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So due to working from home and having a few days where I was looking down at a laptop screen I now seem to have a Herniated C4-C5 in my neck. Position now sorted and feels like it's not getting worse due to that Which is an improvement!
Chatting to a doctor (informally) she says cycling is fine but to avoid running due to the jarring effect. Gave me some exercises which seem to help but I also I asked about MTBing and she just said well that's cycling isn't it...
I've taken the CX bike off road last week and that didn't feel great so gonna avoid it but has anyone had any experience with this as riding gently off road on a MTB (full sus) or on road on road/CX bikes as doing these feel ok? Just want to make sure I'm not damaging or massively slowing my recovery but then again biking is what's keeping me sane!
I'm having quite a bit of pain from something that sounds very similar. I'm having physio, but it doesn't seem to be helping. I'm off the bike for 5 weeks now.... Going a bit crazy. Sorry, nothing to add, but hoping to learn from other posters. Hope we both heal soon!
I started getting my fitness back by buying a full sus after I broke my back (T12, L1 and 4 ribs).
Try short rides at first and see what pain it causes. My rigid MTB has 2.4" tyres on it but that still hurts my back if I'm on it too long.
Thanks for the help, it's odd, I feel better after riding on road (any bike) or offroad as long as I'm gentle and on the full sus so guess I'll keep at it unless it hurts! Been riding 3 hours + no issue, but didn't want to do it is I was slowing the recovery!
Exercise is good for backs as long as you don't over do it. It you make it worse you need to back off, but otherwise discs can heal completely with moderate exercise...
Hi
Sorry to hear you herniated the C4/C5. Almost 2yrs ago I herniated the C5/C6. My doctor diagnosed me (pins and needles in thumb/forefinger, weakness on right shoulder/arm, aching arm etc), this was confirmed by an MRI. Riding for me was painful and uncomfortable, be it on road, cx bike or mtb. The mtb was certainly better, but the numbness and pins and needles killed it for me. Fortunately I had private health insurance and was referred to physio which helped but did not solve the issue. This was supported by two steroid injections into the spine (that was interesting experience) and eventually surgery where a groove was carved in my spine to provide space for the nerve (the disc was in good shape so a replacement was determined un necessary). After 5 days I was back riding and felt great. I was scared as hell of surgery, but for me it was the right option.
Not sure it that helps or not, if you have any questions feel free to ask.