Hi Trevin - good to hear from you again. I hope everything resolves in your case soon, but it's good to hear that you have such positive perspective on your situation. The yoga sounds interesting - I will have to try it sometime.
Thanks for recommending the book...I read the reviews for it on amazon.com and it sounds very interesting, will probably read it...I suppose you have read a lot of books over the last years, can you recommend anything else? Would be great as I am trying to start reading more again but not sure where to find all the great books! Thanks!
I signed the petition that went to the Gov. supporting the strike. I also follow this story on the news everyday. I'm worried for the strikers - and impressed by their resolve.
I wish there was more that I could do. It's a terrible situation - and a terrible system. And if I hear CDC say one more time there is no such thing as solitary confinement in California prisons.........how they can hope to justify their position with gobbley-gook is beyond me.
Wow, thanks for mentioning me, very cool. I hope this blog is somewhat healing for you just knowing that people are interested and care and wonder obout you. I live in Los Angeles and a, a huge Internet junkie. The huffington post is a huge on line newspaper, internationally recognized and used to be owned by a woman I once worked for, arianna huffington. It's now owned by AOL. You said you are an open book and seem interested in answering questions so I will ask a few. Who's your sports team? We are huge dodger fans out here and very excited about their current run for the pennant. It seems like it could really happen. Exciting times for dodger fans. Do you ever talk about your crime? How did you end up doing life in prison and what do you think was the defining moment in our life that put you on that path?
Take care and I look forward to answers and hope you find things to help you stay positive. -blondie
(continuation of previous post) Resistance exercises increase muscle tension and the joints do not have to move. Sit on the floor with you legs straight in front of you, knees bent, and then press your heel into the floor and count to five seconds. Always relax between each exercise.
Whilst sitting in a chair press you heel down into the floor and hold for five seconds. Again sitting in a chair, press your heal into the chair leg, hold for a count of five and then relax you leg.
Do the above exercise but while the heel is pushing against the chair leg, turn you foot into your other foot and feel the resistance, count to five and then relax.
Using weights for strength.
After your leg is stronger you can add some weights to build up more strength.
Firstly lay on your stomach and raise your leg about six inches. Do twenty lifts and then ten with a kilogram weight added to your leg.
Lay on your stomach and raise your leg by bending your knee as high as is comfortable and slowly lower to the floor. Do ten of these and then do ten with a kilogram weight added.
In a standing position put a kilogram weight on your ankle and raise your heel to touch your buttocks and lower being careful to keep a smooth slow action. Do twenty of these and then repeat with a two kilogram weight.
Preparing to restart you sport
Cycling, jogging, hopping and striding can all be done taking care to build up gradually. Running up stairs two steps at a time will build up strength and your stamina!
As long as care is taken and there is no discomfort and you resume your sport gradually, risk of further injury will be reduced.
Hi Robert, You were asking about your injury and what you could do about it, so I looked it up on the internet and found this:
HEALING AND RECOVERY FOR HAMSTRING INJURIES
It is advised to seek medical advice to find out the extent of the damage. If it is only a minor tear a rehabilitation period may be all that is necessary, but this must be fully completed to achieve full recovery. As soon as the injury has happened, apply ice to the injured area, using a thin towel between ice and skin to prevent ice burn. Ice should be applied every two to three hours for the first two days to reduce pain and swelling. No weight should be put on the leg and you should rest with the leg elevated higher than he chest. This will enable blood and fluid to drain away from the hamstring injury. A bandage will give support and help reduce swelling, and the leg will feel more comfortable.
An important part of recovery is to start stretching exercises as soon as possible. If the strain is minor then exercising can start after two days from the injury happening. If there is still swelling and bruising, continue with the ice for one or two days until the swelling has disappeared.
Hamstring injuries can take a long time to heal and the risk of further injury becomes greater. However if full recovery is achieved and sport not resumed too early, the risk of further injury will be greatly reduced. Generally speaking overuse injuries tend to take longer to heal and recover. Depending on the extent of the injury a hamstring can recover within ten days or it can take up to three months.
HAMSTRING EXERCISES
It is important when you start stretching exercises that they are done every day, and when strengthening exercises are done, stretching must be done prior to these,ideally as part of the whole routine. If you have any tightness or stiffening of the hamstrings, try reducing the amount of exercises that you are doing, and if that doesn't`t work, perform stretching exercises only. It is important that the muscles feel loose and that there is no discomfort. Until your leg is ready for resuming your sport, fitness levels can be kept up by swimming.
STRETCHING YOUR HAMSTRING TO PREVENT INJURY
With your legs straight out in front of you, reach out with your hands and hold your feet, keeping your back straight and your head up. Move slowly and don`t `bounce`.When you feel the stretch hold this for five to ten seconds.
In a standing position, stand on one leg and place your other leg straight on a table or chair in front of you Lean forward and reach out to touch your foot again keeping you back straight and your head up. Hold this position when you feel the stretch and hold for about five to ten seconds.
Stand with you legs slightly apart and reach downwards to your ankles. Keep your back straight and you will feel the stretch. Hold this position for five to ten seconds.
Hi Richard, I enjoy reading your posts as I do looking at your artwork...you're a very talented painter. It's very hard to imagine the conditions and what it's like being in the S.H.U. if you've not experienced it but from your description it sounds like one of the last places you want to be at on this earth. I live in the UK and as far as I know there is a law that allows a maximum of 35 days in S.H.U., 16 days for young people. I don't think any amount of time in the hole is humane or right, but I wish the US government would recognize what psychological damage they are doing to people and make some changes. I congratulate you on standing up for your rights and protesting against these conditions, even if a hunger strike must be anything but pleasant. Hopefully it will get a lot of media attention and force these people to make some lasting changes. If not, at least you know you have not surrendered to the conditions without fighting. Wishing you strength and hope to get through all of this.
RSS
I agree with you so much about reality TV!
Take care,
Voice12
Thanks for recommending the book...I read the reviews for it on amazon.com and it sounds very interesting, will probably read it...I suppose you have read a lot of books over the last years, can you recommend anything else?
Would be great as I am trying to start reading more again but not sure where to find all the great books! Thanks!
I wish there was more that I could do. It's a terrible situation - and a terrible system. And if I hear CDC say one more time there is no such thing as solitary confinement in California prisons.........how they can hope to justify their position with gobbley-gook is beyond me.
JT
I hope this blog is somewhat healing for you just knowing that people are interested and care and wonder obout you.
I live in Los Angeles and a, a huge Internet junkie. The huffington post is a huge on line newspaper, internationally recognized and used to be owned by a woman I once worked for, arianna huffington. It's now owned by AOL.
You said you are an open book and seem interested in answering questions so I will ask a few.
Who's your sports team? We are huge dodger fans out here and very excited about their current run for the pennant. It seems like it could really happen. Exciting times for dodger fans.
Do you ever talk about your crime? How did you end up doing life in prison and what do you think was the defining moment in our life that put you on that path?
Take care and I look forward to answers and hope you find things to help you stay positive.
-blondie
Resistance exercises increase muscle tension and the joints do not have to move. Sit on the floor with you legs straight in front of you, knees bent, and then press your heel into the floor and count to five seconds. Always relax between each exercise.
Whilst sitting in a chair press you heel down into the floor and hold for five seconds. Again sitting in a chair, press your heal into the chair leg, hold for a count of five and then relax you leg.
Do the above exercise but while the heel is pushing against the chair leg, turn you foot into your other foot and feel the resistance, count to five and then relax.
Using weights for strength.
After your leg is stronger you can add some weights to build up more strength.
Firstly lay on your stomach and raise your leg about six inches. Do twenty lifts and then ten with a kilogram weight added to your leg.
Lay on your stomach and raise your leg by bending your knee as high as is comfortable and slowly lower to the floor. Do ten of these and then do ten with a kilogram weight added.
In a standing position put a kilogram weight on your ankle and raise your heel to touch your buttocks and lower being careful to keep a smooth slow action. Do twenty of these and then repeat with a two kilogram weight.
Preparing to restart you sport
Cycling, jogging, hopping and striding can all be done taking care to build up gradually. Running up stairs two steps at a time will build up strength and your stamina!
As long as care is taken and there is no discomfort and you resume your sport gradually, risk of further injury will be reduced.
Hope this is of some use to you!
You were asking about your injury and what you could do about it, so I looked it up on the internet and found this:
HEALING AND RECOVERY FOR HAMSTRING INJURIES
It is advised to seek medical advice to find out the extent of the damage. If it is only a minor tear a rehabilitation period may be all that is necessary, but this must be fully completed to achieve full recovery. As soon as the injury has happened, apply ice to the injured area, using a thin towel between ice and skin to prevent ice burn. Ice should be applied every two to three hours for the first two days to reduce pain and swelling. No weight should be put on the leg and you should rest with the leg elevated higher than he chest. This will enable blood and fluid to drain away from the hamstring injury. A bandage will give support and help reduce swelling, and the leg will feel more comfortable.
An important part of recovery is to start stretching exercises as soon as possible. If the strain is minor then exercising can start after two days from the injury happening. If there is still swelling and bruising, continue with the ice for one or two days until the swelling has disappeared.
Hamstring injuries can take a long time to heal and the risk of further injury becomes greater. However if full recovery is achieved and sport not resumed too early, the risk of further injury will be greatly reduced. Generally speaking overuse injuries tend to take longer to heal and recover. Depending on the extent of the injury a hamstring can recover within ten days or it can take up to three months.
HAMSTRING EXERCISES
It is important when you start stretching exercises that they are done every day, and when strengthening exercises are done, stretching must be done prior to these,ideally as part of the whole routine. If you have any tightness or stiffening of the hamstrings, try reducing the amount of exercises that you are doing, and if that doesn't`t work, perform stretching exercises only. It is important that the muscles feel loose and that there is no discomfort. Until your leg is ready for resuming your sport, fitness levels can be kept up by swimming.
STRETCHING YOUR HAMSTRING TO PREVENT INJURY
With your legs straight out in front of you, reach out with your hands and hold your feet, keeping your back straight and your head up. Move slowly and don`t `bounce`.When you feel the stretch hold this for five to ten seconds.
In a standing position, stand on one leg and place your other leg straight on a table or chair in front of you Lean forward and reach out to touch your foot again keeping you back straight and your head up. Hold this position when you feel the stretch and hold for about five to ten seconds.
Stand with you legs slightly apart and reach downwards to your ankles. Keep your back straight and you will feel the stretch. Hold this position for five to ten seconds.
(continued in next post)
Wishing you strength and hope to get through all of this.