MRI.. I need support

[Luna]

HI all its the Townie girl.
Well Im going for an MRI thursday as my back has not recovered through chiropractic and massage this time. Since I started biking longer and harder Im in pain. Im totally frustrated. I was told if I had a slipped disc or something related to a disc that I wont be able to bike. I was doing situps to improve stomach muscles for my back and its seemed to be in vein. I was also told that if my hipflexors were over worked from biking or bad situps that I could have injured my back. So its seems darn if I do and Darn if I dont.
I need some encouragement.:(

[bmccasland]

((((((((Luna))))))))

Hopefully with the MRI, they'll figure out WHY you're in pain, then what to do about it. Do you have a sports medicine Doc? Hope you feel better soon.

[Shiraz]

I am sorry Luna:o I know how frustrating injuries can be. Maybe they will set you up with a physical therapist to help you. I hope you are healed up soon!!

[KnottedYet]

Sit-ups are profoundly inadequate "ab" exercises for someone with back problems. Please don't do them.

Are you going to physical therapy? They will teach you ab exercises that are functional (planks, trunk stabilizations, posture work). They will also teach you how to stretch. Tight hipflexors can pull your vertebrae around, so keeping them the proper length is very important.

As far as biking is concerned: we encourage our back patients to bike. Your PT will check your positioning on your bike and check your posture.

When I had an MRI I asked for a valium. Claustrophobic. They let me bring in a cd, so I listened to my own music while I was in the tube. It was fine.

Remember that high-velocity chiropractic treatments stretch out the ligaments that hold your back aligned. As your postural muscles get stronger and you hold yourself in proper alignment more often, those loose ligaments will gradually tighten up again to a functional length and you will have less "going out" in your back. It's all about using your postural muscles to maintain the alignment you and your practitioner achieve! (I hope your chiropracter wasn't the one who told you to do sit-ups)

If you have a disc issue, unless it's a huge rupture your doc will likely send you to PT first. Be diligent with the PT exercises, as they can prevent your needing surgery (which is why docs send back patients to PT if there is a chance PT will work).

Generally back surgery is a simple procedure these days. I've seen patients with tiny little scars!

Keep us posted!

[Duck on Wheels]

Hurray for PTs! They are so smart and helpful!!! Hopefully, you'll get set up for PT right away and (s)he'll get you back on track. Not only back on the right track, but on one that'll move you forward faster! Meanwhile, take it easy. You want your spine to last your whole lifetime.

[Luna]

WOW, thanks so much for the quick replys. Both my chiropractor and massage therapsit told me to do sits ups. Only after I started hurting more did my massage therapist tell me to do little crunches. I have been doing sit ups on a ball for 3 weeks now almost everyday.
Yes I am scheduled to see a spine place that does physical therapy as well. I want to do Physical therapy.
everyone i know has told me NOT to get on the bike until I find what is wrong.

[KnottedYet]

Yup, take it easy until after the MRI results!

NO MORE SIT UPS OR CRUNCHES!!!:D

And have your PT check your positioning and posture on the bike before you do more "longer and harder" riding.

[smilingcat]

definitly get your back checked out with a doctor.

PT, physical therapist/physical tor***** with "let me help you" can be discouraging at times but they really do help. So be diligent about going to them if you decide to do so.

Other big thing to is to take either Pilates, Gyrokinesis www.gyrotonic.com/gyrokinesis.htm or even do Tai Chi. All three work on what they call core strength. I prefer gyro and tai chi. And both has helped me imensely with my back, my posture, and my sense of balance. Most importantly, my back hasn't gone out in years. hurray :D

Tai Chi is martial arts. It's not just for old people its for the young as well. It focuses on the whole body. Tai Chi can be many things from martial art for fighting to more meditative exercise where you learn to listen to your body, how chi flows through your body, and how your body moves in effortless smooth motion. It also teaches you how to breath properly.

I know people don't think about Pilates, Gyro or Tai Chi for back exercises. But I would highly encourage you to think about it and give it a try. It helped me tremendously!!

take care of your back,
Shawn

[Grog]

Good luck Luna on the MRI, I hope they find what's wrong...

I don't mean to break anyone's fun, but am I the only one doubting that Townies and cruiser-style bikes are appropriate for riding longer distances and making efforts? They are great bikes, no doubt, for riding besides the beach at a relaxed pace and even for running errands. But something in me tells me that they're not bikes you're supposed to work hard on for prolonged periods of time. They are certainly not designed with that purpose in mind.

I don't pretend that is the cause of your pain - others have given much better advice than what I could come up with - but I have wondered about this ever since you started posting about having some back problems...

Hopefully others can provide evidence that I'm wrong.

[Wahine]

Knott has given you very good advice!!

I agree with her 100%. As for Tai Chi etc. I would not start any new activity until after the MRI. But generally speaking, the type of exercises Smilingcat suggested are helpful for back rehab.

Getting properly fitted for your bike is important when you get the OK from your PT or Doc. I also agree with Grog, although hybrids and Townies are more upright, they are not always the answer. In fact research has shown that the cycling position that puts the least amount of strain on the lumbar discs is the aero position. Go Figure.

[Bikingmomof3]

Keep us posted. I ask my doctor for a vaalium before MRIs. Works every time.

[ace]

I don't know if open MRIs are widespread, but here in No. Cal a lot of the MRIs are open, more like a big clam shell or a pair of big castanets, so good for claustrophobics and big people (I think if you're over 250 lbs, you have to do an open MRI).

[mountainchick]

I had severe back problems in college...2 herniated disks that caused me to be immobile for a few days, and even then when I went to the doc I had to be almost carried. So I feel your pain!

I went to PT and was put on medication. For me, PT worked wonders and I haven't had any problems since.

Good luck, I hope everything turns out ok! Best wishes!

[Luna]

I dont think its is the Townie. I originally had a mountain bike and my back hurt alot on that bike. I borrowed a townie for a while and it did not bother me so i bought one. It seems with biking uphill at all and doing situps at home, I have done some pulling. I will find out mor thursday . I ahve had back issues for many years, but now its getting worse. I have been in spasm for 7 days now.:(

[bikerchick68]

Luna... my mom had back surgey in Nov... a laminectomy. She has since FAITHFULLY followed her PT's advice, and is now doing water therapy. She is back to work and can walk! We honestly thought she could end up in a wheelchair at 65yrs old. Her surgeon AND PT told her recumbent riding would be good for her...

so hang in there... get that MRI and find out what's going on and how to fix it. You may have to take SOME time off to heal, but I bet you'll be riding again...:)

[bmccasland]

Luna,
Good luck with your MRI today. Relaxing juju thoughts headed your way. :)

[pooks]

Relax ... and imagine yourself cruising along a beach or beautiful mountain trail....

[KnottedYet]

Yeah, it's noisy and all, but listen to the music on the headphones and zone out. (and don't be too shy to ask for a valium if you think you might need it)

It's kinda cool knowing this huge machine is taking such advanced pictures of yer innerds. All the noise is technology at work for YOU!!

Good luck, think of bikes and butterflies!

(and give us a report, ok? We're thinking about you!) :D

[TsPoet]

Luna,
There are lots of people on recumbents that start riding them due to back pain/problems.
So, depending on your MRI, personality, and desires, remember that you still have another bike option.
I'd be happy to give you choices/options, etc. if you want to try going bent. Fortunately (or unfortunately) there are as many styles of bents as there are DF (safety or upright) bikes.
Also - I had an MRI on my shoulder a few weeks ago. I totally panicked, had the worst few minutes of my life, heart racing, sweating, just awful. Then something happened and I almost laughed out loud. The rest of my 40+ minutes in the machine were boring. My point is, don't psych yourself out, like I did! If I hadn't been so concerned about panicking, I don't think I would have and the whole thing would have been boring rather than scary at first.

[mary9761]

Luna, I'm just seeing this thread so I'm sending good thoughts your way for your MRI, I recently went through the MRI for the lumbar of my back. I had to have an Open sided MRI as I'm EXTREMELY claustrophobic and too big for standard MRI tubes.
I have a bulged/herniated disc at L5/S1 along with some degeneration along L3 through S1. I opted for the microlumbar discectomy as my sciatic pain spread to my left leg while waiting to be seen by a neurosurgeon and I needed to get my live back to the abnormal that I'm accustomed to sooner than later. I ride a comfort bike (Trek Navigator 50) and you can do anything you want and physically can accomplish on your Townie. My longest ride has been 118 miles with some hills etc. It took me all day to do it and I've accomplished multiple centuries (7) and a total of 23 metric centuries (including the full centuries) last year before my back went out. I have over 7200 miles including road, trainer and stationary bike since July 2005. Luckily my Primary care physician said he believes I'll be able to get back on my bike eventually (he's a cyclist thank the gods) I don't believe the comfort bike had anything to do with my back problems (other than possibly lifting it on and off the front bus rack at times) I also watched my 2 grandsons under the age of 3 before this happened and had a back injury in 1988 so I don't believe it was the bike.
Good luck with whatever they say you do have, if you can do the PT good luck. My back situation was progressing and I knew the longer it took to get the less invasive surgery I've opted for, the less chance of it being successful. (my back went out day before Thanksgiving and I only finally got to see a surgeon/specialist in late March. It wasn't going to be for another week but when my pain went to BOTH legs I threw a fit about it taking so long to be seen) I'm scheduled for surgery 11 May now. Hopefully you won't have to take the same route, but if you do, find someone afterwards that knows sports medicine. I think you'll find out you can ride again too. My doctor said I would need to be more upright instead of bent over so it's probably just as well I'm ALREADY ON the Navigator. Anyways, once you get healed and cleared by a doctor, ride like you stole it girl.

[Luna]

Had the MRI, it was an open sit down one. HUbby came with me and I got to watch animal planet while getting MRI. It was about 20 mins.
Now just the wait for the results. I miss my Townie girl. My friends went biking tonight.
Thanks all of your for kind words and support. I will still need them as i recover and get strong on the bike again.:)

[mary9761]

Glad to hear your MRI went well. I hope your results come back soon for you and you have good news. I literally feel your pain about missing your bike. My Little Navigator keeps looking at me when I go out on the porch accusingly like I've got another bike on the side or something. :rolleyes: I promise her there isn't.

[Wahine]

Hang in there Luna. Once you have th MRI report, you'll have so much more information to work with.