Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.Swamp Daddy
11-19-08, 05:45 AM
Hi, everybody. Noob from Louisiana here. I've been a lurker since July or so and this is my first post. I wanted to wait until I actually accomplished something before I crashed the party!
My first ride was on August 2 of this year. I had my second major back surgery on May 19 and cycling was a last ditch effort to attempt some type of re-hab. In May I had the disk at L5 removed (L3,4 were removed in '94), a ton of scar tissue from the prior surgery cleaned out, a bone graft at L5, and two rods and six screws "installed" from L3-L5. It was about a 6 1/2 hour procedure. Needless to say, it was a pretty long day!:twitchy:
Anyway, I was never sent for PT after the surgery but was, instead, told to "walk as much as possible." I did that for a month or so but could never go for more than about 2 1/2 miles at a time and then, literally, couldn't move for the rest of the day due to severe neuropathy in both legs. On a follow-up visit to my Surgeon he suggested that I try "Biking" because it's lower impact than walking. "Sure", I thought, "Unless you fall off!"
Anyway, I scraped enough money together and got a Trek 7300 on Aug. 2 and took my first ride which was exactly 2 1/2 miles after which I couldn't move the rest of the day. Great. Sound familiar?
I kept reading these Forums, though, and found a TREMENDOUS amount of motivation/ encouragement and I kept at the riding. Within a month I was up to 20 miles a day and now average anywhere from 25-35 miles daily. My accomplishment came yesterday when I finally broke my first 1,000 miles (1,003.9 to be exact). Somewhere along the way I "popped" my right Quad and have been dealing with that also. It set me back a bit but I'm working through it.
So, from a guy who a few short months ago could hardly walk, I want to give all of you a HUGE "thank you" for all the help, support, and encouragement you gave to someone that you didn't even know was paying attention.
I apologize for such a long post but I just had to say it. Thanks again!!
My first ride was on August 2 of this year. I had my second major back surgery on May 19 and cycling was a last ditch effort to attempt some type of re-hab. In May I had the disk at L5 removed (L3,4 were removed in '94), a ton of scar tissue from the prior surgery cleaned out, a bone graft at L5, and two rods and six screws "installed" from L3-L5. It was about a 6 1/2 hour procedure. Needless to say, it was a pretty long day!:twitchy:
Anyway, I was never sent for PT after the surgery but was, instead, told to "walk as much as possible." I did that for a month or so but could never go for more than about 2 1/2 miles at a time and then, literally, couldn't move for the rest of the day due to severe neuropathy in both legs. On a follow-up visit to my Surgeon he suggested that I try "Biking" because it's lower impact than walking. "Sure", I thought, "Unless you fall off!"
Anyway, I scraped enough money together and got a Trek 7300 on Aug. 2 and took my first ride which was exactly 2 1/2 miles after which I couldn't move the rest of the day. Great. Sound familiar?
I kept reading these Forums, though, and found a TREMENDOUS amount of motivation/ encouragement and I kept at the riding. Within a month I was up to 20 miles a day and now average anywhere from 25-35 miles daily. My accomplishment came yesterday when I finally broke my first 1,000 miles (1,003.9 to be exact). Somewhere along the way I "popped" my right Quad and have been dealing with that also. It set me back a bit but I'm working through it.
So, from a guy who a few short months ago could hardly walk, I want to give all of you a HUGE "thank you" for all the help, support, and encouragement you gave to someone that you didn't even know was paying attention.
I apologize for such a long post but I just had to say it. Thanks again!!