Speaking of injuries, I took a spill on my mountain bike this weekend at Grant Ranch County Park. I was at the end of a 10-mile loop we were doing and I ate it on a steep downhill. I managed to hit the base of my right hand under the thumb very hard on the handlebars. My hand swelled up and I couldn't put pressure on it -- driving home was not a lot of fun! It was a shame since the road leading to and from the park (Mt. Hamilton Road) is a very twisty road that's a blast to drive.
I went to the doctor yesterday and he doesn't think I broke anything, but as a precaution I had my hand x-rayed this morning.
Back injuries are among the worst. I hurt my back about 10 years ago (diagnosis was a disk problem) and it's been iffy ever since. Thankfully it has never been as bad as the original injury (when it hurt to breathe and a sneeze/cough was murder) but sometimes I am mighty sore after a weekend of yardwork. You really have to take it easy on the back, it's not well designed for modern life!
So now I know what married life is officially like. Never thought I would see the day where I had to get my wife drunk to take advantage of her CAR! But it worked like a charm. Three hours at the dealer probably wore her down too....
are attributed to weak stomach muscles, due to super-sized gut. As the gut gets smaller, thanks to weight training and sit ups, the back is getting better.
You guys are making me feel hale and hearty. Two hours of dog walking at the SPCA this morning and my feet aren't even bothering me. I guess I found the cure - retirement. :-)
I'm still home, but I'm getting better...no more fever, lungs are actually clearing, but still a bit of a cough with exertion. And boy, am I tired! This "walking pneumonia" is the pits.. last time I was this sick was over 15 years ago, thus I'm not very good at it!
Back to the doc in the morning, I suspect he's going to say take the rest of this week, clear the last of this crud outta my chest, and get back to life! I sure hope so!
Juice! Stay on the couch & get that back better ASAP! Mama needs you!
Ken: Oops! Take care... type with one hand!
Bob: way to go - keep up the weight loss! Congrats!
I'm out of work until the end of the month. After having back/neck things for a few years, I finally really blew it. Not literally - actually, I sneezed. I kind of got stuck with my head sideways. After avoiding it forever, I did get an MRI and I've got two herniated disc' in my neck, and a bunch of other fun things. I had an epidural in my neck yesterday and traction tomorrow. Is it an Edmunds thing? A Sube thing? The moon?
Anyway - I'm trying to stay on top of post, but excuse my absence if I get behind.
I'm sorry to hear about your neck injury. I hope the treatments work and that you're on your way to a speedy recovery.
The neck's a really complicated part of your body with lots of muscles and tendons in there. Healing takes quite a bit of time so don't despair and enjoy the time you get to rest!
Seth - I'm not a "popper" - I never really could. I just seem to get what I call "stuck" sometimes.
Colin - my GP always treated me with muscle relaxers, but wanted me to get an MRI. I dodged it. I have two fears - bugs and enclosed places. Get an MRI - they told me I have had this thing brewing for a few years. It's easier to address (whatever that ends up meaning) if you get it taken care of early.
Once again - thanks for brightening my evening. I'm sure I'll be back running soon!
Gee, I should talk after the way I spent my summer. Are we catching a virus from this board? Get well all of you! And fast!
Ken: Thanks so much for the maps showing the location of Subaru Headquarters in Shinjuku. I just arrived home from Oregon. Plenty (?) of time to do laundry, repack, take Emily to the Dutchess County Fair, then off to Japan. I picked up some '03 brochures on the way from the airport to trade with the JDM dealership. Thought that might be a nice jesture rather than just taking from them.
East Coast / West Coast thing: I live a few miles off of I-84 in Dutchess County, NY, and used it to get home from Stewart Field. Earlier today I was driving on I-84 in Portland!
I'm an MRI veteran, having had 4 of them over the years for ongoing shoulder problems (which resulted in 3 seperate surgeries within a year and a half). I never had the "open" MRI, but if you do a few things, it isn't bad at all. First, bring one of those sleep masks that you get on a plane. It will help you relax. Second, ask ahead of time if you can bring a favorite tape or CD for them to play. They'll pipe it in through your headphones. I always brought something soft. Each time, I felt myself relaxing, and actually dozing off during the test. Not bad at all. The machine is well ventilated inside, so, if you put on the mask, you'd never know you're in it. In my case, the tests always lasted about 45 minutes.
I hope this helps, and I hope you feel better soon.
Holy cow, Patti! Hope you're on the road to recovery soon, and that you're able both physically and electronically to join the chats.
Open MRI isn't so bad; I had two in 1999 prior to undergoing sinus surgery. You just have to hold still for a while, which was easy for me - I almost fell asleep!
Get well soon and take good care afterwards... -Almost completely healthy in FL (P.S. broke a cusp on one of my molars last week..I have a temp crown after 3 shots of local anesthesia and lots of drilling...just goes to show what a hard bagel can do...tomorrow, off to the doctor for a blood pressure and cholesterol checkup; I've lost approx 12lbs since the last one in Jan. and I've been eating a lot more oatmeal and grains to get my cholesterol down)
There are a whole lot of people around here not feeling 100%. I hope all of you recover from your illnesses, mishaps and maladies real soon. Take Care! Ron
Sheesh! I'm seriously contemplating avoiding this forum for awhile lest I myself be afflicted with one or more of the numerous maladies presently circulating :-)
Best wishes to all of you and here's to a speedy recovery!
If the pain persists, try acupuncture. It was the best thing I have ever done for back pain and I've had back problems for 18 years (I'm 35)! Although my problems were the result of strains and just bad posture.
I hope all the sick and injured are soon to feeling better! My own back is twinging after reading the last 30 or so posts. Or perhaps my pain is due to having a new driver in the family? My son got his temporary license yesterday, and drove home from the facility. Yep, that probably explains the tension in my back...not to mention the white knuckles from clutching the arm rests.
Finally caught up on the last 2 weeks (thanks for the tip Steve). I want to thank everyone here for your thoughts. My mother in law had a heart "issue" 2 years ago that left her in bad shape. It has been two years of hell for my wife, sister in law and father in law. I was very close to her (she always stuck up for me - kinda cool). Thank you everyone - what a great family this is!
Patti and all other healing members: Please get well. A little time now will pay off in the long run. I wish you health and happiness...and an open MRI.
I'm back to about 70% or so, no pun intended. Definitely still driving Sandy, given her ride is a lot smoother than the Miata's. I feel better when I keep moving around, but I still have to take it easy.
Now quick, someone take that voodoo doll away from HondaBro.
You'll recall Graham was closest on the birth date, but I don't think I mentioned who was closest on the birth weight.
Dave! Who guessed 9 lbs, just shy of Hutch's guess of 236 lbs (not a typo).
Now, the problem is about 55% of you think you won, because everyone here is called Dave. I'll leave it up to you to decide which Dave it was that actually said that.
It's official - I'm getting better. Doc says take another course of antibiotic, just to be sure, and the nagging little cough is "normal", and a follow-up CXR is scheduled for late September. He also said back to work on Saturday
You're welcome. Hope you have fun checking out the Subaru building. One thing to note is that the showroom is quite small. There will probably be one WRC WRX and a whole bunch of literature. Also, there won't be any salesmen there -- just some receptionists. You might want to ask them where the local dealer is if you want to barter your US Brochures for something!
my first two modules of Bowen Massage (Four 7-hour days of instruction,practice, and assessment). Too bad some of you don't live closer to me (or vice-versa). I could really assist in your well-being and recovery (well....I still need to practice more though) :-) Oh yeah...I'd do it for free. :-)
I wish you all a quick recovery! Patti, hang in there (we need you :-)!
Sneezing is dangerous. In 1997, I was taking a professional class, and the woman next to me sneezed on me. From that, I've got the worst flu in human history... did not completely recover for a few months.
tomorrow, but the trip to the dealer today didn't help. $455 for belts, plugs, an air filter and a fuel filter. Jiminy.
Worst bits? $37.50 in labor for the air cleaner. I mean really, I would have done it myself in a heartbeat if I had known THAT is how much the were going to hit me for. Only reason I didn't is 'cos I wanted to go back to bed and not drive to the parts place. It takes me, oh, what, 1 min. 30 to swap that out? I didn't like the $37.50 chrage just to pull the code. either.
It must be catching. I got a bad seat on a plane back from new Zealand a couple of months ago. Pinched a nerve which numbed my leg right under the wallet (may explain why so much money has run out of it lately) and strained a joint. A few days later, I was on my feet all day, meeting and greeting prospective parents at the school where I am Council President. Suddenly could not move. I've had the full whack of physiotherapy, muscle relaxants and pain killers. As others have metnioned, lack of fitness in the tummy muscles is a problem.
One issue I have found is that the Outback seats are not firm enough in the lower lumber region. I have been wedging a rolled up towel behind. It is a bit of a hassle. I have to do a ten hour trip next week and decided to hire a plane rather than drive. Should be a bit less painful. I was amused when the hire company offered me a range of planes, suggesting a particular model, because it has a wonderful view.
duh who isn't out to make money. I just think charging me $37.50 to operate a piece of propriatary equipment that tells them what to fix so they can charge me again is a little lame. So is half an hour labor to change an air filter. I guess no one charges for a quarter hour anymore except lawyers, who get a lot more undeserved flak that most.
All I am saying is, even my most expensive local mechanic wouldn't hit me for 40 bones for labor just to do the air filter.
(So that's why all the BMW rags all sell those little CEL devices....)
Bob: it's that lifestyle that gets us injured! LOL
I think most mechanics count time in 1/2 hour intervals. That's probably why Loosh is paying so much for a 6 minute job.
Loosh: it's the same with computer consultants. An hour of labor will cost you $60-120, and here's what you actually get:
* 10 minutes of personal phone calls * 25 minutes playing Rally Simulator 2000 * 10 minutes on Edmunds.com :-) * 5 minutes picking his nose * 10 minutes of actual work
The tech probably has to register those codes on a computer, and record it in your vehicle history. So it's a little more than just plugging a machine in and reading a code.
Maybe Jake could give us the insider's point of view. He still working at Fitz in Gaithersburg? You talk to him lately?
The mechanic gets just a fraction of the rate you pay. The dealership gets the lion's share. Parts and service pay for 75-85% of a dealerships operating costs. That's why you can get your barely over invoice deals on new cars. No business will survive on 5-10% profit before expenses, I find it funny that people think Auto dealerships are an exception to this and that 2-3% profit is a "fair" amount for them to make on new car sales.
Got back from my visit with the doctor today. My blood pressure, which was approx 160/110 in Jnauary, is now 140/80...still a bit borderline, but no medication necessary...I lost 12 lbs, now down to 152 with shoes, clothing and cell phone (149 in realtime). At least that is some good news, and it made my day. I also stopped by at Eddie Accardi Subaru to pick up a bottle of touch-up paint and saw 1 new Forester X (titanium) and 3 WRX wagons (no sedans). One of the wagons was the new Sonic yellow, and I was pretty disappointed with the actual color; it's not as bright as the Mazda or Corvette yellow, and actually has a mustardy beige-ish undertone to it...a pretty strange color. I'll stick with blue.
the "new" yellow isn't my cup o'tea. Carter Subaru in Seattle has a sedan and wagon in this 03'color. It's too orangish, like a school bus as opposed to a bright, lemonish yellow. It's more like the yellow on the Xterra vs Protege P5.
Comments
Bob
I went to the doctor yesterday and he doesn't think I broke anything, but as a precaution I had my hand x-rayed this morning.
Keeping my fingers (on my left hand) crossed.
Ken
So now I know what married life is officially like. Never thought I would see the day where I had to get my wife drunk to take advantage of her CAR! But it worked like a charm. Three hours at the dealer probably wore her down too....
Craig
Bob
-juice
-Dave (just finished a 1/4 pound of gummy bears)
:-)
Ross
Back to the doc in the morning, I suspect he's going to say take the rest of this week, clear the last of this crud outta my chest, and get back to life! I sure hope so!
Juice! Stay on the couch & get that back better ASAP! Mama needs you!
Ken: Oops! Take care... type with one hand!
Bob: way to go - keep up the weight loss! Congrats!
Loosh: spare Kleenex box headed your way
Ross: Looks like you've found the cure for sure!
Cheers, to all us sickos!
Paul
Patti
Anyway - I'm trying to stay on top of post, but excuse my absence if I get behind.
Step, sneeze and walk carefully my friends!
Patti
Seth
Ross
I hope you feel better soon, and get plenty of rest.
Also, you have unknowingly convinced me to see my GP and then a specialist-- I too have had neck "issues" for some time. (maybe 7-10 years)
-Colin
Must be those Honda folks sticking pins into Subie voodoo dolls...
Bob
I'm sorry to hear about your neck injury. I hope the treatments work and that you're on your way to a speedy recovery.
The neck's a really complicated part of your body with lots of muscles and tendons in there. Healing takes quite a bit of time so don't despair and enjoy the time you get to rest!
Ken
Colin - my GP always treated me with muscle relaxers, but wanted me to get an MRI. I dodged it. I have two fears - bugs and enclosed places. Get an MRI - they told me I have had this thing brewing for a few years. It's easier to address (whatever that ends up meaning) if you get it taken care of early.
Once again - thanks for brightening my evening. I'm sure I'll be back running soon!
Patti
you could ask for an open MRI.
It's designed specifically for the fear... being cooped up.
Feel Better
-Dave
Ken: Thanks so much for the maps showing the location of Subaru Headquarters in Shinjuku. I just arrived home from Oregon. Plenty (?) of time to do laundry, repack, take Emily to the Dutchess County Fair, then off to Japan. I picked up some '03 brochures on the way from the airport to trade with the JDM dealership. Thought that might be a nice jesture rather than just taking from them.
East Coast / West Coast thing: I live a few miles off of I-84 in Dutchess County, NY, and used it to get home from Stewart Field. Earlier today I was driving on I-84 in Portland!
Steve
I'm an MRI veteran, having had 4 of them over the years for ongoing shoulder problems (which resulted in 3 seperate surgeries within a year and a half). I never had the "open" MRI, but if you do a few things, it isn't bad at all. First, bring one of those sleep masks that you get on a plane. It will help you relax. Second, ask ahead of time if you can bring a favorite tape or CD for them to play. They'll pipe it in through your headphones. I always brought something soft. Each time, I felt myself relaxing, and actually dozing off during the test. Not bad at all. The machine is well ventilated inside, so, if you put on the mask, you'd never know you're in it. In my case, the tests always lasted about 45 minutes.
I hope this helps, and I hope you feel better soon.
Len
Open MRI isn't so bad; I had two in 1999 prior to undergoing sinus surgery. You just have to hold still for a while, which was easy for me - I almost fell asleep!
Ed (a "popper")
-Almost completely healthy in FL
(P.S. broke a cusp on one of my molars last week..I have a temp crown after 3 shots of local anesthesia and lots of drilling...just goes to show what a hard bagel can do...tomorrow, off to the doctor for a blood pressure and cholesterol checkup; I've lost approx 12lbs since the last one in Jan. and I've been eating a lot more oatmeal and grains to get my cholesterol down)
Take Care!
Ron
Best wishes to all of you and here's to a speedy recovery!
-Frank P.
Although my problems were the result of strains and just bad posture.
-Dennis
Patti and all other healing members: Please get well. A little time now will pay off in the long run. I wish you health and happiness...and an open MRI.
Greg
Let's start talking about the recovery process!
I'm back to about 70% or so, no pun intended. Definitely still driving Sandy, given her ride is a lot smoother than the Miata's. I feel better when I keep moving around, but I still have to take it easy.
Now quick, someone take that voodoo doll away from HondaBro.
-juice
-mike
Dave! Who guessed 9 lbs, just shy of Hutch's guess of 236 lbs (not a typo).
Now, the problem is about 55% of you think you won, because everyone here is called Dave. I'll leave it up to you to decide which Dave it was that actually said that.
-juice
Doc says take another course of antibiotic, just to be sure, and the nagging little cough is "normal", and a follow-up CXR is scheduled for late September.
He also said back to work on Saturday
Cheers!
Paul
Ken
Stephen
Mark
Sneezing is dangerous. In 1997, I was taking a professional class, and the woman next to me sneezed on me. From that, I've got the worst flu in human history... did not completely recover for a few months.
--kate (while checking blood pressure)
Worst bits? $37.50 in labor for the air cleaner. I mean really, I would have done it myself in a heartbeat if I had known THAT is how much the were going to hit me for. Only reason I didn't is 'cos I wanted to go back to bed and not drive to the parts place. It takes me, oh, what, 1 min. 30 to swap that out? I didn't like the $37.50 chrage just to pull the code. either.
-juice
-mike
It must be catching. I got a bad seat on a plane back from new Zealand a couple of months ago. Pinched a nerve which numbed my leg right under the wallet (may explain why so much money has run out of it lately) and strained a joint. A few days later, I was on my feet all day, meeting and greeting prospective parents at the school where I am Council President. Suddenly could not move. I've had the full whack of physiotherapy, muscle relaxants and pain killers. As others have metnioned, lack of fitness in the tummy muscles is a problem.
One issue I have found is that the Outback seats are not firm enough in the lower lumber region. I have been wedging a rolled up towel behind. It is a bit of a hassle. I have to do a ten hour trip next week and decided to hire a plane rather than drive. Should be a bit less painful. I was amused when the hire company offered me a range of planes, suggesting a particular model, because it has a wonderful view.
Cheers
Graham
Argh... time for me to do some more stomach crunchs...
Bob
All I am saying is, even my most expensive local mechanic wouldn't hit me for 40 bones for labor just to do the air filter.
(So that's why all the BMW rags all sell those little CEL devices....)
Bob
I think most mechanics count time in 1/2 hour intervals. That's probably why Loosh is paying so much for a 6 minute job.
Loosh: it's the same with computer consultants. An hour of labor will cost you $60-120, and here's what you actually get:
* 10 minutes of personal phone calls
* 25 minutes playing Rally Simulator 2000
* 10 minutes on Edmunds.com :-)
* 5 minutes picking his nose
* 10 minutes of actual work
The tech probably has to register those codes on a computer, and record it in your vehicle history. So it's a little more than just plugging a machine in and reading a code.
Maybe Jake could give us the insider's point of view. He still working at Fitz in Gaithersburg? You talk to him lately?
-juice
-mike
2-3% profit is a "fair" amount for them to make on new car sales.
Cheers!
Paul
I gotta see that yellow in person. I prefer bold ones so I might actually like it
Whew, great chat! It was hard to keep up there for a while. Sorry Patti could not get in, but the techie said he may have it figured out now.
-juice
Stephen
Ed