 Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
|
OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
Well, its official. Herniated disk, the one that causes sciatica. This is my third time, been happening about every 12 to 15 years. This time is by far the worst. If I deal with it on my own and just heal up, I could be risking permanent nerve damage. Facing long period of physical therapy. Only silver lining; my PT is kind of hot. First exercise she gave me has to be done every 1 to 2 hours for the next 6 days! So... seriously considering selling my America in favor of something with a more sensible riding position. For now I'll finally be getting my '93 R100 RT (BMW airhead)roadworthy. Probably won't be riding anything for at least 6 or 8 weeks.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680
Learned Hand
|
Learned Hand
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,680 |
Unlucky news, but with luck it will heal up stronger after all this is over. Hope you get past the worst of it soon, I know how bad that can be.
Thom
I might be wrong, I sometimes am.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
|
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Disheartening news for sure. Here's hoping you get past this and can keep riding on something with an easier riding position.
Live to love, love to live.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
|
Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
Like you said, now you have time to get your BMW going. Sucks about your situation, one of the guys I used to ride with went through the same thing and only comes out to ride maybe twice a year now. Good luck with your physical therapy.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497
Adjunct
|
Adjunct
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 497 |
Nope, there is nothing else for it. It is time to consider a total spine replacement. I know it can be done, I saw it on Star Trek. 
If there's nothing wrong with me,
maybe there's something wrong with the universe!
-Dr. Crusher
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4
Worn Saddle
|
Worn Saddle
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,308 Likes: 4 |
I can feel for ya Lonzo. I just had to have surgery for my herniated disc, also had the wonderful sciatica to go along. Mine was so bad I could not stand for more then 5 minutes and my entire right leg would just fold and drop me. The only comfortable position (at least the least painful position) was flat on my back. This went on for six weeks, chiro visits, physical therapy, cortisone shots, massive vicodin, nothing helped for more then a few hours at a time. Finally they sent me for MRI and the neurosurgeon sent me in ASAP for surgery as she said it would cause permenant loss of feeling/muscle use and possibly the use of the leg. Anyway, a quick 2 hour operation, 6 weeks rest and limited work. Amazing what they can do now with microsurgery. As soon as I woke up from the operation the pain was all gone. My leg is still very weak and i can only walk around for an hour or so until I get tired, but that gets a little better each day. I am also done for the year since the white powder is fast approaching. I will put the bike up this next couple weeks and wait till next year. I have also considered another bike as well, but not sure about that part yet. I really love my Speedy. Besides, if I sold her or traded her (a 2003 904) I would probably get about half what I think she is worth, so maybe a third bike in the garage is in order. (I hope Jane doesn't read this post  ) Get well soon brother, there's always next year. 
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463
Loquacious
|
Loquacious
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 3,463 |
I have back issues... but I'm not bad enough to operate (LONG story) I had a cortisone shot in my spine and a week later was back on the bike. That was after being on crutches so I could walk, taking 30 minutes to walk to the end of the road and back, my second Christmas of sobriety...(couldn't drink on the meds). Just so you can see, here's a scan of my back. And this was the second time, and wasn't as bad as the first...  For those that don't know.. the black bulge sticking into the white bit - shouldn't be there. That's the disc sticking out and pushing somewhere else (I think)on the nerve. The first time it went... (see why I'm annoyed about not being being bad enough...I'm 33 for christs sake) I had the sciatica you're talking about. Like a poker down the inside of my leg and through my back. A seriously hot poker. 2" thick.I can't imagine child birth hurting that much... I used to get asked 'give the pain a level between 1 and 10'. Minimum would be an 11. Physio has kind of worked, but you have to keep it up. When they say do 1/2 hour every day, they mean it. Every day. I learnt the hard way - the second spell was a recurrence of the first one... like you've had. I now do 20 mins before getting out of bed. Even then mornings still hurt till I've got walking around. But get rid of the Americas...NEVER. It's not happening. I wear a full length back support, I know my limits, don't ride for more than 90 mins without getting off and stretching, and use the back pegs to alter my seating position.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531
Loquacious
|
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,531 |
Move your pegs back to a "traditional" position for a standard riding position.... that is what I did and works great....... cheaper too than a new bike. 
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590
Check Pants
|
Check Pants
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,590 |
Quote:
Get well soon brother, there's always next year.
Could be this is a ba.com version of the "walking wounded" club 
Progressing from wheelchair > walker > cane, I am almost able to walk unassisted now. Pretty low marks on style points however . I got my truck keys returned to me a week or so ago. So today, I'll head to Miss-Zoola, buy some new walking shoes, a bowl of chowder at the Worden's Bohemian restaurant, a digital camera to replace the one I left somewhere in BC and stop by the Triumph dealer to envision replacing the cardinal red.
Keep on keeping on people, and like the wise man said, "There's always next year" 
jh
"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 42
Greenhorn
|
Greenhorn
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 42 |
Sorry to hear about everyone's pain. Thinking of another bike? That's why the sell the Tiger! It is so much more comfortable than my Speedy. Good luck.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
|
Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
...I got my truck keys returned to me a week or so ago ...
All good news there John. Sounds like your day out is full of good stuff. Otta feel good driving and (almost) walking unassisted and being more independent. Good on ya man!! Watch for flying monkeys while out driving!
Live to love, love to live.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7
Monkey Butt
|
Monkey Butt
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,630 Likes: 7 |
I don't know if it would help, but have you tried a backrest? I didn't have a herniated disk but my back used to hurt if I rode very long at a time. The back rest has made all the difference. Foot boards helped a lot too since they allow me to shift my leg position.
We all like to think of ourselves as rugged individualists. But when push comes to shove most of us are sheep who do what we are told. Worst of all, a lot of us become unpaid agents of whoever is controlling the agenda by enforcing the current dogma on the few rugged individualists who actually exist.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457
Learned Hand
|
OP
Learned Hand
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,457 |
Thanks for all the well wishes, everyone. I added mid-pegs a couple of years ago and they made a huge difference. After thinking about it for a while, I'll probably end up keeping the America for shorter around town trips. Probably couldn't get enough for it anyway, with the miles on it. I bought the BMW 2 1/2 years for longer trips, just never have had time to work on the thing.
|
|
|
 Re: Gotta quit riding for a while
|
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527
Loquacious
|
Loquacious
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,527 |
Quote:
Quote:
Get well soon brother, there's always next year.
Could be this is a ba.com version of the "walking wounded" club 
Progressing from wheelchair > walker > cane, I am almost able to walk unassisted now. Pretty low marks on style points however . I got my truck keys returned to me a week or so ago. So today, I'll head to Miss-Zoola, buy some new walking shoes, a bowl of chowder at the Worden's Bohemian restaurant, a digital camera to replace the one I left somewhere in BC and stop by the Triumph dealer to envision replacing the cardinal red.
Keep on keeping on people, and like the wise man said, "There's always next year" 
jh
I hear ya.....its gonna be take two for me in early Dec when my new Ortho surgeon reworks my right ankle. Maybe I will be riding again sometime in 2010. Been a bad year for casualties .....
In reality riding is an extremely risky business. Lets hope no more blood is spilled this year.
I need to be healthy so I have the desire to ****** off the liberals around this place as opposed to being concerned about my own state of physical well being. 
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
|
|
|
|
|