I'm baaacck....

[Dogmama]

My spine doc told me to stay off the bike, so I had to stay away from this forum because it created a longing similar to a sugar craving!! But, I've decided "screw him" and I'm riding today (ha!! I'll show him!!).

I have arthritis in my neck, compressed disks, nerve impingement and the whole mess is squeezing my spinal column creating pain and numbness in my shoulder, arms, hands (and recently legs.) He prescribed pills that I cannot take (makes me dopey and being perimenopausal, I don't have much more room for "dopey" in my life!). I'll probably have to have surgery.

HERE'S THE GOOD PART

I told him "I don't care what you have to do, get me back on my bike." He said although cycling is terrible for my neck, he has had other cyclists tell him the same thing. I am not alone!

I have a picture of a Lightspeed in my office that I jokingly say is my "after surgery bike." Just gazing at this beautiful picture evokes memories of warm days, long winding smooth downhills in the country and days when the bike has no chain. I would not buy this bike (I would dig deep into the bank account & have another custom road bike if I cannot re-customize my current bike) but it looks so sleek & light. Some women dream of diamonds for Christmas and we dream of Campy & Perls...

I'm missing riding El Tour (the century) next weekend, but I'll be out there next year. Move over Lance...

[DeniseGoldberg]

Welcome back - and good luck with your surgery.

I know that I wouldn't be very happy if I was told to stay off of my bike... so I hope that your physical condition improves (a lot!) and that you and your bike are reunited soon.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

Hang tough, dogmama. Come back for a quick fix periodically and give us updates.

[Nanci]

What if you got a recumbent? The people riding them sure look relaxed and happy. Plus, they hold most of the land speed records. (More efficient than they look?)

Nanci

[emily_in_nc]

DogMama ~ Sounds like a big ole NO FUN painful diagnosis. So sorry to hear about it.

I was also going to mention that you might consider a recumbent. A good friend of ours with chronic neck pain (he's tried everything short of surgery) rides one and has ZIP neck pain on it. Yeah, I know it's not quite the same, but there is a lot to be said for pain-free riding. I can vouch for that since I've still got pain at the back of my ilium since my pelvic fracture when I ride longer or hillier courses. It's easy to take riding pain-free for granted until you can no longer do it. Pain takes a lot of fun out of our sport.

Thinking of you and sending healing wishes,

Emily

[Jo-n-NY]

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery that will hopefully land you back on the bike. Like I mentioned in another post, I honestly believe that attitude has much to do with a persons recovery. You also are headed in the right direction.

My best wishes and thoughts are with you. Try go keep us updated with your progress when you can.

JoAnn