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Commuting Mishap

Old 08-25-09, 07:21 AM
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Commuting Mishap

I was at the front of a line at a red light. The light turned green and I got up on my pedals to start going when ZOUNDZ! a shooting pain goes through my lower back just above my tailbone. I got back into the seat and continued pedaling. This was about halfway through the commute and I made it in the rest of the way. But now I'm sitting in my desk in tremendous pain. I've taken some Advil and I've got an appointment with my doctor tomorrow morning. I'll probably need to catch a ride home tonight and leave the bike at the office for the time being.

This sucks.
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 08-25-09, 07:33 AM
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Originally Posted by oakback
Did you get hit with a blowdart?
sadly that is a very good question, the ends come off those and you could just have the needle in your back. Home made blow darts use a paper flight and shear off on entry.
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Old 08-25-09, 07:44 AM
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All these years I thought it was a little devil with a pitch fork.
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Old 08-25-09, 07:52 AM
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I would never post how to make them for obvious reasons, but they are nasty. I would sertainly recommend for the OP to have someone look for an entry wound. All the blow-dart stuff on the news only gives people ideas
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Old 08-25-09, 08:38 AM
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No, this pain came from the inside. I just pulled something or slipped something or popped something.

Ouch.
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Originally Posted by bragi "However, it's never a good idea to overgeneralize."
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Old 08-25-09, 08:47 AM
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Did you start pedaling in gear too high? Have you ever slipped a disc before? I hear that can be pretty incapacitating.
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Old 08-25-09, 09:25 AM
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I can sympathize, with a severely herniated disk located at L3/L4. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it is more painful for me when riding in a more upright position, less so when on my road bike, with more of the support work done with my hands, arms, and shoulders. Of course, the folks with a 'bent persuasion will likely be quick to offer a possibly even better solution.
 
Old 08-25-09, 10:17 AM
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That happened to me a couple of weeks ago when I twisted around to get something out of my trunk bag. I should have dismounted, but I am too lazy. Fortunately the pain subsided after a few minutes, as I was 20 km from the end of the ride.
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Old 08-25-09, 10:24 AM
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So far, upright feels much better than bent over.

After the Advil kicked in, the pain is down to a tolerable level, but probably not tolerable enough to ride home. I have a ride lined up for this afternoon.
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Old 08-25-09, 10:57 AM
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Originally Posted by oakback
I was actually joking about the blowdart, actual lower back pain is obvious when you feel it. Don't push it, let your back rest!
I thought people were getting shot with beebee guns or blow darts in the tour de France, come to think of it, that might have been happening in the tour d'italia. Those Italians get wicked pissed when they're losing, or so I've heard.
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Old 08-25-09, 11:37 AM
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Well, we'll see what the doctor says tomorrow.

It's still very sore, but I can function. I don't think I'll try to ride until I talk to the doc.
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Old 08-25-09, 07:51 PM
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Maybe it's a pinched nerve? I owned something in my back running once. Could barely get off the couch for a couple of days (no an actual couch, not Couch!)

In any case, I can sympathize. My toe "knuckle" is still painful days after I crashed my bike, my work shoes cause me to limp and pushing off on my bike is painful. Fffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
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Old 08-25-09, 09:06 PM
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My usual remedy was to get a frosty cold can of beer from the fridge ... and hold the cold can on the injury to act like an icepack. After a few minutes the injury feels better ... seems like a waste to get up to return the beer back to the fridge ...

Seriously, hope you heal up quickly.
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Old 08-25-09, 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted by nkfrench
My usual remedy was to get a frosty cold can of beer from the fridge ... and hold the cold can on the injury to act like an icepack. After a few minutes the injury feels better ... seems like a waste to get up to return the beer back to the fridge ...

Seriously, hope you heal up quickly.
What if... and this is pure speculation... But what IF you got TWO beers, huh, HUH? One beer for the back, and one for drinking, by the time your done with one, well the other ones right there and who wants to waste beer? Well that's, that's just fine.
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Old 08-25-09, 09:20 PM
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Tequila would be much more efficient for easing pain. Eons ago my Loco Mexican Friend taught me to have a shot of Ta Kill Ya before bed to help ya fall asleep. I tried it once, worked pretty good.

I no longer drink, myself, but it's a thought. :thumbs:
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Old 08-26-09, 06:07 AM
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To the OP, rest up and I hope everything works out okay. However what is the blowdart thing? Someones been actually doing that to people? And Timber_8, you seem to know an awfully lot about it, can you vouch for your whereabouts on that morning .
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Old 08-26-09, 09:13 AM
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Originally Posted by High Roller
I can sympathize, with a severely herniated disk located at L3/L4. It sounds counter-intuitive, but it is more painful for me when riding in a more upright position, less so when on my road bike, with more of the support work done with my hands, arms, and shoulders. Of course, the folks with a 'bent persuasion will likely be quick to offer a possibly even better solution.
Ok, I'll bite. You're right, a better bicycle that carries a human in great comfort would probably help with lower back problems. I have a compressed disk at L3/L4 and have absolutely zero back issues on my 'bent. Nor any other comfort issues, except having my head up with a good view of the world makes the helmet vents a bit less useful compared with a head down position on wedgie bike.
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Old 08-26-09, 07:22 PM
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Originally Posted by DanBraden
What if... and this is pure speculation... But what IF you got TWO beers, huh, HUH? One beer for the back, and one for drinking, by the time your done with one, well the other ones right there and who wants to waste beer? Well that's, that's just fine.
Good thinking but ... by the 4th beer the net effect is that I was having to get up to visit the Little Cyclists room, negating the couch recovery. Moderation is key, sigh.
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Old 08-26-09, 07:26 PM
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Ouch, that sucks. This happened to me no long ago on a road ride. I was climbing the last hill on the way home and pulled a muscle in my back. I found I couldn't turn the cranks without severe pain and it was good thing I could mostly drift home. I took three or four days off the bike and it righted itself.
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Old 08-26-09, 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by nkfrench
Good thinking but ... by the 4th beer the net effect is that I was having to get up to visit the Little Cyclists room, negating the couch recovery. Moderation is key, sigh.
If you have to get up to do that, you haven't had enough.
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Old 08-27-09, 04:12 AM
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Originally Posted by oakback
Did you get hit with a blowdart?
Originally Posted by Timber_8
sadly that is a very good question, the ends come off those and you could just have the needle in your back. Home made blow darts use a paper flight and shear off on entry.

Nothing like being overcome by fear driven hysteria and giving a silly response. In your view, how many cyclists have ever been struck by a blowdart in the Western World in the last 100 years? One, two?

Maybe it was a meteorite, ya think?

My personal experience with L4-5 herniated disks is that "shooting" pain shows up in the upper buttock or down a leg or even in a foot. After surgery, occasional soreness does show up at the incision site in the lower back.

Good luck at the doctor's for a good diagnosis.
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Old 08-27-09, 04:26 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
In your view, how many cyclists have ever been struck by a blowdart in the Western World in the last 100 years? One, two?
The blow dart comments were, I believe, submitted and appreciated in good humor.
But you missed the context for the joke.
So here it is.
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Old 08-27-09, 04:51 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
how many cyclists have ever been struck by a blowdart in the Western World in the last 100 years? One, two?
Well, according to the article, we have a minimum of 3 in Delaware in a couple of days. Extrapolate that to the entire Western World in 100 years and you do the math.

I've never been hit with a blow-dart, but I have been on the receiving end of a pellet gun. The intent is the same, causing injury to a cyclist for kicks.
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Old 08-27-09, 05:50 AM
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Originally Posted by I-Like-To-Bike
Nothing like being overcome by fear driven hysteria and giving a silly response. In your view, how many cyclists have ever been struck by a blowdart in the Western World in the last 100 years? One, two?

Maybe it was a meteorite, ya think?

My personal experience with L4-5 herniated disks is that "shooting" pain shows up in the upper buttock or down a leg or even in a foot. After surgery, occasional soreness does show up at the incision site in the lower back.

Good luck at the doctor's for a good diagnosis.
I was wondering what happened to you, I missed you
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Old 08-27-09, 11:26 AM
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Yeah, I realized I hadn't posted.

I saw the doctor yesterday; diagnosis is strained muscles/ligaments in my lower back, no disc issues. Yay. The doctor gave me Naproxin Sodium (Alieve) at a 750 mg time-released dosage- 1 pill every 24 hours. The Advil did a better job; I was actually feeling pretty good yesterday while today was clearly a step back.

I can function; the pain is mostly associated with movements that bend or twist the waist. I can walk, sit, probably ride a bike although I haven't tried yet. When I stand up it takes a few seconds for everything to settle into position and allow for relatively pain free walking. Sitting down is fine. I expect that within a week or so I should be doing better and back on the bike. The doctor didn't put any restrictions on me other than to say I can ride when I can do so without pain.

On the mend, just not as quickly as I would like.
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