Lumbar Disc Prolapse

Rapidoe, I suffered an extruded disc when I was hit by a car during training about 6 years ago. My recovery was a long-term thing...it took years....

I tried to ride for several months after everything else got better from the accident...but the disc injury symptoms just got worse and worse, worse enough that I couldn't take riding anymore. I was in constant pain and often couldn't even sleep. After about a year off the bike, I got back to it for a few months, but the symptoms started coming back (loss of sensation/pins and needles/extreme pain running from the butt and hip all the way down to the end of my toes).

Inspired to one day start riding again, I went on a few cycles of prednisone. With that and no riding, I got better to the point of where I wasn't in agony or pain. This was a big change because I had literally been in constant pain for about 2 years. Really, the injury had affected my life significantly. When you suffer, it changes you.

A year after that (and 30 lbs. heavier than I was when I was racing), I started riding again (with an 80 mm riser stem!!!). I couldn't believe it, but I could ride on the road with no problems. I even tried out the MTB, but the shock on my back was a little too much for me to keep going...so it has been road since and for here on out.

Now I wish I had gone on the prednisone much earlier. It helped a lot. But then again, I think the disc also needs a lot of time on its own to improve.

One thing you might want to look into is a new treatment called Enbrel. I saw some videos on youtube of people with disc injuries and the results were nothing short of amazing.

Disc injuries suck! Hope your back gets better soon.

rapidoe said:

Any cyclists out there got any experience of a disc prolapse and return to cycling? Just got one 2 weeks ago. 😕