My doctor....mumble grumble mumble

[Catrin]

My doctor isn't happy with the progress of my neck since my whiplash injury last year. He mountain bikes himself and flat out told me that I need to seriously consider stopping. Not stopping riding, or my gym work, but stopping mountain biking. Given my ride/crash/injury ratio over the last two seasons it becomes hard to argue with him. He is especially concerned with my cervical spine arthritis combined with the bulging disk plus the whiplash that hasn't healed completely yet. I can't handle any more neck injuries on the bike...

This is heart breaking to even consider - when it is working it is so much fun! I need to balance out prudence and fun... I won't make any immediate decision either way, but he has my attention and he hasn't ever gone here before. I love my Jamis, the thought of never riding her again is very hard to contemplate.

[ny biker]

If the issue is crash probability, you could still ride the bike, just not on singletrack.

[OakLeaf]

I'm sorry to hear that. I'd take his advice seriously, but also look for another opinion. Winter's coming - good time for a break, see if you can get it to heal better, maybe try a different approach (I think you mentioned you've exhausted insurance benefits for this year, the New Year is only a couple of months away which it could take that long to get an appointment anyway). Hang in there (((((Catrin)))))

[Catrin]

My Jamis is a size small for me - this was deliberate to take care of some fit issues, it would take some expense to make it comfortable for road use and that might not be easily done. Feels great on the trails, terrible on the road...

Oakleaf - I am thinking that perhaps it might be a good idea to find a good chiro in January. My insurance won't cover that, but I think my flexible spending benefits would - but I have to wait for next year for that. For now I think I am off the mountain bike, and there is some relief to that thought (along with sadness) so I take that as a sign that I am doing the right thing.

In the end, if this does become a permanent solution, it would cost far less to turn my Dakar XC into a commuter than it would be to buy another bike.

[goldfinch]

Oakleaf - I am thinking that perhaps it might be a good idea to find a good chiro in January.

Please, discuss with your doctor in detail about whether you should see a chiropractor and what exactly they can do for you. Maybe a PT is a better choice.

Sorry about the cycling and I hope you can find some nice dirt roads to explore next year. If not, come visit me!

[Irulan]

Some docs hate chiropractors, or don't see the benefit of cross discipline treatment, and other that welcome the "go with what works" approach. I know many pt's that dis chiropractic which is unfortunate for the good chiropractors out there. Personally I welcome multi disciplinary treatment options. If you know of someone highly recommend... you never know, it might be what you need. I think some MDs are really narrow minded about this kind of thing and think if you can't write a scrip for it, or operate on it, it can't be fixed.

[emily_in_nc]

If the issue is crash probability, you could still ride the bike, just not on singletrack.

What she said. The first year I started mountain biking, I rode single-track and fell a lot. I was always banging myself up -- whiplash, messed up shoulder, etc. etc. It just never seemed to end, and some of these injuries took months or more to heal. It was fun at times but terrifying at other times, and to get my skills to the point where I wouldn't fall as much would involve more practice and even more falls. Since I'd already recovered from a serious pelvic fracture on my road bike a couple of years earlier, I just didn't want to keep injuring myself.

So I switched to riding fire roads, gravel roads, and easier double-track trails. Some still had some serious hills and gorgeous woodland scenery, but were just not technical. Never fell again over the last two years I rode my MTB in the US. Might be an option for you and means you don't have to give up your beloved Jamis!

Keep us posted...

[Catrin]

So I switched to riding fire roads, gravel roads, and easier double-track trails. Some still had some serious hills and gorgeous woodland scenery, but were just not technical. Never fell again over the last two years I rode my MTB in the US. Might be an option for you and means you don't have to give up your beloved Jamis!

Keep us posted...

I would love to find places like this to ride...and there aren't many to choose from. I know there are some really steep gravel roads in southern Indiana. They are so remote that I wouldn't want to ride them by myself. This doesn't mean that there aren't other places I can ride - this is a good idea. I was focusing on not being able to mountain bike - but there is more than one style of riding. Single-track isn't the only option - thank you! Somehow I think she would be sad if she never got to see dirt/gravel/grass...something that wasn't paved!