
Low impact, range of motion burn
Elmer Fudd sneaking up on Daffy, way goofier than Tai Chi, fighting moves.
I'm thinking a couple of minutes of this, through out the day, stretching.

 

[Erbuck]

Mister Budman,
I think it's wonderful reading through the support messages you've received, although some are ????
I'd like to say a couple of things. 1) if you need distractions for a couple of hours at least I have two books that may interest you and I would gladly loan and deliver. The first book is "The Art of the Motorcycle, Guggenheim Museum". It's the coffee table book most likely to be stolen from Snellbucks. The other book is an original copy of "The Anarchist Cookbook". Thinking about getting retribution on your enemies (and what bedridden person doesn't have time for that?) can amuse anyone for hours. It's the paperback type with the comic book paper and hand drawn diagrams. Tic Toc retribution videos are likely more current and educational, but the slow appreciation and decreased urgency of a book may be more to your liking. And you may be a dark web aficionado, and if that's the case, my meager entertainment options are likely trivial and boring. Never mind, if so.
The second thing. As a cancer survivor (non-hodgkins lymphoma) there is a "before and after" mindset you get into. There is always the desire to get back to your "former self". I use quotes because that is something that is difficult to measure unless you are an elite athlete or something like that. The former self is something to always strive for. But in the cancer community there is what is described as mourning the loss of your former self. It's just the acceptance that you are different now. And it will take work on many levels to get somewhere where you enjoy doing your old stuff differently (or the same!) and not preoccupy yourself with how it used to be. You seem like you are in the middle of this process now and you seem to be dealing with it well.
So, I hope your get some productive things from your down time. Or, at least, some fiercely executed retributions.

 

[budman]

Kind response. Appreciate it and kudos on being a cancer survivor.

I am glad to be past the bed ridden stage for sure.
Funny you mention coffee table books. I have several very cool ones that I should look at. College sort of ruined books for me. I just don’t enjoy reading them and even coffee table books with awesome pics don’t impact me the way they should. I appreciate the offer but I already need to return some to Mr m0t0_ryder already so I should pass.

I think I am good at dealing with the new reality as I have gone through many rehabs and have adjusted to new limitations several times. A lot of cool stuff is no longer in the cards in my past due to those and getting old.

This will be another and I know I will get there. Whatever the new norm is I will find some joy in what I can do. I will get back on a moto in a few months and the mental side of this will settle in.

It is just the current lack of ability and the pain doing silly small stuff that is frustrating me. Does not help that this one is different than others for the Mrs too. Much more invasive on her and her sharing her frustrations just compounds mine.

Today we discussed the next steps and she said I have to do XYZ to go back upstairs and it genuinely pissed me off. So back down to the basement and exercise. I am Sort of mad at the world right now and I can recognize that so it is something that will pass. I just have to control it to not screw up anything important.

This injury has been more mentally challenging for sure. Lonely really has not been involved in my other rehabs. This one it is the name of the game

 

[dravnx]

Bud, you got this. Healing is slow and tendons are pretty rigid in us vintage folks. I've been working on my hamstrings for years now and the progress is measured in mm.
I went through the cost vs benefit analysis on my health and decided it was a worthy investment. Spend your kids inheritance on getting back into fighting form. They would much rather have you around, healthy and happy.
If depression is getting in the way of your life and healing, seek health. Depression is more than a way of feeling. It changes the neural pathways in your brain and it takes professional knowledge to reroute things

 

[greenmonster]

Just to echo this if I run with negative thoughts it’s way harder than if I run “happy” even though I always run the same distance, same route, same time of day.
Mood and mental state really makes a difference.
Stamina, strength and motivation go out the window if I’m upset about something and trying to workout.
The opposite is true if I’m in a good mood.

 

[easy wind]

Valentine’s Day his and her massages. Buy the gift certificate, money spent already, gonna do it. Also how many durn stairs are we talking about? Go up two or three, then down. Mebbe several times. Few days later it’ll be four, then five. Hang onto the rail, just keep doing it without notice or permission, then one day soon…poof! Or go up and down on yer bottom. I had to do that for awhile too. There is a will so there is a way. Happy Groundhog’s Day, Ima sit outside and absorb that sun energy.

 

[budman]

Good call on the gift certificate need something else too as her BDAY is 3 days later.

Stairs are no longer an issue. At least going up and down. Falling on them would be an issue.

 

[Cupid's Arrow]

Valentine’s Day his and her massages. Buy the gift certificate, money spent already, gonna do it. Also how many durn stairs are we talking about? Go up two or three, then down. Mebbe several times. Few days later it’ll be four, then five. Hang onto the rail, just keep doing it without notice or permission, then one day soon…poof! Or go up and down on yer bottom. I had to do that for awhile too. There is a will so there is a way. Happy Groundhog’s Day, Ima sit outside and absorb that sun energy.

Hey budman hope your Monday is off to a tolerable start! Some days, progress might feel frustratingly slow, but look at how far you've already come from the first few posts in this thread. You are a beast Have a good week ~

 

[budman]

Thank you.

I had a really good PT session at home last night. Once I got the muscles all warmed up I was walking without the cane pretty well. Not a long way, but sans cane so good. A lot of the other stuff was easier too. Side steps with the knee being raised and squatting into it had me feeling like a Ninja compared to a month ago. So progress is there and focusing on that and chasing more is for sure the name of the game.

However.. It is amazing how quickly the muscles run for the hills when they get to not work for a few minutes.

I sat to watch the second half of a movie with the cat. After an hour when I got up I was in pain and cane limpy again and into the bedroom for some stretching.

At least I could taste it for a bit.

I know it is keep working, keep eating right, stick with the zero alcohol and the bit will get longer and longer. I seen this process a few times. This is just more dramatic and I do appreciate being able to vent here. That helps to be less mad at the world.

 

[GAJ]

I'm not sure being mad helps!