So I’ve had an MRI after months of having a stiff neck and sore traps and it turns out that my disks in my neck have started to bulge out and apparents look dehydrated. Mtb is the not great for it for sure.

Not sure what my options are yet but I’m assured it’s not gonna need surgery unless it gets worse.

Has anyone had this issue? How did you get back riding etc?

Try not to get too fixated on the MRI. Most people have bulging discs somewhere on their spine, few of them have any pain and out of the ones that do the pain is normally caused by something else. Definitely worth further investigation, you may need to be be a little persistent to get to the route of the problem. What has happened so far?

My neck was goosed a few years back. Mri showed bulging disc. Had pins and needles down my arm, couldn’t turn my head etc. Tried physio for weeks but no joy. Then in desperation tried acupuncture and this worked wonders. I was amazed. Still get it from time to time when it flairs up and it always seems to settle it. Better than pill popping imo.

So this is slightly propaganda (as it comes from an American website promoting physiotherapy) but I think the stats are valid (there is a reference at least)

I have had a lot of IMS (a relative of acupuncture but done by a physio) due to some underlying neurological issues and it’s worked well for me.

What’s happened so far…..

Well. Sore neck for the last year or so after trails which went away last year after 2 shoulder tightening operations. Gradually came back after returning to mtb pre Xmas but got bad in January when my traps were tight as he’ll for 2 weeks. It faded then returned after a series of events over a weekend. A lap of Cwmcarn, then go karting with a nice head on crash, road biking Sunday then gym on Monday where something clicked at the top of a kettlebell swing.. this turned into swelling in my back, traps spasms then after a few days, dead fingers and arm. 4 or 5 physio massages calmed it down but not fully.

Since.. had mri. The disk was highlighted as was some postural issues that I’m going to focus on. Also the consultant reckons I have carpel tunnel too! The neck wear is bad enough to give me the pain but the consultant said it’s not that concerning.. appointment with spine specialist next Tuesday to get a full run down and to figure out a path forward.

lots of good physio and massage helped me/ helps me

Sounds like you need a physio. Get referred, get those traps sorted out! 🙂

Disk damage can be caused by lots of things but usually poor posture can be fixed

Find a good Physio and have a read of this (it’s quite biologically technical but goes into more understandable detail in the second one)

First in a series of 5

I’m assured it’s not gonna need surgery unless it gets worse.

My poor old mum had trapped nerves caused by osteoarthritis in her neck, leading numbness and other problems in her arms. She was eventually advised to have surgery to relieve the trapped nerves. She agreed, but after the (botched) operation was paralysed from the neck down!

The arthritis seems to be hereditary as my own neck is now similarly affected and very painful. I have limited head movement as a consequence, which particularly affects my cycling enjoyment. I wouldn’t let a surgeon anywhere near my neck!

I did my C6 & C7 discs about 8 years ago and remember the acute pain in my neck, right shoulder, arm and fingers only too well. You have my sympathies. My work is very physical as a carpenter, oak wright, boats n stuff and I ended up taking about 6 months off work and then starting up part time and increasing my hours gradually.

I couldn’t ride for a year and when I started again, have had to adjust my riding position to one of more upright, so as not to tilt my head back. I couldn’t give a toss if the large number of spacers below my stem won’t win me any fashionista points, I can ride my bikes again!

Physiotherapist was a huge help, giving me a few simple exercises, such as a Reflexor (IIRC that’s what it’s called), which help to stretch and strengthen the surrounding muscles. I also adopted a very positive mental attitude, to all things, which for me, became part of the healing process.

I have learnt to manage the situation, finding that tilting my head back is not good to do for any length of time. When I do feel it start to flare up again, I resume with the Reflexor exercise and that tends to sort it out.

Hope some of that helps

Bread and butter stuff to an osteopath

Agree with sweaman’s post, MRI is a blunt instrument

Total spinal health is more important

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw5LWAH5nQ0[/video]

^^ That silly crash a few years back ruptured my C5+C6. Typically it was the first run, on the first day of a weekend trip away to Scotland. Being tough/stupid, i rode for the rest of the day in a bit of discomfort but couldn’t move the next morning.

Like slackalice i was unable to ride for a long time after. NHS was good but slow so i had all sorts of physio while waiting – basically tried everything in the book. Relief was very temporary but it was nice to feel normal for a day or two 😀 . I created a 30 minute home physio session that i did religiously every night for about 8 months. Still do it from time-to-time when needed.

Echoing slack again, i had to rethink how i went about simple everyday tasks. The most important thing for me is getting my head in a good position when sleeping and a pillow that hold my head locked/straight. If i sleep on my side that’s me in trouble for a few days.

I’ve adjusted my riding position and bike setup to allow me to ride again. I did a lot of easy miles on the bike just concentrating on my new body position. Initially if felt odd as i was fairly robotic/rigid but it’s almost second nature now and i have a bit of my old flow back. I’ve had to give up on some of the bigger jumps in case i bail, but other than that it’s all good.

There is hope but it may take longer than you’d like. I would say ‘chin up’ as but that would probably hurt, so ‘Chin in!’

Played a lot of rugby in my teens and early twenties, definitely damage my neck there but had a mountain bike crash in 2002, hit a tree moving mrather rapidly leading to a C5 c6 disc bulge, lost feeling in my fingers and arm, massive headaches and had 9 months off work. Started with nhs physio….rubbish ….chiropractic, ended up in me threatening to sue for malpractice due to the damage they caused and then found acupuncture with osteopathy, this matter the situation massively.

Move forward to now still have problems with c5/6 and now 7, have ridden my bikes lots, Pyrenees/lakes/dales/ and so but also massive fallow periods of no exercise. It is complicated due to bad lower back caused by rugby and ‘calcium spurs’

Tried so many bikes to get a good fit, as above spacers and bars and stems make a huge difference. Ridden hardtail in good years but basically full suspension. Massive confidence loss at times due to fear of damaging my neck but taken a view of sensible foolishness…..I try to develop more skills or get a bike with a skill compensation level. I have ridden 160mm bikes on the road to get fitter……some odd looks.

What I learnt…

Find a physio or osteopath or chiropractic that works for you, I now what works for me but I literally tried everything.

Exercise gently but exercise, blood flow is important and movement makes you feel better but be sensible.

Develop a stretching regime…not just neck but your body.

Learn posture and keep your form, once you start compensating for your neck your alignment will go out of shape and more problems will ensure…baqck hips and knees.

Ride your bike when you are able but be sensible and do not listen to fashionistas….12 spacers and 40 mm rise if works so what

Be realistic but keep pushing …small incremental steps.

Avoid surgery……it really is the last call ( I know plenty of people who have had neck surgery and I have only heard it work in some cases – Steve Thomson ex England rugby player being one)

Work wise get an assessment for your work area and adapt.

Keep positive.

I wouldn’t be so down on MRI. Yes, it picks up old damage that isn’t doing any harm, but it also picks up on recent injuries that are hurting. Posture, stretching (the right way!) and especially “7 steps to a pain free life” fixed me.

Hi all.. Thanks for your posts. After my consultation it turns out that the numb fingers and mildly weaker arm is down to a disk degeneration causing swelling and compression on the nerve in my neck. This must have been coming on for 3 wish years or so but most problematic now.

Consultant said that the road biking is safe and fine but the mountain biking is less so. I have a steroid injection soon and after the swelling has gone i should feel myself, however the disk is still going to be bulging close to the nerve so if i mountain bike i expect to be sore for a while afterwards. It seams that the more bumpy the ride the worse the post ride pain is. I could end up having an operation if i make it worse. So i guess i have to question if its worth the risk. Im already overly cautious after some shoulder surgery a while back but at the same time theres nothing quite like a weekend away mountain biking with the boys and i hate the idea of missing out.

SAFE, GENTLE, MANUAL, THERAPY

= improve the health of the area

Yeah, had this and (glad to say) cured via physio.

I can’t recall the name of the regime of exercises I had to do, but they were simple and involved sliding my skull/jaw backwards on my spine, if that doesn’t sound too odd, and then holing that for a few seconds.

It sorted me out in days, but the physio was careful to ensure it was right for me- I gather that if it had increased the pain and numbness, she would have tried another technique.

That was 3 years ago, and I get the odd twinge from time to time, but I can ride bikes all day now with no real problems.

BTW, I was sure initially that the pain was from an old shoulder fracture, which delayed me seeing anyone about it.

Physios are worth their weight in gold.

Hi, personallyn I would only try surgery as a last resort….try the recommendation s above by one and all.