Morning all, it seems our discussion is getting a few more people to the surgeons offices to check if all is OK - ha ha well i am 8 days after surgery and so far so good, getting staples out this thursday and really looking forward to that as can feel them tugging and the dressings also pulling on skin as for the itchy feeling on scars!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEEES On further discussions with my Prof. he seems to think this started a long time ago, possibly during my rugby and heavy gym days eg. squats - leg press?? the cycling really got the ball rolling so to speak especially the TT bike as i spent quite a bit of time on that in the past --- NO MORE though. I had both my internal and external arteries occluded with a total graft length of 9 cms in a V shape as they split from the main iliac artery. P.A.K I have been cycling for 5 years now and over the last 3 averaging around 10 - 15 hours a week in both road and MTB. I noticed a problem after shova last year - i initally put it down to riding the tandem to much (in the front the drive chain is on the left), my left leg just felt weak and didnt recover as quickly as the right after efforts. after another 4 months of progresson into an acual painful feeling in my thigh I consulted my doc. She sent me for a CT scan which revealed nothing AND a Doppler test (AT REST) also revealed nothing. Thus she injected the thigh with cortisone and sent me on my way. I rested a week then started again with no difference in symptoms - now very frustrated i consulted Doc Craig Roberts (SA rugby team doc), he knew him from my rugby days thus knew he wouldnt do half measures. He looked at the doppler test and CT scans then did power tests and a number of other evaluations which revealed about a 15 percent difference in power between left and right (endurance power not explosive power) - thus i was sent to a bio for strengthening and hopfully getting a better balance. Sani was approching and my partner and myself were really hoping for a top 50 finish in the race - which in the past 2 years was missed by seconds so was pretty do-able with the right prep. I got clever and followed the Prof Tim Noakes diet (the new one 70 grams of carbs a day and high protein and fat) in order to shed a few kgs, well i did shed 6 kgs in 1 month 79 to 73 and also ended up in hospital for 4 days absolutely stuffed, dehydrated, gastric distress, diarrhea amongst completey exhausted. this was 2 weeks before sani. Natually we finished outside the top 50 but **** I through my heart and soul into it as my partner was in very good shape, we were actually pretty well up there after day one and importantly the left leg was pretty good!! Half way through day 2 I felt the leg starting to complain again - very tight glute and big tension in my calf, I just couldnt keep pace - but after easing for a short time (1 min odd) after a hard effort, the tension subside and stretching helped the glute for inbetween efforts. DAY 3 was the most painful on a bike I had ever had - my left leg was so tense i couldnt even do a proper pedal stroke, it would even shake uncontrollably as I just tried to push through and I swear with tears in my eyes. After this I decided something had to be done - Chiropractors / MRI scans / nerosurgeons / nerve conduction tests / more CT scans / x rays /ankle brachial blood pressue tests (AT REST) - you name it I went for it- lucky I have the means cause med aid just said NO WAYS after all the tests picked up nothing irregular. On a visit to a specialist radiographer Dr Konig in Umhlanga some ground was broken. He told me to do 60 squats before doing another Doppler test ---- result 40 % less blood flow in left leg after exercise induced doppler test. He had heard of this condition in cyclists before thus sent me for a angiogram and just like that I had a confirmed diagnosis "occulsion of the left internal and external iliac artery". The first Vascular Surgeon i visited a Dr Purak - said "it does not hinder you in everyday life so just stop cycling" - So what exercise should I do Dr??? -- " just go to gym for 20 odd mins a few times a week and maybe some light walks" - for how long Dr?? " for ever just stop cycling what is the problem" I prompty told him to F%&K off and walked out ! Prof. John V Robbs did the surgery for me. Sorry such a long winded story but I am at home recovering to got time on my hands!!! Bigelo go for it -- it is NOT painless and pretty bloody uncomfortable with some impressive war wounds, everyday is better bit by bit. I am 35 years old and had 5 previous operations on various rugby injuries and this is the most uncomfortable !! but if I compare last week to this week the improvement is remarkable and you know what its over and now I can hopefully look forward to normal effort generated pain as opposed to resticted blood flow pain!! and a solid Joberg 2 C with my sani/ normal event partner - hopefully I can repay him after the frustration of this year. I am off the pain meds now moving around with a slight bent over look, but happy as a pig i did it. CUT THE INGUNIAL LIGAMENT
