Well after everyone's recommendations to try a foam roller I bought one from amazon which arrived earlier. I just used it and all I can say is OMG! it's horrific!!! Man i thought deep tissue massage with my mate was bad but boy this is worse!!! Still what doesn't kill us makes us stronger!!
It is bad initially, Danny, gets much better - I think if you look in on the back of the box it does say "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" in very small type.
Ha fair one hern. Yeah I'm going to stick with it I think it will be very useful.
Danny-
Several years ago when I started using Triggerpoint rollers on my legs it hurt like a son-of-a-gun. But as Hern says it gets better and better. Now I would say it hurts so good. The relief is almost immediate.
Best wishes.
Dan
At PT yesterday they used some type of device on my IT band it the pain was horrific. The PT kept going and going on the side of my leg even though I was loosing my composure and commenting on how much it hurt. I was grateful today that this was not included in my PT.
Yeah it's incredibly painful however I believe it will be worth while in the long run.
My PT gal used a long metal rod that had a strange shape to it and for the 2nd week in a row - tore into my IT Band. The first time I protested, sighed, and almost cried but she didn't relent. The second time it didn't hurt nearly as much and I can actually feel the difference. She also used a metal tool to release scar tissue at the incision area. Huge difference in just a few sessions.
I'm actually looking forward to my next session. The IT BAND torture is becoming the highlight of my PT sessions. Danny, you will learn to love it when you feel and see improvements.
Luanna
That's the cruel device I was exposed to during PT this week. It was really, really painful. Good to know it gets better as you go. The PT really seemed to be pushing hard on the thing. All I could do was laugh uncontrollably each time she ran it up and down my leg, it wasn't funny, it was pain. Not sure why I laughed. No metal tool on my scar yet, just hand pressure but that still is painful.
Well I think I'm going to rest the roller for a couple of days as I'm aching from using it. It feels like I've bruised the tissues. I might still do my glutes and psoas areas though just rest the trochanter and IT band ares.
Good way to use it, Danny. Think of it as a long term thing, let the tissues rest, then roll again. It is not fun in the beginning, but nothing loosens me up better. I use it on my lower back and upper back as well.
I've already used it on my back - laying lengthwise on it to loosen everything up, but I cannot imagine (at 4.5 wks post-op) getting it even close to my operated leg... When is a good time to start using it on the op'd leg?
whats this foam roller about ?brad.
I don't know but I've just purchased one online! I hope it comes with instructions.
What's the best way to use the roller on your scar? By hand or lying on your side?
when do you need it?
using it on my IT band before surgery, I lay on it and regulate the weight/pressure on it. You'll figure it out after it hurts so bad when you put all your weight on it. LOL There's probably some instructions but if not, google it.
Are you calling me fat? ??? All good ;D. Google's great like that!
Cherz.
Kiwi - Not at all - just any weight hurts like a sum-bitch on that IT band the first few times.... LOL :P
Fortunately I used my roller extensively before surgery. So it wasn't so bad afterwards. I think I started using it around five weeks. Very gently mind you. Now I have no problem using it with full pressure.
Best wishes.
Dan
Quote from: Kiwi on February 19, 2012, 06:07:12 PM
I don't know but I've just purchased one online! I hope it comes with instructions.
What's the best way to use the roller on your scar? By hand or lying on your side?
The way I use it on the IT band is to :
- Lay the roller on the floor, crosswise to you.
- rest the top the IT band on it. Keep the leg straight
- balance yourself with both bands on the other side of the roller
- bring the other leg up so it's bent
- plant your foot as close as you can to the roller on the floor
- use your bent leg to push forward (straighten it), roll over your IT band
- Roll until you go to the knee area (off leg stretches out)
- Roll back in the opposite direction and bend your off leg
I do both sides, want to keep both evenly loosened.
Well used the roller again today just for maybe 2 mins. Was far far less painful than last time!
Cherz Hern. Still waiting on delivery!
Expecting some pain....
Kiwi there's some great videos on you tube on how to use the roller corectly
At what point is it safe to use it? I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet.
Cherz Danny - I'll take a look mate.
Great, Danny. It is a great tool.
Quote from: lynne123 on February 20, 2012, 07:03:02 PM
At what point is it safe to use it? I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet.
Jennifer, I think I started using it at 3 months. I was light on it at first, but there is no doubt that it is an acquired taste :o :o :o.
Quote from: lynne123 on February 20, 2012, 07:03:02 PM
At what point is it safe to use it? I just bought one but I am four weeks two days post op and have been to afraid to use it yet.
Lynne I think with this particular operation being conservative will pay dividends in the end. I started deep tissue massage I think at around 9-10 weeks and the roller at 14. I wouldn't want to start either much earlier as the pain around your scar would be significant
Had my first roll last night at Physio (12.5weeks post op) - about 2 mins. That was enough for my start!! :o
Hern - My PT pretty much showed me exactly the steps you listed. Good part about that is you can control the pressure of your body weight.
Which is really good; if I had put full pressure on it from the start I would have been crying like a little girl. All apologies to little girls, who would probably have been tougher than that.
Think that's possibly why I'm finding it so painful! I'm putting all my 96kg through it! ???
Me too. I reckon I would have being putting about 1/2 to 2/3 of my 91kgs and I was struggling to 'man up' just doing that!
Also used it on my back which was great.
Danny - you're obviously applying the 'no pain, no gain' theory!!
I seem to apply that mantra to most of the things i do. Mind that could go part of the way to explaining why at 28 I had to have my hip done!
I, too, purchased a roller pre-op in order to help recovery. I have never been very flexible, which didn't help, but it did seem like one step below a medieval torture device. I'm just about 8 weeks post-op, and have not yet felt it was time to use it again.
Runners are quite familiar with foam rollers. I have a couple. A giant one for home and a smaller one I bring to races because it fits in my bag.
Anyway. I am almost 2 weeks out and the ITB could really use it. My question is, is it too early for me to use it on my ITB? Obviously I would stay away from anything close to the surgical area. Thanks.
I started using it after about six weeks. I figured that was a good time since I was starting to do other demanding stuff, and the IT band was acting up. I'd ask the surgeon and / or the PT person you're using.
Danny- can you post a link to the one you bought?
Here is a link to a bunch of them my company sells. I'm honestly not trying to push buying from our company, but wanted to point out my favorite. The Aeoromat rollers are a high density foam, easy to clean, etc. A lot of foam rollers are sort-of compressed styrofoam, and with use little chucks of the stuff come off. These are not like that, and are really nice. You might find it cheaper elsewhere.
http://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/xxssi_ibeSearchResults.jsp?type=search&minisite=10028&query=foam+roller (http://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/xxssi_ibeSearchResults.jsp?type=search&minisite=10028&query=foam+roller)
Sure your not.ha. ordering one today. thanks
Another option is "The Stick". Runners are familiar with this one as well. I just dug mine out, since, 2 weeks after surgery, not sure I want to use the foam roller just yet. The Stick can massage out the knots.
(http://www.allegrodanceboutique.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/the-stick.jpg)
Great idea! I had forgotten that I had one of those and just dug it out.
oh yeah, the evil stick. I think hubby has one somewhere. I should dig that out.
My dog must have been attacked by a foam roller in a previous life, cuz if she even hears us get it out and put it on the ground, she comes running and attacks it. talk about chunks taken out. Of course, we then tease her relentlessly with it. It still works ok with the chunks missing but maybe I'll check out Imgetinold's stuff. :o