As many of you know I had heart attack last Wed. I am home and feeling somewhat better. I had the coolest cardiology ever. He was a rider (BMW 1200) and was telling me never give up something you love. Back in 97 when I had my first back surge. I was told I could never play ball again. Man it liked to kill me! I have yet to find anything that I loved that much. I went and tried to play again last summer and it hurt my back again. (Stupid me) Anyway while talking with the cardiology he was telling me that some Dr's will put to many restrictions on people now days. He said you should be able to do what you love in life but there are some adjustments that you might need to make. I feel if you ride a little safer and slower you will be just fine. Put your faith in God and enjoy what time you have here. Best of luck
I hate to say it, but your story has me really curious, what hospital, if you care to share, were you at? I'm simply curious because you stated it was a seven hour drive and you live in Lynchburg right?? There can't be that many cool cardiologists, and even fewer cool cardiologists that ride bikes. Glad your doing better though
As for you telesmith - I can only give a little bit of additional advice here, but I hope it helps. I don't really think your doctor was telling you that you can't ride again. This is very different than telling you that you shouldn't ride again. With the fusions that you have, you will be at an increased risk of fracture above and below these fusions. This risk of fracture is if you crash and well..... We all carry that risk as others have stated. This risk is true for whatever you do though. If you are in a car accident, if you fall, if you are tackled, it makes no difference. Also, you may find with your limited mobility that riding is no longer enjoyable due to pain. The recommendations of getting a trike are pretty much nonsense, if you get a trike, might as well get a bike, the risks you sustain are the same if you crash. You may need to discuss this in a little more depth with your doctor, if he or she is unwilling or unable, get a second opinion.
We all carry some pretty scary risks when we drive or ride, parts of our body are extremely susceptible to injury. The part that concerns me the most with you is the c-spine fusion - I don't know how much MORE susceptible your c-spine is to injury now that you had the fusion. I CAN tell you that the most common cause of C-spine fracture is car crashes and falls.
You must have had one hell of a get-off, glad you made it out, banged up, but okay.
