I spent Christmas with my mum, dad and brother, it was okay although my mum was il all over Christmas so felt a little guilty shovelling food and drink down my throat. I trained as normall even on Christmas day but just drank and ate what I wanted. I normally take two weeks of but what with trials coming up on the 2/3 February new I would lose to much fitness if I did that!
Even though I trained over Christmas I still put on 3 Kg which I still haven't shifted but all my times are still coming down. I do need to lose it though and probably by the British Champs an extra Kg less than the 3 wouldn't do any harm.
Iv been concentrating on my swimming all over the winter and after some more swim analysis with Liz at Thetrilife I can see it has really paid off. I am looking a lot more efficient, there are still things to improve on like the body balance in the water so lots of drills. Saying that I have made massive improvements in the catch and pull.
The work on the turbo has been going well as I cant get out on the bike and the running is improving naturally. Allan from the technology department for Blatchfords did some analysis on the new running blade to see if we could improve alignment to get more out of it. We took video of me running across a pressure pad to take measurements of velocity pressure and alignment. We didn't need to change anything because all the readings that came back looked very good. I also had a new socket put on the running leg the same day so Christina did a great job, such a shame she is leaving and I will miss her! There will be things as always that will need to be altered to improve alignment that you only notice over time as I use it. It still feels like it wants to go out to one side or the other rather than straight forwards at times so need to work that out.
I have had a bit of bad timing with skin break down on the front of my stump where the scare is this week but don't think it is because of the new socket. I think it is probably because I did my longest bike then run session this week since the amputation, probably double the length of anything I did last year. Just a little to far at a hard pace that although felt quit easy took its toll on my skin, just stripped it right off. I have just covered it with the elastoplast clear plasters I normally use then put Tegaderm (clear dressing used after operations that is water proof) over it just for good measure. Its looking better today but just need to lay off doing any running or cycling till atleast Tuesday/Wednesday and then look at it again. The main thing for next week is that it gets better, I know I am fit enough for the trials up at loughborough so a light week now will not do any harm to that!
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Monday, 17 December 2012
I have been lucky enough to be given a new Endolite running specific blade that is in the development stage. It is of the C blade stile but has a foot plate for added stability, the leg is brilliant. You get so much energy back from the leg and it's very smooth, I did think the foot plate might not work very well but it is very well thought out. The lower part of the blade is also split down the middle which helps so much not just on conering but also when on uneaven ground! It is only in the development stage but they have made a pretty awesome leg.
I haven't been particularly well since I got it so have had to take it a bit easy but have done a 5K run which took 20:44 and a 10K that took 43:45. Both post amputation PB runs so it is very promising for my triathlon and paratriathlon season next year!
It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks with not feeling well and having assignments to get in at university but heard some good news today! There is a paratriathlon talent ID weekend taking place at the beginning of February at loughborough, for anyone interested: http://www.britishtriathlon.org/news/british_triathlon_search_for_future_paralympic_talent_2642 .
I haven't been particularly well since I got it so have had to take it a bit easy but have done a 5K run which took 20:44 and a 10K that took 43:45. Both post amputation PB runs so it is very promising for my triathlon and paratriathlon season next year!
It's been a pretty stressful couple of weeks with not feeling well and having assignments to get in at university but heard some good news today! There is a paratriathlon talent ID weekend taking place at the beginning of February at loughborough, for anyone interested: http://www.britishtriathlon.org/news/british_triathlon_search_for_future_paralympic_talent_2642 .
Monday, 3 December 2012
Sockets/skin problems
I have had the usual problems with socket fittings of late but we have gone back to an older socket cast and just shrunk it down and will try the test socket on Friday as the shape seems to be fine.
I have had though allot of very heavy eczema and have had massive problems trying to sort it out and tried so many different products but with no luck. The eczema is fine while in the socket and only comes up after about 10 minutes of the socket being off, when the skin just goes bone dry and looks a mess.
I found this cream though that I got from the chemist called CETRABEN and it is brilliant, it only took two days of using it before the skin had completely cleared up! That was about a week ago and I only use it once a day now and it seems to do the trick!
I have had though allot of very heavy eczema and have had massive problems trying to sort it out and tried so many different products but with no luck. The eczema is fine while in the socket and only comes up after about 10 minutes of the socket being off, when the skin just goes bone dry and looks a mess.
I found this cream though that I got from the chemist called CETRABEN and it is brilliant, it only took two days of using it before the skin had completely cleared up! That was about a week ago and I only use it once a day now and it seems to do the trick!
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Rollercoaster
The roller coaster continues.
After trying a new liner that needed a different way of casting the socket we decided against it after it being very painful right from the first day I used it at home. It had gel in the liner that was supposed to move away from the pressure areas when moving around but because it did it just felt very unstable. I was finding I just eventually sunk to far into the socket causing pain, both on the stump and nerves. Worth a try though as you never know unless you try these things. We just decided to start from scratch and am going back to have the first socket fitting next week they have taken another mould the old way.
Although I have had problems with cuts where the socket isn't fitting at the moment after a few days rest it looked okay so decided to do a 10K run race and just take it easy, using it as a training session. So was very surprised to come in a time of 45:44 a massive post amputation PB and felt very good all the way round the quit hilly course. Even I was happy with this time as since the amputation I have only run 10K about 5 times and that includes in training. I have had some testing and coaching done lately, I had some swim analyses done and filmed and also have my V02 max test. The swim analyse was very interesting as I have had it done before. The V02 max test I have never had done and it came out at 66 which is classed as excellent and the Glen who did the testing sent me a long report included training zones based on V02 max so I can improve my training/speed.
University has been so busy, so much reading to do and I am ridiculously slow but it is very interesting, thank god. Loads of assignments to do as no exam but this means there is twice as much to keep up with all the time!
After trying a new liner that needed a different way of casting the socket we decided against it after it being very painful right from the first day I used it at home. It had gel in the liner that was supposed to move away from the pressure areas when moving around but because it did it just felt very unstable. I was finding I just eventually sunk to far into the socket causing pain, both on the stump and nerves. Worth a try though as you never know unless you try these things. We just decided to start from scratch and am going back to have the first socket fitting next week they have taken another mould the old way.
Although I have had problems with cuts where the socket isn't fitting at the moment after a few days rest it looked okay so decided to do a 10K run race and just take it easy, using it as a training session. So was very surprised to come in a time of 45:44 a massive post amputation PB and felt very good all the way round the quit hilly course. Even I was happy with this time as since the amputation I have only run 10K about 5 times and that includes in training. I have had some testing and coaching done lately, I had some swim analyses done and filmed and also have my V02 max test. The swim analyse was very interesting as I have had it done before. The V02 max test I have never had done and it came out at 66 which is classed as excellent and the Glen who did the testing sent me a long report included training zones based on V02 max so I can improve my training/speed.
University has been so busy, so much reading to do and I am ridiculously slow but it is very interesting, thank god. Loads of assignments to do as no exam but this means there is twice as much to keep up with all the time!
Saturday, 6 October 2012
Serenity
It's been a funny couple of weeks with uni starting back up, suddenly my socket not fitting again, a clamp cracking on my activity blade and the last couple of days back training on my walking foot that I started on.
The first week at uni was very short and a little annoying as it was really just an introduction to the course which if like myself and allot of the other students who did foundation we went over it all lastyear. The second week was the start of the actual lessons but I missed two due to one scheduled appointment and one for the cracked clamp in my blade which is now in the workshop waiting for the new part to come in. Hopefully will get it back Monday, please!!!! The lessons I did do though I found very interesting and more motivating than the ones I had in foundation.
Training on the walking leg again has highlighted just how amazing the elite blade is at taking the vibration out of the impact in both walking and running. I have only done a gentle 4 mile run at just over 8 min miles which felt okay but a little jarring. After my swim this morning I decided to do a short session on the treadmill to try and soften the impact, it didn't really help that much.
The two prosthesis I have is an esprit walking foot and an endolite elite blade.
Going back to the esprit has highlighted the big differences for me and might help other people. The only flex in the esprit is in the foot unit where as with the elite blade has the flex from the foot and also flex from the blade, it is only slight but makes a huge difference in cadence and on how hard and fast you can strike the ground with the forefoot. That is another big difference, the esprit is designed to take impact through the heal as you walk and with running you shouldn't strike through the heal, apart from going down hill! You can run on a walking foot but very carefully, if you are running allot push for an activity leg or a blade it will I think save wear on the joints in the long term.
My first appointment this week was to take another socket casting as my stump has shrunk again and is not fitting properly causing more cuts behind the knee. I go back Monday to try on the first fit socket then the following week will have the new socket hopefully:) I have also had some good news, Christina my prosthesitist and also Alan the tech guy from Blatchfords said they have the new trial endolite C running blade being made for me. I should get it in about a month so that should be quit interesting and am very excited about it as will be able to get used to it over the winter and give them feedback on what I think of it!
Serenity - I'm not very patient any more but try to go with things, pick your battles and be content with your efforts if you have done all you can, that is all you can ask of yourself. Don't wind yourself up with things you can't change and try and learn and adapt along the way. To me serenity is just being content, sometimes things go well sometimes not so much but just accept and move on:)
The first week at uni was very short and a little annoying as it was really just an introduction to the course which if like myself and allot of the other students who did foundation we went over it all lastyear. The second week was the start of the actual lessons but I missed two due to one scheduled appointment and one for the cracked clamp in my blade which is now in the workshop waiting for the new part to come in. Hopefully will get it back Monday, please!!!! The lessons I did do though I found very interesting and more motivating than the ones I had in foundation.
Training on the walking leg again has highlighted just how amazing the elite blade is at taking the vibration out of the impact in both walking and running. I have only done a gentle 4 mile run at just over 8 min miles which felt okay but a little jarring. After my swim this morning I decided to do a short session on the treadmill to try and soften the impact, it didn't really help that much.
The two prosthesis I have is an esprit walking foot and an endolite elite blade.
Going back to the esprit has highlighted the big differences for me and might help other people. The only flex in the esprit is in the foot unit where as with the elite blade has the flex from the foot and also flex from the blade, it is only slight but makes a huge difference in cadence and on how hard and fast you can strike the ground with the forefoot. That is another big difference, the esprit is designed to take impact through the heal as you walk and with running you shouldn't strike through the heal, apart from going down hill! You can run on a walking foot but very carefully, if you are running allot push for an activity leg or a blade it will I think save wear on the joints in the long term.
My first appointment this week was to take another socket casting as my stump has shrunk again and is not fitting properly causing more cuts behind the knee. I go back Monday to try on the first fit socket then the following week will have the new socket hopefully:) I have also had some good news, Christina my prosthesitist and also Alan the tech guy from Blatchfords said they have the new trial endolite C running blade being made for me. I should get it in about a month so that should be quit interesting and am very excited about it as will be able to get used to it over the winter and give them feedback on what I think of it!
Serenity - I'm not very patient any more but try to go with things, pick your battles and be content with your efforts if you have done all you can, that is all you can ask of yourself. Don't wind yourself up with things you can't change and try and learn and adapt along the way. To me serenity is just being content, sometimes things go well sometimes not so much but just accept and move on:)
Saturday, 22 September 2012
Tips for Amputees
These are just things in my experience have worked well for me, after trial and error.
1.Ingrowing hairs - I have not had any problems with ingrowing hairs I think because I use a gentle exfoliating sponge and shower gel to wash my stump every day but only if the skin is not broken.
2. Cuts, Blisters, Abrasions - I never use blister plasters on my stump after learning the hard way, with the heat and moisture in the socket they dissipate into a sticky gooey that sticks to the hair and needs to be cut out. Bloody nightmare!!!
3. Dressings I have found good - Tackerderm and Opsite are okay, they are both clear post op dressings and stretch with the skin but I still find that with the friction of the socket become dislodged. The best thing I have found is a product called invisible protection plasters by Elastoplast, you can get them in most super markets or chemists. They are completely clear, you stick them on then peal the surface off make sure to smooth them over well but I find even in the socket they will stay on.
4. Prevention is better than cure - When ever there is redness from friction there is always a chance of the skin breaking which in the liner and socket can take ages to heal. Vaseline will help a little but does tend to dissipate but is better than nothing. If it is in an area that you can put an elastoplast on then I would do so as it will eleveate the possible skin brake and might be fine after the plaster comes off.
5. Sockets - Always tell your prosthesitist if you are not happy with your socket as they want you to be as comfortable as possible. I do find though that I need a couple of days to get used to a new socket sometimes they don't feel very comfortable straight away, always give your prosthesitist lots of feedback it is in both your interests.
6. Skin problems - Because of the stump being in a gel liner the sweat and heat can cause skin problems, dry skin patches can be fungal infections some times so get the doctor to look at them. I have had these and they do just look like dry patches but the anti fungal cream is put on then just put your liners on as normal it healed up with in two days.
7. Cleaning - The stump liners need cleaning every day, my ones with soap and water and I also wash the suspension liner every day which again is easy because it is gel lined. The stump liners I take into the shower with me and just wash them under the shower then hang it to dry usually drys within a couple of hours. With the gel liner attached to my prosthesis I just wash over with a sponge as I cant shower it off.
1.Ingrowing hairs - I have not had any problems with ingrowing hairs I think because I use a gentle exfoliating sponge and shower gel to wash my stump every day but only if the skin is not broken.
2. Cuts, Blisters, Abrasions - I never use blister plasters on my stump after learning the hard way, with the heat and moisture in the socket they dissipate into a sticky gooey that sticks to the hair and needs to be cut out. Bloody nightmare!!!
3. Dressings I have found good - Tackerderm and Opsite are okay, they are both clear post op dressings and stretch with the skin but I still find that with the friction of the socket become dislodged. The best thing I have found is a product called invisible protection plasters by Elastoplast, you can get them in most super markets or chemists. They are completely clear, you stick them on then peal the surface off make sure to smooth them over well but I find even in the socket they will stay on.
4. Prevention is better than cure - When ever there is redness from friction there is always a chance of the skin breaking which in the liner and socket can take ages to heal. Vaseline will help a little but does tend to dissipate but is better than nothing. If it is in an area that you can put an elastoplast on then I would do so as it will eleveate the possible skin brake and might be fine after the plaster comes off.
5. Sockets - Always tell your prosthesitist if you are not happy with your socket as they want you to be as comfortable as possible. I do find though that I need a couple of days to get used to a new socket sometimes they don't feel very comfortable straight away, always give your prosthesitist lots of feedback it is in both your interests.
6. Skin problems - Because of the stump being in a gel liner the sweat and heat can cause skin problems, dry skin patches can be fungal infections some times so get the doctor to look at them. I have had these and they do just look like dry patches but the anti fungal cream is put on then just put your liners on as normal it healed up with in two days.
7. Cleaning - The stump liners need cleaning every day, my ones with soap and water and I also wash the suspension liner every day which again is easy because it is gel lined. The stump liners I take into the shower with me and just wash them under the shower then hang it to dry usually drys within a couple of hours. With the gel liner attached to my prosthesis I just wash over with a sponge as I cant shower it off.
Sunday, 16 September 2012
Paratriathlon On Channel 4
It was really cool to be on TV thismorning as they showed some highlights on Channel 4 of the Strathclyde paratriathlon. I got really good coverage and they showed me at the start, running a couple of times, mentioned by name and some of the interview I did at the end of the race. I was still sounding very out of breath and looked pretty knackered.
Really good to get paratriathlon out there and it's paralympic status!
Really good to get paratriathlon out there and it's paralympic status!
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