Illness, Injury and Medical Advice from the Internet

Any suggestions to combat increasingly problematic eye strain?
I assume it's due to computer screen work and it doesn't help that I look at my phone a fair bit recreationally. But - I've been doing this for years, and in the spring I was spending much longer hours looking at the screen for work, yet it's only in the last month or so that it's got quite bad.
I can't really not look at screens for work.
Is it seasonal?
I see ads for 'computer glasses' every so often - snake oil?
I'm probably due an eye test and my glasses could do with a reglaze, but I don't think it's just that.

A mate of mine was recently bemoaning the injustice of having to have separate computer glasses, as recommended by his optician; he felt this was something that should be for (in his words) 'properly middle-aged people', rather than someone in their mid-30s. He did have to admit they helped.

Often these are just like reading glasses - so near distance - but set to slightly further away than books. I don't think that's my issue. Will be in a few years no doubt, but at the moment I'm still your bog-standard myopic and wear specs to suit. I will try and get an eye test soon tho in case it's changed recently.

FWIW I have some pressure-sold computer eye strain glasses.

They do seem to help a bit, either to slow onset of eye strain or reduce symptoms if already happened. Cant say they are extremely effective but they do help a bit.

Mine have some sort of coating that appears to work like a blue light filter.

If you can do it on the cheap why not give them a shot? That said, the fact I still feel that they were pressure sold to me probably says a lot...

I was trying to do the splits in the kitchen enough so that my feet would hit each side of the room (as you do, it’s not really that far just a bit of a stretch beyond comfortable) and just as I got it my right hip let out the crack to end all cracks.

Now it’s sore if I do the splits at all or move in certain ways.

Have I done something bad?

I have all of the filters on my lenses, which have occupational lenses (like varifocals on steroids). They are not cheap though.

You might benefit from a proper workstation assessment too.

If you can still walk, you probably just popped the joint, like a massive knuckle crack.

How did I just wander into such an old thread...

Did you come looking for a cure for confusion?

Thanks :D
It actually got better after I bought another lamp and different (cooler temp) bulbs for them. I'm also looking at getting a higher res monitor, I think my eyes struggle with looking at high res laptop screen next to the monitor I have. But maybe I just want a new thing.

Hints, tips, old wives tales on speeding up recovery from knee overuse (reducing inflamation)? Supplements, foods, topical stuff?

Taking rest, ice, compression etc as read.

I have alot of time and nothing else to do but get back on the bike ASAP. Personal experience preferred. Cheers.

Not sure it will specifically help your issue but adding rolling to that can’t do any harm.

I’ve got a knee niggle at the moment and someone who had the same thing told me I need to roll.

EDIT: and this is my roller of choice. It’s not too harsh like most seem to be to me. It’s quite foamy.

https://escapefitness.com/shop/flexibility/rollers/ridge-roller

Had a lot of knee pain, I thought from running. Claimed it must be desk position related and got my employer to pay to have it looked at.
Had loads of people look at my knees and their consensus was that they were over used and that knees have little blood flow so take ages to recover. Then they referred me to an orthotics specialist who spotted my over pronation and made me some custom footbeds.
Knee pain stopped pretty much straight away. It was the position of my foot in relation to my knee causing the stress on the joint. Not the running/cycling

It could be that.

Also squats on an incline 20° toes pointing down. Helped a little before the foot beds arrived

That's a decent shout longer term. I wear shoe soles down at a weird angle, always have done. But im so can't go down that route at present.

@greeno I've just picked up a foam roller. Use it a lot at home but naturally hadn't packed one for going away....until now..

1 Attachment

ahaha. Strong set-up.

Another suggestion from a great distance is to focus on improving the range of motion in your hips by targeting restrictions in movement.

Good/functional internal and external rotation (as well as flexion and extension) of the hip joint is really important for your knees.

There are loads of great clips on Instagram or youtube that provide hip mobilisation routines and you will soon see where you need to release because the position will be more restricted (hurt more) than the other side.

Of course, lots of other things could be going on but maybe this suggestion might help.

Are GP appointments still a thing? Mrs CYOA has been trying to get one for weeks but the surgery have gone from:

Busy > don't take appointments over the phone, have to use a clunky web app > and now they're saying they won't offer appointments full stop and she has to use Push Doctor which seems to be a third party video service that will charge £45 for an appointment?

Not a long term solution but diclofenac gel has kept me on the bike in similar situations, Voltaren Emulgel brand can be bought in most of Europe I think.

Are anti inflammatory drugs and topical stuff doing anything to heal or just dealing with the pain associated?

Will look at diclofenac at some point. I'm currently on a hemp oil and arnica topical solution with ibuprofen, circumin and omega 3 in ma gub. Guaranteed there are adverse side effects to that little cocktail...haven't shat myself yet tho.

Edit: "Inflammation exists for a reason. Recent studies have revealed that inflammation is a necessary and imperative healing process for our body to naturally deal with viruses and bacteria. In other words, inflammation is our body's natural healing mechanism against injuries and infections."

Excellent. I've said it before and I'll say it again, getting some spiffing above the knee prosthetics is probably better than having human knees.

Update: Still self incarcerated in the suburb of Kaufungen. There is progress, stairs and walking around aren't causing the same discomfort.

Been rolling quads, hammys, IT, calves, arse like a demon and using hemp oil/arnica gel to massage the patellar tendon 3 times a day. Stretching hammys and I'm able to stretch quads with full knee bend with very little discomfort. Yet to try pedalling, will attempt nearer the end of the week unloaded. Also taken to wearing a compression sleeve while sat about, I like it but walking with it has opposite effect.

Next Monday I leave here under my own steam and we see what happens. It's the growing positivity that kills me, I was down and out on Saturday and now I'm thinking there is a chance.

Bit of an annoying one, but I've had upper hamstring/glute pain for 2 months now. Came on after a hilly ride and then decided to do a 50mi TT the following weekend, which didn't help...Thought it would ease with lighter load and regular stretching/easy loading, but it's just not improving.

The pain is specific in that it's only when I rotate my left leg, much like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc-8G9SZvuc

Strangely feels fine on the turbo (up to sweetspot - haven't done any threshold work) and running is fine thankfully. Pain comes during outdoor rides at anything over dawdling speeds. Have dropped the saddle a couple of cm over the past 2 months with no improvement.

Ideas?

Not an injury but a bit weird.

When I was touring this summer I was putting in some big days and not fuelling enough at all. It caused me to start sweating ammonia. I googled and right enough, not enough fuel, not enough water and the body eats itself and sweats out ammonia.

Came home, eating like a pig but still getting the smell of ammonia from my cycling gear. I'm fairly certain I'm generally fuelled enough...although perhaps with a fairly shitey diet at the minute.

Anyone else been there or know what's going on? Anything to worry about?

Some textile and detergent combos don't remove ammonia crystals/smells. Are you sure you're not just reactivating a build up of ammonia in your kit?

Could well be that. I think it stuff I used on tour now I think of it. I'll look into that, cheers.

This link has some tips on removing ammonia build up from sports kit

https://useactive.com/what-is-ammonia-sweat-smell/