I have had a problem with my right leg for the last year now and whilst it has been manageable for the most part, it really flared up during my time in Europe. I had cortisone in my glute before I went away to Europe in March but it provided only very temporary relief.

Towards the end of April and May it started to give me serious troubles and I could not finish races and ride to the standards that I think I am capable of. During Tour de L'Aude, which was the last big tour in our first block of racing, it provided me with serious grief to the point where I had to pull out of the Tour. I made the decision at the beginning of the tour that it would be best for me if I could spend the 3 week break back in Canberra at the Institute so that I could receive treatment on a daily basis and work with the docs, physios etc to get it sorted so that I could return for the second half of the year in good condition. The support I have received here has been awesome, and I feel like everyone has been using all the resources possible to try and fix it.

Unfortunately things have not eventuated in the way that I had hoped. Basically the doctors have been able to narrow it down to a problem with my sciatic nerve, where they believe that it is being pinched in my glute whilst riding, around the piriformis muscle. I am now at the point where the next step is to get surgery. I am still in Canberra at the moment and will not be seeing the surgeon until early August. I have been able to ride a little bit, but not for long periods as the pain comes on too easily. Dr Dave (AIS physiologist and world’s most motivated man!) is coming up with some 'fun' ideas to keep me fit though, so it should be an interesting time! On the program now is walking, swimming, stair running, rollerblading...

I will be staying in Canberra for the next 5 weeks until I can see the surgeon as medications and response to training need to be monitored. At this stage I am not sure when surgery will take place, but hopefully in August. The rehab time post-surgery is 3 months before I can commence proper training again.

I am pretty disappointed and never imagined that I would end up spending Winter in Canberra! I am still as motivated as ever and if anything this setback has just made me realise how much I want to ride. I am treating from this point on as the start of my rehab rather than just the time after surgery. I am working with the physios and strength and conditioning coaches to smooth out any muscle imbalances that I have, as well as making sure that I am fit and healthy so that if I do end up going ahead with surgery that the rehab time will be more successful and productive and I will come back stronger and fitter than ever!

So not quite the email I was hoping to write at this time of year, but a necessary one! The women's Giro D'Italia starts in less than a week so it's sad not to be there but I will be following the results closely! (As well as the Tour de France!!)

Hope you're all well.

Amanda