Update On My Knee

I met with the doctor this morning.  Good news!  I will not need surgery, and I don't have a meniscus tear.  I have a severely bruised femoral condyle and a mild MCL sprain.  Doc wants me on crutches for 3 weeks (no weight bearing at all) and that should improve things.

The long version from the radiology folks:

Findings:

The menisci are normal in morphology and signal without tear.

There is moderate edema along the MCL consistent with reactive medial jointline edema or moderate MCL sprain.  The anterior cruciate ligament is normal in appearance.  The fibular collateral ligament appears normal.  The PCL, biceps femoris, iliotibial band, popliteus tendon and posterolateral capsular appear normal.  The quadriceps and patellar tendons are unremarkable.

The patella is properly located in the trochlear groove.  There is a small joint effusion.  There is near full-thickness cartilage fissuring of the medial patellar faced over a small 4 mm x 5 mm area seen on axial image 8.  There is a large amount of abnormal increased proton density signal intensity and decreased T1 signal intensity in the medial femoral condyle emanating from the central weight-bearing region of the medial femoral condyle.  No linear or impacted fracture is seen at this time.  Remaining bone marrow signal intensity is normal.

No Baker's cyst is seen.  No ganglion cyst or soft tissue mass is seen surrounding the knee.

CONCLUSION:

1. There is a severe bone contusion of the medial femoral condyle with some mild sclerosis along the central weight-bearing region of the medial femoral condyle.  No linear or impacted subchondral fracture is seen and no overlying osteochondral defect is identified.  No specific features of avascular necrosis are seen at this time. Follow up MRI may prove useful in 4-6 seeks to reassess for improvement if there are persistent or worsening clinical concerns.

2. Moderate grade II MCL sprain vs. reactive medial jointline edema.

3. There is no evidence of meniscal tear or cruciate ligament injury.

4. Focal grade III chondromalacia patella.

PCAS 2013 Free Skate

Here's the video (finally!) from my PCAS Free Skate.

Announcing

This last week was Adult Nationals at the Ice Den in Scottsdale.  I wound up announcing for official practice ice (OPI), and also running warmups.  All told I probably spent 20+ hours working from Tuesday to Saturday.  I took Tuesday off and ran OPI from 10 to 4.  Things were a little disorganized at first and there were some things that were done differently than I'm used to (I've run OPI at SWP and NWP regionals last year).  But things came under control and were fine, and I think most of the competitors were happy with what we did.

I decided a while back that I really want to do more announcing.  I think it suits both my skills and personality, and I enjoy it a lot.  I've done announcing at, by my count, 5 competitions so far in some capacity or other, and I will be announcing at Fiesta Skate next week (yes, next week! ack!).

I've decided to work on getting a US Figure skating announcing appointment.  While there's a lot that can be done without an appointment, there's a lot of fun stuff that you won't get to do without it.  I figure it will take me several years, but in the meantime I'm working on getting more experience ("paying my dues"), getting to know people, making connections, etc.

Update On My Knee

As I think I mentioned previously my right knee has been bugging me for about two weeks, and so I took this week off from skating.   I went to the doctor today about it.

The summary is that while it might just be a muscle strain, the appearances are that it is a (small) meniscus tear.

If it's on the edge of the meniscus and small it can heal itself.  If it's a lengthwise tear or a large tear it probably won't and would require surgery.

After some discussion we decided to give it some rest for a month or so, with ibuprofen and ice as I feel I need it.  The doctor (he's a sports doc) said that some leg exercises (leg presses, etc. that don't involve any twisting) would help as they would promote blood flow.

So, not sure how this translates as far as skating.  I'm pretty paranoid right now about anything that involves twisting my knee which would seem to rule out turns and jumps and perhaps spins.  I may still be able to work on patch if I leave out waltz-8.

I'm going to take the rest of the week off from skating while I consult with my coaches.

Back-3s

I had my back-3 lesson with Lynne this morning on the 8:15 FS at Chandler; we postponed this lesson from Monday as I was out of town for PCAS.

I had a difficult time warming up, it seemed to take me forever to get my feet under me.  Considering that it's spring break the session wasn't too crowded, about 9 skaters.

We warmed up as usual, 2-foot turns on the circle and BO3s on the wall, then out to the circle again.  Considering I'd not practiced these hardly at all they weren't bad, i.e. they were about the same as they had been; and the LBO3 is slightly better in that I can at least make myself (occasionally) start the turn though I'm still too far forward on the blade to actually turn.

For the last few minutes Lynne had me work BI3s at the boards... eeep!  That "turning outside" feeling is kinda scary! :-(  The RBI3 actually feels like it might be somewhat do-able though, which surprised me.

Ice Folly

Lexi Rohner shared this article on her FB page.  It's terrific.  Of course he is a much better skater than I! Ice Folly: Facing middle age and an expanding belly, Chicago mag writer tries figure skating

Test, BO8, Serpentines

My figures lesson with Lynne on the Chandler coffee club.  I was running late due to the papal election (!) so basically I got on the ice and we started my lesson with no warmup.  Also I forgot my scribe!

Today's lesson:

• Preliminary test -- under the circumstances it seemed it might be a nice opportunity to do the Preliminary Figures test since lack of warmup can somewhat approximate for nerves.  Since I'd not skated patch for something like 2 weeks it was a pretty good test.  Edges were okay; FO8 was okay for the most part.  FI8 was okay except the 2nd time around on the R foot I got way forward on my blade and wound up putting my foot down -- crap!  And on FI too, which is usually my best and favorite figure.  Waltz-8 was not great but perhaps the best I've done in a long time. 
• BO8 -- these were a bit rough at first, I am trying to improve my posture and I am still struggling with this.  After a while I finally managed to get back to something that was more-or-less acceptable.  Keys are still to hold the free foot in front for at least 1/3 of the circle, and to keep the skating shoulder firmly back until the rotation.
• serpentines -- these were actually really good!  I actually managed about 2 complete times around starting on the R foot, which is really a first.  Now, I realized later that my circles were probably a bit small (no scribe) but still I was really pleased.  We were short on time so I didn't get to try the L foot.

All in all a pretty good lesson considering my lack of practice.  I'm still really frustrated with the waltz-8.

Spins

My lesson with JJ on the 8:15 FS at Gilbert.

Today's lesson:

• PCAS debrief -- we took some time to discuss my PCAS skate and how it went, and future plans.
• backspin -- we spent a fair amount of time doing some wall exercises to prep the backspin.  Ugh!  This seems really scary to me... grrr.  Basically, just holding the feet crossed and finding the rocker; this is really hard for me.  Also he suggested some stretches (FXO position, basically) that will help.
• sitspin -- just a couple of minutes looking at this; JJ said that I need to feel the glute engage to get a good sitspin, not just the quads.  Hmm.  

I think I really will need to up my off-ice training to accomplish this stuff.  I've known that for a while but it it's reinforcing that.

PCAS 2013 Showcase Dramatic

I skated my Showcase Dramatic program "100 Years" today at Pacific Coast Adult Sectionals.  I was skating against a division I skater (21-30); although he has not yet (if I remember correctly) passed his Bronze test he had skated in the Bronze free skate but Pre-Bronze for this event.  It was just the two of us, and I skated second.  We shared a warmup with a group of Pre-Bronze ladies who skated after us.

I had not skated since the day before; no practice ice today as I figured I was better off getting a good night's sleep, especially since DST kicked in Saturday night.  I think it was the right call.  I was up around 7:30 to watch skate buddy Melissa skate, then had plenty of time to prep for my 12:15 skate.  I changed and got my skates on around 11:30 and took some time to loosen up and focus.  During the (large) group before mine I checked in with the ice monitor... and waited.

Finally it was time to warmup.  Out on the ice, and I had a pretty good warmup.  As I anticipated I needed a little extra time to feel the ice since I'd not skated that day yet.  Fortunately I feel pretty comfortable with the Dramatic program elements.  Warmed up spins, jumps and practiced a couple of chunks from the program.  Time was up and I went off the ice, waited, drank some water and took off my club jacket.

Time to skate!  Went out to my starting position, said a quick prayer and off I went... again it's mostly a blur.  Waltz jump felt okay, I set it up a bit better but it wasn't particularly high.  I had a small issue on the first of the RFO3s but nothing major.  I think the spin went pretty well.  Salchow was okay.  In generally I felt that I was moving pretty fast (for me) and I finished right on time, which made me pretty happy.

In generally I think that's the best I've skated that program -- even a little better than Autumn Antics, since this was full ice and I was right on time, and I think I looked up a little more and my movements were at least a little crisper.

Got a silver medal (or I will -- they ran out of medals! sheesh) but I'm happy with my skate.  I'll post video of them both when I get them.

PCAS 2013 Free Skate

I skated my "Battle for the Beat" free skate program this morning at Pacific Coast Adult Sectionals.  I was in a combined group of 3 (Pre-Bronze Men II-III-IV).  I was skating first, which concerned me until I discovered that our warmup was combined with the preceding group (Pre-Bronze Women V).  There were two women in that event, so I was really skating 3rd.

After my practice ice I relaxed and ate a banana and an apple, then about 30 minutes before I got my skates on.  About 15 minutes before I checked in with the ice monitor and waited to go out to skate.

Finally it was time for the warmup.  Went out and my first thought was "wow! Fast ice!"  Although I'd skated on it twice before, this was clean ice, not chewed up, and it was quite fast though fairly soft; really good ice actually. 

I had a good warmup; ran through some spins (I got a really, really good one, 3 revs easy) then warmed up salchow with some indifferent results.  Left that and went on to warm up toe loop, then waltz-toe.  I actually got a good waltz-toe (I smiled over at Tracy and Melissa, who understood how important that was) and then went back to salchow and spins.  Then they called us off the ice.

Finally it was my turn to skate; I went on the ice after the previous skater was done but had to wait a bit since they had to announce our event.  Finally they called my name and I skated out to take my place.  My music started, and off I went..

It's mostly a blur at this point.  The first half of the program went really well and I was skating pretty fast!  Got to the first spin and it didn't really happen... grrr!!! so I had to kill a little time before the punch-punch-punch thing in the program.  Off into the salchow (not so great), then around the circle into the waltz-toe and I LANDED IT.  Woohoo!!  I was really happy about that.  Off into the traveling RFI3s and final spin (which I think was kinda short, again) and finished right on time.  Yay!

Took my bows, and skated off...  watched my two competitors after me.  The first, Mark, had nicer jumps than me and did waltz-waltz instead of just one, and a sal-toe combo as well as a single sal that looked pretty nice.  The second one, William, was a little rough in spots but had great spins and a flip!  Yow.

When the results came out, it was another last place finish -- a bronze medal for me.  I'm a bit disappointed, but only a bit.  I think I skated that program the best I've ever done, by a long shot, and landed the combo, so I'm really pretty happy with it.  It's a good note to retire that program on.

Tomorrow I'm skating my dramatic program at 12:15.

PCAS Practice Ice

(N.B. I will post on my actual free skate separately).

I had 6:30 a.m. practice ice this morning for PCAS.  My plan was to use this time for free skate practice since it is right before.

I slept pretty well last night (yay!) other than a moment of panic when my iPod alarm went off warning me of a half hour before practice ice.... except that the iPod was set to MST still, so it went off at 5 a.m. PST and woke me up.  I had about 2 minutes of freaking out thinking that I only had 30 minutes to get to practice ice; I kept thinking that I had forgotten to set my alarm for the daylight saving time change.  After a couple of minutes it hit me that the DST change isn't until TOMORROW.  Ha!  So I laid down again for about 40 minutes, then got up and got ready and went over for my practice ice.

I had a pretty decent practice.  It was nice that I had had practice the day before, I felt pretty good.  I worked on program chunks, spins, and a lot of time on the salchow and the waltz-toe combo.  My results were a bit inconsistent; I got some, then I wasn't getting any.  Finally right at the end of practice ice I got a good waltz-toe and decided to leave it alone and got off the ice.