Riding a bicycle/fused to sacrum

[leahdragonfly]

I'm curious if people feel comfortable riding a bike after recovery from long fusion to the sacrum. I'm doing very well around 10 months out from my last broken rod revision. I think it would be fun to do some casual riding around town on a cruiser-type bike where you sit fairly upright. How is your balance on a bike after surgery? Any advice?

[titaniumed]

I'm doing very well around 10 months out from my last broken rod revision.

This is good news...Gayle, I knew you were going to come through. (smiley face)

My balance is fine, I have cats balance. The question should be reversed. How is your balance?....And are you ok on a bike?

I think as long as you don’t have a balance disorder, you should be ok.
https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/balance-disorders

I have looked at and would consider an electric bike......something like this...(Just an idea, Smiley face)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvDE1EQP_hk

Please don’t crash....

Here I am saying take it easy in our recoveries, walk slow and so forth, and now this! I wonder how many spine surgeons would cringe on this?

Ed

[golfnut]

I asked Dr. Lenke about riding my bike and his answer was "just don't fall off". The second time I went for a ride, a squirrel darted in my path. After that, I just tried to be really aware of my environment. I only ride around in subdivisions, but really enjoy it. I am fused T4 to the sacrum and use a Trek bike where I am sitting up straight.

[the_baroness]

I thought maybe I’d revive this thread and seeing if anyone has any thoughts on biking. I’m 6 years post op from my original fusion and 10 months post op from my revision. I have been training on my bike for the last few months to prepare for a vacation bike tour through Tuscany. My goal is to be able to go 20 miles, with 1000 feet of hills. But I can’t seem to get past 13 miles with 400 feet of hills. The flat parts are fine but the hills are killing me. And I go so slow! I was thinking that maybe the fact I’m fused to sacrum prevents me from getting enough power to pump my legs to push myself up the hill. It’s very frustrating. When I look around at other bicyclists I see them rounding their spines which I can’t do. I wonder if that’s the secret to bicycling and if that’s why I’m not improving since structurally I don’t have that shape available to me. At any rate. Initially yes my balance on the bike was poor. But like they say, it’s like riding a bike! My balance is now fine, I just can’t really generate any speed or power.

On another note, has anyone heard Dr Errico is leaving NYU and going to a children’s hospital in Miami? I am devastated. I will miss him. He’s very inspirational to me.

[mashkine]

Hi there,
this may not be helpful at all, because I'm not fused, but I'm doing long distances on a bike after having adjusted it to have a very upright position. It's a mountain/road hybrid bike but the stem has been customized with an extension to make the handle bars extremely high. I don't round off my spine at all and it's been working really well (I have 50+ degree curves). Just did a 35 mile ride today and felt great. If you have to bend to reach the handlebars on your bike, this may be something to look into. Hope you find a solution that works!

[titaniumed]

Hi Baroness

Sounds like you are doing well....

You know, 1000 vertical feet on a bike isn't easy...... For us, its even harder with scoliosis. Try to go easy on yourself.

Here is a little trivia...

Greg LeMond is from Reno.... He would ride from 4500 feet over the Mt Rose pass (8911ft) to Tahoe which is 4400 feet as a teen. This was used to control his anxiety as he didn't want to do meds. He eventually became an anti-doper. Wayne Wong recommended biking as a good summer training activity. Wayne is the "Elvis" of skiing....(all the others bow down and are not worthy. LOL) Wayne invited me on a ESPN skiing competition years ago when I was 42 which is just insane. After that exhibition, I suffered my very first major pain events and my 4 herniated discs were discovered at that time. (2000)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_LeMond

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Wong_(skier)

Over exercise is overrated.....I wore out my body.

I read that Dr Errico is a cruiser and he like's boating and Miami is a good place for this! I would imagine that he would do the kids down there when necessary....Its hard to quit when you have the knowledge he has.

Have fun in Italy

Ed

[titaniumed]

Hi there,
this may not be helpful at all, because I'm not fused, but I'm doing long distances on a bike after having adjusted it to have a very upright position. It's a mountain/road hybrid bike but the stem has been customized with an extension to make the handle bars extremely high. I don't round off my spine at all and it's been working really well (I have 50+ degree curves). Just did a 35 mile ride today and felt great. If you have to bend to reach the handlebars on your bike, this may be something to look into. Hope you find a solution that works!

I agree....

The leaning over is hard with scoliosis. For years I wanted a GSXR 1000 sport bike but just couldn't go there because of the leaning forward that's required to ride this bike. After riding a few miles on one of these, my back would bark loud.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzuki_GSX-R1000

I live a vertical existence. Of course its slightly forced with full fusion, but I sit erect, and stand erect with perfect posture. Its that, or I am sleeping. Any other position exerts forces on muscles and this strain can be tiring.

Ed

[AMom]

I thought maybe I’d revive this thread and seeing if anyone has any thoughts on biking. I’m 6 years post op from my original fusion and 10 months post op from my revision. I have been training on my bike for the last few months to prepare for a vacation bike tour through Tuscany. My goal is to be able to go 20 miles, with 1000 feet of hills. But I can’t seem to get past 13 miles with 400 feet of hills. The flat parts are fine but the hills are killing me. And I go so slow! I was thinking that maybe the fact I’m fused to sacrum prevents me from getting enough power to pump my legs to push myself up the hill. It’s very frustrating. When I look around at other bicyclists I see them rounding their spines which I can’t do. I wonder if that’s the secret to bicycling and if that’s why I’m not improving since structurally I don’t have that shape available to me. At any rate. Initially yes my balance on the bike was poor. But like they say, it’s like riding a bike! My balance is now fine, I just can’t really generate any speed or power.

On another note, has anyone heard Dr Errico is leaving NYU and going to a children’s hospital in Miami? I am devastated. I will miss him. He’s very inspirational to me.

My daughter has moderate scoliosis with three curves and found bike riding painful until we purchased a Townie. The designer of the bike shifted the pedals forward which changes the angle of the rider. You can take a test ride at a store. I found it to be an expensive bike to be used as a casual cruiser, however it allowed her to join us on family bike rides so we bought one for her. After trying her bike, I went back to the store and bought one for myself too. FYI: I do not have AIS, my back was injured in a minor car accident. We LOVE our Townies!

AMom