What about Spindle Spinning?

My socks always look like that after 2 weeks. If you’ve ever fallen asleep with your arm pinned under you or kept your legs crossed for too long, it acts just like a tourniquet by restricting blood flow to the limb. A blood clot in your leg can be detrimental to your health and lead to a heart attack, embolism, or stroke. When your venous circulation is impaired resulting in the blood and fluid unable to return up your legs veins back to your heart and just ‘pools’, it’s known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). You spend so much time energy and effort to prepare, and then you are in the middle of it and it goes by so fast then all of a sudden you are on your way home with a bunch of pictures and an overflowing heart trying desperately to burn memories in your brain to hold onto until you are back there in the middle of it again. Now might be a good time to try a few of the low key ones… It sucks. Right now my knitting is being constrained by a little “weird thing” (a cyst or small tumor) on my eye (tear duct, actually) that’s causing limited vision and headaches.

So a little tumor (or cyst) is nothing. Well, almost never: only a little reminder tingle once in a while, telling me to change position on the handlebars a little. We tend to forget that our bodies take time to change. It’s not surprising that you’re taking some time to recover – think how long you trained! I’ve had ulnar nerve entrapment and it’s frickin’ awful. I think that’s the first thing you’ve ever said on your blog (and I’ve read every post!) that I’ve strongly disagreed with. Actually, I’ve proven that I can knit socks mostly asleep- having knit an entire sock while in the hospital “coming out of” the anesthesia after my gall bladder surgery. Get lots of nice sleep while you can! Poor circulation in the lower left leg can also cause your left foot to vibrate or feel numb. An accurate diagnosis is key, as effective treatments are available for most causes of foot tremors and buzzing. Keeping a symptom journal and relaying all medications and supplements you take can aid diagnosis as well. Taking a multivitamin or targeted supplement can help fill any nutritional gaps causing foot buzzing as well.

The superficial peroneal nerve runs along the outer left ankle and foot. Even with hands on the steering wheel, I can turn my head certain ways to get the vertebrae off of the nerve and my fingers will un-numb immediately. This can result in your legs not getting the nutrients or oxygen it needs. If you were putting too much of your weight on your hands (which probably contributed to this – your hands should just be there to keep you from falling off the bike, they shouldn’t hold your weight), it’s because your core isn’t strong enough to hold your upper body up and also help with the legs (especially going up hill). Avoid crossing your legs – Crossing at the knee can pinch nerves and restrict blood flow. Speaking to a counselor or therapist can help address chronic stress as well. Follow your doctor’s directions, and consult a physical therapist for stretching exercises that may help alleviate the pain or prevent it on the next bike marathon. That may help prevent your arteries from closing up prematurely.

Wearing proper footwear, staying hydrated, and getting enough magnesium and potassium can help prevent foot muscle issues. Massage the foot – Use your thumbs to apply firm pressure and release tight spots. I had to have a shortened top tube so I would not overextend my back and put too much pressure on my hands. Hope you get all the kinks out of your hands soon. I know sewing isn’t your favorite thing, but it might be easier on your hands than knitting or spinning – and you do happen to be down one sports bra at the moment… I got that the one long distance ride I did. Glad that this one will go away. So glad you are letting your body guide your days of recovery ! So the recovery is also a couple of weeks – all part of the experience. I can relate. When the weather was so dreary and rainy for three weeks in March, Yoga Exercises to Cure Numb Hands I barely made myself move. The ride lasted a week but the preparation was many weeks. I have to admit I was wondering how you were doing since I get numb to when I ride. At least you didn’t freak the hell out over the spider and get trapped in the wreckage of your tenet with it.