Yen

My new doc (a member of our bike group) gave me the green light to start riding again, starting small and slowly increasing if no new pain. I wear a BandIT brace on each elbow on every ride, and ice/heat/ice immediately after.

I started last Tuesday with a 5 mile ride, and today rode 15. I could ride longer but I'm being conservative to avoid fatigue; if I get tired, I'll rest hard on my arms. As long as I keep a loose grip on the bars, no pain. After 51+ miles since last Tuesday, I'm happy to report there is NO NEW PAIN in my elbows. They seem completely oblivious to this "new" activity!

I still have the same ol' tennis elbow pain and that will continue until this heals, and I believe it will one day. I've read LOTS about tennis elbow, and know it requires lots of patience and lots of time to heal.

I registered for the 25-mile route in the Tour de Palm Springs. Then, I'll continue slowly increasing about 10-12% each week to re-build my base mileage and work my way back.

Meanwhile, Hubby has a new Madone and rode his age +2 last weekend and is considering his first century in Palm Springs. Now, I'm his recovery ride.

JanMM

Welcome back to the bike!

GeezerPete

You go girl!

Velo Fellow

"Coming back" is what this place is often all about. As seen in you, cycling kinda goes beyond just cycling.

BluesDawg

Thanks. You just made my day. Congratulations.

Louis

Good to hear that news, Surly Girly.

B. Carfree

I believe you when you say your recovery will take patience. Many decades ago I chucked what was rounding into a decent shot at making a living as a pro tennis player. I developed some arm problems, took six-months off and spent the next six months in the weight room. When the problems came back two months later, I decided to not give the surgeons permission to experiment. Fortunately, during all this rehab I developed passions for cycling and biochemistry and I haven't missed tennis.

I would advise you to take those mileage increases slower than 10-12% per week. This has been a long lay-off and it is really easy to take it too fast. Also, maybe a tandem is in your future, then you and Hubby can share both his hard work-outs and his recovery rides.

teachme

That is really good news Yen!

DnvrFox

Whoopee!!

stapfam

Great news

NOS88

Sweet!

qcpmsame 

Just plain OUTSTANDING! way to go Yen, just don't push the recovery and return then end up back at zero.

Bill

Yen

Thanks everyone. I also appreciate the advice to take things slowly, even B. Carfree's advice to take things a bit slower (coming from someone who knows!). Tennis elbow is like a little devil and takes a lot of work, time, and patience to heal.

Rode 17 miles today, mostly flat with some fast intervals on a trail keeping up (or ahead of) my riding partner. Fun!

Digital Gee

Yay!

I've been MIA for a couple of years now, so I didn't know that you'd stopped riding. Good to hear that you're back on the bike and making great progress. And remember, there's honor in being (temporarily, I'm sure) someone's recovery ride!

Mobile 155

Good to hear you are back on the bike. I will be at the TDPS and doing the Century so may see you at the finish.

Yen

Gary: You're right -- hey I'm a Domestique! I've been trying to heal bi-lateral Tennis Elbow and Rotator Cuff Tendinitis since late December 2010. It's not healed yet (not nearly) but I'm able to ride pain-free while wearing elbow bands, and taking things slowly.

Mobile155: I hope to meet you. I ride a black road bike (Specialized Roubaix) and wear a white/silver helmet. Other than that, not sure how you might spot me and if the weather is cool enough I'll be wearing my green jacket. Hey, I might wear my 50+ vest!

Beverly

WTG Jen Keep it up and you'll be needing a new bike!


BTW, what Madone did he buy

Mobile 155

My Jersey and my bike might be easier for you to Spot. There will be a few from our club there Bright Yellow, white and Black jersey With D V V on the back. The bike is black and gold.

Road Fan

Yen, it's great to see you here again and to hear despair is gone. It's almost like Spring, with you, Gary, Louis, and Beverly up and chirping, the robins are coming back to the North!



is your remaining elbow sensitivity related at all to hand pressure? I find that moving my saddle back incrementally, say 1/8 inch or less at a time, helps me noticably reduce hand pressure. I'm think if you are pressing with your hands, that is tension in the tendons passing through the elbows. Reduce the force the hands have to exert, reduce the pressure inside the elbows.

Yen

Beverly: He has a 5.2 Madone.

Mobile 155: Thanks, I'll look for you! I may wear my bike group jersey which is shades of green and white, but I'm undecided.

John: Thank you, love your analogy to spring. My remaining elbow sensitivity is just that the tennis elbow hasn't finished healing. On the bike, it's not an issue since I wear the elbow bands and am careful how I use my arms. My bike is perfectly dialed in thanks to a fitter I saw in late 2010. On my first ride last month after not riding for 1+ year, I felt not one bit stretched out or uncomfortable -- he did an amazing job. I just need to be more conscious about my hands... I put more pressure on them when I start feeling fatigued which is why I'm being conservative increasing my weekly mileage.

Dchiefransom

That's excellent.