I always know when I’m going to have a big day – I don’t get any sleep the previous night.

Wednesday was a big day as I was due see Dr John O’Neill, a neurologist at St Vincent’s hospital, to get a second opinion on my neck. The prospect that he would also recommend some horrendous procedure filled me with dread. I woke up at 2 AM and was still awake when the alarm went off at 7 AM. My plans to join the Wednesday crew at Manly after their swim for a coffee, went by the board.

I presented myself with my now battered envelope of scans in hand at St Vincent’s at 10 AM. It was wet and the soggy envelope started to fragment and I had scans sliding everywhere. It’s like the envelope of my life – it looks solid but the bottom is always falling out of it. Dr O’Neill, in the best traditions of medical personnel, decided he wouldn’t show up for three quarters of an hour. I was pissed. I’ve never kept a client waiting that long. Nevertheless, he finally showed, most apologetic, and we had an informative discussion about the risks of spinal surgery and the benefits of doing nothing. After several weeks arse deep in scans and medical textbooks, I was able to hold my own in discussions of potential surgical techniques such as Laminectomy, Laminotomy and Laminaplasty. We agreed that all of these options are bad. He is a very practical, no bullshit, sort of a guy.

Wednesday is normally my day in the gym with Belinda. This is the first week that I’ve gone over onto the self supervised session every second Wednesday. I didn’t get off to a bright start. After the doctors’s appointment, I was so busy in the office that I never made it to the gym until 4pm. By then, lack of sleep, stress and anxiety over the spinal surgery, had left me depleted. A lazy session ensued without Belinda whipping me on. Still I did it even though I was pushing the rock uphill. One thing I’ve learnt this year – if you come to post-surgical rehabilitation without a goodly dose of discipline and perseverance you just won’t make it. You may not make it even with these two personality traits, but if you don’t have them you are toast.

I did show some form on the bicycle. Over a half hour session I spent 10 minutes at level 10, and got to 100 rpm three times. I then spent 10 minutes on level 11 and got 80 RPM three times. I’m getting stronger and stronger on the bike as each day passes. The rest of the session was slothful.

Adductor……………………20 x 40kgs

Leg Extension……………….20 reps x 30kg both legs

Leg Curl …………………..20 reps x 30kg both legs

Leg Press…………………..10 reps x 50kg both legs warm up

Leg Press………………….10 reps x 60kg both legs warm up

Leg Press………………….10 reps x 70kg x 3 both legs

That is a very lazy session in the Palace of Hairdryers, but it’s better than nothing.