The Viffer Gets the Blame

Apparently knee trouble is really common especially as we age. All my brother-in-laws have horrible knees. I have been taking a glucosamine supplement. The pills are huge and look like a loaf of bread. I feel like a snake swallowing a rat when ever I take one but they helped my dad and they can't hurt. I am working diligently on dropping some weight. I have ballooned up to 265 and dropping 40 pounds will take so stress of the knees. I am continuing on the Ibuprofen for the inflammation and I am taking it easy with the knee. I am also being very careful how I get in and out of cars. I know I should go see a knee specialist but that's not going to happen. I live rurally and the clinic down the road is good for high blood pressure meds but anything more than that and it's a crap shoot. I would trust my large animal vet more. Then there is the cost. I could go to Dallas to see a sports medicine doc and I am sure he could pin point the problem but I couldn't afford the fee or the treatment so there is not much point.

The knee has been feeling better in the last few days.

 

Yes. Medical fees. We pay them too, but it is disguised as taxes. We just wait longer than you guys for a lot of things that are not life sustaining.

 

Oh man, I hope you get well step by step, anyway I'm not a doc, let me recommend some tips that can help you remember you damaged knee, my wife also have problems with knee rotation.

1) Ask your Doc about to use one of this Ufo Morpho Fit Knee Brace White | MotoStorm [en] at least in your damaged leg when you ride your V., also is good to REMIND you that you have the knee bad and avoid the movement when you get off the bike.

2) Try to practice get off the bike by the right, some times I do involuntary I don't know why, but is not difficult.

3) Get out the SOLO SEAT! I have the same model, and that cover rises the high of the back side about three inches, which forces you to do some acrobatic movements to get on and get off, (like me, I'm 51) and some times my right leg don't want to go so high.


GOOD LUCK!

 

Thanks YAUGURU, just a quick update, the knee has been feeling much better. I am still on my regimen of glucosamine supplements and on the Ibuprofen for the inflammation. I wore a heating pad, off and on for a whole day last week (while I worked at my desk). It didn't do much but didn't hurt either. I still feel the stiffness but it is 80% better and the good news is I don't walk and feel like it is going to go out from under me. I took the bike out last Sunday. I couldn't help it. The weather here has been amazing with clear blue skys, no wind, and temps in the high 70s. I did as you suggested and was very aware of the stresses I was placing on my knees. I also wore my trainers (tennis shoes). Sorry AGATT. My desire was to see if my riding boots might be making a difference. My wife purchased these boots for me as a gift. They are good for a cruiser rider but I find they put my calves in a bind while in the VFR crouch. It causes considerable discomfort if I do not shift my leg and keep it parallel to the boot laces. To make a long store short I did feel better after my ride and my feet and legs were more comfortable. Plus my riding did not seem to aggravate my knee problem so that's always good.

 

Heat will relieve the soreness but hampers your efforts with the inflammation. It will actually increase inflammation. That is a good thing when you are trying to pull an infection out of a cut but not something in a joint. If the treatment calls for increasing the blood flow to the joint, heat pads are excellent at accomplishing that. Many physio therapist now suggest using both heat and cold. I would think starting in the morning when it first starts to get sore, ice it for 20 - 30 minute, then heat for roughly same time. Do that a few times a day and you should see some more relief. But again, soon as things permit, the doc is the doc.

Give me your email addy so I can send you an invoice for my medical advise. I don't have insurance so if you suddenly loose certain appendages, you are shit outta luck pally.

 

Another knee update. I have pretty much ruled out the VFR as the source of any knee damage or strain but I have been very careful about how I dismount, not twisting on the knee but rather sliding on the ball of my foot when pivoting. I am still on the glucosamine supplements and while the knee is much better it is still stiff and will probably remain so. It's weird but my calf is kind of stiff too. Getting old sucks. No riding today. Big thunder storms are rolling through.

 

Weight.....Yup. A killer. I am going out for a ride in a few minutes. Will be pedaling though. My knees as of late, have been more aching than before so I guess i need to slim down a bit.

 

Perhaps you need to lower the bike, I plan on doing that by 2 inchs-also the seat itself should be looked into-as well as the levers, install a tank pads too-these vfr's are not friendly bike s , I believe you need to adj the bike some-do what ever works for you. I think these bikes were built for people 5 feet 11 inches with big long hands not 5 feet 8 inches with small hands. I had my seat cut down to get my feet lower-new problem -now I am against the tank too much-add tank pads! My idea lower the bike 2 inches,get folding adj levers-from china- add tank pads-so what that does-add sliders for sure-this bike will crush your foot without R+ G sliders-just got them today!:kc10:

 

Curious - do you guys exercise? As men age, we need to hit the weights and work on flexibility. Goes a long way towards alleviating these types of complaints.

 

Big Jim, a few years ago I lost close to 100 lbs. at age 45. I had been overweight since 30. Yeah that's a long time although I gained the weight gradually until it peaked at around 43. It got to the point where I could barely ride my sportbike and the VFR was not too comfortable either. Knee pain was a problem. Leg cramps was a problem. Not to mention I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, and looked like a Harley rider! :tongue-new:

Once I got to within 20 lbs. of my ideal weight, most of the above issues disappeared! Now I'm at my ideal weight of 160 lbs. Now, riding the VFR is a pleasure. No pain! I can also ride my other sportier bike with no problems. Sure I still get sore but only after hundreds of miles and 6+ hours of sport riding. But no more leg cramps. No more sleep apnea. And my sex life has never been better! I also started eating way more vegetables, and way, WAY less carbohydrates. And now I've reduced the amount of grey hairs too! I feel great. There was a time I was thinking of getting an ST1300 for comfort. Now, hell no! I can ride my VFR comfortably all day long. Oh and my blood pressure is normal too! Win-win!

I know you've heard or read about this before. But I am not kidding when I say, most of your health issues, including riding issues will most likely be solved by eating healthy & exercising regularly, without the need for ANY medicines.

BTW, weighing in at my ideal weight means buying riding gear is so much easier, especially jacket and pants. Everything fits exactly as they're supposed to without the need for any customization!

 

Retirement is bad for the health. I have packed on about15-20 pounds since retiring in spring of 2012. So ya. I hear ya. As far as the sex goes though, I have been married for 27 years so my sex life will improve the next time I have sex. Or get divorced.

 

Most do 50 keyboardies every day.

 

sucks getting older........... stupid exercise and stretching helps me.
Hope you feel better soon

 

If you don't mind my asking "how did you get started?" Here is what I know. I eat too much. I don't get enough exercise and I know I need to do less of one and more of the other. I also know that when I start exercising I have trouble being consistent or even knowing that what I am doing is working. I know that what you are saying is true I just do not know how to radically alter my lifestyle for more healthy living.

 

I think one of the best things you can do is to team up with someone else for going to the gym, work outs, running walking or whatever. It is harder to brush things off when someone shows up at the door and says "lets go". You can feed off each other. A great motivator.

I used to hate exercise other than bicycle riding. But Someone arrived at work who in the past was weight lifting trainer at a gym in Montreal (NDG) before he moved out west. The Y I think. He got me going to the gym and lifting weights. This went on for a couple years then he was moved to another watch. I managed to continue on going to the gym each and every one of my four days off, even when he transferred back to Toronto. It seems to take a good three months to break a habit. I think it takes about the same to develop one too.

Part of my routine was to ride the bicycle to the gym, do the work out, then ride back. Unfortunately on one such visit, the bike was stolen. That was $3,500. worth of bike gone. In braid daylight cut away from a bike rack right outside the front doors. That sort of dampened my enthusiasm and I really haven't been back since.

I need to find someone to get motivated again....really.

 

:eagerness::eagerness:
Long, I just noticed that when I read your post it kind of sounds like I'm listening to Yoda:laser::eagerness:

 

I am glad that worked for you but I guess I am going to have to find my own way. You see I live in the middle of nowhere. I don't have any neighbors to motivate me and the nearest gym is 20 miles from here. Even riding a bike (and I have tried) is really difficult. I live on a rock road that the county commissioner has been paving with round river rock. It is damn near imposable to ride a bike on without busting your ass. Riding my VFR on it is a trial. I have never been an athletic person so knowing how to get started is really hard. I also have a number of personal issues that sabotage my weight loss goals. I was raised by depression era parents. Leaving food on a plate was tantamount to a sin. I still have trouble eating only what I need and not cleaning my plate. (I didn't think this would be a hard habit to break but it is.)

I lost about 45 pounds 5 years ago on the Atikns diet and to do this I have to make food a hobby keeping track of every bite that went in my mouth. I have tried it again but I am much busier that I was and I don't have time to cook and cooking my own meals was central to the control I needed to keep on the diet. I have put about 30 pound back on and it is disgusting.

I have been dealing with my 87 year old dad as he is getting weaker. I will tell you this, there are no big (heavy) guys in assisted living. It's mostly old ladies and a few skinny men. I really know that I have to take off the pounds and put on some muscle for a better quality of life going forward. I just do not know how to get this going.

Any constructive suggestions would be welcome.

 

Don't know if you saw this thread: http://vfrworld.com/forums/showthread.php/19822-A-performance-mod-Rider-diet?highlight=

I lost 50 pounds in 2 months and yes I'm amazed as well how different I feel. I don't feel as tired and lethargic as I used to.

But like others are saying here maintaining the weight is the hardest part and what works for me is to practice meditation and just simply enjoy the moment. I didn't realize it years ago but I had been using food as way to prevent boredom, which happens during winter being stuck home. I do have video games and do goof around online but that can only do so much. So what I would do is simply blank my mind out for about 5 minutes I know it sounds crazy but it works well for me.