Anyone else cycling with degenerative disc disorder? - Triathlon Week

09-20-2004, 05:34 AM

hey
eric, i do not have degenerative disk disorder but i do have a herniated
extruded disk that nicely rests RIGHT on the neve. i am able to swim and run
relatively pain free (bothers me AFTER a long run but not during). cycling
is thank god bearable but after about 70+ miles it defiantely tightens up
and gives me trouble. i too am registered for IM distance next year (IMC)
and am DEFINATELY worried about the bike portion especially with all the
climbing. i can tell you that i take celebrex and it is a MIRACLE drug for
me anyway. i take 200mg in the morning and am pretty pain free all day. i do
have to be very careful with my lifting and sitting in certain positions,
etc as the simplest thing can aggrivate it for weeks. good luck in your
training and especially in your IM next year.
biged

"Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote in message
news:uOq3d.166$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
>I have three bad discs in my lower back but still love tri races even
>though it hurts. Through a lot of pain management work I've been able to
>keep up the training and still compete, but the race cycling really hurts.
>My goal for next summer is an IM distance but I fear the 112 mile cycling
>might be more than my back can handle.
>
> Finally got my core strong enuf and the bike set right so the pain is
> pretty bearable on long training rides. I can do a 70 mile training ride
> without much trouble, but in a race setting it's screaming at me in about
> 10 miles.
>
> And I had to give up on any sort of aerobar-type position; just can't
> handle it.
>
> I can't think of what if anything I'm doing different in a race. Maybe
> it's easier on training rides because I take 5 to 10 minute breaks every
> hour to get water at some convenience store. I push pretty hard & do a lot
> of hills on training rides so maybe I'm tensing up during the race?
>
> P.S. the condition had been worsening: I'm doing all medically that can be
> done. I'd appreciate hearing form anyone who's overcome or improved on
> this problem
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>

09-20-2004, 06:13 AM

thanks... your symptoms seem sound just like mine... standing in place
is awfully painful, but it does get me out of shopping with my wife :)

Haven't tried Celebrex, maybe I'll give it a whirl if it's compatible
with what I already take. the last year I've been getting epidural
injections that bring relief for a few weeks (done every 6 weeks). I've
tried to time them according to races as best I can (however the docs
don't think I should run at all so I don't say to much about the sport)

09-20-2004, 08:42 AM

I have had a herniated disk with which I lived for 12 or so years. I've
done very many triathlons including IMH five times with it. Ok, I'm the
poster-child for Athletic Physical Self-Abuse Syndrome. I finally had a
microdiskectomy operation and I am cycling again and have just begun
running. I feel like I'll recover well.

Here is a theory that you can discount if you want. It's just my opinion
based on my years of experience.

Core strength is the key, but not totally the key. You have to use that
core strength or it hurts your lower back. If you ride without aero bars,
you have to use your core strength to maintain your aero position. The bent
elbows required do not allow you to rest your weight completely on your
arms. However, with aero bars, there is a tendency to rest completely on
your elbows, allowing your spine to either sway or arch out of a straight
line depending on how long your top tube is.

This might allow for stress on the lower spine. You need to hold your
position better with your core muscles and not lay your whole weight on the
aero bar cradles. Ironman distance would make this difficult for the whole
112 but any amount would help.

As I said, this is theory and I find it intuitively satisfying but I have no
data for it. Please think about it and discard it if you think it's crap.
I have no creative ego in the matter.

Ray

"Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote in message
news:uOq3d.166$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> I have three bad discs in my lower back but still love tri races even
> though it hurts. Through a lot of pain management work I've been able to
> keep up the training and still compete, but the race cycling really
> hurts. My goal for next summer is an IM distance but I fear the 112 mile
> cycling might be more than my back can handle.
>
> Finally got my core strong enuf and the bike set right so the pain is
> pretty bearable on long training rides. I can do a 70 mile training ride
> without much trouble, but in a race setting it's screaming at me in
> about 10 miles.
>
> And I had to give up on any sort of aerobar-type position; just can't
> handle it.
>
> I can't think of what if anything I'm doing different in a race. Maybe
> it's easier on training rides because I take 5 to 10 minute breaks
> every hour to get water at some convenience store. I push pretty hard &
> do a lot of hills on training rides so maybe I'm tensing up during the
> race?
>
> P.S. the condition had been worsening: I'm doing all medically that can
> be done. I'd appreciate hearing form anyone who's overcome or improved
> on this problem
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>

09-20-2004, 11:20 AM

Your theory makes pretty good sense to me. I've tried the aero but just
can't handle the extra stress on my lower back.
Prior to seeing a good phys therapist I did little core work as it
always aggravated my back. I finally got a correct diagnosis and phys
therapy helped my core without exacerbating the pain. Between therapy,
drugs, and epidural injections I'm better than ever... except on race
day I hurt like hell in only 10 or 15 miles.
MY theory for THAT one is: I'm tensing up changing my position, and I
don't stop (like on training rides I stop 10 minutes or so every hour
to get water, ice, Twinkees, etc)

09-20-2004, 07:41 PM

As Ray mentioned, core dynamic stabilization is the key but not the whole
enchilada. Neuromuscular reeducation of the whole body to maximize the use
of the core while moving in other body parts (such as legs and arms)
independently is the rest of the pie. There needs to be an integration of
the parts for full functional and efficient movement.

Who can help with this? A Polestar Pilates practitioner.
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

"Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote in message
news:uOq3d.166$[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]...
> I have three bad discs in my lower back but still love tri races even
> though it hurts. Through a lot of pain management work I've been able to
> keep up the training and still compete, but the race cycling really
> hurts. My goal for next summer is an IM distance but I fear the 112 mile
> cycling might be more than my back can handle.
>
> Finally got my core strong enuf and the bike set right so the pain is
> pretty bearable on long training rides. I can do a 70 mile training ride
> without much trouble, but in a race setting it's screaming at me in
> about 10 miles.
>
> And I had to give up on any sort of aerobar-type position; just can't
> handle it.
>
> I can't think of what if anything I'm doing different in a race. Maybe
> it's easier on training rides because I take 5 to 10 minute breaks
> every hour to get water at some convenience store. I push pretty hard &
> do a lot of hills on training rides so maybe I'm tensing up during the
> race?
>
> P.S. the condition had been worsening: I'm doing all medically that can
> be done. I'd appreciate hearing form anyone who's overcome or improved
> on this problem
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
>

09-23-2004, 10:40 AM

I understand your plight - I have problems with both my cervical and
lumbar regions.

My neck had gotten so bad that I had constant headaches. I would get
severe back cramps on the bike as well.
However, I have it mostly under control now.

What did I do? Several things.
You mentioned strengthening, especially in the core. Very good.
Another thing to do is stretching. You might try a Pilates program -
this will help both flexibility and strength. I also have found ways to
stretch my back every 5-10 miles while on the bike.
The other way I cope is with regular anti-inflammatory drugs. My
rehab\pain management doctor put me on a regular, small dose of Cox2
inhibitors (Celebrex, Vioxx, Bextra) a couple of years ago, and this is
what helped me turn the corner. If I quit taking them for any period,
the pain returns. He's made it clear this is necessary for me to be
relatively paid free, and that controlling the inflammation is critical
to stopping or slowing the degeneration.

That's what has worked for me. However, remember that every person and
every case is different. It may well be that your situation is such that
not riding would be better, or you might want to think about switching
to a recumbent. (Are those legal in tris? They do help back pain!)

Eric wrote:
>
> I have three bad discs in my lower back but still love tri races even
> though it hurts. Through a lot of pain management work I've been able to
> keep up the training and still compete, but the race cycling really
> hurts. My goal for next summer is an IM distance but I fear the 112 mile
> cycling might be more than my back can handle.
>
> Finally got my core strong enuf and the bike set right so the pain is
> pretty bearable on long training rides. I can do a 70 mile training ride
> without much trouble, but in a race setting it's screaming at me in
> about 10 miles.
>
> And I had to give up on any sort of aerobar-type position; just can't
> handle it.
>
> I can't think of what if anything I'm doing different in a race. Maybe
> it's easier on training rides because I take 5 to 10 minute breaks
> every hour to get water at some convenience store. I push pretty hard &
> do a lot of hills on training rides so maybe I'm tensing up during the
> race?
>
> P.S. the condition had been worsening: I'm doing all medically that can
> be done. I'd appreciate hearing form anyone who's overcome or improved
> on this problem
>
> Thanks,
> Eric

09-24-2004, 11:44 AM

"Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote but I fear the 112 mile cycling
might be more than my back can handle...

Dude - you should fear it.

Check out this guys site; read 'Doug's story' and post him a note:

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]

All I'm saying is the fear is well founded. If you're interested in
working around issues, check out Stu McGill's new book...

[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (his site) title's "Ultimate Back Fitness and
Performance"...

Yer welcome.

~waves

09-24-2004, 09:34 PM

Thanks for the ChiroGeek link, very informative.

<[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]> wrote in message
news:3c491865.0409241044.349499be@posting.google.c om...
> "Eric" <[Only registered and activated users can see links. ].edu> wrote but I fear the 112 mile cycling
> might be more than my back can handle...
>
> Dude - you should fear it.
>
> Check out this guys site; read 'Doug's story' and post him a note:
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> All I'm saying is the fear is well founded. If you're interested in
> working around issues, check out Stu McGill's new book...
>
> [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (his site) title's "Ultimate Back Fitness and
> Performance"...
>
> Yer welcome.
>
>
> ~waves