Plague Diary, In Which I Experience Something Unprecedented

[lydy]

 I appear to have acquired my very first sport-related injury.  (I am not counting a dodgeball to the face, because in point of fact, dodgeball is not a sport but rather an exercise in group sadism.)  If Dr. Google is to be believed, I have a very minor strain of the right abductor longus, otherwise known as a groin injury.  Apparently, this is one of those really common sports injuries.  It doesn't hurt unless I raise my leg in certain ways, to do things such as step into the bathtub, put on pants, or mount my bike.  It doesn't hurt to ride, or walk short distances, or go up and down stairs (though my knees continue to protest stairs) but it is also not getting better.  It's been going on for a couple three weeks.  I kept on hoping that if I just ignored it, it would resolve.  And, as I said, it doesn't hurt very much, nor very often.  But it is also not getting better.  So, reluctantly, I have decided to stop riding for a bit and see if it heals up.  The fact that it's cold and rainy makes it less of a sacrifice than it might be, but it is still frustrating.  

If you had told me in the fall of 2019 that I would be upset about having to forgo regular exercise because of a sports-related injury, I would have looked at you as if you were speaking Greek, or possibly had falling through a wormhole from an adjacent universe.  We are emphatically in the land of "What have I done with the real Lydy, and who am I now?"

Comments

[arkuat]

I had my first cold rainy ride of the year on Monday! (I never do that stuff in springtime... still recovering from winter.) The Uptown Cub is so much more pleasant and accessible from my current address than it is via bus, or considered as a rather-too-long walk for a shopping trip. Thanks for inspiring me to get back on my bike.

[lydy]

Man, bikes are the best! I miss riding Jasmine _so much_. I have even bought a windbreaker so that in cool but not frosty weather I will be more comfortable. (Please don't ask me why I didn't own a windbreaker before this, because I honestly don't know.) I am also idly considering padded biking shorts. I will say, so many websites about what equipment might be desirable start off with discouraging words such as, "After twelve hours and 200 miles in the saddle, I do feel a little sore, and so I recommend..." Or, "In order to ensure that I reach my performance peak on the trails, the best tools to ensure this are..." Because, seriously, I am not interested in marathon, or peak performance, or, you know, anything except a nice, pleasant ride. Occasionally, I go to the coop and pick up groceries, because it makes me feel so goddamn European. But basic pleasure bicycling just doesn't get much ink.

[quadong]

Dr. Google didn't tell you it was cancer first? I mean, of course it did, but you ignored those results and went to the reasonable ones.

My experience with these sorts of injuries is more or less they get better by themselves when you finally, reluctantly, make an appointment to see someone about them. But, you know, not always.

[lydy]

I did not give Dr. Google the opportunity to tell me it was cancer. Instead, I got an anatomical chart to try to identify the muscle in question, and went from there to googling that particular muscle. Because, otherwise, yes, I would have turned out to have terminal blood cancer. I am always reminded of the bit in _Three Men in a Boat_ where J goes to his doctor to explain that the only thing he has not got is housemaid's knee.

Oh my!

[lsanderson]

My father got housemaid's knee from milking cows. Maybe 'milkmaid's knee'?

Re: Oh my!

[lydy]

Interesting. One must assume that the Victorian medical profession was more accustomed to treating women in service than farmers.

Re: Oh my!

[lsanderson]

All us kids wuz under strict instructions on pain of death or dismemberment to never mention the words 'milkmaid's knee.'

Re: Oh my!

[lydy]

Did you whisper it late at night to each other and giggle? Or was the threat too dire?

Padded Bike Shorts?

[lsanderson]

Buy a pair and try them. There's no law against not riding 500 miles in them -- yet, anyway. There is a reason they exist. If you don't like the look of them, slip another something over them. They're usually slippery for a reason and work well as undergarments.

My other bit o' blather is that you might want to look at a different seat now that you ain't a beginner no more, and I am absolutely not the person to offer you any advice about that, but a female biker might.

Re: Padded Bike Shorts?

[lydy]

I did, I confess, recently buy a very very cheap set of biking shorts, which I will try wearing under my skirt when I get back to riding. If I like them, I may invest in a more expensive pair. But it remains true that most biking gear appears to be designed for over-achievers.

Re: Padded Bike Shorts?

[lsanderson]

I would not mind the over-achiever aim if it affected the price less. You may see some sales as we head into winter. Those skimpy padded bike shorts kinda fall outta favor for some reason, at least up here where it's cold. There's some 'reasonable' ones on Amazon, and none at REI that I would consider 'reasonable.' Good luck.

Re: Padded Bike Shorts?

[lydy]

Yeah, the REI Labor Day sale had biking shorts for as little as $60. None of which would fit me. The whole bicycle short thing also assume that plus-sized people don't ride bikes. Which, um, fuck them.

Re: Padded Bike Shorts?

[lsanderson]

Amazon has a bunch starting around $25, and with a bit more size variating. Of course, it is Amazon.

[haertstitch]

its an awkward injury
and uncomfortable

gently rub across the muscle
not the long ways will help it
along with ice when it hurts the most.
and a heatpad

hopefully you're feeling better now
biking does give one a feeling of freedom.

here its just too dangerous,
drivers are just in too much of a hurry.
they don't think there's more things on the road
besides themselves.