Blue_Bulldog

Got back from the doctor yesterday after being diagnosed with tendonitis in both quads. Doc wants me on anti inflammatories and worst of all... off the bike for a week. Which is awful. I've had no issues getting around, since I am able to make do. Since I work from home, it's no big deal. But on Day #2 , my bike is just staring at me like she did something wrong. I desperately want to disobey orders and go for a ride. Fresh air, stave off cabin fever a bit. But I know I'll make it worse.

Just wanted to vent. Not being allowed on my bike pretty much all around sucks.

Artkansas 

I've heard that boosting your Omega 3 fats can help with tendonitis.

Sorry to hear about your layoff. Get better soon. At least winter is probably the best season to have to take a break.

enigmaT120

What caused the tendonitis? I've had it in several places but I've never heard of it happening in the quads.

JReade

+1

Blue_Bulldog

Couldn't tell you. I went in thinking it was my knees, and Doc said my knees were cool but that it was the tendons connecting the two and put "tendonitis - quadriceps" on the check out sheet. I have to go back in for a reeval in three weeks to see if I get sent to Sports Medicine or if the meds did the trick. When I go back in, I'll ask him for you.

I-Like-To-Bike

How do you make do?
You have no need to leave the house for anything; you get to places away from home through some other means; or somebody else brings stuff to you?

Number400

I'm with you. Been off the bike sin Jan. 3rd for foot surgery and am going crazy. Luckily, the extra cold days and snow last week have made it a bit easier to lay around. Get the rest and it will feel great to get back out there!

Blue_Bulldog

There's enough stuff nearby that I can walk if needed. Grocery store a block and a half, RiteAid across the street, two pizza joints, etc. More than that, I guess when stuff has been brought up, my friends are pretty cool about "Doc has me off the bike" "Oh that's cool, I can drive. No biggie."

I've been refusing rides for a year and a half now saying "I didnt get in this good of shape taking rides" so I guess they're all about it. But for the most part, I just figure it out. Yes though, going out is a bit limited compared to when I can just get on the bike and I'm off. Which was handy to break the monotony of work. C'est la vie, it's only a week or so.

This couldn't have happened during leTour???

Roody

That does suck. I hope your recovery goes smoothly. When you start riding again, you might want to think about raising your saddle a little bit. Sometimes that can reduce stress and strain on the knees and thighs.

Blue_Bulldog

Actually....

Doc and I discussed that very thing. He asked if there was anything different I had done, I told him a few months ago I tried out a new, higher saddle position. He said it could be one of the causes and if the meds don't do it, that's on the list of the next stuff we try.

Smallwheels

MSM and vitamin C in equal proportions will do wonders for rebuilding tissue. Depending on the issue you could take a lot of them every day. If my knee joints start aching it is always because I stopped taking them. When I add them to my vitamin protocol the achiness and cracking sound goes away.

Turmeric is a great natural anti-inflammatory spice. It is available in capsules. I just use it a lot in cooking my foods.

Roody

NSAIDs are wonderful also.

Spld cyclist

I had tendonitis pain for a long time that switched back and forth from above the knee to below (more often below). Occasionally it flares up again. I do a lot of stretching, because having tight muscles seems to stress the tendons. I do a cycle of 3 30-second quad stretches alternating with 3 30-second hamstring stretches. At lot of times, this 3-minute sequence is what prevents a feeling of incipient pain from proceeding to actual pain (if that makes any sense). When possible, I also ice the area that hurts when it starts to flare up. If it doesn't resolve in a week or two, think seriously about going for a few physical therapy sessions. PTs typically spend a lot more time analyzing the problem and showing you how to properly rehab it. Doctors just want to diagnose the problem and get you out of their office as soon as possible. Tendonitis can easily turn into a chronic condition.

Machka 

Are you experiencing pain just above your kneecaps? If so, then that's quadriceps tendonitis ... and it is usually caused by mashing rather than spinning, and especially trying to mash up hills.

It can take months to fully recover, and can indeed turn into a chronic condition.

If I were you, I would do some investigation on bicycle fit ... ensure that your bicycles are set up properly. And then I would start paying attention to cadence. You might also have to avoid climbing hills for a month or two until it is fully settled.

gerv 

+1. When better, I'd be thinking about some changes to my bicycle riding. Maybe saddle height, as Roody says, but also looking to higher cadence.

Blue_Bulldog

Well, I got back on the bike now that I'm allowed to. Things seemed okay, but I could also tell that not being on the bike that long took its toll on "being able to ride far and a lot." Hopefully I can plow through that, and find that the meds did their trick.

Between now and the follow up, I'll probably try a few things with the saddle height... but for the most part just kinda wait and see.

Machka 

Being off just one week took a toll?

And I'd recommend taking it easy on "plowing through" ... are you a spinner or masher?

Blue_Bulldog

Maybe toll taking was a bit of hyperbole. But I could for sure tell I hadn't been riding in a bit.

I actually am sort of neither spinner nor masher? I maintain a steady cadence neither one way nor another. Is there a term for "slow and steady"?

Machka 

What is your cadence?

Roody

If you've had knee problems, the advice is to spin, not mash.

Blue_Bulldog

I've never really sat and thought about it. Like I doubt I've ever taken the time to really measure and math out my cadence. I mean, I know how... it's just not a thing I ever really sat down and did. And if that angers the bicycle gods then I'm sorry.

If it'll help, I can give the spin thing a try. It's not brain surgery.

Machka 

Aim for a cadence over 80 rpm ... maybe between 80 and 90 ... it'll be easier on the knees.

Blue_Bulldog

Because as a hockey analyst, I don't do enough math all...day...long. Yay...more math!

I kid. I actually will give that a shot and see where it goes. It's a pretty minor change in the grand scheme and anything that isnt meds, I will try once.

Machka 

It's just counting ... count for 15 seconds * 4. Count for 30 seconds *2. Count for 60 seconds.

Blue_Bulldog

Hahaha, yeah I know. I do averages literally all day. It's like telling a nurse to go home and take everyone's blood pressure.

All kidding aside though, I'll give that a try. Thanks all you guys, you've been hella cool helping me out and keeping me from breaking crap. Thanks everyone!!