Utility Cycling - bicycling with cervical spinal stenosis

I'm posting this for my wife.

According to the doctor's diagnosis:

Displacement of cervical intervertebral disc w/o myelopathy. Neurological intact but Lhermitte's sign. Major concern is stenosis -- in case patient should have cervical spine trauma, risk of SCI/paralysis is increased. Recommend she avoid risky behaviors.Basically, the doctor doesn't want her to ride a bicycle for fear of falling and becoming paralyzed.

She wants to avoid the ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) surgery.

We used to bike around all the time, and would like to continue biking.

I was thinking that buying a recumbent or possibly a trike (tricycle) in lieu of a bicycle may reduce the probability of serious injury.

Thoughts?

A bit old, but there is this thread:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=237243&highlight=cervical+spinal+stenosis

It sounds as if a recumbent might be a good idea. You can find recumbent trikes, too. That would probably be your best bet.

Oh, and welcome to BikeForums :D . I'm glad to see that you and your wife wish to continue with your cycling.

East Hill

http://www.bikeforest.com/hotmover.jpg


Tadpole Bents might be your best bet, they come in plent of styles.

I've got a lot of hardware in my neck (http://homepage.mac.com/awcg/.Pictures/Bike/Mirth/FunFun.png) from a car accident.
I've got some range of motion issues and I'm far more cautious on my bike than I used to be.

Bicycling is risky, but not horribly so.
If she is concerned about falling, a recumbent.
Otherwise welcome to the wonderful world of Dutch bikes and other uprights.

idk if it's worth it, she could still be struck by a car or something. I don't want to sound like a pessimist or a negative person, i would just be careful in choosing a bike if maybe biking isn't a good thing in general

idk if it's worth it, she could still be struck by a car or something. I don't want to sound like a pessimist or a negative person, i would just be careful in choosing a bike if maybe biking isn't a good thing in general

Being struck by a car while in a car is how my neck ended up being remade with Ti.

I don't want to sound like a pessimist or a negative person

Then ya' went right ahead and did it anyway.

________

To the OP .... One thing to keep in mind. You might take what that doctor tells you with a grain of salt. Remember, he has to be extremely conservative in his advice to cover his butt liability-wise.

I have a congenital back deformity. 35 years ago the doctor told me that I should pretty much never do anything strenuous again ......Ever. I made a choice not to take his advice and have not regretted it. 30+ years driving trucks, loading and unloading (drivers used to do a lot of that), 20 years racing sprint cars, riding bikes, motorcycles, snowmobiles. In general, probably a more strenuous life than most. I found my most difficult times were when I let myself get weak and out of shape.

Of course everyone is different and your mileage may vary, but I'd sure think twice before you let that doctor talk your wife into giving up her life.

Rik

Your wife's neck condition & MRI results are much like mine was . It doesn't state in your post, but it sounds like upper neck vertebraes are the worse areas involved. Stenosis will only get worse as time goes on. The sign of Lhermitte's disorder affects when the head & neck are tilted downward. I would NOT suggest a recumbent for that reason. The tiny " electric shock " [ Lhermittes ] could make her lose control & fall . With severe stenosis, a fall, etc., & any resulting cervical fracture could possibly damage the spinal cord. That is where death/paralysis could occur. I would STRONGLY urge her to reconsider discetomy w/fusion. I recommend searching out a good Neurosurgeon to do this. It is a fairly common & very successful surgery, today. Recovery times & pain are not bad at all. I had this done 8 years ago & it was a GODSEND. I awoke from surgery & have never had the pain I had before. Until then, only an exercise bike is all I would consider.