dbtoo --I hope it works for you —I am still surprised spinning did make it better, not worse!
Stationary bikes are good for your hip and used in rehab–I was on a bike probably two days after surgery.
Recumbent bikes are NOT advised, at all, after surgery, as they place a large strain on the hip flexors. @dbtoo maybe just keep that in mind, and stop if you start feeling any worse? Def don’t try to push through it.
I never really knew I had hip problems until about 18 months ago when my daughter and I started doing martial arts together. I noticed that I was in pain when I rotated my leg in a sideways kick. Spoke to a doctor who suggested that after 38 years of riding, my leg muscles and muscle memory compensated when I was riding so as not to feel pain. Weird.
Simke thanks for the advice ! But so far so good on the recumbant bike. It does make the hip feel better. Maybe my hip flexors need the workout ? I’ll let you all know what the results are after a month or so.
dbtoo – so glad to hear that! As I said, when I took up spinning I was sure my hip pain (diagnosed bursitis) would become worse. I even had a date planned for the “busi-ectomy” despite the doctors warning that it wasn’t always successfu. I started daily (20-30 min) of spinning at home at the end of November 2019 on my husbands cheap, used spin-bike —and my pain is gone! Along with 27 pounds in 103 days. Of course one might point out that losing weight makes it easier on hip joints --so maybe that helped too, but, I was always in the “normal” range for my height --and very active --still chalk it up to adding spinning to my daily routine. Do you do your bike riding to an on-line program? There are many --some highly visual trips through the alps, etc, for bike riders on YouTube --I personally like on-line spin classes. Anyway --hope you keep feeling better --and do post how its going for you.
Has anyone experienced hip swelling? My hip has been extremely swollen on the side for the last couple weeks. It’s been 4 years since my labels surgery but this has me baffled. I’m unsure if it’s related or not (I have always had muscle issues post surgery)
I figured I’d check in and give an update since it’s been a while. I’m now 5 months post-op labral reconstruction + bone re-shaping, and so far it’s looking like I’m going to be one of the success stories. It’s still far from normal, but mostly just tight and still a little weak - happily there is almost no pain. I was supposed to be able to start riding again in May, but we’ll see how things are with coronavirus, I might have to delay it a bit. I’m not going out to the barn at all right now which is SO hard.
Shortly after my surgery, I bought a bike trainer off craigslist to put my bike on and ride indoors. That ended up working really well for me - I could do longer rides too, but I started almost every day with at least 10 minutes on the bike, and if I skipped it, I could tell. Now I’m doing some outdoor bike rides and am even sneaking in a little jogging during my walks (!!!).
This group has been so very helpful through all of this! It was so helpful to hear the good, the bad, and the ugly, especially from people like me who are pretty active and hope to continue or return to riding!
@GucciJumper - I never had any noticeable swelling that I can recall. Not sure how common swelling on the side is with labral issues. Is the swelling around the trochanteric bursa? I had some mild bursitis and was told that it’s a pretty common issue that can arise secondary to other problems.
@Foxglove - Congratulations! I might have to put my bike back on the trainer and try some harder rides. I was shocked I didn’t gain any weight when I was blob for several weeks post-op. Somehow now I’m more active than I’ve been in ages but am gaining weight. I’m sure the whole stay at home/self isolate/no horsey time/work from home/while raising young kids stress eating has nothing to do with that :lol:. Need to nip that in the bud so I can fit into my work clothes when we get to go back to the office!
@Risuena - After the hunt ball photos came out in November–I decided I didn’t like how I looked in my formal gown. I decided to try something I’d never done before --but EVERYONE always recommends —diet AND exercise. I’ve always maintained about the same weight/shape --can still wear my cubbing clothes from when I was 15 years old (I’m almost 70 now). But I was definitely a never-go-to-a-gym person —my farm and teaching high school (for me, constant walking around the classroom) kept me where I wanted to be —but those November photos showed a thin shouldered, pot-bellied older lady --not the image I had of ME!
I asked my Yoga-teaching daughter —she suggested an app called My Fitness Pal --I tried it —and I mean I tried it seriously —it’s kind of like a little computer game --but is a basic calorie/exercise recording app with lots of fun stuff. I did that for a month and began a steady, one pound a week loss --a few plateaus- true --but never more than two weeks without a drop in weight --about two weeks into using the app, I found the exercise part --and my husband’s old spin bike. I could increase what I ate if I sat on that bike for 20 -30 min a day --and I discovered other stuff on the exercise part --horse back riding counted! archery counted! walking the dog counted!
As it turned out, I wasn’t too wrong about my farm/horses being the key to keeping slim --I burn a lot of calories each day just doing that stuff [stall cleaning is on there too!]—but adding the spin bike changed my shape. The pot belly went away, and for whatever reason, my posture improved (daughter said it was core-strength from doing the 3 pound lifting weights with the spin program).
For Christmas one of the kids gave me a fit-bit watch which synced with the my-fitness-pal app --can’t say that I use it except for heart rate and stop watch . . .but it is fun. I am within two pounds of the 30 I wanted to lose (random number I picked, decided that it was a nice round number). I have lost 4 inches in my waist and 2 in my butt --I really do feel better. That 20 min a day on the spin bike is a small price to pay for the benefit. I can’t say I love doing it, but I do love the result. Oh, and true, your gain (an my plateaus) may be the muscle-heavier-than-fat change in your body. My fitness Pal app is free --and as I said, it’s fun.
@GucciJumper --I’d get that swollen hip looked at —I’ve had bursitis in one hip and full hip replacement in the other–neither caused swelling --after the initial surgery.
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I definitely will get it checked out once my doctors office opens again. It gets better with rest but I’m not very good at resting!
Do you have any recommendations for online spin classes?
I had just found a gym with a great spinning instructor in my new hometown when the COVID thing hit and I’m noticing that work from home (i.e. tether-yourself-to-a-webcam-and-extra-monitor) is not good for my overall health OR my hip pain. But I struggle to put in a decent workout on the bike trainer without external motivation. So I’m curious what others have been using for spinning at home!
@x-halt-salute I typed “beginning spin class” into YouTube and my first class was Gabriella Guevera’s Beginning Spin Class – it was 20 min during which the rider went through a lot of basic information about spinning while spinning. I’d never been on a spin bike before --and I nearly died! But I put it on again the next day, and the next. After a few classes, I could keep up the whole 20 min. Then I put on other free classes she has on YouTube. Some I liked, some I didn’t. But I made myself keep spinning for the entire time, even if I decided I wouldn’t do the class again. Eventually, I worked my way through all her 20 min classes on YouTube, and tried a few other instructors --kept coming back to Gabriella’s classes because 1) I can understand her 2) she has a nice pace --not killer crazy fast! 3) For the most part, the music is good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kNKBtTxKGE&t=40s
I also set up my own Spin Gym (LOL) in my basement —I put a fan on a table and hung a few Christmas lights around. I got a little speaker for my Ipad —and when I spin, I turn the overhead lights off, turn my fan on, and my Christmas lights, and listen to my little speaker blast away. I also have hand weights (soup cans) --for when she puts in a bit of arm movement.
During the quarantine, Gabriella offers $1 monthly subscription to PlayBook classes (app)–she’s got tons of different classes on there --but I find myself going back and forth between that and YouTube classes —but nice to have a choice.
Let me know if you find one you like --always willing to try new --wish SOMEONE would do spinning to country and western music . . .so far, can’t find any.
@Simkie I have been reading this thread for months and finally have the courage to ask. Who is the specialist in Dallas you were referred to? I was diagnosed with a labrum tear and then to add some fun cysts rubbing on the tear right before corona virus hit. I have been seeing a muscle/myofascial therapist and have not had much reprieve. Appreciate this thread and all the incredible knowledge!!
I thought I shared, but it’s Hal Martin.
Good luck!
May have missed your earlier comment due to excitement! Thank you!!
Thanks! I’ll check out those videos and will let you know if I run into any other fun online classes.
I love the idea of setting up a home “spin gym”! I can imagine that changing the lighting and turning on a fan would help to make it a focused workout – I tend to get distractable, especially if there are things in my eyesight that remind me of undone domestic chores (hello, laundry basket!) or if I get uncomfortable (as on sweaty mid-summer days). I just put a “smart bulb” down in my basement where there’s space to set up the trainer, so I’ll have to experiment with creating some “spin studio” conditions down there that set me up for a better experience.
@x-halt-salute Two other things I do to motivate myself -[my pretend gym is the first]–I wear the same outfit for spin class each time --my kids bought me suitable leggings and a workout shirt --I keep my headband and shoes beside the spin bike – every AM I dress in my spin clothes (I have two sets --wash one, wear one). And immediately after coffee, I go sit on the bike --now, I may not do a class --but I tell myself I must be dressed and sitting on the bike before I make that decision --somehow, being dressed and on the bike, well, might as well do 20 min . . .there have only been two times (since Nov. when I started) that I actually got off the bike --one was when I cracked my ribs hunting the day before --I just couldn’t do it --and the other was when I just felt really crappy (again, after a long, cold hunt the day before).
Secondly, I do the spinning first thing every AM —after spinning, next priority is ride my horses. Again, the riding clothes are in the basement with my boots and barn jacket --and regardless I have to feed. I finish spinning, suit up for the barn and head out. Again, I may decide not to ride, but 95% of the time, I do --might as well, I’m in the barn, the horses are there, and I’m dressed for riding. My only weather consideration (I have no indoor) is rain —if my saddle/bridle will get soaked, I don’t ride. But other than driving rain, I’ll ride in any weather.
Those are good ideas!
I’m dealing with a lot of schedule chaos this year with my transition to a new job, and then the pandemic situation has shuffled things around a bit more to the extent that I really don’t have a reliable routine right now, but I should probably get some good habits established while there’s not rush hour traffic to contend with and various other places to be. It would be particularly helpful if regular spinning would help with the hip pain, as my bad hip is giving me trouble now that I’m tethered to a webcam in my poorly equipped “home office” for many hours per day instead of taking advantage of the nice sit/stand situation I had set up at work and getting more walking breaks or walk-and-talk meetings in.
I also miss having a barn that opens early enough to ride before work! I’m the same way about riding in the morning rain or shine when I have the option. It works out worse for me when riding is necessarily an after-work activity due to barn hours – so many other demands on evening time exist and I’m not always giving my horse my best after a difficult workday. I’m a happier, more productive person when I can ride in the morning, but alas the current location isn’t conducive to that. Spinning at home is something I can fit in first thing, even when I’m heading out before 7 to beat the commuter traffic, for sure. But I’m envious of your bike and ride routine!
@x-halt-salute I am not sure I could maintain my routine if I worked (I am retired). I am rather certain I could not. Just before the plague shut down, I had an unexpected 10 day consulting job (only lasted 5). I was not able (too lazy?) to spin or ride in the morning. I did try to spin after I was home, did so twice out of the 5 days --just too tired. The best answer would have )been to continue in the early AM by getting up earlier --but I did not. Finding time and energy to ride and/or exercise while I was working full time (teacher) was a challenge. Add kids to the mix (all out of house now) was impossible. On the other hand, like many women, my own “needs” always came last —I think our younger generation of women do a much better balancing job --and as a result --are better moms and workers than I was --so overly focused on others that my own self was sometimes neglected.
The forced isolation has given me much time to reflect . . .
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Yes. A job that’s full time before the grading even starts, plus a couple hours of commuting, plus the horse, plus a wee bit of social life, and for a while there looking after a teenager – it all really tended to put the at-home workouts into a category where they’re entirely dependent on sheer willpower. I was just starting to get into a rhythm with a gym buddy and a group exercise schedule (went to 2 spinning classes) before that all fell apart – gym buddy fractured her spine, and then the next week coronavirus shut the gym down. And while everybody seems to be talking about having more time during the pandemic, moving courses online and various other COVID-response duties and personal obligations seem to have filled the void where commuting and riding and all the other missing stuff went in better times.
But today I took a break from work to get my bike cleaned up and tuned, and set up a little station for my trainer in the basement. Now back to lesson prep and a mountain of grading, but tomorrow morning I’m going to try to start my day with a quick workout on the bike. Going to lay out clothes, water bottle, and bike shoes tonight so there’s no excuse not to fit it in before I log on to teach. It’ll be something to look forward to!
@x-halt-salute --I like the “set up for success” idea! I don’t look forward to spinning in the AM as much as I enjoy looking back on the fact that I DID IT the rest of the day. If I don’t do it in the AM, it hangs over me the rest of the day when I REALLY don’t feel like doing it.!
Off to spin then ride the horse --my brand new on-line trainer in NZ says I’m doing well —wish the weather would cooperate --I rode in the snow yesterday! Sunny but cold today. Still —want to try the new ideas she’s sent.
