Off bike for a while

[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.

[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

[foamy-rules]

hi mary

sorry to hear about your back pain,i can relate as i injured my back 3mths ago and have just started back riding regulary. it is amazing how much we need a strong back with strong core muscles. by hurting my back it showed me how weak my core muscles were and now i have been on a strength program to ensure that i am less likely to injure my back again. all i can say is drugs, massage therapy & acupuncture had the best effect.

chin up & you'll hit your goal very soon

[mary9761]

I saw my doctor today and the results are in.. I DEFINITELY have a bulged disc and pinched sciatic nerve.

From the MRI report

A. There is grade 1 anterolisthesis of L4 and L5.

(Layman's terms sort of ) In anterolisthesis, the upper vertebral body is positioned abnormally compared to the vertebral body below it. More specifically, the upper vertebral body slips forward on the one below.

The amount of slippage is graded on a scale from 1 to 4. Grade 1 is mild (20% slippage), while grade 4 is severe (100% slippage).

B. There is mild anterior height loss of vertebral bodies T11 and T12 with minimal degenerative change at this level. No associated bone marrow edema or bony fragments.
(I'm guessing this is likely one of my original compression fractures from my accident in 1988)

C. There is disc desiccation at L4 - L5 and L5 - S1 with mild space narrowing at these levels.

Basically I've been told L1 through L3 - L4 basically look normal with no disc compromise.
L4 - L5 show degenerative disc disease with a mild stenosis (pinching) of the nerve root
L5 - S1 is a diffuse bulged disc, lateralizing to the right (why I have the pain in my right leg) This is where the real damage is.

Our next step is a new course of another prednisone type and a referral to a neurosurgeon to see what he feels is the next step we need to do be it surgery or what.

It's been a LONG day and I'm probably going to be laying down soon to rest and will likely try to be online a bit more tomorrow.

My doctor says that I will likely be able to get back on the bike eventually, but being a cyclist , he did say that whatever bike I get on that we make sure the fit is right to keep pressure off the lower back etc. I told him that right now I'm on a comfort bike so I'm for the most part in an upright position and that when the time comes I'm comfident that Jimmy at The Bike Line will make sure we've got the bike adjusted correctly if there needs to be any changes made.

Thanks again for all the good thoughts, prayers etc. I have gone back to the original dose of antidepressant that I'd been prescribed some time back and that I'd cut in half (with the Ok of the doctor) since my cycling had improved my mood etc. I'm hoping that it's going to help elevate my mood from the deeper depression I had started to fall into.

I don't know how soon I'll be able to see the neurosurgeon but I'm hoping it's sooner than later. My DH has some health issues we're checking into as well so the stress from it has NOT helped my stress from my injury or other things that the POOP faery has dropped on our family for the holidays. Here's hoping the POOP FAERY is FLUSHED away and NEVER bothers anyone else!

Take care and I will check in again tomorrow when I'm a bit more rested.

Mary

Bcipam - re the fun stuff narcotics do to your system... the doctor prescribed colace (a stool softener) that can actually be purchased over the counter. Doctor also told me to keep an eye on any OTHER changes in bowel or bladder function as that can be signs of other (increased severity) changes in the nerve being pinched. Good luck.. I have a feeling surgery is in my future as well unfortunately as I have to get better asap so I can get back to watching my grandchildren.

[bikerchick68]

Mary... I'm glad to hear that you at least now know what is wrong...
hopefully it can be corrected without the surgery...

bcipam... keep me posted and let me know as your surgery approaches... I've been thru this twice with mom... one was a fusion of the neck and the one 11/16 that she is recovering from was a laminectomy... I'm here to answer any questions that I can...

Hoping you BOTH get better soon...

[Triskeliongirl]

Hi Mary, I am so sorry you are going through this, but knowledge is power. At least you now have a definitive diagnosis and can start taking appropriate steps to be healthy. Someone suggested water exercise. Ask you doctor if that is a good idea, or if he can suggest other movement (stretching, yoga, etc.). that is safe for you to perform now. I think anything you can do to stay active will help you get through this. Maybe even a recubment bike may be an option. Good luck at sorting it all out, and try to keep your spirits up. -e

[DrBadger]

Hey Mary-
Sorry to hear that you are still feeling so poorly, but at least you know what is causing the pain now. I know exactly what you are experiencing. 6 years ago i fell and herniated the disc between L4 and L5, I was a senior in college trying to finish and apply to graduate school, so I put up with extreme leg pain for ~ 6 months before seeing the neurosurgeon and having a micro-discectomy. I would not recommend waiting. See the surgeon, and if he thinks that surgery is your best option I would recommend getting it done sooner rather than later. The longer you wait the more possibility there will be permanent damage to the nerves, no fun.

The surgery it self was really not that bad... over night in the hospital, but the first time I got out of bed following surgery the leg pain was gone! Granted, now I had pain in my back from them cutting and digging around... but I was glad not to have the pain in my back!

As for the pain meds... I don't deal well with them either, and find that they make me quite depressed as well. For the 6 months I was in pain I was on therapeutic doses of Naproxen (Aleve), it is stronger than ibuprofen, but isn't a narcotic. I think that I was taking 2 Aleve (440 MG) 3-4 times a day under Dr supervision. This is what a prescription dose would be, but we were using the over the counter meds.

Good luck getting in to see the neurosurgeon soon, and keep your chin up. If surgery is your best option it isn't that bad, and you will be out riding again in no time (maybe on the trainer at first to protect the back from falls). I am back to an even more active lifestyle than I was pre-surgery.

PABadger

[bcipam]

Mary

Pam here checking in. Well I guess your DX is not unexpected. After the first of theyear I also get to do the cortisone injections (in the hospital) to see if I get any relief. I'm hoping that's just the ticket. Right now my pain (with alittle help from the pain meds) has subsided and last night and today have been the first days I could walk normally, not all gimpy. I'm hoping your back calms down soon and you get some relief.

I'm wondering about your riding. My doctor said it was good for me and I have to say, I do feel well riding and afterwards, have hours of relief but I'm not positioned up on my bike, I'm fairly bent over, stretched out. The doctor said (and it appears to be the case) that flexing the back right now is a good thing. Have you tried that or is it just too painful?

We basically have issues at the same location but different DX - yours being a disc budge and mine being stenosis due to arthritis . But I can see bending and stretching will take pressure off the disc. Sitting upright would put pressure on the disc.

* * *

PABadger - I'm a firm believer in Aleve and have tried to take that for relief but unfortunately it'seither just not strong enough or isn't working the way I need, as I still have pain while on it so I'm still struggling with the Vicodin although right now down to 1 tab a day (1/2 in the am 1/2 at night). Kind if hoping to get down to 1/2 in the pm soon. My system is getting better I think cause I cut down the dosage.