Off bike for a while

[silver]

Hi Mary! I'm sooo sorry that you are still having trouble with this. I do hope tha tyou get some answers with the MRI. Take good care of yourself!

[Geonz]

Gosh, and I just posted at BJ asking... but I know they want to know too. THinkin' of ye!

(P.S. I posted one of my fav'rite holiday greetings on my blog... link in my sig...)

[Michelemarrano]

Hi Mary!! I live in Columbus, OH and I've been reading about your back pain. I regret you're in pain and your riding, which has been so impressive, is on hold. In 2000 I herniated a disc in my back and surgery, etc...was being discussed. I took it upon myself to go to the Y and swim for an hour each day--at least in the water I felt "normal" again. In order to avoid additional injury by turning my head out of the water to breath as I swam a freestyle stroke, I wore a mask and snorkel so I did not have to lift my head out of the water. I was able to keep my entire spine stationary as I swam laps for an hour. In three months I was injury and pain free, no surgery, and I went back to working out with weights and riding again in 3 months.

My preferred exercise is bicycling (50 miles/week is my training goal) but I know the pool is always there for me should I be incapacitated. I hope this helps, XOXOX MH

[RoadRaven]

Oh Mary
I have an inkling of how devastatingly frustratingly horrid this must be for you

I was off my bike for most of September with chronic back pain which fortunately came right with a course of strong anti-inflammatory tabs

Everything hurt - sitting, standing, stepping, lying down... and that was only a few weeks

My thoughts join the others here with hopes for quick relief and respite from the pain and discomfort... and a speedy and full recovery from it all...

[silver]

Mary, this is silver's estrogen laden hubby:

I hope that the MRI identified something definitive.

Eight years ago, I had a similar problem with no "obvious" cause like a bulging disc.

So, my MD gave me a steroid pack that worked for a couple days, but then the pain was back. I had x-rays, but not MRIs, that showed nothing. Therefore, my MD's conclusion was it was time to "grin and bear it". He also gave me some meds that made me emotionally volatile - swinging from emotional to aggressive at the drop of a dime.

One day, in an act of desperation, I apprehensively made an appointment with an acupuncturist and a chiropractor . The acupuncture didn't do anything, the chiropractor cured me .

The chiropractor x-rayed me standing up (the MD's x-ray was laying down). The MD was looking for a bone spur or disc problem; the chiropractor was looking for a skeletal misalignment. The standing x-ray showed a very clear spinal misalignment that twisted my hips and pressed my right hip against the sciatic nerve. He 'pounded' my hip back in to place over a period of thrice weekly visits for 12 weeks. Ugh!

Eight years later, I still get regular adjustments and consult my chiropractor at the first signs of pain.

I wish you the best on this...it's a shame that insurance is such a complication.

[silver]

This is silver's hubby again:

I'm may not be a doctor, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

I believe that you can check for a serious misalignment by standing on two identical scales at the same time (maybe at Bed Bath and Beyond).

Theoretically, a balanced body will weigh the same on both scales; the more difference between the two scales, the greater the misalignment.

Might be an easy self check without spending money .

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

This is silver's hubby again:

I'm may not be a doctor, but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night...

I believe that you can check for a serious misalignment by standing on two identical scales at the same time (maybe at Bed Bath and Beyond).

Theoretically, a balanced body will weigh the same on both scales; the more difference between the two scales, the greater the misalignment.

Might be an easy self check without spending money .

Be sure to remove your shoulder bag with the jar of pennies in it when you do this.