Thursday, 31 January 2013

Feet together/poles apart ...

Having taken Abiraterone for two weeks now I can report that I feel better generally but I still have some discomfort in my groin ... so I bought myself some walking poles to make walking easier.

My walking poles !

They were just £15, hardly top of the range, but they should take some pressure off my hips and pelvis etc.

In the event, just this afternoon, I walked for just 45 minutes, quite slowly from Alport up to the packhorse bridge near Youlgreave ...


Packhorse bridge in Bradford Dale.  

I'm not a big fan of walking poles but at least they enabled me to get out into the countryside. This may be as good as it gets unless my pelvis improves ... somehow.

We'll see.

The other news is that the Abiraterone hasn't affected my kidneys or potassium levels etc. The pharmacist declared yesterday that the results of Tuesday's bloodtest were "absolutely fine".

Finally my compact digital camera has gone kaput so I'm going to have to replace it or stick with my SLR which is bigger and more cumbersome. The two photos above were taken with my phone !

It will be interesting to see how my groin/pelvis feels during the night and in the morning. It is surprising how you don't realise as you turn over in bed how your body 'corkscrews' on your pelvis  ... until you have a problem with your pelvis. Ouch.

20 comments:

  1. So good to hear you are feeling a bit better and a walk, that's great. Lets hope you can manage some more and the pain in your groin eases. Love the picture of the packhorse bridge. Take care, June @weegiewalker

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    1. Thank you June. It's a start ... it was a dull day until a little bit of sun poked through as I was getting back to the car.

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  2. Great to hear you got out for a decent walk - phone pics none too shabby as well! Look forward to reading more (and I liked your "8 hours earlier" rant). All the best, @FatFellwalker

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    1. Thank you @FatFellwalker ... I am going to go out again today [unless the weather deteriorates]. There's still some discomfort but that is perhaps something I will have to endure. Yes, these phone photos are surprisingly good [detail wise]. Having said that I have just recharged the battery of my Canon SLR ... but it seems so huge after my Panasonic compact digital camera.

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  3. Good to see you out again Charlie,a nice flat walk if I remember right.The poles are a good idea,they do help though I use a bit of hazel when I need a stick so I can lean on it.Ann

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    1. It couldn't be flatter Ann and it's on a track too. Still, I want to challenge myself more so await further blogs !

      I've used a wooden stick before but I thought a pair of sticks/poles might be better ...

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  4. I'm so glad for the good news, at last you can enjoy some walking :)

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    1. THank you Diane. Yes, I think the exercise and the fresh air more than outweigh the discomfort at the top of my left leg.

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  5. Brilliant idea, those poles, Charlie. If you can find something that will help, why not? Hope it's not too uncomfortable tonight. Those two photographs are really excellent for a phone!

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    1. THank you Jenny. It wasn't too uncomfortable and I slept pretty well. I will have to see how I get on this afternoon !

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  6. Glad to hear you were in less discomfort and able to get out for a while.

    I think those walking-poles are actually quite useful. I have a pair myself. My right knee, damaged during a motorcycle accident as a teenager, has a tendency to swell and become painful during and after prolonged high-impact walking, ie a lot of downhill walking. When hiking the Pen-Y-Fan peak on the Brecon Beacons with Baz I was glad of them, as on the decent my knee started to swell badly and I had to lean quite heavily on one of the poles towards the end. While it would be more beneficial to my knee to stick to flatter terrain when walking, I just love difficult terrain, so out come the poles!!

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    1. Thank you Mitch. I know what you mean about not wanting to give up the tougher walks/climbs. I'm part way through walking the Macclesfield Canal and I would love to finish it [and a few others] before I'm done. So I hope to be able to get up to walking 4, 5 or 6 miles ... or more if possible. Still better learn to cope with a mile or so first.

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  7. Excellent to hear you got out for a walk Charlie. Those poles will come in very handy... particularly when you decide to take up Slalom skiing again in a few weeks time ;-)

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    1. I've already booked the winter skiing holiday Ian ... :-)

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  8. I am 'tickled pink' as the saying goes, that you got out and about. The pictures look fine over here in Canada and are clear enough. Walking sticks are very popular with walkers here even in the cities. But we do have some slippery and/or icy terrain so they help with walkers who have no physical complaints too. I think they are supposed to help upper body strength and prevent falls too. I understand your enjoyment about getting out for a 45 minute walk. I finally went out twice today and will write about it later if I have the energy. I get so lazy and just want to read other's blogs when I get back inside where it is warm and safe.

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    1. Be thankful for small mercies ... that's how I see it Karyn. I'm glad to hear you were outside too. Yes, the poles apparently help upper body strength but I'm going to look a bit weird if I persevere ... a muscular upper body, a fat right leg ... and a slightly withered left leg. Still if that combination gets me out so the wind can blow through my [short] hair, I will be happy.

      As for blogs I must apologise and say I have to type my own blog before reading others ... I just have to release whatever is pent up inside. It *must* be therapy.

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  9. Great that you got out, Charlie. I don't like poles either, but I always carry them (and duct tape) in case anyone breaks a leg. So doubly useful for you to have them with you! Seriously, hope it all gets easier soon. It's good that the latest medication seems to be doing it's job.

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    1. You're one jump ahead of me there Neil with the duct tape.Still it's a good idea, just in case.

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  10. Good luck Charlie. You're in the best place in the K if you enjoy alking. Good luck with your treatment. Rich :)

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    1. Thank you Rich ~ that's kind of you. I hope thins are going well at your end.

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