Off bike for a while

[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.

[mary9761]

Thanks again everyone, and Silver's estrogen laden hubby I did finally get the MRI yesterday and have an appointment tomorrow with my doc so as much as I really hate having tests showing something wrong, I hope they see something on the MRI as well. I want to get my life back.
I'm recouperating again from a really BAD day yesterday after running out of meds because of no refills and red tape with the doc's office. Finally got a new script but I was in terrible pain by the time I got home. Thankfully between exhaustion and the meds I passed out. I'm doing better this evening.
I'm going to make sure I take a good dose of meds in me before I head to the doctor's office because one never knows how long one will have to wait there.
The plan as of right now at least is for my doc to look at the results of the MRI then referr me to a neurosurgeon for their consult/decision of what will be the best course of treatment. I just hope this doesn't drag out like the first time I injured my back years ago. I know this is worse though because when I had the compression fractures in 1988, I didn't have the leg pain.
I'm ready to get healed and send the poop faery back to where ever he/she came from (don't ever want anyone else to be visited by them either) we've had way too much illness/injury/surgery/financial situations in our family all at once here in the past few weeks.
Depending on how I'm feeling physically when I get home tomorrow afternoon/evening, I'll try to post whatever update I get from the doc. If it ends up I need surgery, I want it over with ASAP as well. I just need to get back to my abnormal (nothing is EVER normal in my family)
I hate the fact that now even for small amounts of groceries that I would have ridden my bike to get or have walked for I have to call someone to come and get me. Quite the reminder to myself and hopefully my family to see just how important my bike riding is/was.

BTW I just tried the scale thing, one regular non digital and the other digital it wouldn't work. I kept getting an error message on the digital and I was too tired to keep fighting with it.

Anyways thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers. May you all have a safe and happy holiday season. I apologize to any who may be having problems that I may have missed during this time. I have been limiting my sitting time at the computer as sitting is one of the more painful activities with this. I'm trying to catch up on some WAY overdue christmas toys for my neices and nephews that were started a couple years ago before I started watching my grands and lost that time to work on my dollmaking. Luckily all but a bit of it is already sewn and only needs stuffing and/or assembly. I'm hoping to finish it and if I get a chance I'll show you all what I'm doing to bide my time when I'm not flat on my back playing solitaire on my cell phone. I used to have all my art doll and play items on a picturetrail site, but I didn't pay to keep it up so the photos aren't online anymore. In my other life before cycling I was and to an extent still try to be a cloth doll/figurine artist with many originals. Most of what I'm working on right now are originals.

[maillotpois]

Good luck at the doctor's Mary. Let us know how it goes.

I would probably try to get by without taking any meds to go to the doctor's just so they can see how excruciating it is and you can describe it better. But I know it's a lot of pain.

[bcipam]

Mary since surgery is most likely in my future - I look forward to your reports especially if you do have surgery. The prospect scares the begeezus out of me and frankly I can't stand thinking about another year not being able to ride.

Let me know what the doc has to say.

Question re your pain meds... I've been taking them as sparingly as possible each day - just to take the edge of the pain so I can work and sleep. The pain meds however has really messed up my system. Has this happened to you and if so, how are you dealing with it? Milk of Mag has become my best friend!

[Tuckervill]

Pam, some of those narcotic-y pain meds mess up my system, too.

I had back surgery x 2 at L4-5 about 10 years ago. The first thing they did after I started PT was put me on a stationery bike. If I had been a cyclist then, I know I would have been able to ride after I had recovered. It wouldn't have taken a year, either. Of course, YMMV. But I don't think you'll be looking at a whole year of being unable to ride. You might have to curtail, or work up distance slowly, but not ride at all? I don't think so.

Vibing for a good outcome for you and Mary,
Karen