Cycling After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ??
 

Hello, I am a 34 yr old cyclists who suffered a perimesencephalic subarachnoid hemorrhage 4 months ago.

Prior to the hemorrhage I was an avid cyclocross and mountain bike rider.

My doctor told me that after 3 months I was cleared to return to all my normal activities and I would have NO restrictions on anything.

Naturally I am very concerned about a rebleed and if exercise or intense exercise would cause a rebleed.

Has anyone here experienced a SAH and gotten back to riding at prior levels and intensity ?

From a medical stand point there doesn't seem to be any worry about a recurrence. Just don't ride balls to the wall causing a Blood Pressure spike.

http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/co...hort/38/4/1222

I am familiar with that study you linked to. I have read every study ever published on the matter. The studys are pretty convincing that the rebleed risk is almost zero but they never present examples of people engaging in intense exercise.

Most people I talk to that have had a hemorrhage are so traumatized by the experience that they never do anything rigorous after it.

Remember that the mortality of subarachnoid hemorrhages is about 60% so its not like re injuring a torn knee ligament. Also, the people who survive a SAH usually have permanant disabilties and neurological disfunction.

As far as spikes in blood pressure, thats a tricky thing. From what I have read cycling generally doesnt cause great increases in blood pressure like weight lifting. But is that for casual riding or competition riding ?

Does a cyclists blood pressure rise to high in a cyclocross race ?

My general blood pressure is usually low (115/70)

Cannot speak to the medical aspects of your issue , can say , an hour of
cross racing is more strenuous than other cycling sports , particularly to be competitive .

are you able to use a sports physical rehab specialist, to keep close monitoring of the recovery?
or is that outside the coverage of your Med Policy?

a modest pace touring casually on a bike is not so much a strain as old geezers like me still get out and about. :50: ,
and you can always go
to Cross races and cheer or pit crew, help hose down the competitors spare bikes , drink Beer
all the non competitive parts :beer:

This is good advice for the OP. That and it's common sense to not press the envelope and get all sweaty and tired from strenuous exercise !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So what that you shouldn't ride like the devil is on your heels anymore!! GET OVER IT!!!!

There are LOTS of other things ,and activities, that you can do in cycling and I think you know that. Your life isn't over yet so stop wasting what you have left and enjoy cycling some other way.

Consider this scenario, experienced by my father:

He had a subarachnoid hemorrhage in the mid-1950's, when there weren't any good blood pressure medications (he had a problem). He recovered fully, continued to smoke and drink pretty heavily, didn't exercise at all, and stayed about 30lbs overweight. In the early '60s he had lung cancer and after the surgery never had a recurrence (rare in those days).

He died of a major heart blockage in 1979 at age 65 while mowing the lawn (his only regular exercise outside of golf).

My takeaway: You can't beat the grim reaper, so why not enjoy yourself and be in good shape for as long as you can.