The pain in my neck flaired up about 6 weeks ago and has just now started to feel mildly better.
A little history. About 20 years ago, I was hit by a car while on my bike and got pretty messed up. The first part of my body to contact the car was my head/helmet and as a result, I had a concussion and whiplash. Besides a few other broken, shattered, or cracked bones, the rest of my body was mostly intact.
Now. Every few years, the nerve that comes out between the C5 and C6 down to my right shoulder gets pinched and then my neck muscles, trapezoid, and deltoid have a sympathetic response and tighten/cramp up. I have a good chiropractor that takes care of this problem and usually relieves the pain after a few adjustments. But this time, it's being a bit stubborn and the pinch has continued for the past 6 weeks. I seem to be fine while laying down and sleeping is fine too but after a few hours of being upright and supporting my head in normal daily fashion, intermittent pains bother me for most of the day. I've only been on my mountain bike for a few short coasts through the neighborhood to run my dog. I went down into aero position last night at a spin class and yeeeeow! Don't go there. And this is a weird thing, if I run on a downhill, I'm almost pain free. Running on flats and up hills is a bit painful. But, I block out the pinch as much as I can and continue.
So here's the deal. My tri club is starting "off season spin sessions" tomorrow at the bike shop but if the weather is nice, we'll ride outside. No biggy if I'm spinning on the trainer cuz I think I can sit upright enough to avoid really bad pain. But aero position? I don't think so. The forecast for tomorrow is sunny and 50. I'm a bit anxious.
My mtn bike teammate, Thick, called me about a trail ride tomorrow morning. I think I'd be OK with the more upright position on the mtn bike but the jarring on the trail may be more than I can handle.
So here I sit trying to decide what to do. Road ride or trail ride. Maybe I could use my mtn bike for the road ride. I'd be more upright and likely pain free but I'm guessing I'd get dropped in the first 1/4 mile. The alternative to both of the riding options is that I go to the YMCA and spin. But that's indoors and with a forecast of sun and 50 on a crisp autumn day, the Y is very unappealing. I want to ride outside so badly but I'm not sure my neck can handle it without some pain killers or an epidural and a setback in the healing process.
Arrrrgh, I hate being a pain in the neck.
4 comments:
Total bummer.Listen to the body, see if it's up for whatever.
I'm sorry to hear we have FAR too much in common with the injuries!
That pain you are describing lasted for 3 months on me. No relief. The epidural injections are working though and my last one is Monday! I've actually been back in he pool this week!
I hope you end up with a fun, uneventful ride!!!!
1. Way to go on being ahead of your times on the helmet craze. If not, surely your dog wouldn't be the happy pooch he is today with such a loving and caring owner.
2. "And this is a weird thing, if I run on a downhill, I'm almost pain free. Running on flats and up hills is a bit painful." Funny, the same thing happens with me: downhill, no pain; flat and uphill, painful. And I don't even have a pain in my neck. Weird!
3. I'd hate to be your mom, but it sounds like you need to take it easy until the pain goes away. Is another 2 weeks of pain worth an afternoon of sunny weather? But if you DO go out with your tri club, why does it have to be aero? Can't you just hang out on the brake hoods?
Ow.
:(
Resist the temptation - it's a little bit of discipline now that will get you back out there having fun sooner! And what no wetsuit girl said - do you have to go aero? Or will you lose your man card if you don't? ;)
Get well soon
Post a Comment