The end of my bike riding career? I hope not !

[Clivoris]

Good luck man, I hope you can get it sussed. I've always found swimming a few lengths of the local pool a good way to get my spine moving and healing again after injury. Seems like yours is a wee bit more serious than what I've ever had to deal with though. As cool as bikes are, walking freely and without pain is pretty good too. I know what I would chose if I had too.

[Ixion]

Oh dear. Very sorry to hear that. Backs can be the very devil. You seem to have been most unfortunate having trouble at a relatively young age. Good luck, and bear in mind that if one doctor doesn't behave, move on to another.

I have some not trivial experience in dealing with ACC, don't heistate to drop me a line if I can assist. Unfortunately, I suspect that you are right and they will class it as a pre existing condition.

[magicfairy]

And what ever you do do not take advice to lie on your back for a week....

Although in most situations lying on your back for a week is not the right thing to do, it does depend on the injury.
A seriously prolapsed disc take about 9 months to properly heal, not a few days. The disc develops a tear and the material in it that aborbs shock leaks out, putting pressure on the nerves running by. The disc gets a little split in it.

In the early days the treatment is try and avoid any movement that keeps putting strain on that tear, which does not allow it to start mending. And so much depends on which part of the disc is prolapsed.

To be honest with what I have seen of serious disc prolapses (I am an ex-nurse and had a partner go thru a prolapsed disc) I WOULD lie on my back for a week. I have heard orthopaedic surgeons say this - just so the tear in the disc can start healing. But for most other back pain lying in bed is bad.

What is really important is to remember what worked for someones elses back may the absolutely wrong thing for you. Disc prolapses are not the same as strained, torn muscles or ligament damage.

Go to your GP for starters, remember they are not experts in backs, and any half way decent GP should appreciate the seriousness of the injury and refer to physios, back clinics or even surgeon if the problem doesn't start resolving in a week or 2.
Back are very complex things, injuries often cannot be seen on X-Ray and blindly following advice giving out by others who have also "done their backs in" could not only slow down healing but make matters worse.


Rant over

[Swoop]

if i was 50 with a girlfriend I`d be wanting it fixed ASAP!!!.

Especially before the wife found out...

I hope it all ends OK Dai. Backs are not something to be trifled with.

[gijoe1313]

Ahh sorry to hear about that Dai, I've had me fair share of back problems ... but nothing like what you're going through Shizen...you're a hard man to ride to work with the pain you're putting yourself through!

Hang tough, sort out your options...and it sounds like there are people here who've fought the battles you will be fighting now! And as the old James Bond movie goes...never say never!

[Paul in NZ]

What a bastard.... Vickis had a shocking back (hospital a couple of times) but she still troops on after a lot of recovery effort.

Couple of things....

ACC is NOT useless - stats wise they are actually VERY good at rehabilitating you once you are in the system. It's just getting into the system than can be a challange.

NZ has the McKenzie institute (Robin McKenzie) http://www.mckenziemdt.org/index.cfm which is a world leader in treating back pain. His book - Treat your own back - is a bloody marvel and well worth a read.

Hope this helps

Paul N

[Colapop]

Did anyone else see that article (Dom -post??) about the screw in pin they can put in your lower back? It has an adjustable tensioner/separator and relieves lower back spinal compression pain by up to 90% apparently.

[Dai]

Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement.

So far today I have ridden a total of 62kn in two parts. Each time it has damm near crippled me once I get off the bike (maybe I shouldnt). Using the back brake for any reason in very painful.

Just spent a couple of hours either sitting or lying on my bed. Only now do I feel like getting up and moving around a bit.

Its going to be hard convincing the docs and ACC that it isnt a pre existing injury. I have a lovely scar running from the small of my back to the crack in my arse from the operation botch up in the UK.

Took me 10 years of going to the docs over there, going to everysort of treatment they could think of, before they MRI' d my spine. Found that the spinal cord was pushed into an S shape and was 3/4 constricted. Two days later I was being operated on. 6 days after that I was in intensive care with septisemia (blood poisoning) that resulted in 1 month in hospital. 4 weeks after that back in hospital as the poisoning/infection had progressed to my spinal chord and I was in agony. To give you some idea, I was on 1000mg of Tramadol a day and that wasnt helping the pain. 70 pills of all sorts of drugs a day and I was like a zombie. The last visit was for 3 1/2 months.

Got to get the back strong again before I contemplate any sort of distance on a bike. I only ride it to work as it is my only means of transport, never had a car licence in my 50 years.

Rebuild forks, rebuild rear shocks, raise handlebars and move footpegs. Definitely on the agenda as finances allow. I'd hit the banks for a loan but dont have much of a credit rating as I have been overseads on my OE for 25 years and have a limited credit history. Have to do it the hard way and save the cash.

Girlfriend all for continuing on the bikes if I can as she has enjoyed the rides she pillioned on. Lots of support there.

AS I said in my earlier post I am feeling my age, my injury and very sorry for myself. I have been so careful over the last 6 years since the op with any sort of lifting or heavy work. One little slip and I'm knackered.

Thanks again for the comments.

[RT527]

Although in most situations lying on your back for a week is not the right thing to do, it does depend on the injury.
A seriously prolapsed disc take about 9 months to properly heal, not a few days. The disc develops a tear and the material in it that aborbs shock leaks out, putting pressure on the nerves running by. The disc gets a little split in it.

In the early days the treatment is try and avoid any movement that keeps putting strain on that tear, which does not allow it to start mending. And so much depends on which part of the disc is prolapsed.

To be honest with what I have seen of serious disc prolapses (I am an ex-nurse and had a partner go thru a prolapsed disc) I WOULD lie on my back for a week. I have heard orthopaedic surgeons say this - just so the tear in the disc can start healing. But for most other back pain lying in bed is bad.

What is really important is to remember what worked for someones elses back may the absolutely wrong thing for you. Disc prolapses are not the same as strained, torn muscles or ligament damage.

Go to your GP for starters, remember they are not experts in backs, and any half way decent GP should appreciate the seriousness of the injury and refer to physios, back clinics or even surgeon if the problem doesn't start resolving in a week or 2.
Back are very complex things, injuries often cannot be seen on X-Ray and blindly following advice giving out by others who have also "done their backs in" could not only slow down healing but make matters worse.


Rant over

Yup sorry should have quantified it...my point was to get a 2nd opinion ....

[Indiana_Jones]

Or get a TRIKE to ride or switch from sportbike to cruiser bike.
I have a shocking bad back and a cruiser is fine for my back.

What Crashe said, Get a Bonnie

-Indy

[sillywilly]

sorry to hear this dai,might be time if you can to trade the clip-ons for a cruiser,i'm sure one of those suzuki boulevards would be easier on the back.motor finance seems to be available to all sorts of dead-beats these days, you wouldn't have any trouble,respectable fella like ur self.
anyway good luck with it,hope we see ya on a thursday nite again eventually

[ManDownUnder]

I won't repeat all that has been posted before me - but good luck
MDU

[Edbear]

the mind is an amazing tool!

Yep! My mind's really amazing...


Sympathies, I know what a back injury is like! Wore a brace for years and still have trouble. Actually asking the Doc today about getting another one. Had a lightweight one which was great and fitted under clothes quite well.

I'd certainly see if another style of bike worked better before giving up, too!