SunDog70

I'm always curious to know if others ride with/despite various medical conditions, and if you feel it interferes in any way with your riding. Plus I need to reach 10 posts so I can post pics of my bikes.

I have some odd ones myself. Thyroid/auto-immune disorder is one. Which does NOT help when I get into a low energy rut and then don't exercise for months. I also have peripheral neuropathy (I'm not diabetic, but likely from being pre-diabetic for several years untreated - nobody told me the neuropathy can happen in that situation but my neurologist insists it can; wish I'd known that years ago) which has numbed my feet and hands, but so far it does not interfere with me riding. Though I'm really afraid to use clipless as I'd be worried I could not move fast enough or have the right amount of sensitivity to unlock in time.

I also have some bizarre "allergy" issues in that I'm allergic to - exercise! For real. One thing that can happen is called cholinergic urticaria, where I can break out in hives after exercise. Doesn't always happen, and improves the better shape I'm in. It fades within an hour. But worse is exercise-induced anaphylaxis. If you have not heard of it you can Google it if curious but it looks pretty gross. My eyes can swell up, sometimes severely, even the white parts. I do carry an EpiPen as one or two times I felt a little in my mouth/throat, but I've gone about 10 years with it and other than looking like the elephant man and not being able to see very well when it happens, that's been the worst. It can be inconvenient if it happens in the middle of nowhere and I have to ride back with my eyes all swelled up, and can take hours or sometimes even a day or two to subside. So far it hasn't been too bad this spring, and I've actually had some rides where I was really exerting myself and it didn't happen. Maybe at 48 I've outgrown it!

In any case for me it's mainly weird stuff but nothing that prevents me from or makes riding difficult. I admire people who do have such situations and ride anyway.

Oneder

I get some weird issues with my feet on the medicine I take, but it is actually easier to deal with it on a bike than it is walking.

Brooke1687

SJM205

KraneXL

I used to exercise a daily and when my back went out I could barely sit up. I got clinically depressed and stopped completely. I took 8 years before I'd workout again. It still hurt even when I sedentary so I figured I wouldn't let it keep me down.

Brooke1687

Clyde1820

Old injuries with legs, so there's a limit on intensity in most any leg-oriented physical activity. Can't "bring it" like I once could, mostly based on that issue (the injuries). And so, I cycle (and do a few other exercises) anyway, but with markedly reduced intensity in the ones that require the damaged zones on the legs. It is what it is.

Non-pounding type exercise works best, generally, for avoiding the muscle limits there: swimming, rowing, cycling, and general strength (gym) training.

knitguy

This is hardly a clyde specific question (for better or worse) but I don't know if I would say that I ride with medical conditions so much as I'm off the back of knee surgery number four. I've had four tibial tubercle osteotomies and two MPFL replacements (one per knee). The first two TTOs were done well but a lot of research was published shortly after they were done on how best to do them on patients with similar anatomical issues similar to mine. Cycling has been a part of my rehab for all four surgeries. It was also the tip off that I needed surgery to begin with because someone in their early 20s should not have knee pain when riding their bike.

I also have severe and chronic (treatment resistant) depression which is in no way shape or form helped by cycling or any other form of exercise. It's honestly made a acutely worse when i'm on long rides because of how few other things are going on around me. That isn't to say I don't enjoy riding my bike, but doing something that I enjoy doesn't mean that my depression goes away or gets better.

In addition to biking I swim and am doing a lot of PT with the aim of being able to run. I am also hopefully going to get back into rock climbing this year.

InTheRain

Diabetes. Just have to watch out for low blood sugars. Really pretty easy now with continuous blood glucose monitoring that gives a blood sugar reading every 5 minutes on my phone (which is mounted on my bike.)

Oneder

My mom is just getting over colon cancer. It is horrible what you have to go through. Hope you get better soon!

GuessWhoCycling

I was diagnosed 3 years ago with type 2. Doc said take meds or change the eating habits. Though I have never really eaten much fast foods and junk foods other than ice cream, I did start eating a more balance intake. Dropped 50 pounds without "TRYING" to lose weight, dropped the A1C and totally avoided meds.

Best choice I could have made. No meds to drop my levels, no worries about dropping too low on rides. I eat nutrition bars and drink one bottle of sports drink on a 45 mile ride no worries. After a ride, decent lunch, check the blood after an hour or so and will be anywhere from 90 to 105 on the glucose meter.

I'll tell ya, my parents said take the meds and I'll do better (certified couch potatoes). I don't think so, they are always complaining about lows. I changed eating habits, don't take meds, and don't feel any kind of a set back on the bike. Good choice I think at age 55.

indyfabz

I am a relatively cautious descender and also take it slower on bumpy roads because I am on blood thinners due to having a mechanical heart valve. The 5 or 10 extra mph ain't worth the potential consequences of a high speed fall. A few years ago I actually hit 39 mph descending in Montana riding a loaded touring bike. That was fast for me. Usually keep it at 32 mph or below. Combination of a stable ride with 37c tires, straight road section with good sights lines and smooth pavement convinced me to open it up more than usual.

SunDog70

Wow everyone thanks for sharing. It is amazing to see what people deal with and still ride. My issues are trivial and more nuisance than anything else, though I'm astounded to find another exercised-induced allergy sufferer since it is pretty rare! I had also been wondering if anyone has peripheral neuropathy and is still successful using clipless. Maybe my concerns about that are more mental than anything else.

cyclist2000

I have a few medical conditions that have impacted my cycling
1) Diabetes - I need to have food with me in the event of low blood sugars and need to be aware of problems
2) knee issues - I have had knee surgery in the past for knee damage and bone spurs from arthritis. Seems that I may have bone spurs in the other knee, I will need to get this checked after my next tour.
3) Back problems caused atrophied leg muscles on my right leg. I lost a lot of speed in the past 10 years due to this.

rgconner

A form of Narcolepsy. Fortunately, it is an irresistible need to sleep, and not the "lights out" seizure variety.

Before medication was available, I would pull over if I started yawning, then sit down and wait it it out. Because I am excercising, it hits in the form of a very very short nap, like 15 seconds, or a few "touch and goes" and I am fine.

Now if I am in the sort of Sleep Debt that could trigger an episode I tend to get a migraine instead, and a good nap makes it go away.

eja_ bottecchia

eja_ bottecchia

aplcr0331

I have Hypothyroidism, but I take 188mcg of Synthroid daily so that one is cancelled out.
I have Obstructive OSA, but I wear my CPAP daily and that one is cancelled out.

Other than those two I have bilateral Chondromalacia that only causes problems if I run a lot or if I play a lot of basketball so I no longer run (yippee) and I only shoot baskets I don't actually "play" (boo) pickup anymore.

I have some recurring back problems in my lower back but I assume most people over 45 get that too, so I'm trying Yoga and stretching to mitigate those issues. Trying to stay ahead of this stuff, and not give myself any excuses.

Oakman

Parkinson's for 15 years; riding a bike is much easier than walking for me. However, I must be careful to stay properly medicated. I once "used up" my medication while riding less than 30 miles and could barely stay upright.