Living Car Free - What happens if you are car free but get injured?

My knees have really been getting sore, and I've done everything I can to make things better. I've changed seat height, I've been using lower gears, but nothing has worked. It hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't gotten better either. I'm either stuck with this chronic pain forever (that began about 4 months after I began cycling everywhere) or I need to do something to let these legs heal.

I haven't sold my car yet, but I was planning on doing so after the winter if I could make it through the winter without using it. The problem is... now I'm not so sure I should be biking. I'm only 3 miles from work, so maybe I could walk it, but I'm not sure if that's good for my legs either. And if I took a bus, the route would be so messed up that I'd have to do a transfer and it would take me 1.5 hours to get to work.

Bus for me would take about 45 minutes or so. The rough side of being injured with my job is I couldn't do it, depending on the injury. I have good supervisors that would get me hours elsewhere, I am sure.

My knees have really been getting sore, and I've done everything I can to make things better. I've changed seat height, I've been using lower gears, but nothing has worked. It hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't gotten better either. I'm either stuck with this chronic pain forever (that began about 4 months after I began cycling everywhere) or I need to do something to let these legs heal.

I haven't sold my car yet, but I was planning on doing so after the winter if I could make it through the winter without using it. The problem is... now I'm not so sure I should be biking. I'm only 3 miles from work, so maybe I could walk it, but I'm not sure if that's good for my legs either. And if I took a bus, the route would be so messed up that I'd have to do a transfer and it would take me 1.5 hours to get to work.

1) Stop riding for a while
2) Try to get a bike fit
3) See your doctor
4) Actually try to see what the bus trip is like. It might be easier than you imagine (at least it was in my case ).

Yikes! Only 3 miles from work? I didn't see that
5)Try walking... it might work wonders

find a quiet isolated stairwell. dead silence

walk up stairs

if you cannot hear your knees making noise like chicken tearing from bone,
then harden up

prof. bike fit is critical though regardless of how tough you are

November 1, 2001. It was a nice day so I cycled to and from work as usual (I was car free then). When I got home, I discovered that my apartment still did not have hot water ... for about the 4th or 5th day in a row. I wanted a shower or bath or something, so I decided to do what my Grandmother used to do. I boiled up several pots of water on the stove, and carried them to the tub. It was going well ... a few more pots and I should be ready to bathe ........

I was carrying a large pot of freshly boiled water, still bubbling, and it started to slosh in the pot as I walked. A bit of it must have splashed over onto my wrist (as evidenced by the small burn I had there) ..... I lost control of the pot, and all that boiling water dropped. I stepped back with my right foot, but the entire pot of water landed on my left foot ... cooking it to the bone.

I was off work, and off my feet, entirely for 5 weeks, going through daily dressing changes, and more pain than I've ever been in my life before. I couldn't do any sort of exercise ... I couldn't even stand for more than a few minutes. Part of the problem was, because I'd cooked all my veins and arteries, whenever I stood up, and especially when I exercised at all, all the blood would drop into my foot, but couldn't return, so my foot would swell up to twice its size and be extremely painful.

Even when I returned to work, I couldn't walk or cycle or anything like that for more than a few minutes at a time for 2 more months.

Since I was car-free all during that time ... I had a bit of a situation on my hands.

First ... how to get to the clinic for my dressing changes. I took the bus the first two times ... but when my Dr turned and looked at me crying on the table while he was roughly changing my dressing and asked, "Does that hurt?" ... and after I threw up from the pain after both dressing changes ... I did a frantic investigation and discovered home care nurses. After that I had wonderful home care nurses come to look after me in my home every day for 3 months for free. Canada's health care system covers home care nurses, but it certainly is not widely advertized ... you've got to look for it.

Second ... how do I get groceries? Where I lived then, I walked to get groceries, but all of a sudden I couldn't walk anymore. A couple of my coworkers brought me a few things during the first week, but I couldn't get them to do all my shopping for me. So I found a grocery delivery service. I emailed her my list of stuff to get, and preferred stores ... and she brought me all my groceries, right into my kitchen. She charged 15% of the grocery bill. So if the bill came to $100, she'd charge me $115 in total. Not bad!

Third, when I returned to work I needed to get there. It was the middle of winter so taking the bus was not an option with my foot in the condition it was ... so I carpooled.


As for your knees ... have a look over this article: http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

^ Wow. How's your recovery been since then? And was this a factor in your decision to start driving again?

^ Wow. How's your recovery been since then? And was this a factor in your decision to start driving again?

My recovery has been pretty good ... I have a little bit of trouble bending my left foot, but it's getting better (7 years later!). And the burned area is slightly more sensitive than the rest of the foot.

And nope, it was absolutely NOT a factor in my decision to start driving again. The accident happened November 2001, and I remained car-free until January 2006. In early February 2002, three months after the accident, I was told I could try wearing a real shoe, and the first shoe I tried was my cycling shoe ... I squeezed my foot in and hobbled around the apartment. My foot felt like it was on fire, but I was thrilled to be in my cycling shoe again!! By mid-February I was outside cycling short rides ... and in July I rode the Rocky Mountain 1200. :D

I started driving again after I moved to Alberta in January 2006, and got a job 35 kms away (70 kms round trip) ... and continued driving when I also started attending University 150 kms away (300 kms round trip).

So Machka, you officially win the "Most Disturbing Injury" award. I thought having my kneecap shattered playing baseball was bad...but wow.

You don't give us much to go on here. Like terrain, how hard you ride, etc. Sounds like a doctor's visit is in order if you really want an answer.

I have a lot of hills where I live, my left knee was hurting just below the knee cap. What helped me was to get an elastic sock for it which gave it the support it needed.

If you are going to be car free, you'll have to take care of the motor. ;)

My recovery has been pretty good ... I have a little bit of trouble bending my left foot, but it's getting better (7 years later!). And the burned area is slightly more sensitive than the rest of the foot.

And nope, it was absolutely NOT a factor in my decision to start driving again. The accident happened November 2001, and I remained car-free until January 2006. In early February 2002, three months after the accident, I was told I could try wearing a real shoe, and the first shoe I tried was my cycling shoe ... I squeezed my foot in and hobbled around the apartment. My foot felt like it was on fire, but I was thrilled to be in my cycling shoe again!! By mid-February I was outside cycling short rides ... and in July I rode the Rocky Mountain 1200. :D

I started driving again after I moved to Alberta in January 2006, and got a job 35 kms away (70 kms round trip) ... and continued driving when I also started attending University 150 kms away (300 kms round trip).

Ha, gotcha. Glad you're back on the bike, and that life's (relatively) back to normal. :beer:

1) Stop riding for a while
2) Try to get a bike fit
3) See your doctor
4) Actually try to see what the bus trip is like. It might be easier than you imagine (at least it was in my case ).

Yikes! Only 3 miles from work? I didn't see that
5)Try walking... it might work wonders

1) doable
2) already did, got my bike exactly how it's supposed to be
3) I don't have one, and besides, would they really know what to do? They'd probably tell me to stop riding on it and to start driving a car to work.
4) I looked online at the schedules and that's how i know it would take 1.5 hours
5) Will do starting tomorrow.


November 1, 2001. It was a nice day so I cycled to and from work as usual (I was car free then). When I got home, I discovered that my apartment still did not have hot water ... for about the 4th or 5th day in a row. I wanted a shower or bath or something, so I decided to do what my Grandmother used to do. I boiled up several pots of water on the stove, and carried them to the tub. It was going well ... a few more pots and I should be ready to bathe ........

I was carrying a large pot of freshly boiled water, still bubbling, and it started to slosh in the pot as I walked. A bit of it must have splashed over onto my wrist (as evidenced by the small burn I had there) ..... I lost control of the pot, and all that boiling water dropped. I stepped back with my right foot, but the entire pot of water landed on my left foot ... cooking it to the bone.

I was off work, and off my feet, entirely for 5 weeks, going through daily dressing changes, and more pain than I've ever been in my life before. I couldn't do any sort of exercise ... I couldn't even stand for more than a few minutes. Part of the problem was, because I'd cooked all my veins and arteries, whenever I stood up, and especially when I exercised at all, all the blood would drop into my foot, but couldn't return, so my foot would swell up to twice its size and be extremely painful.

Even when I returned to work, I couldn't walk or cycle or anything like that for more than a few minutes at a time for 2 more months.

Since I was car-free all during that time ... I had a bit of a situation on my hands.

First ... how to get to the clinic for my dressing changes. I took the bus the first two times ... but when my Dr turned and looked at me crying on the table while he was roughly changing my dressing and asked, "Does that hurt?" ... and after I threw up from the pain after both dressing changes ... I did a frantic investigation and discovered home care nurses. After that I had wonderful home care nurses come to look after me in my home every day for 3 months for free. Canada's health care system covers home care nurses, but it certainly is not widely advertized ... you've got to look for it.

Second ... how do I get groceries? Where I lived then, I walked to get groceries, but all of a sudden I couldn't walk anymore. A couple of my coworkers brought me a few things during the first week, but I couldn't get them to do all my shopping for me. So I found a grocery delivery service. I emailed her my list of stuff to get, and preferred stores ... and she brought me all my groceries, right into my kitchen. She charged 15% of the grocery bill. So if the bill came to $100, she'd charge me $115 in total. Not bad!

Third, when I returned to work I needed to get there. It was the middle of winter so taking the bus was not an option with my foot in the condition it was ... so I carpooled.


As for your knees ... have a look over this article: http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

That's an amazing story. It helps give me some encouragement. At least i should be able to walk to the bus stop. I guess the fact that buses only run during rush hour is discouraging, but like you say, I could try ordering groceries.


You don't give us much to go on here. Like terrain, how hard you ride, etc. Sounds like a doctor's visit is in order if you really want an answer.

I have a lot of hills where I live, my left knee was hurting just below the knee cap. What helped me was to get an elastic sock for it which gave it the support it needed.

If you are going to be car free, you'll have to take care of the motor. ;)

terrain is relatively flat. There is one hill, but I know of a way to avoid it. I don't ride hard. I always still in my 2nd ring and keep the rpms around 80. I've tried the knee brace, I think it felt worse.

3) I don't have one, and besides, would they really know what to do? They'd probably tell me to stop riding on it and to start driving a car to work.

Get one that specializes in sports medicine. They WILL NOT tell you to stop riding (at least long term).

Also, start taking MSM, glucosamine, and chondroitin. I don't know if they will help you but I take them religiously and they help an old knee injury I have.

Are there bike racks on your buses? You could bike partway and finish on the bus... thereby eliminating any transfers and associated wait times... I used to do this when my commute was 15 miles and I didn't want to ride the whole way, nor did I want to ride the bus way out of the way and double my commute time w/ transfers, etc.

And I'll second the vote for MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin... I've been taking it for my injured knee and it seems to have helped a lot. I'm using Flex-a-min complete that has all three... stocked up when I saw them on sale (25% off, AND buy one get one free... got 4 bottles for less than $40!) and haven't bought any since...

I tend to take them for a while, then forget... I haven't been taking them for several months and my knee has been giving me problems again... Guess I should keep taking them!

One thing you don't mention is whether you've gotten a professional fitting... if not it would probably be well worth going to have it done... And I'm not talking about the 'free' fitting when you buy a bike... go someplace that does them professionally and pay the fee ($100-$200 depending on the place and level of service)

Rest your knees a bit... if you have to ride, do so in lower gears and at a VERY relaxed pace... leave earlier and don't get in a hurry.... take the bus if possible. Maybe you can arrange a carpool to/from work... if you're only 3 miles away chances are someone else goes right by your house everyday and could give you a ride.

If you have insurance SEE A DOCTOR. We can make suggestions, but we can't diagnose what's really happening... only your doctor can do that.

On the 12th of may this year I pretty much destroyed my right heel and left knee after falling 30m. I've been able to start riding a bike again only a few weeks ago but am practically unable to get around on my own power. I can still ride where I want thanks to my electric bike, where the other ones put together have seen < 5km since the accident. Seems I'm gonna have to get rid of them or add a motor.

^ How'd you fall? And how did you get yourself to work/errands after the fall?

On the 12th of may this year I pretty much destroyed my right heel and left knee after falling 30m. I've been able to start riding a bike again only a few weeks ago but am practically unable to get around on my own power. I can still ride where I want thanks to my electric bike, where the other ones put together have seen < 5km since the accident. Seems I'm gonna have to get rid of them or add a motor.
Yikes... 30 meters? Sounds like you are lucky to be moving at all...sounds like you've had a rough summer. I hope you are able to rehab through it and get back on a bike you can pedal.

I've been "car lite" for at least 2 years no, almost exclusively riding everywhere local, but I broke my clavicle two weeks ago and have been driving since then. I guess being "lite" instead of "free" the car is always there if I need it. I started riding outside again yesterday but I don't think I'm ready to start commuting again... for one thing I can't wear a backpack yet.

I can't think of what I would if I didn't have the car. Depending on the injury I would either rent a car or maybe buy a scooter. I of course wouldn't be able to ride a scooter for the same reason I can't ride my bike, but if you have an overuse injury or something like that, it could probably work.

Well, a buddy and I decided to spend the night out in the woods, it was neat getting there cause I got to use my extracycle loaded, carrying him and beer and stuff on the back. Anyways at some point I went away from the fire where it was bright to somewhere pitch dark, didn't see the edge of the cliff... That made commuting a non issue for a few months, they let me come home a few weeks ago. You know you got hurt pretty bad when it gets on the front page of a provincial newspaper.

It's been ~5 months, need crutches to walk, hurts fairly bad. As for riding a bike once warmed up I used to rev around 100-110 and keep ~30km/h average downtown during rush hour. By comparison now even pushing myself I can't rev much harder then ~90rpm and that hurts after 2-3 minutes. Riding on the flats I'll reach a peak speed around 25km/h and it'll hurt after 2-3 minutes.

So, electric bikes really aren't neat toys to me anymore. With it I can almost get around pretty much like before to the point where the leg injuries don't really affect running errands and such, as far as the riding around on a bike part is concerned anyways.

In a pinch, if you need a motor to keep riding say for a temporary injury, these days wallmart type stores have disposable electric bikes reasonably cheap. And it won't be lost either cause while electric bikes kinda suck for riding around, but you'll want to keep it for a utility bike cause they're wonderfull for helping haul stuff uphill and get back up to speed after stopping.

do you own more than one bike? Maybe using different bikes could help? My knees hurt if I ride w wrong gears (too hard work).

I am lucky since my knees hurt when I walk but not when I ride, but I can¨feel my knees like some bikes better than others.

What do you do at work? If your job involves a lot of standing,you may need better shoes or a shock-absorbing mat to stand on at work. Don't lock your knees!! Walk around at work if you can, and take every opportunity to move around, especially bending , kneeling or squatting to keep your knees mobile.

You can certainly walk 3 miles faster than 1.5 hours! Most people can walk ~3 miles an hour pretty comfortably - 4 mph is a "brisk" walking pace, or moderate if you have long legs :) Alternatively, you might try taking the bus partway and walking from the transfer point (or to the farther bus stop, whichever you prefer). Walking is much easier on the knees than cycling or running; just make sure you have shoes with good grips and good arch support, and walk at whatever pace and stride length is most comfortable to you. Speed walking is not a good idea ;)

Grocery delivery is a great service, and a lot of shops offer it now, whether you go in to the store to pick everything out, or order online. Also consider using taxis for things like shopping trips.

Give your legs a rest for a few weeks, talk to a doctor, and then start up slow again. Consider alternating walking and cycling for your commute, and go slow building back up to doing all the errands by bike.

Also, something I've noticed is that my knees stiffen up really badly in the chillier fall weather. I'm investing in leg warmers...

do you own more than one bike? Maybe using different bikes could help? My knees hurt if I ride w wrong gears (too hard work).

I am lucky since my knees hurt when I walk but not when I ride, but I can¨feel my knees like some bikes better than others.

I have a couple bikes. the one unfortunately doesnt shift into the lowest gear, so I've been avoiding that one ever since I've had knee pain...

I need to get that one fixed, so that I can alternate bikes again.

What do you do at work? If your job involves a lot of standing,you may need better shoes or a shock-absorbing mat to stand on at work. Don't lock your knees!! Walk around at work if you can, and take every opportunity to move around, especially bending , kneeling or squatting to keep your knees mobile.

You can certainly walk 3 miles faster than 1.5 hours! Most people can walk ~3 miles an hour pretty comfortably - 4 mph is a "brisk" walking pace, or moderate if you have long legs :) Alternatively, you might try taking the bus partway and walking from the transfer point (or to the farther bus stop, whichever you prefer). Walking is much easier on the knees than cycling or running; just make sure you have shoes with good grips and good arch support, and walk at whatever pace and stride length is most comfortable to you. Speed walking is not a good idea ;)

Grocery delivery is a great service, and a lot of shops offer it now, whether you go in to the store to pick everything out, or order online. Also consider using taxis for things like shopping trips.

Give your legs a rest for a few weeks, talk to a doctor, and then start up slow again. Consider alternating walking and cycling for your commute, and go slow building back up to doing all the errands by bike.

Also, something I've noticed is that my knees stiffen up really badly in the chillier fall weather. I'm investing in leg warmers...

For work, most of the day I'm sitting and working on a computer.

Getting to and from work is easy. The problem is my social life. Last night I really wanted to attend a party but it was 5.5 miles away, so I ended up biking there. It sucks because I was trying to make myself not bike places, but I just kinda gave into the temptation since I needed to get there and I've gone 6 months without using my car and don't want to lose the streak.

If I knew that walking 5.5 miles was safer than biking that far, I may have considered walking to the party, but my concern is that walking that far would be harder on my knees than biking that far.

Have you had a look at the link I posted regarding knee pain and bicycle set up yet?

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

Machka's link is a very good one, but you should still see a sports medicine specialist if at all possible. FWIW I have one bike that used to give me a bit of pain in the left knee. Found out the suspension seat post allowed the saddle to twist a bit and was throwing my alignment off. I put a rigid seat post on it, and put a better quality saddle and the pain went away. The older I get the more sensitive I am to bike fit. I ride multiple bikes so getting each one dialed in can be a bit tedious. But my choice:p

Aaron:)

The problem is my social life. Last night I really wanted to attend a party but it was 5.5 miles away, so I ended up biking there.

That's another one of the situations where I'd consider a taxi. A short ride like that wouldn't cost much, and then you don't have to worry about riding home if you are tired or if you want to have a few drinks. 5.5 miles is probably further than I'd want to walk for a party, personally.


my concern is that walking that far would be harder on my knees than biking that far.

I'm not sure there's a definitive answer to which is harder on the knees - it depends so much on the actual site of the pain and its specific cause, as well as your own individual stride. In general, as far as I know, walking is not considered to be particularly hard on the knees, while cycling can vary quite a bit (again depending on the individual's pedaling force/cadence, bike fit, gearing and terrain). For me, walking on normal surfaces doesn't cause any knee pain, while cycling sometimes gives me twinges, and running is RIGHT out. Strenuous hiking - on very uneven footing, with a lot of climbing - is the only time my knees have been at all sore from walking.

Check with a doctor to be sure, and as others have said, it would be best to find a doctor who is either an athlete himself or who has a specialization in sports medicine. In Canada, I'd consult with a chiropractor, but I understand that that profession is different in the US and not as well regulated... an osteopath would be a good person to talk to in the US. My point here is that many GPs/family doctors are too quick to prescribe painkillers and muscle relaxants, and will tell you to stop your activities entirely, while failing to look for the original physical cause of the problem. Sometimes this works, IF it's a simple injury that your body can heal on its own, but all too often things get worse when you stop moving and start taking too much medication, and it can be a long hard road to get back to your original level of activity. You want to work with your body's natural healing abilities, not obliterate them!

I personally find cycling much easier on the knees per mile traveled than walking.

Have you had a look at the link I posted regarding knee pain and bicycle set up yet?

http://www.cptips.com/knee.htm

i have and i've been using some of those tactics

That's another one of the situations where I'd consider a taxi. A short ride like that wouldn't cost much, and then you don't have to worry about riding home if you are tired or if you want to have a few drinks. 5.5 miles is probably further than I'd want to walk for a party, personally.



I'm not sure there's a definitive answer to which is harder on the knees - it depends so much on the actual site of the pain and its specific cause, as well as your own individual stride. In general, as far as I know, walking is not considered to be particularly hard on the knees, while cycling can vary quite a bit (again depending on the individual's pedaling force/cadence, bike fit, gearing and terrain). For me, walking on normal surfaces doesn't cause any knee pain, while cycling sometimes gives me twinges, and running is RIGHT out. Strenuous hiking - on very uneven footing, with a lot of climbing - is the only time my knees have been at all sore from walking.

Check with a doctor to be sure, and as others have said, it would be best to find a doctor who is either an athlete himself or who has a specialization in sports medicine. In Canada, I'd consult with a chiropractor, but I understand that that profession is different in the US and not as well regulated... an osteopath would be a good person to talk to in the US. My point here is that many GPs/family doctors are too quick to prescribe painkillers and muscle relaxants, and will tell you to stop your activities entirely, while failing to look for the original physical cause of the problem. Sometimes this works, IF it's a simple injury that your body can heal on its own, but all too often things get worse when you stop moving and start taking too much medication, and it can be a long hard road to get back to your original level of activity. You want to work with your body's natural healing abilities, not obliterate them!

Getting a taxi to and from a party would still probably at least run $30 round trip though, right? Maybe carpooling would be better. I've biked 20 miles to a party before, so technically a 5.5 mile walk would take less time than that. Lately I've been cycling at high rpms and low speeds, which has helped a lot.
Ditto on the strenuous hiking. I'd probably be better by now if it werent for that 6 mile hike I went on a week ago through mountainous terrain.

My mom is a doctor (general practice) and said that I probably am not to the point yet where I would need to see someone for the issue. So I think I'm going to see if the changes I've put in place this last week will have a positive affect. I'd rather not see a doctor if I can avoid it. I mean we should be able to take care of ourselves, right?

I'm positive that if I just drove everywhere, my knees would be back to 100% in no time. But... I can't use my car... that would be wrong!

On the other hand, if you really wreck your knees now, you may not have a choice about using the car. This may not be the hill you want to die on. Take a rest, use the car if you absolutely have to, don't beat yourself up about it, and get back on the bike when and ONLY when you are healed up. Changing your cadence, seat height, etcetera, won't help enough if there's existing damage and you keep riding. Pain usually means stop! It may only take a few days, but you have to give your body the chance it needs.

I find that alternating ice and heat packs (10 minutes each, every couple of hours) seems to speed up healing of the kind of minor strains and overuse injuries I give myself.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it specifically, but make sure your seat is high enough. Most people I see riding bikes have their seat way too low, and that can wreak havoc on your knees. I can tell a difference even if my seat is only a centimeter too low.

I don't think anyone has mentioned it specifically, but make sure your seat is high enough. Most people I see riding bikes have their seat way too low, and that can wreak havoc on your knees. I can tell a difference even if my seat is only a centimeter too low.
If I do one thing a lot then changing to something else can be painful. For cycling it seems like my muscles get in this groove and like Lamplight says the slightest change in setup is painful. If you've been riding for years with a poor seat height then change it gradually. Of course if you are a teenager you can get away with more drastic changes. This is one good thing about having several bikes and regularly walking to the store, you're body doesn't get in a rut.

A pro fit from a reputable shop, I tried doing myself but just couldn't get it right.

Last may our neighbor (a single woman) slipped in a stairway and badly broke her RIGHT leg. She couldn't even drive for months, let alone walk. Between friends, neighbors, and delivery services, she managed to take care of things.

I've certainly wondered about the OP's scenario: What if I couldn't bike due to an injury? The question is too broad. Could I ride a scooter? If the injury is due to an accident, and is someone else's fault, could a rental car be covered while I mend? Put a Stoke Monkey on one of my bikes? Could I even work at my current job? Etc etc... Like anything else, I suppose, we figure it out and continue as best we can...

Like anything else, I suppose, we figure it out and continue as best we can...

That's exactly it ... and yellow pages becomes a good friend!

I dont know much about it, but maybe take some Glucosamine supplements?
Anyone? Anyone?

What is your current level of cycling, miles, speed, terrain?
How fit are you?
How old are you?

Is it gonna cost you a lot to see a doctor? I assume you have talked by phone to your Mother?
There are several potential problems with the knees, some require rest, some require doing things differently.

Personally, I found my knees were hurting lots when I walked, that went away as i upped my bike miles.

3) I don't have one, and besides, would they really know what to do? They'd probably tell me to stop riding on it and to start driving a car to work.


Of course a bunch of strangers on the internet know how to heal an injury better that a trained doctor who actually looks at it.

:rolleyes:

When I had knee pain, my doctor told me to keep exercising, but if one orm of exercise aggravated it, to try another. I ended up walking (a lot!) for about three months, then slowly and gradually started cycling again. All went well, and now I can easily ride 200 or more miles a week with no problem.

If my own doctor (an internist) had been unable to help, he would have told me that. (Unlike people on the internet, who rarely admit that they don't know everything.) He would have referred me to an orthopod or a sports medicine physician.

You did notice the six posts that specifically said "go see a sports medicine physician, right? Apparently not...

Have you tried a recumbent?