My quad doesn't work!

[email hidden] wrote in news:1132683282.654785.315930
@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:

Quoted message said:

My left quad sort of doesn't work. I can partially contract it, but it
is pretty soft and weak. I think this due to rupturing my L5/S1 disk 4
years ago. This has resulted in bad patellar tracking and a badly
swollen and sore knee (so swollen my doctor initially thought I had a
dvt - pointless heparin injections for a week!!). Anyway, I've been
working quite hard on my left quad for a few months, and although it is
bigger than it was, no matter how hard I try I can't make it hurt. I
can't tell whether this is because I have nerve damage or if there is
some pain-feedback thing going on which stops the muscle working.

Has anyone experienced this sort of thing? I'm going to keep working on
my quad, but am obviously curious as to what to expect in the long
term. Before anyone berates me for not going to my doctor about this, I
have, and she doesn't think I have problem.

Dunno, but these pages may help some:
http://www.moleculegirl.com/spinal_homepage.htm

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My left quad sort of doesn't work. I can partially contract it, but it
is pretty soft and weak. I think this due to rupturing my L5/S1 disk 4
years ago. This has resulted in bad patellar tracking and a badly
swollen and sore knee (so swollen my doctor initially thought I had a
dvt - pointless heparin injections for a week!!). Anyway, I've been
working quite hard on my left quad for a few months, and although it
is
bigger than it was, no matter how hard I try I can't make it hurt. I
can't tell whether this is because I have nerve damage or if there is
some pain-feedback thing going on which stops the muscle working.

Has anyone experienced this sort of thing? I'm going to keep working
on
my quad, but am obviously curious as to what to expect in the long
term. Before anyone berates me for not going to my doctor about this,
I
have, and she doesn't think I have problem.

Get another doctor's opinion.

If you're concerned about possible nerve damage, some of the tests are
pretty simple, e.g., have someone try to move both legs/feet/whatever
and you resist. The job of the person doing the attempted moving is to
tell if you have equal strength in both legs. They test the two sides
separately so that you can't easily compensate for any weakness.
Another simple test is to have you close your eyes and have someone try
to touch lightly in various spots that may have nerve damage - if they
touch and you don't feel it, then there may be some nerve damage. I've
got such nerve damage, not terribly severe in the grand scheme of things
but it's there nonetheless, the residual of a herniated disc the blew up
8 years ago. The doctors cannot detect any weakness but there are spots
in the area affected in my thigh that you can touch and I won't know it,
and I show some symptoms in my lifting, e.g., my deadlifts sometimes
find my damaged side coming up more slowly than my good side, and I have
a harder time with one-legged lifts on my bad side but by concentrating
extra hard (that's what I do, anyway), I can usually get done what I
need to. I'm just happy the damage in my case isn't debilitating but
it's good to know it's there and to keep an eye on it.

I am relating my own experiences as a patient and I have no expertise in
this area. You really should get the opinion of another doctor,
hopefully one used to dealing with people who exercise.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Steve Freides said:

Get another doctor's opinion.

Yes, not a "tiny ballerina's".

Spodosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButtSex.org.

Quoted message said:

My left quad sort of doesn't work.

The quadricep is made up of several muscles. Which muscles in your left
leg aren't working?

Quoted message said:

I can partially contract it, but it
is pretty soft and weak. I think this due to rupturing my L5/S1 disk 4
years ago.

Why haven't you been to see a specialist and found out for sure? If
treatment is available, getting it sooner rather than later may improve
long term outcomes.

Quoted message said:

This has resulted in bad patellar tracking and a badly
swollen and sore knee (so swollen my doctor initially thought I had a
dvt - pointless heparin injections for a week!!).

He treated you with heparin for a week without confirming the DVT on
ultrasound? What a quack.

Quoted message said:

Anyway, I've been
working quite hard on my left quad for a few months,

Doing what? This may be the cause of the knee pain.

Quoted message said:

and although it is
bigger than it was, no matter how hard I try I can't make it hurt.

Tried punching yourself really hard? :-) Hurt in what way?

Quoted message said:

I
can't tell whether this is because I have nerve damage or if there is
some pain-feedback thing going on which stops the muscle working.

Has anyone experienced this sort of thing?

Yes, the lower half of my right vastus lateralis is paralysed from
repeated intramuscular injections that damaged the nerve supply. Maybe
it'll heal, maybe it won't.

Quoted message said:

I'm going to keep working on
my quad, but am obviously curious as to what to expect in the long
term. Before anyone berates me for not going to my doctor about this, I
have, and she doesn't think I have problem.

Then get a new bloody doctor! She's already demonstrated she's not on
the ball.

Cheers,

Ari

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

Hugh Beyer said:

Quoted message said:

Dunno, but these pages may help some:
http://www.moleculegirl.com/spinal_homepage.htm

Hugh

--
Exercise is a dirty word. Whenever I hear it, I wash my mouth out with
chocolate. ("Ladi"😉

Thanks!

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 18:48:57 +0800, spodosaurus

spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com said:

Quoted message said:

My left quad sort of doesn't work.

The quadricep is made up of several muscles. Which muscles in your left
leg aren't working? I'll touch you elsewhere

Go die you imposter.

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

I'm in the UK. You can't just see a specialist, you have to be referred
by your GP. My GP won't refer me so I'm stuffed. I was supposed to have
my disk out in 2002. As I was being prepped for the op the surgeon
changed his mind. So, I have seen a specialist, and it was a largely
pointless exercise. I guess I will have to see another GP.

You can't get an ultrasound scan at my local hospital for at least a
week, even if they suspect a DVT. So, they give you heparin just in
case.

My quad exercised are focussed around knee rehab. I do lots of light
leg extensions, step-ups, some cycling etc. and have noticed some
improvement. I'm beginning to try partial squats. I took your advice
and punched myself and it hurt. This gives me hope that at least part
of the weakness could be due to pain feedback from my knee.

All the Best

LGF

Quoted message said:

I'm in the UK. You can't just see a specialist, you have to be referred
by your GP. My GP won't refer me so I'm stuffed. I was supposed to have
my disk out in 2002. As I was being prepped for the op the surgeon
changed his mind. So, I have seen a specialist, and it was a largely
pointless exercise. I guess I will have to see another GP.

Yep, a new GP is in order. We have it a lot better here in Australia.

Quoted message said:

You can't get an ultrasound scan at my local hospital for at least a
week, even if they suspect a DVT. So, they give you heparin just in
case.

Man, what a sucky system. And you can afford to go to war in Iraq?

Quoted message said:

My quad exercised are focussed around knee rehab. I do lots of light
leg extensions, step-ups, some cycling etc.

What's the etc?

Quoted message said:

and have noticed some
improvement. I'm beginning to try partial squats.

Those can be rougher on the knee than full squats...

Quoted message said:

I took your advice
and punched myself and it hurt.

Well, you have affector innervation, so it's likely the ventral root
that's got the problem (not like we didn't know that already, seeing as
you're having trouble getting it to contract, but at least it rules out
peripheral or spinal damge...kind of).

Quoted message said:

This gives me hope that at least part
of the weakness could be due to pain feedback from my knee.

I'd give your knee some time off and see if things improve.

Quoted message said:

All the Best

LGF

--
spammage trappage: remove the underscores to reply

I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried to protect my
neighbours from crime, and became the victim of it. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in a serious illness. I now need a bone
marrow transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a marrow
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a marrow donor:
http://www.abmdr.org.au/
http://www.marrow.org/

Quoted message said:

I'm in the UK. You can't just see a specialist,

Yes you can. Go private.

Quoted message said:

you have to be
referred by your GP.

No you don't, you can go private.

Quoted message said:

My GP won't refer me so I'm stuffed.

Most GP's, unless you require a prescription, are pretty much a waste of
space. Have you seen a physio of any sort?

Quoted message said:

I was supposed to have my disk out in 2002. As I was being prepped for
the
op the surgeon changed his mind.

Why?

Quoted message said:

So, I have seen a specialist, and it
was a largely pointless exercise.

What did he/she say?

Quoted message said:

I guess I will have to see another GP.

You can't get an ultrasound scan at my local hospital for at least a
week, even if they suspect a DVT. So, they give you heparin just in
case.

My quad exercised are focussed around knee rehab. I do lots of light
leg extensions, step-ups, some cycling etc. and have noticed some
improvement. I'm beginning to try partial squats. I took your advice
and punched myself and it hurt. This gives me hope that at least part
of the weakness could be due to pain feedback from my knee.

All the Best

LGF

--
Bully
Protein bars: http://www.proteinbars.co.uk
Supps: http://www.myprotein.co.uk - 5% off with my discount code MP4858

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't
matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

I lost feeling in my left leg almost completely about six months after
my disk burst. Very weird walking upstairs and in bare feet. 4 years
on, and I reckon I've got about 90% back, although if I sit badly I can
still lose feeling in my left foot for a few days. My left quad is
about 1/4 the strength of my right quad, based on what I can lift with
a leg-extension machine. Doctors can't tell the difference as they
can't hold either down. It was about this time last year that I
regained enough feeling that I felt confident enough to start
exercising again. By exercise I mean walking and getting back on my
bike. Unfortunately I couldn't feel the damage I was doing to my left
knee.

Anyway, guess what I've just bought - kettlebells!!!

LGF

My imposter "Ari" is a troll who likes giving bad advice. Ignore him.

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 21:09:30 +0800, spodosaurus

spodosaurus@_yahoo_.com said:

Quoted message said:

I'm in the UK. You can't just see a specialist, you have to be referred
by your GP. My GP won't refer me so I'm stuffed. I was supposed to have
my disk out in 2002. As I was being prepped for the op the surgeon
changed his mind. So, I have seen a specialist, and it was a largely
pointless exercise. I guess I will have to see another GP.

Yep, a new GP is in order. We have it a lot better here in Australia.

Quoted message said:

You can't get an ultrasound scan at my local hospital for at least a
week, even if they suspect a DVT. So, they give you heparin just in
case.

Man, what a sucky system. And you can afford to go to war in Iraq?

Quoted message said:

My quad exercised are focussed around knee rehab. I do lots of light
leg extensions, step-ups, some cycling etc.

What's the etc?

Quoted message said:

and have noticed some
improvement. I'm beginning to try partial squats.

Those can be rougher on the knee than full squats...

Quoted message said:

I took your advice
and punched myself and it hurt.

Well, you have affector innervation, so it's likely the ventral root
that's got the problem (not like we didn't know that already, seeing as
you're having trouble getting it to contract, but at least it rules out
peripheral or spinal damge...kind of).

Quoted message said:

This gives me hope that at least part
of the weakness could be due to pain feedback from my knee.

I'd give your knee some time off and see if things improve.

Quoted message said:

All the Best

LGF

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I lost feeling in my left leg almost completely about six months after
my disk burst. Very weird walking upstairs and in bare feet. 4 years
on, and I reckon I've got about 90% back, although if I sit badly I
can
still lose feeling in my left foot for a few days. My left quad is
about 1/4 the strength of my right quad, based on what I can lift with
a leg-extension machine. Doctors can't tell the difference as they
can't hold either down. It was about this time last year that I
regained enough feeling that I felt confident enough to start
exercising again. By exercise I mean walking and getting back on my
bike. Unfortunately I couldn't feel the damage I was doing to my left
knee.

Anyway, guess what I've just bought - kettlebells!!!

Kettlebells are all well and good but it doesn't sound like you're ready
for strenuous exercise just yet. In your place, I would read "Treat
Your Own Back" by Robin McKenzie - it explains how and why some of this
works the way it does. For years after my back injury I did the
McKenzie exercises religiously, at least once per day and usually more
than that. (During the initial rehab, I had to do them every hour all
day as long as I was awake.) I cannot speak highly enough of this
book - get it and read it if you haven't already.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

I lost feeling in my left leg almost completely about six months after
my disk burst. Very weird walking upstairs and in bare feet. 4 years
on, and I reckon I've got about 90% back, although if I sit badly I can
still lose feeling in my left foot for a few days. My left quad is
about 1/4 the strength of my right quad, based on what I can lift with
a leg-extension machine. Doctors can't tell the difference as they
can't hold either down. It was about this time last year that I
regained enough feeling that I felt confident enough to start
exercising again. By exercise I mean walking and getting back on my
bike. Unfortunately I couldn't feel the damage I was doing to my left
knee.

Anyway, guess what I've just bought - kettlebells!!!

LGF

I see paralysis in your future. Go to a chiropractor.

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

"Spodosaurus" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I lost feeling in my left leg almost completely about six months after
my disk burst. Very weird walking upstairs and in bare feet. 4 years
on, and I reckon I've got about 90% back, although if I sit badly I
can
still lose feeling in my left foot for a few days. My left quad is
about 1/4 the strength of my right quad, based on what I can lift with
a leg-extension machine. Doctors can't tell the difference as they
can't hold either down. It was about this time last year that I
regained enough feeling that I felt confident enough to start
exercising again. By exercise I mean walking and getting back on my
bike. Unfortunately I couldn't feel the damage I was doing to my left
knee.

Anyway, guess what I've just bought - kettlebells!!!

LGF

I see paralysis in your future. Go to a chiropractor.

No - bad idea in this case. When I hurt my back, my doctor gave me a
nice talk about chiropractors, explaining how, for certain types of back
injuries, people who sought out chiropractic care got better more
quickly. He then said that, for my type of back injury, he didn't even
want to see me across the street from a chiropractor, let alone in one's
office. The McKenzie book I recommended is solid, conservative,
treatment used by physical therapists around the world.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I
now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

On Wed, 23 Nov 2005 09:30:19 -0500, "Steve Freides"
<[email hidden]> wrote:

Don't listen to "Tiny Ballerinas".

Quoted message said:

No - bad idea in this case. When I hurt my back, my doctor gave me a
nice talk about chiropractors, explaining how, for certain types of back
injuries, people who sought out chiropractic care got better more
quickly. He then said that, for my type of back injury, he didn't even
want to see me across the street from a chiropractor, let alone in one's
office. The McKenzie book I recommended is solid, conservative,
treatment used by physical therapists around the world.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com

Quoted message said:

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I
now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

My health insurance when I ruptured my disk required GP referal. In
fact _all_ health insurance policies I have ever had require it. I was
unaware you could just ring up a surgeon and pay yourself - are you
sure?

The neurosurgeon I saw privately, told me in Feb 2002 that I needed my
disk removed and a laminectomy, and asked if I was busy over the next
four weeks. At the time I was in a lot of discomfort and said I would
be happy for him to perform the procedure then and there, failing that
any time in the next month would be great. After repeatedly pestering
his secretary, I finally got a call in July to come in the next day to
have my disk out. He changed his mind upon discovering that I couldn't
feel my legs, saying that things had changed and that I required
another scan. I saw him next in Sept, if I remember rightly. Feeling
was returning to my right leg at that point, and my back was hurting
less. I discovered that I could ride a fixed-wheeled bike (my left leg
being pushed round by the pedal) and made the mistake of showing up to
see him on it. He said if I could ride a bike I was OK - I don't think
he understood the fixed wheel.

LGF

Quoted message said:

My health insurance when I ruptured my disk required GP referal. In
fact _all_ health insurance policies I have ever had require it. I was
unaware you could just ring up a surgeon and pay yourself - are you
sure?

Absolutely. You just need to go private to the consultant initially.
However, if you are expecting your Health Insurance company to cough up,
you're likely in for a battle.

Quoted message said:

The neurosurgeon I saw privately, told me in Feb 2002 that I needed my
disk removed and a laminectomy, and asked if I was busy over the next
four weeks. At the time I was in a lot of discomfort and said I would
be happy for him to perform the procedure then and there, failing that
any time in the next month would be great. After repeatedly pestering
his secretary, I finally got a call in July to come in the next day to
have my disk out. He changed his mind upon discovering that I couldn't
feel my legs, saying that things had changed and that I required
another scan. I saw him next in Sept, if I remember rightly. Feeling
was returning to my right leg at that point, and my back was hurting
less. I discovered that I could ride a fixed-wheeled bike (my left leg
being pushed round by the pedal) and made the mistake of showing up to
see him on it. He said if I could ride a bike I was OK - I don't think
he understood the fixed wheel.

LOL. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot😉!!

Quoted message said:

LGF

--
Bully
Protein bars: http://www.proteinbars.co.uk
Supps: http://www.myprotein.co.uk - 5% off with my discount code MP4858

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't
matter, and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Seuss

Quoted message said:

I was
unaware you could just ring up a surgeon and pay yourself - are you
sure?

Sure you're an idiot? Yes.

Spotosaurus
------------
I'm going to die rather sooner than I'd like. I tried butt sex from my
neighbours, and became the victim of AIDS. Complications in
hospital following this resulted in full blown (pun intended) AIDS. I now need a boner
transplant. Many people around the world are waiting for a boner
transplant, too. Please volunteer to be a boner donor:
http://www.IGotAidsFromButSex.org.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

My health insurance when I ruptured my disk required GP referal. In
fact _all_ health insurance policies I have ever had require it. I was
unaware you could just ring up a surgeon and pay yourself - are you
sure?

The neurosurgeon I saw privately, told me in Feb 2002 that I needed my
disk removed and a laminectomy, and asked if I was busy over the next
four weeks. At the time I was in a lot of discomfort and said I would
be happy for him to perform the procedure then and there, failing that
any time in the next month would be great. After repeatedly pestering
his secretary, I finally got a call in July to come in the next day to
have my disk out. He changed his mind upon discovering that I couldn't
feel my legs, saying that things had changed and that I required
another scan. I saw him next in Sept, if I remember rightly. Feeling
was returning to my right leg at that point, and my back was hurting
less. I discovered that I could ride a fixed-wheeled bike (my left leg
being pushed round by the pedal) and made the mistake of showing up to
see him on it. He said if I could ride a bike I was OK - I don't think
he understood the fixed wheel.

A fixed gear bike (what we call a fixed wheel over here) was also a part
of my recovery. I also found I could get away with having my saddle
higher on the fixed gear and that helped my back because it didn't
require as much bending.

Being able to ride a bike with a back injury is, IMHO, a good sign for
you. Shortly after my back injury, while still unable to walk unaided,
I started riding a bicycle again. I would ride to my physical therapy
sessions, having to be careful to ride right up to the handicap railings
because I couldn't walk without holding onto them. A bit bizarre but I
was so thrilled to be able to do some sort of exercise. I found a
fairly flat riding position (meaning not upright but more racer style)
felt best.

Not to sound like a broken record, but do read the McKenzie book as soon
as you can and, with your doctor's permission, start on his exercises
right away.

-S-
http://www.kbnj.com