CoIncidence?
By MsTickle
@MsTickle (25180)
Australia
February 28, 2010 2:34am CST
My knees are worn out with osteo-arthritis. This condition has become quite severe over the last 15 years and caused me to gain quite a lot of weight. I'm also having pain in my groin, hamstring, buttocks area and most recently a condition called plantar faciitis in my left foot. I'm seeing a physiotherapist and doing exercises...it's been nearly 4 weeks and I'm being very good and I'm finally starting to see a bit of a result.
I'm not supposed to walk because of the damage done to my foot and walking is the only way I can loose weight.
I was talking to my daughter who is a bit of an exercise nut to discuss alternatives. I'm allowed to cycle but she said a big no to that in case I fall off. I live alone in the bush and if I fall, I cannot get up so I could be in trouble. I was looking at exercise bikes and they are too expensive for me at the moment and postage is very costly.
Jo was picking up one of her girls from her clarinet lesson yesterday and this is what she found on someone's clean out pile:
http://www.hyper-extension.com/item.aspx?ID=74...I've uploaded the pic as well.
it's not a referral link, it's an item link. It has a bit of rust in one small area, and a couple of small knobs missing but other than that it all works. She will bring it up to me at Easter.
How cool is that??? What a winner!
Does anyone know the difference in bikes? This is a spinning bike which is different to an elliptical or an exercise bike. Can anyone please explain??
5 people like this
12 responses
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
28 Feb 10
hmmmmmmm I dont know the diff.
I got my moms exersie bike its in the shed for grand daughter kept gettin on it and falling off and hurting herself.
wonder if I can get it back out this year since she now has her own bike!
yup good deal now you will have something at easter time hugssssssssssssssss
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Mar 10
I had a very simple stationary bike years ago when my grandson was little. He would play on that thing for hours and he could be outside under cover or in another room and he would be safe because we could hear him.lol. The little terror would change all the settings though and eventually, something went wrong with it. I left it in the driveway with a sign on it. "FREE: Please take me. " It was gone in half an hour....lol.
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
28 Feb 10
That's quite a situation you are going through there, it sounds like quite a challenge! It's great though that you have taken steps in order to improve your health and well being. I don't know anything about exercise bikes as I've never had one although I like to do regular cycling. I would think that the exercise bike would be good for aerobic exercise. At home I have three exercise machines and I purchased these from that shopping channel Best Direct. I have the Totalgym xli which is a strength building machine. I also have the Gazelle Freestyle xl machine and this is my elliptical exerciser and lastly I have the Ablounge xl and this helps to tone and condition my abdominal muscles. You were very lucky to find that and I wish you all the best with it. I'm sorry to hear about the health problems you are facing though. I wish you all the best with everything. Andrew
1 person likes this
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
1 Mar 10
Hi, the elliptical exercise machine that I have is very low impact and it simulates running and walking. When you walk you have impact on the knee joints and the ankles but this machine protects you from all of that. I'm very pleased with it and I tend to exercise on it at least three times per week. I would most definitely recommend a machine like this to you. It's not overly expensive and it's suited for the home environment as opposed to a professional machine that you would find in a gym. This machine also gives you a good aerobic workout so it's improving your lung capacity and giving you endurance. I wish you well and I would check out the website bestdirect online and have a look at the machines they have to offer. Good luck. Andrew
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
28 Feb 10
Okay the link didn't work for me, but I went and checked the photo out you uploaded. Whew, the seat is narrow. I have a exercise bike my hubby bought it used for me for Christmas last year. I don't use it really only once and that is because it only has a weight maximum of 250 pounds and I weigh over that and I don't wanna tear it up..and it has the handles that go back and forth as you pedal, so you get cardio benefits as well. But won't the bike irritate your knees some?
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
28 Feb 10
I worried about my knees too but I'm currently doing exercises to strengthen the muscles around my knee. I have a treadmill that I'm too heavy for now but the bike will take my weight.
I'm not sure what to do really, I've asked Jo to talk to her trainer about me. Years ago, around the same time as my knees went I was using a stationary bike daily for about 30 minutes to lose weight. I wasn't overweight then, I just wanted to trim down and get a bit fitter. In 3 months, nothing changed except that my knees deteriorated. I mentioned this to my physiotherapist and he said cycling should be okay. He also said not to do any walking at the moment (other than what is necessary of course)
@recycledgoth (9894)
•
1 Mar 10
Like you I have a lot of trouble walking, I'm riddled with osteoarthritis and swallowing painkillers like sweets. An exercise bike sounds a great idea hun, so long as you take it easy and don't go crazy trying to cycle 20 miles a day :-D
I've only ever been on an exercise bike once, I won't go into details here but it was a bit of a disaster for me
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Mar 10
That sounds awful, I hope it didn't hurt too much. I'm like you with the painkillers and that can't be good for us.
I saw the physio today and I was happy to report that the past 3 mornings I have been relatively pain free. I felt really good today but by the time I arrived home, it's an hours drive, I felt awful. I'd run some errands and getting in and out of the car is very difficult. I had a sleep and I'm still aching all over...I feel rotten. I'm so fed up with all this. Sending you a hug cos I need one ...
...
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
2 Mar 10
Mine sent me to a physiotherapist. They do ok. I pay $60 for an hour which is closer to 45 minutes. He sets me doing exercises while he goes and attends to another client or 2. He maybe spends 15 minutes with me. I asked him about the bike and he said it would be good for me. He also said I can start walking again...I still feel a bit doddery on my feet though...I'm scared of falling ...I can't get up if I fall, not without a crane anyway.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
2 Mar 10
If I come in and complain a few more times, mine probably will too... :-)
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
3 Mar 10
very cool. i never knew theres a difference in exercise bikes?
ive had 2. one i worked on for a while back in my 40's id bought it for only 10 bucks from an elderly couple i worked for. but soon gave it up for i started working longer hours. then, i got one given to me in florida, but found my emphezema was to bad to actually work on it
and left it there.
@Lindalinda (4111)
• Canada
28 Feb 10
Dear Ms. Tickle,
Don't feel alone, there are many of us in pain and faced with a situation that we need to control but somehow we have not achieved the desired results. I am so glad you have an expert physiotherapist to help you along. These people go through years of rigorous training and I trust their judgement.
Now, if you could loose a few pounds it would take the pressure of your knees and your whole body would feel better. I don't know about the bike, all I know I cannot use these bikes because my knees are bad. I do however, use the treadmill 3 to 4 times a week to help control my sugar readings. I have not lost any weight at all but 15 minutes at a time certainly drives down my sugar readings. I also notice that my mid-section is much tighter.
Just do what is best for you but you must do something. Best of luck.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Mar 10
Thank you so much. It's the lack of results that I find so disheartening. I'm too heavy for my treadmill but I'm noticing some improvement in my knees over the last 2 days with these exercises I'm doing. I'm also noticing a change in the severity of pain in my foot....it's lessening, thank goodness.
I wouldn't mind tightening my mid section...it's just about hanging down to my knees.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
28 Feb 10
I couldn't tell you the difference in one bike from another even with road bikes. Because all I know is that after 12 miles on the stationary or 15 minutes on the road your butt will hurt so badly that you would rather walk barefoot over hot coals then pedal one more minute.
Maybe its just me. But I see other women getting off of the bikes at the gym and they are all limp a little.
While you wait for your gift to arrive I suggest finding a comfy pillow that you can sit on while you exercise. Good luck
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
28 Feb 10
mstickle you and me both, Ihave severe arthritis in both my knees, my left leg is in a brace because of a ruptured tendon that the idiot quack doc Ihad thought it was just a sprained ankle so let me walk on it. but it was much worse, a ruptured tendon let my left foot roll over on the inside of the foot so I was literally having to walk with the inside of my foot hitting the ground., cou ld not be operated on according to the podiatrist so have to have a permanent brace in my shoe. so I cannot walk much either but my primary care doctor said exercycle would be fine. as I understand it a spinner is a little easier on the knees yet gives you cardiovascular work out. I wou ld sure love to g et something like that again.I am also overweight and a diabetic so need to lose weight too, and need something I can rev up my metabolism to do so. good luck hope your spinner will do w hat you want it to do.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Mar 10
Oh Hatley, that's rotten about your tendon and needing a brace but it is such good news you've given me about the bike. I'm sure my physiotherapist said it would be ok too. I will ask him again tomorrow as I am travelling to see him again. I just need to get my heart rate up for a short while and burn some calories and get things going. I'm really keen to do it and I keep being stopped by something or other. I know that once I get things moving I will start to feel better and then I will hopefully start to look better.
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
1 Mar 10
Hi MsTickle! I have the very same diagnosises as you do! I have
the knee problems and the problem with my left foot which to
me is even worse since when I am walking the pain is so severe
that the foot collapses while I am walking and I never know
when that will happen! I really need knee replacement surgery
for my right knee, but refuse to get it because of the recovery
time and my miserable insurance! I don't trust the Medicaid
Doctors! (which means the State reject doctors where I live)!
I had a great exercise bike, but my boyfriend made me throw
it out! It was in perfect condition, but it took up so much
room in my apartment and I hardly used it and it just was
collecting dust! I hated to get rid of it! Now I am sorry! But,
there just isn't room! I have another piece of exercise equipment
called a "Power Rider"! This gives a more "overall workout"!
It gives a cardio and works the body more at the same time!
But, it wrecks havoc on the knees! I am still determined to
start working out on it again no matter what! "No pain, no gain"!
I have got to do something with my excess weight!
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Mar 10
I wish there was some way we could all form a club and keep track of what we do, what we eat, what we weigh and how we feel on a daily basis. It would be great if we all join in and then it would be great incentive to do the things we are supposed to do so we can tell each other. Isn't that a great idea? maybe?
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
1 Mar 10
Yes, I'm a bit worried that might be the case even though they are feeling a bit better with these strengthening exercises I'm doing. We have a bore pool here...it's hot underground water. I asked the physiotherapist if there were exercises I could do in the pool and he said an outright "No _ this is not good for you". (he has an accent)
Sigh.
