I'm baaacck....

[Dogmama]

My spine doc told me to stay off the bike, so I had to stay away from this forum because it created a longing similar to a sugar craving!! But, I've decided "screw him" and I'm riding today (ha!! I'll show him!!).

I have arthritis in my neck, compressed disks, nerve impingement and the whole mess is squeezing my spinal column creating pain and numbness in my shoulder, arms, hands (and recently legs.) He prescribed pills that I cannot take (makes me dopey and being perimenopausal, I don't have much more room for "dopey" in my life!). I'll probably have to have surgery.

HERE'S THE GOOD PART

I told him "I don't care what you have to do, get me back on my bike." He said although cycling is terrible for my neck, he has had other cyclists tell him the same thing. I am not alone!

I have a picture of a Lightspeed in my office that I jokingly say is my "after surgery bike." Just gazing at this beautiful picture evokes memories of warm days, long winding smooth downhills in the country and days when the bike has no chain. I would not buy this bike (I would dig deep into the bank account & have another custom road bike if I cannot re-customize my current bike) but it looks so sleek & light. Some women dream of diamonds for Christmas and we dream of Campy & Perls...

I'm missing riding El Tour (the century) next weekend, but I'll be out there next year. Move over Lance...

[DeniseGoldberg]

Welcome back - and good luck with your surgery.

I know that I wouldn't be very happy if I was told to stay off of my bike... so I hope that your physical condition improves (a lot!) and that you and your bike are reunited soon.

--- Denise

[SadieKate]

Hang tough, dogmama. Come back for a quick fix periodically and give us updates.

[Nanci]

What if you got a recumbent? The people riding them sure look relaxed and happy. Plus, they hold most of the land speed records. (More efficient than they look?)

Nanci

[emily_in_nc]

DogMama ~ Sounds like a big ole NO FUN painful diagnosis. So sorry to hear about it.

I was also going to mention that you might consider a recumbent. A good friend of ours with chronic neck pain (he's tried everything short of surgery) rides one and has ZIP neck pain on it. Yeah, I know it's not quite the same, but there is a lot to be said for pain-free riding. I can vouch for that since I've still got pain at the back of my ilium since my pelvic fracture when I ride longer or hillier courses. It's easy to take riding pain-free for granted until you can no longer do it. Pain takes a lot of fun out of our sport.

Thinking of you and sending healing wishes,

Emily

[Jo-n-NY]

Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery that will hopefully land you back on the bike. Like I mentioned in another post, I honestly believe that attitude has much to do with a persons recovery. You also are headed in the right direction.

My best wishes and thoughts are with you. Try go keep us updated with your progress when you can.

JoAnn

[Dogmama]

Thanks so much to everybody!!!

I talked to the doctor and we will meet to go over surgery plans, etc. He said that I CAN get back on the bike!!!! Yahoo!!! The only caveat - the disks above & below the fusion will be working extra hard, so I will need to be careful. BUT - I'm the "draw the alphabet with your nose" gal (never knew why I needed that until a few weeks ago

I learned the alphabet-nose thing on THIS FORUM several years ago. You ladies "totally rock" (but you don't tip over, right?!)

[Nanci]

Why do you draw the alphabet with your nose?

Nanci

[Dogmama]

To loosen up the neck muscles on long rides. Try it - just make sure you don't swerve

[pkq]

Good luck with the surgery! Your attitude will carry you through the surgery and recovery to the bike.

[DirtDiva]

I think of you and your alphabet every time I stretch my neck/shoulders on the bike! I hope you get to have the surgery soon and the recovery is swift.

[Trek420]

Good luck, I'm sure you'll be on that Lightspeed soon.

Like others here I'd be sooooo reluctant to do surgery. I'd get a 'bent before I hung up my road bike. But then I'd look at the Mondonico and think "oh why not?".

My orthopedic surgeon told me that surgery for my arth would be a steep slippery slope leading to worse condition, it'd be the last option he'd do. And he reccomends for anyone who "will do the hard work" and work out to just find a way to keep moveing.

I like him, he's the opposite of knife happy.

I'm sure you've explored every other option from physical therapy, massage, accupuncture, water therapy, tai chi to hanging upside down from the rafters like a bat to ease the pressure.

I'm not kidding about that last bit.

I know you'll do everything you need to do afterward to keep moveing.

[Nanci]

It feels good to write the alphabet with your shoulders, too! Tried it on my ride this morning!

Nanci

[Yasmin]

Hi Dogmama. Sorry to hear about your spinal problems. Love your spirit & enthusiasm. You rock!

[RoadRaven]

LOL DogMama...

My husband takes doctors advice like you want to... good luck with listening to your body - it is usually right. I think often doctors deal with so many people wanting pain gone, that they forget some people can choose to work with pain, and sometimes working through the pain (gently) can mean the pain eventually disappears.

Looking forward to hearing about your post-surgery adventures!