Hey Bob I'm sorry to hear about this and am rooting for you man.
Is there other things that you could explore for your rehab other than ART sessions? Something you could do at home, and get your wife to help? You can buy wooden massage thumbs and other similar implements that you could dig into your problem spots etc.. Foam Rollers... EMS\TENS machine...
Last fall I blew through a full year of my insurance in the span of a month on a chiro and I know how expensive it can get. I finally said forget it and found things I could do on my own. But I do realize I am\was definitley not in the same boat as you.
I know we're still babying the forearm, but can you give me more info on this contest in July (events, etc)? Is it something you're definately going to do, or are you still thinking about it?
E-mail sent with event list / weights.
As I mentioned in that note, everything is still up in the air. Tomorrow will tell me a lot. But I've got a few things to try.
Hey Bob I'm sorry to hear about this and am rooting for you man.
Is there other things that you could explore for your rehab other than ART sessions? Something you could do at home, and get your wife to help? You can buy wooden massage thumbs and other similar implements that you could dig into your problem spots etc.. Foam Rollers... EMS\TENS machine...
Last fall I blew through a full year of my insurance in the span of a month on a chiro and I know how expensive it can get. I finally said forget it and found things I could do on my own. But I do realize I am\was definitley not in the same boat as you.
Thanks.
Long story short - everything I've tried to date has not really worked. Even a skilled LMT only "buys me some time."
I haven't tried EMS/TENS. Don't really know that much about them, and how applicable they might be.
I also haven't tried an equine percussive massager - the big ones they use on racehorses.
I asked my chiro about the latter, and he said it would be worth a shot. I need to pony up the cash for one and a massage table, and let the wife beat on me.
I spoke with my chiro, and asked him if he had received my e-mail cancelling sessions, and he said "Yes, and I told the receptionist to keep you on the books for weekly visits. No worries, I'll take care of you."
First things first: I obviously owe a huge debt to Doctor Tom Zak of Zak Performance Health , who has literally made it possible for me to pursue my dreams. That debt grew today as Doc agreed to sponsor me on my journey, and has once again, made it possible for me to pursue this wild and crazy ride.
It was a huge session from a number of perspectives. First, my spinal erectors were extremely tight going into the session: I've been unable, for the past 3 or 4 days, to lay on the floor without my back going into serious take-your-breath-away spasms. Just getting this ironed out would be enough for most.
Of course, my forearm issues took some priority: out of the gate, Doc Zak started working through them, and, I could immediately tell that something was different. I was able to feel each muscle getting stretched / pulled today as he targeted it; rather than just a generic sense of pressure in the forearm. Doc worked through just about every muscle in the forearm, spent some extra time on the wrist, and I can feel the results of all this work a few hours later by the level of fatigue and "good" soreness in the arm.
Then it was onto "core" issues: a quick tuneup of hammies, adductors, hip flexors, hip rotators, rectus femoris. As always, no matter how much stretching I do on my own, I'm amazed by how my body opens up with just a few reps, and the tension just falls away. This makes a huge difference on the lumbar spine.
Then it was some work on those spinal erectors, followed up by neck/tarps, and finally a couple huge neck adjustments that just left me feeling incredibly relaxed. The work on erectors continued with SASTM; not quite as intense as the last time, Doc focused on the inner erectors, where I swear we get the biggest bang for the buck.
Finished up with flexion/distraction work, really getting some great motion out of the spine. Afterwards, I could feel mobility return to the mid/upper back.
Last but not least: there was Heather, with just the right touch of wholesome, USDA farm-girl goodness. Heather is embarking on a PT career, had just taken the ART Upper Extremity Course, and was interning for a day. Doc and I took turns relating our story, from the initial review session up through last summer's comp and current goals.
All this added up to a huge emotional release on the drive home, a release that I really wasn't prepared for, but wasn't surprised by either. It left me drained, but in a good place.
Got out for a ~30 minute hike with the pups, visiting a trail I haven't walked in probably 6 years or longer. It was muddy, the spring thaw fully in progress, there was much to be seen and smelled, and we laughed at the husky who avoided all the puddles and the malamutes who jumped right in them.
Getting back to the truck, I knew that I was done for the night. My left forearm was sore, I was drained, and there was no way that I was going to do any more prehab today. I felt guilty about that for all of 5 seconds, and then laughed at one of the mal's antics.
Mentally foggy, somewhat distracted. Tired. I think the stress of the last couple weeks is still taking it's toll. I also drank a beer last evening (yes, a single beer), and that kept me awake until late, and threw my sleep patterns off a bit.
Even at 205, I felt more solid and was faster than ever. The big thing I noticed is that I'm taking significantly larger strides at this weight.
Final run, dropped the left FW just as I crossed the finish line, felt my grip start to give out maybe 15-20' away. Right hand was just fine.
No pain in the left forearm with these, as I predicted
Seated Military Press Embarrassment: 2x15xbar;1x15x65
Rep 12 of the last set, I felt a sudden shooting/burning pain in the left forearm about midway through the eccentric. Pain immediately subsided, so I finished the set, but called it quits
A lot of shoulder loosening up, popping & clicking on the first warmup set
Regardless of performance, these felt good: my shoulders needed to move
Good Mornings: 1x10x135,185,225/8;3x10x205/8
These felt really good, like my core is coming around and I have a lot more strength / stability
Was surprised that it took 3 sets at the drop weight to hit my fatigue stop: way more than ever before
Total Training Time: 70 minutes
Moved pretty quickly through everything, and completely skipped stones - no way the left forearm is ready for that stress.
Although I was in a weird mood, I turned in a decent performance: Farmer's especially is promising, last year at this time I couldn't move nearly as quickly with 205 as I did today.
I'm trying not to go all OCD over the left forearm and having to pull short on stuff. It's quite difficult.
I never realized how much the forearm gets used in training and day-to-day life, and how much you can't do without using it.
After putting at least some load on the left forearm for the first time in 2 weeks with yesterday's training, it feels fine today: no pain resting, or doing normal things. However, when picking up a malamute to put her on the grooming table, I'm finding that I have to brace the left forearm with the right to feel safe. (Basically, I pick the mals up in a Zercher lift, in the crooks of my elbows, arms underneath chest and belly.)
I'm really sore in the hammies & calves today. Yesterday's farmers and good mornings did something.
Looking back on the week: Tuesday I did cambered bar squatting, and did quite well. I know this isn't reflected in the numbers, but I just feel much more solid & stronger in the low back & hips when I do anything.
Saturday's farmers were good. While I didn't clock the runs, for a reason, I was moving fast. I didn't clock the runs b/c of turning: to keep load off the left bicep / forearm, I sacrificed a lot of speed on the turn.
Looking forward: it would seem that I've tagged the "Oil Region's Strongest Man" on June 20th as my next competition.
Having made that decision, I can already feel the mental wheels focusing in on the target. Last night at bedtime I had a very difficult time stopping visualization practice of the events.
First big surprise of the night: left forearm was able (tightly wrapped) to do this, no real pain through entire ROM - yay!
I was probably subconciously holding back, and not driving out of the rack position as hard - trying to save that arm
Bar path was a little off - just a bit too far forward. Gotta work on that.
Reverse Lunges: 1x15xbw;1x15x97/9;1x15x92/9
Second surprise (or maybe not): I'd rather do the yoke than do these
Incredibly hard
RDL: 1x15x135,185/8,175/8
Back was the weak spot here
Not sure if just overall exhaustion stopped me or what
Total Training Time: 135 minutes
Well.
I'm going to give myself a "well done" on this session. Considering that it's the first full session I've completed in a bit, and that I hit PR's twice on yoke, yeah, well done.
I was pretty amped up for today's training. Thought about a lot yesterday, and really was looking forward to it. Weather cooperated, sunny and 60, great training outside.
Forearm is vastly improved. No pain during pressing, only a vague sensation of being "overly pumped" afterwards.
Got out for a slow paced, 25 minute walk with the puppies afterwards. I'm tight. Tomorrow will be fun.
EDIT: just watched videos of yoke. 420lb took me ~14sec; 540lb took me ~22sec
I'll get videos edited down and posted tomorrow.
-- Edited by BobW on Wednesday 18th of March 2009 12:57:41 AM