If you’ve been following my comeback saga, you know that I have two fake hips, hip resurfacings, and I’ve been having a great time with my comeback to multisport racing. Now I have a new issue. I had a spectacular mountain bike crash around Christmas and at first I didn’t think there was any real damage. After about a month I thought something had to be wrong when I missed clipping in on the road bike and the pain just shot out the top of my head. The second time this happened I called the doctor. His initial thought was that it was probably a strain and we should give it a few more months and see how it goes. Funny thing is that I can run like nothing ever went wrong and I don’t feel anything on the bike unless I miss clipping in or at the end of a long hard ride. I have do trouble lifting the leg and I have to use my hand to lift the leg in or out of the car but that’s it unless I try to put on the brakes; like if I slipped on ice then wow that hurts.
So, I finally had an MRI and got the report today; I’ve got no damage to the implant but I have a large fluid collection extending from the anterior pseudocapsule into the soft tissue adjacent to the greater trochanter meturing 6.3 x 1.7 x 9.5 cm. Also a partial tear in the gluteus tendon and tendonosis in the gluteus minimus and medius tendons.
I’ve been training all through this and I figure whatever can be done will be down after the Devil’s Kitchen Du on Oct 8. Can’t get ahold of my surgeon today but I guess he can drain it right away, then I don’t know. Is this torn tendon something they can repair or do I have to live with it?
No idea, but I’ll follow this thread just to hear the “You tore that ass up!” jokes
In all seriousness, I hope it’s something that won’t hamper you for too long. It sounds like it’s something that will become a real problem if you continue to train on it (just via your description) - but I’m no doctor so take anything I say with a grain of salt.
Tear of the “insertional segment of the gluteus minimus tendons of the left greater trochanter.” Been dealing with it for a year now. Did several rounds of months of no run/bike and only pulling on the swim, only to have to pull back after trying to start up again. I am just now very gingerly getting back in with easy bike and a combination of walk/jog. My rehab has been complicated by concurrent hamstring tear and herniated discs.
The glute tear is proving to be quite a challenge. That sucker is needed for just about every movement. Even with bi-weekly estim I’ve had a lot of muscle atrophy. The problem has been trying to strengthen the glute without over working it–a very fine line. Plus, it’s a lazy sucker and with all the time off, I’m having to re-learn activating it when I need it.
Hope you’re rehab goes better. You might want to lay-off until you’ve got a treatment/rehab plan in place.
‘’ You might want to lay-off until you’ve got a treatment/rehab plan in place.‘’
Thanks for the reply, although this was not what I hoped to hear. I’m still waiting to hear back form the doc so I don’t know yet what’s going to happen but I really don’t want to back off right now. I’m having my a great year. I’m hoping to get all the way to Devil’s Kitchen Du on Oct 8 and then I’ll lay in bed all winter if that’s what it takes. I’m pretty sure I did the damage crashing, do you think that I can do more just by training and racing? (age group 1st yesterday)
So, I’m not a doc. All I can do is share with you want I’ve learned, from a patient perspective, based on my own experience.
First, I don’t think the doc will “drain” the fluid. I think the “fluid” that shows up on an MRI as signal intensity is usually from inflammation. You’ve got to get that inflammation down, which is usually done through ice, rest and anti-inflammatory meds.
Second, I think tendon tears are worse than muscle tears, because blood supply is more limited and they don’t heal as quickly. And I think any tear can be made much worse by continuing to train on it. So instead of a winter in bed, you might end up missing a year of training and racing, aka me. I had reached a competitive level, like you was having a great year, and now I am thankful to be able to just move forward.
How long until the follow-up with the doc that ordered the MRI? If it’s a couple of days, I would just declare them rest days. If it’s longer, and you really, really can’t bring yourself to rest completely, a conservative approach could be swimming with just pulling/no kick; speed walks instead of running; and cycling upright (not in aero) at a moderate pace. Ice, ice, ice (but no more than 10-15 minutes at a time, so you don’t get frost bite) and be careful with stretching that area.
Finally, I suspect you are not going to want to hear what the doc has to say, either. Sorry.
Right now I have an appointment for the 25th, although there is a chance I can get in on the 15th. If the doc shuts me down, I’ll do it but , man, will I be disappointed. Right now the only thing I can’t do is get into my shoes while on the bike. I get pain getting out but it’s do-able. That’s it, other than that I’m rockin!
