Cyclists, how does your back effect your riding?

[Stephanie]

I'm an avid cyclist, and I find I don't have the same energy level and stamina that I had last year at this time. I'm attributing it to the DDD - I get tired so quickly. If any of you ride, have you found this to be the case, or what have you run into? For those of you that have had ADR, have you been able to get back on the bike yet, and if so, with what results?

[APS]

Stephanie,
Same here - not at all the same stamina as last year for me either. I logged a lot of miles last year. This year, I'm no where close.
I notice it even more with climbing, do you notice a difference between riding the flats as opposed to hills and climbing?
I'm pre-ADR, DDD/3rd herniation at L4-L5.
Andrea

[Stephanie]

Hi Andrea,

I do notice it more with climbing, the pain radiates into the left side of my groin. I used to be able to climb anything at a good pace, now I struggle with hills that never fazed me in the past. I get tired after a 40 mile ride and that never bothered me before either.

I'm hoping that the ADR procedure will not only improve my overall quality of life, but let me ride with the energy level I had last year.

[letteski]

Stephanie,

I am an avid cyclist too. mmgobal/Mark-*** said I was the first spine patient to show up at his house with a road bike on their car. I use to be able to ride for 4-6 hours 40 miles and now I am lucky to get in 1 hour 10 miles.

A few weeks ago I headed out on a 22 mile loop that I use to do after working all day as a Adapted PE teacher and had to turn around half way in. I was light headed and feeling dizzy. Drank some cydomax, (energy drink) felt good enough to get back to the car. 2 months a go I was able to ride much more. Climbing kills my back too.

I am spinning at the gym and PT it feels great to spin, love the endorphins, however I am stiff when I stop but know I can stop any time on a stationary bike. Blasting my mp3 in my ears and watch soccer on TV helps me with the stationary drag. Trying to just maintain a bit of aerobic base these days. I was told I could road bike after ADR but no Mt biking until next year.

We will have to have an ADR post-op tour some day. I live at Lake Tahoe we can ride around the lake. I did it last year in 5 hours 72 miles over 2000 feet of climbing. But not this year.

[APS]

Stephanie and Paulette,
It's a relief to hear about similar biking/pain stories! When I start climbing the pain goes right into my right hip and groin too.
I suppose our symptoms could also be chalked up to pain in general is exhausting - but it's still no way to live.
I'd love to ride Lake Tahoe some time (I'm hoping next year will be post-ADR)! Last year one of my big rides was the Lance Armstrong Skinny Tire in Moab, Utah climbing up something they refer to as "the big nasty." I can't imagine doing that again this fall, but I might try anyway, I'm sure you both can relate to "well, I have to keep trying".
Andrea

[letteski]

Andrea,

Did you get to meet Lance? Reading his book "It's Not About The Bike" opened my eyes to the big picture of health care in the US and that you may have to travel to find the best doctor for you. When Lance left Texas for Indiana and the doctor there said that they would do brain surgery to cut the cancer out of his brain I had a light bulb moment that I may have to leave Nevada to find the best doctor for ADR and I did. My favorite line in the book is when the doctor says to Lance "You know how good you are at riding a bike well I'm way better at brain surgery". That�s the kind of doctor I what to do ADR on me. Not in the exact words I think I found him in LA.

Go Lance!!!!!!!!!!!!

[florihupf]

Riding the bike improves things a lot!

[Stephanie]

Hey guys,

I'd love to ride around Lake Tahoe too. I read Lance's book, I'm a big advocate of mind over matter. You can do anything you want to do, recover from anything given the right tools, but first the problem has to be resolved. I just bought a new frame, a Serotta Ottrott, and I almost want to wait until after this back issue is fixed before I build it because it won't be the best ride as things stand now.

The first real ride I did this spring, I sprinted up a hill after the boys and threw up at the top. This was two days after my second steroid epidural and maybe I still had anethesia in my system. I too felt light headed and dizzy. I can ride full out for awhile and then I run out of steam. It's so frustrating.

Yeah, we'll have to get together after we're "fixed" and ride. I'd love it.

[annapurna]

What a wonderful thread, thanks for starting this. I'm almost three years post-op from a single level ADR and have done a lot of cycling since my surgery. Year one post-op was a bit of a wash 'cause the knees needed surgery, but, year two was nice. I only ride on the road, but, I got to do some of the really beautiful mountain passes here near my home in northern Utah (Mirror Lake Scenic Highway, Logan Canyon, Teton Pass, Flaming Gorge area). I love to ride in the mountains and will go out of my way to add another big pass to a day of riding. The fact that I ascend slower than molasses in January doesn't bother me a bit (3 mph is just fine, thank you). My average mileage last year was less than "pre-DDD", but was still a respectable 50-100 miles.

This year has been frustrating as I've had some pain (all on the left side). It REALLY limits both speed and mileage. The pain is aggravated by headwinds and long pulls on the flats, but tends to diminish on big hills - just the opposite of many of the previous posters. I'm going in to the local spine doc tomorrow to plan another round of diagnostic injections and/or imaging to try to figure it out.

Please count me in on the "when we get fixed" ride. Maybe we should start a "spiney-ride" to raise money for research in spinal disorders?

Best to All

Laura

[APS]

Paulette,
Unfortunately Lance was not at the ride. I think they always spread the rumor that he will be there for a better turn-out but I've been on these rides for a couple of years and I've never seen him, which is too bad! Wow, I don't know what I would do if I ever saw/met him.

Stephanie, a Serotta frame - ni-ice. I can understand you want to be healthy to fully enjoy that first ride!

Laura, it's great to hear from a cyclist post-ADR! And of course I'm envious and hopeful that I will be post ADR someday too.

A spiney ride to raise money for research of spinal disorders, what a great idea.

Andrea