Cervical Spondylosis shortening my rides

Rulebritania

I have Cervical spondylosis a fusing of the spinal bones in my neck. So far I have reversed the stem and fitted an extender, I take 2 zapain pain killers. However after 27miles or so the pain is back. I did 34miles once and was in bits at the end. Any sensible advice would be gratefully taken.

frisbee

A lot of people without neck and back conditions can still get back pain on longer rides, even a little bit of stretching makes a big difference for me.

mattv

Try getting a quality Bike Fit sorted. Speak to the person beforehand to see how much they know about neck/ back issues. I take Zapain for a shoulder condition, if it stops working in under 2 hours something is not right with the bike set up.

Rulebritania

mattv wrote:

Try getting a quality Bike Fit sorted. Speak to the person beforehand to see how much they know about neck/ back issues. I take Zapain for a shoulder condition, if it stops working in under 2 hours something is not right with the bike set up.

Cheers mate, never though of that. Its a pain (pardon the pun)

Tb2121

Bike fit is key, but also try to use your eyes rather than your neck to look ahead. Cervical spondylosis affects the joints of the neck- neck extension (posture on the bike)- will cause these joints to become irritated- as they come into closer proximity with each other during this movement, therefore keeping your neck in a neutral to slightly flexed position will take the load off the joints- but will require to use your eyes to look ahead of you.

Rulebritania

Tb2121 wrote:

Bike fit is key, but also try to use your eyes rather than your neck to look ahead. Cervical spondylosis affects the joints of the neck- neck extension (posture on the bike)- will cause these joints to become irritated- as they come into closer proximity with each other during this movement, therefore keeping your neck in a neutral to slightly flexed position will take the load off the joints- but will require to use your eyes to look ahead of you.

Whilst the idea is very good but I wear specs I don't have the money to spend on glasses so extended periods will tire my eyes. But I'll certainly give it a go to by riding on the hoods mostly and then short periods on the drops will ease both.

arthur_scrimshaw

Consider a 'bent? Quite popular in some circles.

freezing77

I have had cervical spondylosis for many years (30+), I find that if I stop for something I rotate my neck and also use a back and forward motion to stretch everything helps.
Managed the Dunwich dynamo over the weekend and being oldish it took me quite a few hours. Most everything else was hurting at the end but not my neck!!

Tb2121

Rulebritania wrote:

Tb2121 wrote:

Bike fit is key, but also try to use your eyes rather than your neck to look ahead. Cervical spondylosis affects the joints of the neck- neck extension (posture on the bike)- will cause these joints to become irritated- as they come into closer proximity with each other during this movement, therefore keeping your neck in a neutral to slightly flexed position will take the load off the joints- but will require to use your eyes to look ahead of you.

Whilst the idea is very good but I wear specs I don't have the money to spend on glasses so extended periods will tire my eyes. But I'll certainly give it a go to by riding on the hoods mostly and then short periods on the drops will ease both.

It's either tired eyes or painful neck- no other way round it I'm afraid.

Rulebritania

I'm happy to do 27-30 miles per ride and be relatively pain free. I will work on my pace on the short ride by comparison with so many.