I have been doing way better since I started taking neck-conservative measures and I got an inexpensive recumbent (Sun EZ1-SC-Lite) about 10 days ago so I can try riding again. Unfortunately I have not been able to get surgery. Even though my neurologist and PT both agree that the disc herniation is probably causing my symptoms, I have now had two neurosurgeons tell me that it is impossible that I have the symptoms that I do have, and that I am mentally ill for insisting that I do! They won't even do the further testing that the neurologist wanted to have done! I have pretty well destroyed my neck evidently. My PT says I may have some ligament problems contributing, since I cannot raise my head above horizontal without bringing on symptoms and he tried "passive extension" on my neck which caused me to have myelopathy (spinal cord compression) for 3-1/2 days. The neurosurgeons look at the MRI's which were done flat on my back (of course I don't live my life flat on my back so my PT says that my spinal cord would look way different if they could do an MRI in an upright position) and say that I can't have spinal cord compression (even though the radiologist that read my last MRI says that I do have spinal cord compression!). Next stop will be Mayo Clinic if I can't get any further here.

Anyway I have been trying the recumbent! It is a long wheelbase model, sort of a less-expensive made in Taiwan Easy Racer, designed by the Easy Racer designer. It is sooooo slow in comparison to a regular bike. My climbing takes forever and my granny isn't low enough. But anyway, I am riding again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've done 47 miles so far (would have done more if it wasn't 107 degrees here.) I will hopefully do the local metric half-century in September if all goes well.