leeinmemphis

Hey everyone,

Yesterday I stepped off of a ladder at the house and immediately collapsed in excruciating pain. The fire dept and ambulance got me in the hospital yesterday soon after. I lost feeling/control of my body below my waist. It was like my legs would let me stand or even sit up even though my brain was telling my body to. I had a disc between l5-s1 that was severely bulged and last night they went in and did whatever they had to do(haven't seen doctor yet to get the details). I was curious if anyone had back surgery knows how long I will have to be off the bike? Doc told my wife I can't pick up anything weighing more than a phonebook for at least 8 weeks. I've recently purchased a Surly Big Dummy cargo bike and am definitely going to miss riding it for quite a while. I don't normally ask for this but if you are of the praying kind I sure could use some. I still don't feel my legs and am praying my feeling will return.

klepto1

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I pray for your speedy and full recovery.

DTSCDS

My wife just had back surgery in Sept 10th. She is still not allowed to do anything bike related. She is moving around pretty well and has an appointment coming up in the next couple of weeks where she should be released to do a bit more. She is wearing a brace most of the time which limits her motion pretty good--no twisting or bending over
The doctor said she should be back on the bike and have no significant long-term restrictions. Of course her surgery was not for a bulging disc issue so YMMV.
If you want, I would be willing to take care of the Big Dummy until you are ready to ride it again. You wouldn't want it to corrode from inactivity like happens to a battery if you leave it in a device unused do you? That would be bad.
Just trying to be helpful!

leeinmemphis

gee buddy I sure do appreciate your willingness to help me out. .....I've been riding quite a bit lately but haven't been watching my diet or really even trying to lose weight. That all changes now. I'm going to get on a strict diet to try to drop some weight. I'm around 270lbs and would like to get back on the bike when I have doctor approval. I have a fatbike and that would probably be the best to get started back on due to the cushy ride.

psalm

Take your time, don't rush it and make it worse. The bike will be there when you're ready.

indyfabz

+1. I have/had two bulging discs, including one between L5-s1. Lost about 50% of my strength in my right leg at one point. Finally needed a shot when PT did't help it enough. It was frustrating not to be able to ride, especially since the bike is part of my everyday lifestyle and not just a form of exercise. But the alternative is worse.

Recover soon.

Nightshade

PLEASE!! Let the doctor be your guide since, in a very real way, you're playing with fire with a back injury like this!

The best folk's here can , or should, do is just be moral support for your recovery. The bike will be there when your doctor says ok to ride again.

Best of luck and a speedy ,doctor guided, recovery!!

Altair 4

Bulge excision or fusion? With a fusion, the bone graft will need to heal and solidify. Wait for the doc and then ask questions.

Goodd luck with your recovery!

Bethany

Feel better soon. Do what the doc says so you stay healthy and recover faster. Your bike will be waiting for you.

leeinmemphis

it was a bulged disc and he said it couldn't have been much worse. He trimmed it and got it away from the nerves that was causing my pain. Yesterday I could move my legs but it was almost like I was paralyzed when I tried to actually use my legs to get up or roll over.....they just wouldn't do any work. I am going to follow the doctors orders to a perfect "T" you don't have to worry about that at all. I was just curious if anyone had an idea of how long I would be off. I have been sitting here worried all day about whether my legs would work when it got time to get up. The physical therapist came in and I cannot tell you how relieved I was when I could stand up on my own(with the use of a walker).

I guess this morning I just felt the need to tell someone about this and probably used this post just to be able to vent a little. Sorry for bothering everybody with this I was just needing to get it out I guess.

Rudz

I had a bulging disc when I was younger doctor made me drop some weight and I was on muscle relaxers and pain meds for a few months, eventually worked it out, yours sounds a lot worse than mine was. Good luck and hope you heal fast

Ali_Pine

Be careful where the get their stroids mixed.

Shellyrides

You are not bothering any one. Forums are for venting and for asking for reassurance. I will light a candle for you tonight for your speedy recovery and please keep us updated on how you are doing!

PhotoJoe 

No worries. Vent away!

leeinmemphis

Thanks everyone!!!!! Believe it or not but I was discharged and sent home. I can't leave the house for a minimum of 3 weeks. I bet that I will probably be the first of the year until I can even think about riding. Today I contacted the LBS and am going to do a professional fitting on my Cross Check when I am ready. I think a professional fitting would be of great benefit given my circumstances.

Bluish Green

+1

Get well soon!

catonec 

take your time and let it heal properly, very easy to re-injure or stress something else by compensating. Hoping for your recovery.

downtube42

L5-L6 (yeah, I'm a freak) partial diecectomy in 1990 at age 30. It solved the pain and numbness thankfully. Off the bike for maybe 6 mos. during recovery then I started riding flatbar roadbike. I've never been able to return to drop bar road bike for any duration so now I ride recumbent for long distance. I finished PBP last year. It's not the recovery I hoped for but all in all life is pretty good. Your recovery will be different of course but that's one story.

deftone

Get well soon! Don't rush the recovery! You don't want to do yourself more harm and hurt yourself in the long term

Neil_B

Get better, but remember the back dictates the recovery. Take your time.

funrover 

Heal fast and properly!!

leeinmemphis

thanks everyone!!! I feel much better today. I have alot of numbness from my waist down but I have no back pain other than where the actually worked on me. I lurk here a bunch but don't post much. I do appreciate all of your feedback and well wishes. thanks again.

tpy2010

Praying the best for you! Pretty scarey experience.

Tom