A memorable ride in this morning....
 

Facebook reminded me it was on this date, March 23rd in 2012, in the morning that I resumed riding to work after a bulging disk in my neck changed my life in September 2010. I didn't ride for over a year, and didn't resume commuting until 8 years ago today.

I was in constant pain for four months, which then began to subside for longer and longer periods each day. I began walking, then running on the treadmill through the fall and winter to get my cardio up. Then I began shorter rides until I though I could make the 9 miles to work.

Here is a photo from that day in 2012, and again today!

I got to work and found out we will be on a reduced schedule effective immediately. Such is life in the time of Coronavirus.
That is snow atop Pikes Peak just above my helmet in today's photo.

2012:
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...41ab4d4cbc.jpg

2020:
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...44d0b30be8.jpg

Nice, and congrats on getting back on 8 years ago and sticking to it.

Congratulations on your back-to-riding anniversary!

Facebook seems to know a lot about you.

Congratulations, on getting back on your bike.

Great keeping at it! I wish that I was more in to bikes back when I lived in the Springs.
s that Quail Lake? Back in the 90's I worked just up the hill at Quantum in the old Cray building.

Yes, it's Quail Lake. I work just across the "valley" from what was Quantum. When I first started working in 1992 it was Cray Super Computer, then Quantum, then Honeywell. It has been vacant for the last three years.

You may enjoy this video of mine from 2016...

What treatment did you do for the disc? I had surgery in 1988, one month before my first kid was born. For months, I was unable to walk or stand or even think.

Through MRIs they determined the disc was bulging and not slipped, so they put me on steroids and anti-inflamatories. I went to a doctor of osteopathy who performed a quick adjustment, just like in the movies and tv...he held my arm behind me and braced my shoulder and twisted my neck. There was a small popping sound and the pain was gone...but for only 20 minutes.

Then they did a steroid injection in my neck and said two or three may be necessary. The first did nothing. A few weeks later the second seemed to help. I began experiencing short pain-free periods which grew by the week. And the build-up of pain was slower.

By the way, when I say pain...it was all in my left arm, from the bicep down to my middle finger-tip. My neck itself didn't hurt. WHen the original DO tapped the side of my neck, it felt as if he was tapping my fore-arm.

Had my condition not shown improvement, the next steps would have been a third steroid injection, followed by surgury if necessary.

Just as with your case, I was unable to walk, stand or think, but I had to go to work, as it was a small business, and my friend, the owner was dying of cancer and I had to run things. Lots of pain, lots of depression and no bike riding. I really don't know how I got through it, other than having a strong, capable, smart and beautiful wife.

Yup, referred pain is normal. My herniated disc was L5-S1, I.e. the lowest one. I had pain in my leg only. But my back was twisted, and people could see it when they looked at me.

Congrats! That seems so good, isn't it?

That'll do it.

Sick! Congrats on the recovery.