Off bike for a while

[Offthegrid]

I hope you feel better really soon ... back pain is the worst.

If it IS sciatica, then I hope you can take comfort in the fact that it often gets better without surgery (see recent NYT article). But that doesn't really help right NOW when the pain is intense. I had a bout with it this summer, and now I don't have any pain or problems at all.

{{{ Lots of hugs }}}

[Geonz]

Don't feel any worse than you already do about not riding, and hoping, hoping that if you're gentle on yourself, this will pass, and that you'll find ways to be moving and active that don't **hurt**, even if it's not on a bike.

I'll get up early and ride before work for you on Monday ... (for you... it has NOTHING to do with that Howard guy or ladyjai )

May your nerves UNPINCH... {{{{{Mary}}}}}

[momof4greatkids]

Mary, you are an inspiration! 200 miles til 5K! I am so sorry you are sidelined for this time, but w/ibuprofen, vicodan, heat and rest, I am sure you will be back in the saddle in no time. It is heartachingly difficult to take time off the bike, especially when the beautiful weather beckons. Be gentle with yourself during this time and take good care of yourself, you deserve it!

Colleen

[Geonz]

(could be worse... could be May ...)
4800 is a darned good goal, for that matter!

[Tuckervill]

Mary, I had flashbacks just from reading your description. I've had my back worked on twice and the second time was worse than the first. It happened just like you said, all of a sudden, but it was becasue I was wearing HIGH HEELS.

If you're not better in a day or two, go ahead and see someone else about it, will you? I suffered for 3 months and surgery was the only thing that helped. Maybe a bit of PT can get you on the bike again.

I hope you get better soon!

Karen

[mary9761]

Thanks everyone. I thought that I'd pop in again for a minute while I can sit without too much pain. I appreciate all the kind words from you all. I think I'll be trying to get another appointment tomorrow or go to the ER as I'm not really getting much better. My heart goes out to the rest of you who are and/or have been off the bike due to injuries/illness. This BITES! It's another gorgeous day outside and I've spent the better part of the last almost 4 days flat on my back.
I keep having flashbacks of being stuck in bed for several months after falling down the steps in '88. I just got my life back and have been improving my health and I most DEFINITELY DON'T want to back where I came from physically or mentally. I hope that the doc can figure out what this is, and what caused it so I don't do it again to reinjure whenever I get it healed. In the meantime I can watch my spot drop like a lead sinker.

[ridethewind]

Hey Mary...here's hoping this is just very temporary and you can get back on your bike soon. I had a similar experience a couple of years ago. Have no idea what I did, but it was so bad I could not even get into a car to go to the doctor at first. Turned out x-rays showed I have arthritis in my lower back. The doc prescribed p.t. and that helped a lot. I still have a low-grade ache in my back, but--knock on wood--no recurrence of that terrible pain. Hope you get some relief soon.

[twin]

I hope you start to feel better and can ride soon. Congratulations on the miles you have and might have.

[ridethewind]

Sorry to hear you aren't any better, Mary. Back pain is a real bummer. I hope the MRI will pinpoint the problem so the doc will know what needs to be done to fix it. Hang in there.

_____________________________
Jean

[cosc]

Mary I'm so sorry your still in pain. Worse bummer than ever being sick during the holidays. I hope Dr. can figure a way to help you feel better quick. It's hard for me not being able to ride in the winter weather, but I shouldn't be down when I'm healthy and feeling well, Huh? I'll keep you in my prayers.

[HappyAnika]

Hi Mary, I'm sorry you're not feeling any better. I've been in a similar situation, I had some twisted vertebrae at the base of my spine pinching my sciatic nerve. All of the pain was in my back and middle, luckily no leg pain, but I couldn't walk, stand, sit, lie down, I was miserable. I went to see a chiropractor and within hours I was feeling unbelievably better. Went back the next day, then two days after that and within a week I was almost back to normal. I was scared about seeing a chiropractor since what you see in the movies can be scary, spine cracking and popping, but it was just some gentle re-alignments that did a world of good. They also gave me some simple stretches and exercises to do at home which really helped. I hate to see you writing about taking vicodin and going to the ER, in recent years I've been increasingly fed up with traditional western medicine (treat the symptoms, not the cause), and have started looking more into homeopathic, osteopathic and wholistic remedies. This isn't to say that vicodin and ER's aren't valuable (vicodin was my friend after tearing my ACL and having two surgeries), but its not always the best route. Just my 2 cents. I hope you're feeling better soon, like I said, I've been there and I know how miserable it is. Best wishes for healing soon

[Ninabike]

Mary, I just got back on the board today and saw your thread for the first time. So sorry to hear about your back problem. I'm sure the doctors will find the source of the problem and, whatever the treatment will be, you are such a strong person, you will handle it and continue to be an inspiration to us all.

All the best.
Nina

[bcipam]

Mary - right now I feel your pain literally!

The Friday before Thanksgiving my buddy and I went to Disneyland. Had to stand around a long time waiting for fireworks. My back started hurting and got worse and worse. Next morning I was crippled. Although it hurt like the ****ens - it didn't keep me from riding the next week since I had off from work (it did keep me from doing any house work, laundry, yard work etc. Riding came first).

This last Friday, after I got home all of a sudden my left leg was on fire. The pain was so intense I got scared. I am very high pain tolerant. After my collarbone repair and my colon cancer surgery I took no pain killers but this pain was something else. Something more than I ever felt before.

So I called my buddy and had him take me to the ER. Since I could not localize the pain and it appeared to originate in my groin so I thought maybe my recent cancer surgery was the cause. The hospital conducted tons of tests - some not very pleasant. They couldn't find anything wrong and sent me home with a presciption for VIcodin.

Have to say although I hate taken drugs Vicodin ws my special buddy this weekend. All I could do was curl up on the couch and take it. I couldn't even straighten out as when I did the pain intensified. Now the pain was more localize... my hip? My knee? My shin? A blood clot? Was hard to say.

Made it to the ortho. surgeon today. Today my pain is in my shin. It's moving down my leg. The doctor measured my weakness and surprising my left leg is barely functioning. I could not walk on my left heel, or pushed the doctor's hand back with my toes, or keep the toes curled. Strange!

The doctor took x-rays and you can easily see the degenerative changes at L1 - L5. Tomorrow I go in for an MRI. The doctor gave me a cortisone shot in his office. Doesn't appear to be doing anything unfortunately and now my back hurt where I got the shot.

Funny story - I knew the doctor was going to give me a shot, I figure a shot, you know a small needle, some pain killer etc. The nurse out this huge horse syringe - I swear it was 8 " long! Next thing I know, everyone is looking at me strangely - appears I past out. My stomach was alittle queasy. The doctor gave me the injection. All I can say is I hope it was worth it cause I don't want to do that again!

Bottom line - I have "old lady who's too fat and does too much and has a bad back oh what can I do?" disease. Oh well....

[bikerchick68]

yikes bcipam! keep us posted on that MRI... my mom is currently staying with me while recovering from a laminectomy for degenerative disc disease... she had the neck fused in 04... hopefully this will "fix" it for a long time now...

the good news? Recovery from fusion gave her back motion and life without pain... and so far on the back, it's looking good... we'll have a better idea in 3 months... total heal time...

Oh yeah.. and by the way, it's genetic... I told her I would have preferred the gene for a small butt and thighs... she assured me that gene does not run in the family...

[AutumnBreez]

I wish you the best Mary! I swear by chiropractors, saved my mother and myself. So serious...give it a try.
You will get to your 5000. Don't go overboard once you feel bit better, it's easy to overdo it. Take care, ABCL