Serious Neck Problems

[cyclesooz]

I need some help and advice about what I'm going thru right now. I have been off my bike for about 9 months now (to give a hamstring tear/leg pain a rest) I took up swimming in its place and immediately had severe neck pain. I kept swimming and ultimately the pain became so severe I had to have an MRI. It showed I have severe central stenosis, bone spurs, and a bulging disc (C5-6). Needless to say, I stopped swimming, but now my leg feels better and I want to start riding my bike again, but I can hardly hold my head up (can make about 10 miles only). I tried a round of Prednisone, but after reading these posts I realize doc had me on a very small dose (only 24 mg total first day, then tapered down to 4mg on 6th day--really nothing). No pain relief so I'm still taking ibuprofen and vicodan round the clock. Doc says maybe we'll try a epidural block, but he thinks my condition is too far gone. He told me I will probably need a fusion (surgery) soon. He also told me NO riding because I cannot risk a fall or any trauma to my neck. I am very depressed and am secretly going out on 10 mile rides for my emotional well being. Not sure what the future holds. I will probably never race again but just want to feel good on my bike and be able to ride like I used to (30 to 40 mile group rides). Anybody out there have any advice or suggestions? Anybody ever go through a fusion surgery? I think right now I will try an epidural to see if I get some pain relief. I wish I had never stopped cycling and never started swimming--that probably made all this come about. If you are fit on the bike, never stop! If you don't use it, you lose it!! Especially when you get older (I'm 48). Thanks! Sooz

[Biciclista]

sounds tough. if it were me, I'd be looking for non-surgical, non drug remedies (like the kind of PT that KnottedYet does) but I'm not you.

A coworker of mine has had fusion and as soon as it healed he got back onto his bike.
Good luck and welcome to TE.

[shootingstar]

How difficult it must be for you. Hope you find a pain-free way of dealing with your neck pain/problem. It sounds serious. Your whole upper body is probably stiff just from trying to be careful in your general head /neck movements at this time.

Keep us posted.

And by the way, there's no shame in considering a 2nd bike, that is abit more upright in sitting position for you.

[OakLeaf]

(((((((sooz)))))))

I don't think I'm giving anything away by linking to this thread.

Snap will probably be along soon.

But if it were me, I'd definitely want at least a PT evaluation before any of that other stuff. Statistics are on the side of non-surgical intervention, as a general rule, although obviously statistics don't speak to individual cases.

My dad had great pain relief from his fusion (I want to say it was C3-4 but I'm really not sure). But I wouldn't feel very safe on a bike (or in a car) if I couldn't turn my head any more than he can. JMO.

Anyway I hope you get it sorted very soon. That's got to be miserable.

[runningteach]

I'm sorry you are going through this. I would suggest a PT evaluation as others have said and maybe even a second opinion if your insurance will pay for it. I know someone that had an epidural shot for severe back problems and it helped. She is a triathelete. I am pretty sure I also know someone that had fusion, will have to ask and she is also a triathelete and has come back strong.

As for prednisone, I take it daily for lupus and it has never helped for aches or pain.

[cyclesooz]

Oakleaf, Thanks for the link-- wow, sounds like Snap has gone thru alot with her neck. Hopefully she will write soon. Did she ever get back on her bike since the surgery??
BTW, I have been going to PT. I go twice a week, each time for 2 hours. They give me the works and have me doing exercises, etc. But the best is when the RPT works on my neck--pulls my head, turns it to the side and rubs my shoulder where the pain is. This helps my mobility quite a bit.
Thanks everyone for writing words of encouragement!

[Grits]

My husband just had a 3 level fusion last Friday. He came down with very sudden, severe pain 4 weeks prior to that and tried everything during that time to get relief: steroids (2 rounds), chiropractor, PT, acupuncture, pain meds, muscle relaxers, TENS unit, ice packs. I don't think he slept more than 3 hours straight during that whole time and was absolutely miserable. He couldn't work or concentrate. He had basically the same diagnosis as you with severe stenosis, spurs, etc.

He was in the hospital overnight and has had a remarkably easy recovery so far. (The worst part, according to him, was the removal of the catheter.) He has noticed that the pain and weakness in his arm is gone now. With the post op pain around his neck, it is hard to say for sure that all the pain is gone, but he thinks it is. He is a golfer, not a cyclist, but the surgeon says he will be fit for golf in 2 months time.

It is always best to seek non surgical alternatives, but sometimes surgery is the only option. I wish you the best in seeking relief and the best treatment options for you.

[solobiker]

My FIL had something similar done many years ago, before DH and I were married. ( I think about 17 years ago) He did just fine with it. I think since you are acitve you should recover fairly well. I too would get a second opinion, can't hurt. Have you tried different styles of bikes? Mtn vs Road? What about a recumbant? Not sure if that would help with the postioning of your head/neck so you are not stretched out. Good luck!!

[blackhillsbiker]

I ended up with the surgery (fusion) when PT couldn't ease the pain, or stop the electric shock down my left arm and the numbness in my left hand. I recovered really well. I ride an upright bike now, but have good mobility in my neck. I can't sustain looking up for very long, and I've foregone the pedal clips because falling wouldn't be a good thing, but really I'm happy with the outcome. I hope you find the solution (preferably non-surgical, but surgical wasn't the end of my world) because a "pain in the neck" is NO FUN!

Deb

PS. I'm 47

[KnottedYet]

But the best is when the RPT works on my neck--pulls my head, turns it to the side and rubs my shoulder where the pain is. This helps my mobility quite a bit.

If something as simple as relieving the muscle tension increases your mobility, there is every reason to think your body can deal with the stenosis and bulge given the chance. Your PT should be giving you an exercise (in one direction) that uses your own motion to push the bulge back in where it belongs. Get the bulge under control and healed first. That may take a couple (or a few!) weeks of doing one motion every couple hours (pushing the bulge back over and over again), but once it's healed that part is done.

Next is working on the stenosis by teaching your body a new posture to hold the neck in. Stenosis is permanent, it's a bony change, and it happens to us all. Blame gravity! It only really causes trouble when the body doesn't adapt and adjust to the gradual bony change. Swimming didn't do that to you, it just pointed out the problem by putting you in a situation where your body didn't know what to do, and defaulted into "tighten everything up and hold on for dear life!" (bone doesn't change overnight, but soft tissue can)

Don't despair, and don't get depressed! Ask your PT to show you how to work directly on the root of the problem: how to push the bulge back into place, and how to adapt your neck posture to the stenosis.

(Right now the nerve fibers getting wolloped by the stenosis are really crabby and probably inflamed/swollen, so be patient and kind with that part. They need to calm down - which means learning how not to wollop them, what NOT to do for a while - before you'll feel a big change.)

[myjas]

I have had this surgery 2x. C6-7 first then C5-6. Both levels were herniated when I had first surgery but neuro would not fix both because C5-6 was not bad enough. After 2nd surgery(3years later) I was back on my bike in 10 days(shhhhh, don't tell dr.). April was a year now since 2nd surgery and I am in the best shape of my life(41). I just went over my handlebars Saturday and my neck is fine. The only thing I really notice nis I can't flod towels cause my chin can't go to my chest. It really doesn't affect me turning my head(that is done at C1-3 mainly).

If you have any questions please feel free to ask. I did alot of research and was suffering with this for a year.

[Faster Pussycat]

Neck pain is just unbearable.

I have not had fusion surgery but I have had quite a number of nerve blocks done for neck pain. I had a head injury two years ago and damaged the facet joints on my c-spine at c1 - c4, damaged c4 disc as well as nerve damage to the greater and lesser sub-occipital nerves.

I used to run before this accident (a collision with a skier) and on advice from physio took up swimming which in turn made the pain so much worse.

I saw many different professional (physio, chiro, acupunture, myotherapies, naturopathy, rolfing, osteo and a few other more out their options) The reality was that it didn't really work. I got short term relief but I was back seeing someone once or twice a week. After two years of this it was financially unsustainable and not getting any better was emotionally distressing.

Earlier this year I refered to a specialist pain management clinic at the hospital where I work. They did my nerve blocks, arranged appropriate physiotherapy and also sessions with a pain management psychologist. I get pretty good pain relief from the blocks (probably around 40-50% improvement in my pain). I can now build up my ride lengths. I had the same problem with not being able to hold my head up....and I lean to the left!

The most helpful thing the pain clinic has done is provide me with intergrated care. Before this I was being bounced from physio, to neurologist, to neurosurgen and back again. They have also helped me strategies to manage the pain - which as chronic pain is likely that I will have to deal with in some capacity for the rest of my life.

I still have some issues out on the road. I am terrified of another head injury! I have restricted movement to the right so I can't ride on my own on busy roads as merging is problematic. I can't check over my shoulder that well so cars can sneak up on me (we ride/drive on the left hand side of the road...just so that makes sense :lol: )

My balance is also pretty rubbish but this is a risk of doing blocks/ablations on the upper c-spine joints.

But all in all I am much better than I was.

[shootingstar]

Earlier this year I refered to a specialist pain management clinic at the hospital where I work. They did my nerve blocks, arranged appropriate physiotherapy and also sessions with a pain management psychologist. I get pretty good pain relief from the blocks (probably around 40-50% improvement in my pain). I can now build up my ride lengths. I had the same problem with not being able to hold my head up....and I lean to the left!

The most helpful thing the pain clinic has done is provide me with intergrated care. Before this I was being bounced from physio, to neurologist, to neurosurgen and back again. They have also helped me strategies to manage the pain - which as chronic pain is likely that I will have to deal with in some capacity for the rest of my life.

I still have some issues out on the road. I am terrified of another head injury! I have restricted movement to the right so I can't ride on my own on busy roads as merging is problematic. I can't check over my shoulder that well so cars can sneak up on me (we ride/drive on the left hand side of the road...just so that makes sense :lol: )

My balance is also pretty rubbish but this is a risk of doing blocks/ablations on the upper c-spine joints.

But all in all I am much better than I was.

Wow, pcat you've been through alot re your neck/spine problems and diagnoses.

Have you at all considered cycling on a recumbent bike?
Perhaps someone else here can speak more on the experience of cycling on recumbent bike, since I'm not sure how shoulder -checking for traffic works in reality.

[Faster Pussycat]

Hi Shootingstar,

I have not thought of a recumbent bike as an option but is something I should look into. The traffic issues shake my confidence a little but i tend to be OK in groups. Sydney is also not particularly cyclist friendly that I worry I would be even less visible on a recumbent.

When I first started on the road bike (having not been on a bike for 15 years) I thought it was all good until at one point I had to do a sharp, right hand turn and I just couldn't get around as I couldn't "look where I wanted to go"

My ego hurt more than my knee as I ran into the gutter

[Wahine]

If something as simple as relieving the muscle tension increases your mobility, there is every reason to think your body can deal with the stenosis and bulge given the chance. Your PT should be giving you an exercise (in one direction) that uses your own motion to push the bulge back in where it belongs. Get the bulge under control and healed first. That may take a couple (or a few!) weeks of doing one motion every couple hours (pushing the bulge back over and over again), but once it's healed that part is done.

Next is working on the stenosis by teaching your body a new posture to hold the neck in. Stenosis is permanent, it's a bony change, and it happens to us all. Blame gravity! It only really causes trouble when the body doesn't adapt and adjust to the gradual bony change. Swimming didn't do that to you, it just pointed out the problem by putting you in a situation where your body didn't know what to do, and defaulted into "tighten everything up and hold on for dear life!" (bone doesn't change overnight, but soft tissue can)

Don't despair, and don't get depressed! Ask your PT to show you how to work directly on the root of the problem: how to push the bulge back into place, and how to adapt your neck posture to the stenosis.

(Right now the nerve fibers getting wolloped by the stenosis are really crabby and probably inflamed/swollen, so be patient and kind with that part. They need to calm down - which means learning how not to wollop them, what NOT to do for a while - before you'll feel a big change.)

I'm a PT, triathlete and coach. I just want to chime in a say that what Knott has laid out here is very good advice. Especially the part about swimming not causing the problem, it just brought out the symptoms. With that much degenerative change in your spine, something would have brought out the symptoms sometime and it well could've been cycling if swimming hadn't done it first.

The other thing I would add is that traction units are available for home use. Usually you can rent really nice pneumatic units that allow you to lie down and relax, without any pressure through your jaw from a vendor. You should ask your PT about this possibility. It having a practitioner pull on your head helps, having a traction unit at home may help a lot.

Good luck and don't despair. These things do get better with conservative treatment and if does come down to it, the surgery is usually effective, even if it's not ideal.