Oouchh .. Legs On Fire

Today had a mini adventure. After spending time with my friends for dinner at a dhaba yesterday, thought of doing something fun. So I decided to get some physio equipment. As mentioned before, this equipment was available at only one store near Marine Drive. 

So started with a train journey. Since I left at afternoon around 1:30-2, thought that it would be quite easy to travel. However getting tickets took me almost 20 mins. Now 20 mins is a very short time, but I had not anticipated the things that were in store ahead. So as usual the trains were bit crowded even in afternoon ! The train journey was about 45 mins. I got to sit for half n hour, so wasn't that sore. But when I got out of the train, I pulled my muscle and it started hurting while I was putting pressure on my right leg. Anyhow, after a short cab drive reached the place and got the things that I was looking for.

I got the following stuff -
- Thera putty (red colour - medium resistance)
- Set of 5 spring exerciser that can be used for finger exercises
- A massage ball , it is more like a pointed ball. Wonder who uses it for massages ! Its basically like a stress ball, but with loads of pointed thingies like a back of a porcupine.

Then I was off. I was really wound up, so thought I would catch an AC bus back home. Even if it took an additional half n hour than train journey. Before that, I was feeling weak and needed some coffee and sandwiches ! I just remembered that "Starbucks" had opened up some where close by near Fort area. So took a cab there. As luck would have it, there was a huge line even outside the Starbucks Cafe ! Well thats  a first. Why do people stand in such a huge line for a cuppa of coffee. I joined the crowd! and stood in line for 20 mins or so for a cup of latte & "Corn brioche with garlic corn" ! Then I took off for the bus depot.

The bus depot was at Colaba and passed through Cafe Mondegar, Leopold. I was really tempted to make a quick detour, but had coffee instead for my parched mouth ! The most boring part of the day was to stand/sit at the bus stop for 45 mins for the bus to show up. The bus journey took almost 1 1/2 hours, almost twice the time of train journey. But I felt pretty relaxed in there.

Trouble started when I reached home, as my legs were literally on fire. My legs are paining a lot. I don't have any meds to reduce the pain. Should have asked my doc for contingencies. Have been sitting at my desk ever since. Now I am feeling guilty, as I have been told not to tire myself. Will probably sleep through night and noon tomorrow. Although, must say that exercising your hands using "thera putty" is fun ! Worth the effort or not , only tomorrow will tell !

Ciao n Peace.

Clay Play

Since May my health was in a downward spiral. But I noticed that since last 1-2 months, there had been lot of muscle wasting around my hands, thighs,etc. As a result, I get muscle cramps/pulls easily. I tend to walk very fast, since I have been a habit of travelling to & fro from railway stations this past 1 1/2 years. So I often tend to pull a muscle (quadriceps) now and then when I go for evening walks. I have to really concentrate to walk slow. Also, have stopped listening to music while taking walks since I usually end up having this unconscious urge to again speed up while walking.

Well anyway what I am leading to is that I have to see my physio therapist again. I know, I mean I have been at home so why can't I exercise on my own right ? But I feel that the stretching exercises, light exercises , yoga that I am doing is not correct or something or not accomplishing the purpose. I end up feeling very stiff. So I might go for consultation. Only that my physio is out of the country. So might have to visit another one. Still not decided yet. More importantly I need some special exercises for grip / hand muscles. Since I almost drop things when I am holding with my fingers.

About hand / grip exercises, I remembered that about 15 years back when my muscle strength was at an all time low. My physio therapist had got a special clay used for grip exercises from US. It came in different colours , with each colour referring to a level of resistance. I just googled and found that it is indeed "thera putty" and might be available somewhere here in Mumbai. Will definitely try to get it this next week.

The one shop/facility I found is near Marine Drive. Marine Drive brings back lots of fond memories. Whenever we would go up to Marine Drive, we had to go to Colaba. Colaba is this awesome place, where there are many cafes where you can just relax and spend your time chilling out with your friends and drink beer, lots of it ! There is this Cafe Mondegar which has a jukebox and there is another charming cafe, Cafe Leopold (also in news coz of 26/11 terrorist attack). Further down the road, there is Gateway of India and the famous Bade Miya's & Baghdadi, both famous for awesome food - tandoori chicken, biryani ;) get it. Although I won't be doing all that stuff any time soon :)

Today was quite dull, nothing much to do in morning / afternoon. Mondays are usually better, since I have something new to watch on TV like Dexter, Homeland. So then in the evening I had gone for worship at this nearby Navratri celebration place where they have a wonderfully decorated Goddess Durga idol. Later did some guitar strumming. Well mostly exercises that help to loosen the fingers and some easy to pick tunes. Playing guitar has become much more difficult now ! Need to practise more often. Also watched a movie called "The Big Year" starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson & Steve Martin. I am a big Jack Black fan (since School of Rock ,Tenacious D,Be Kind Rewind, Kung Fu Panda). Nice movie on Birding (and I thought its called bird watching !), though rated poorly on imdb (6.1).

Ciao n Peace.