Riding with a slipped disc

y33stu

Anyone else had the misfortune of suffering from a slipped disc?

Did mine back in July. Been suffering badly ever since. Got better in Sept but then got much worse in Nov. I've been to physio, sports massage, and then chiropractor, who is 95% certain its a slipped disc.

I've still been commuting 23 miles a day almost every day, but its agony getting off the bike. It doesn't hurt to ride, but straightening or standing up after getting off the bike is agony. Same when I go from sitting down to standing up.

Just wondered if anyone has gone through a similar thing? How did you put it right? Any lasting effects of cycling? Anything I should avoid etc.. I'm doing a few lower back strengthening exercises, but nothing cycling specific.

top_bhoy

You've being seeing many different health practitioners; what did they advise?

I'm hoping you've asked them first before asking the forum

mamba80

i damaged my back lifting a tractor battery several years ago, despite seeing every body and everyone and spending a small fortune, (i didnt want it on my med records so always went private.. a mistake!) nothing really worked and i had symtoms similar to yours, i gave up trying to cycle or run.
From my experience many so called back specialists are nothing more than quacks, who want your money and arnt interested in getting you strong again.
Eventually i saw my gp & was refered to an nhs physio and on to a back clinic in a hospital, following their advice, made a 90% recovery, allowing me to kayak, run and cycle all i want, lifting stuff is a no no!
but if i let up on the exercises for more than a week or 2 i can get mild pain and i have to watch my posteur too.
Its a long term injury and they arnt many quick fixes, everyones back injury is different but my advice would be to go down the nhs route and insist on physio and a back clinic.

y33stu

Cheers @Mamba80 - that's the route I'm going down. Have seen loads of private health 'professionals' but as you say, they're more interested in signing you up to a long term plan than actually treating you.

And @top_bhoy none of them filled me with any confidence regarding cycling, so was hoping for some real life/cycling opinion from those who have been there.

Got an appointment at the Spinal clinic at end of Feb at NHS hospital, so hopefully that will be the start of a recovery.

Can't see me getting out for my 5 hour winter rides any time soon though

ilovegrace

I have suffered two herniated discs. The term Slipped disk is not used any more .
To be honest I could give you loads of information and advise but if you are as bad as you said then you need to see your GP and insist on a MRI scan , then once you have a concrete diagnosis you can start to work out a road to recovery.
I can tell you this though if it is a herniated disc then you MUST read Treat Your Own Back http://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back ... 0959804927 this will give you an insight into the mechanics of the back and help in trying to ensure it will not "go" again.
Another thing , my disc went 23 years ago and it troubles me to this day but I cycle 30 miles a day on my commute and 50 plus on Sundays , So
1 get an MRI scan
2 study your condition
3 This is a lifetime condition so learn to manage it
4 DO NOT consider going under the knife unless you have exhausted all of the above.
regards
ILG

gcwebbyuk

I'm 36 and 6 years ago I was diagnosed with two herniated discs in my neck and one in the base of my spine. I used to mountain bike and ride a motor bike. Due to the pain involved and lack of strength I eventually gave both up. I saw physios, chiropractors and osteopaths to try and prevent having to have surgery. However in January 2010 I ended up having to have the disks in my neck replaced and fused (c5/c6 and c6/c7). The disc in my lower back was not bad enough to require surgery though (l5/s1).

Coming up to five years on, I am still taking pain medication and am still in a lot of pain but am finding weekly deep tissue massage helping.

In June this year I actually managed to start cycling again, and have just started a training program with TrainerRoad on a turbo trainer.

My advice is similar to ilovegrace, try and get an MRI scan so that you can see what is actually going on. From there, try and see a variety of people (who you feel you can trust).

Bottom line is that it won't completely stop you from cycling, but it may slow you down or restrict the time you can spend on the bike. In fact today I woke up with a neck spasm, I currently can't rotate my head to the right. I was still able to do a 90 min session On the turbo, but have had to take diazepam since then to try and release the muscles and allow me to turn.

Good luck, and hope you get some answers in February at the spine clinic.

Quins

Hi Stu, a timely thread. I'm missing my fast inters club run this morning as I caused my back to spasm while putting my overshoes on this morning!
I've had back issues for a number of years ( played loads of different contact sports since a kid , now 52) been in various Osteo, Gp, Physio and consultant couches. Eventually the quest to find out what was causing the pain in my right thigh, groin, stomach ( after a couple of back spasm episodes) led to an MRI about 5-6 years ago. The images showed 3 black areas in my lower spine, 3 degenerated discs in a row. The consultant said the discs had lost their fluid. He said that I had led a bit of a " James Bond lifestyle" and that I should consider my activities , get a kneeling pad to do gardening or get someone else to look after the allotment in my small holding...... He was telling me to stop!

He added that the pain would probably ease once the fluid had all gone. That bit I think was true as it did settle down. I spent 18 months getting fat and fed up feeling that I was finished. My saviour was spotting the local club cycle by my house. I had cycled loads as a kid, loved it. So I got involved. Best thing I ever did.

As others have said, get the MRI to find out what is going on. Then take it from there. My advice would be to value any exercise that you can do comfortably, be it walking, cycling , swimming. Anything that is low impact and not going to irritate your condition. Even a 20 minute walk helped, I valued getting on my bike for 30 minutes. Just keep chipping away. It was good for my general well being, the endorphins etc.

My back has been grumbling over Xmas and I've done 72 miles this week, out for a sharp 25 on road and the rest on turbo. This morning my Mrs called me as I was putting the overshoes on and I looked up..ping! Muscle spasm protecting the damage disc area. It's happened before and I'm sure it will happen again. I just have to manage it and be alive to the signs ( tight glutes ignored, rushing, stressed....)

Don't stop exercising, find your level, cycling might be the way forward for you.

Keep us posted.

y33stu

Thanks for the input all. I was told that once your backs gone, its liable to go again at any time. Guess I need to work out how I can change my lifestyle to make sure it doesn't go regularly.

Love cycling, and the odd bit of running, was still working up to the idea of a triathlon, but I guess running isn't the best activity as its pretty high impact.

I work in marketing, so basically a desk job, so will see what the options are regarding better chairs/desks.

I also have a 6 month old baby, so I've no doubt that bending down to pick him up was the cause of this, but I don't want to miss out on doing stuff with him as I cant bend down etc...

I'll demand an MRI and go from there....

Quins

Stu, very similar in that I'm sedentary at work too, desk job. Make sure you get up every 45 mins to an hour, literally out the chair and stretch. We had 3 kids close together, if I knew now.... Bending the knees to pick them up and not just bending you back and lifting ( ouch!). Exercises to strengthen back and core, gently ( watching telly, dorsal raises, sitting up then lowering back down).

I can run without problem, regularly do 5 miles with hills, I just avoid flat out sprints and zig zagging.

Keep the tri dream alive!

daniel_b

I feel your pain.

I had back problems (suspected herniated disc) starting over 10 years ago.
I tried:
Doctor
NHS Physios
Massage/sports massage
Tamars
Harley street chiropractor
Osteopath
The Alexander technique

Finally about 2 years ago I saw a chap on here post about his experience with a highly qualified lady called Jo Mcrae
http://jomcrae.co.uk/

It's not an overstatement to say she got me my life back.
One of my friends saw her before Christmas and is going back on the 5th to go through the exercises.

It's not cheap, but it is the best money I ever spent, and I don't think you can really put a price on being able to enjoy your life properly.

y33stu

Thanks Quins, good to know there's still plenty life left in me yet! I'm only 32 so seriously hoping I can still be fit and active. Cycled just under 6500 miles this year, despite the disc, but most of that was commuting, don't want to give that up as I've always struggled with my weight. Was 23 stone before cycling, now 14. Most of all I don't want to get fat again!!

Biomech

I've had 2 slipped discs and a tear at the bottom of my back for over a year now, at one point I was paralyzed in bed from pain.
I had MRI, private physio, NHS physio etc and, to be honest, I think a lot of it getting better was just time and laying off work.

But 2 things have really helped; this pilates video on youtube did more in 10 minutes than any physio did in 6 months: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkEqvDP0FJE

You can get that through the fitness app if you have a Samsung TV as well.

And I've found cycling comfortable and good (you can imagine how unfit you get when you can't move!). I had my bike properly fitted at the bike shop and it certainly made a HUGE improvement.

Quins

Stu, you're only just starting on an exciting journey, that Tri is just round the corner.
I was inspired by your thread and having had go into spasm I got myself up and back on the bike after a few hours resting, stretching and cocodamol, ibuprofen. I Did 30 miles, lost daylight but had knog blinder 3 on front and a planet x bargain rear light to get me home. You will not be going back to 23st , you've already decided that and smashed it. You are awesome at sticking to a plan. That mileage is very respectable, i have only done half that but im still pleased. Crack on Stu!

Ps i was up watching my son play rugby league against Gateshead Thunder back in May. Fecking cold up North, about 7 degrees and foggy! Me shandy went right through me. Nice little trip from Kent.

y33stu

Thanks for the link Biomech. Gave that a go tonight. Seems like that will be some help. I'm very un-flexible in every part of my body though! :shock:

And Quins, glad I could inspire you in some way! I might actually get some miles in the legs tomorrow myself. I'm finding 2 codiene in the morning, and 1 in the afternoon is doing the trick so far this Xmas.

Ps. Yup, it's a fair bit colder oop North! Makes us harder I reckon