[cyclecrash]

Hello,

It is often mentioned in posts that dangerous sports need to be stopped. Football, hockey, wrestling, etc are all deemed off limits for PCS people. I have also read that if you still have symptoms 4 months after concussion you should consider not returning to your sport.

My concussion symptoms are now past the 6 month mark and even though I am seeing positive signs I know I still have many months to go. My question is.... should I give up cycling and sell my road bike?

I have such bad dizziness that I know it will be a long time before I could even consider riding it again but technically riding a bike is not supposed to be a dangerous activity. I think crashing is more a fluke then the norm. Perhaps group riding is done, hitting the tire of the bike in front of me is what caused the crash, but maybe casual bike riding around the neighbourhood would be acceptable?

Do any of you still ride bicycles? I could get quite a bit of money for my bike as it is only a year old and it would help to pay for my psychologist and physio appointments. This is why I am even bothering to think of this now. I'm not even sure I could ride it again without fear........

I am hoping once I get the dizziness/disequilibrium fixed that I can return to my true love... running... and then I won't worry so much about cycling. Might even get the old golf clubs back out! (My luck I'd get hit with a golf ball....FORE!)

I hope you are having a good day!

CC

[Mark in Idaho]

I think you are very early in the process and should hold off on such decisions. Give it another year before closing the door on a part of your life. As you said, riding in a group needs to be history. I know that I have to limit my need to depend on others to protect me from harm by keeping a protective safe distance.

Running has a different risk. The constant jarring from foot plants can be a challenge to the brain. If you start running again, try wearing foam ear plugs so you can hear the foot plant impacts. Then, you can learn a running gait that is easier on your head. A combination of good running shoes and a modified foot plant can make a big difference. Plus, this will reduce the stresses to your knees and hips.

So, wait and see before closing those doors.

My best to you.

[Mwiseman]

Hi mate, sorry to hear you are still not feeling great.

I can relate to this......

I had a nasty cycle crash in may last year, came round a corner a guy was parked in the cycle lane, and I took a trip head first through the rear window....that was fun.

I was wearing a helmet, but it flipped up and so my head took most of the impact. Fractured skull, broken nose few other cuts and scrapes, massive scar on my forehead ! I'm 'ok' still dizzy and have brain fog and muscle twitching in lower legs. I thank god, it could of been such worse.

I had a specialized Allez bike, and I sold it after it sitting for months in my garage. I didn't sell it for the money, I asked my self a simple question, can I take the risk of hitting my head like that again, no way. So that settled it for me

I appreciate other sports are dangerous, and I could trip over tomorrow and whack my head again, but I don't want to add to the risk. I also didn't think it would be fair on my wife and young children, perhaps a bit selfish even ? Not sure, anyway......

I do still cycle to work, on my wife's bike, wearing a full face helmet !

Dont stress it mate, take your time and think about it.

Take it easy.

[MommaBear]

Originally Posted by cyclecrash

Hello,....
I am hoping once I get the dizziness/disequilibrium fixed that I can return to my true love... running... and then I won't worry so much about cycling. Might even get the old golf clubs back out! (My luck I'd get hit with a golf ball....FORE!)...
CC

You might be very interested in this TBI blog website, by a guy who also loves running. Loads of great info.
http://www.mindyourheadcoop.org/blog/

[Mokey]

A few months into my injury (someone pulled my legs out from under me while I was on skates....have never fallen in my life ...past four years old!!!)....my spouse told me I would skate again. 16 months post injury...he has sold my helmets and my skates have been donated. Downhill skis are next to go. I still have my bike but have not even tried. I often wonder how strange I would look on a three wheeler?!!! So sad to give up these things we love. But as you say, hard to risk another injury. Grieving and letting go, and trying to find something new.

I hit the tennis ball with my kids last week.....it felt good to do something physical at last...i was happy to see that people were not wearing helmets!

I have to give up squash.....a game I loved playing...because it really is a contact sport and way too much spinning and vestibular stuff. More grieving, because I also lose my squash 'friends'.

Fly fishing anyone?! What else? Swimming? If anyone has good suggestions for safe sports post mtbi, let us know!

[Klaus]

I used to cycle a lot before my injury. My injury was nothing to do with cycling and in many years cycling I have never hit my head once.

However I'm still not willing to take the risk, and have gotten rid of my bike. PCS was too hellish for me to take even this small risk of it coming back. I've had too many impacts not to do everything possible to avoid another. Part of it is that I know that however careful I am, it only takes one careless or drunk driver and I'm out of action for another year or worse.

One of my mottos now is that if an activity requires a helmet, i aint doing it! I'm sure some will think I'm overreacting, but imagine falling off, getting concussed and being back to square one

[cyclecrash]

Thank you everyone for your comments!

Mwiseman... that sounds like a nasty crash. You're right though that we could have been much worse. I was on a main street and was lucky a car didn't hit me. I was also not run over by any of the 8 people riding behind me and luckily none of them fell or were injured. I think I'll end up selling the road bike and if I change my mind down the road I'll pick up a bike just for casual riding. Something more comfortable and without clipless pedals!

My thoughts seem to be going with Klaus and Mokey... it just doesn't seem worth the risk and do I want to be like this or worse again? I also understand the "selfish" comment. It's not really fair to my husband or son to put myself at risk. Even if I don't fall and hit my head there are lots of potholes and jarring when riding a bike.

I don't know if I'll get back to running either, because of the jarring, but that one I can wait on to see how this recovery thing goes. One step at a time, I need to be able to walk again first! I checked out the link from Mommabear and there's some inspirational stuff there (and great photos too!)

I'm back to getting daily headaches. It's funny how cyclical this condition is. Milder headaches with lots of brain fog.... bad headaches with little brain fog... now I just need the cycle with no headaches and no brain fog!

Have a good day!

CC

[Klaus]

Originally Posted by Mokey

Fly fishing anyone?! What else? Swimming? If anyone has good suggestions for safe sports post mtbi, let us know!

Table tennis and badminton (singles, doubles would involve to much risk of collision for me!), golf, rowing. If anyone misses the adrenaline rush of more high impact sports i would recommend joining an amateur dramatics group (yes I'm serious )

[ptcabe]

Originally Posted by Mokey

A few months into my injury (someone pulled my legs out from under me while I was on skates....have never fallen in my life ...past four years old!!!)....my spouse told me I would skate again. 16 months post injury...he has sold my helmets and my skates have been donated. Downhill skis are next to go. I still have my bike but have not even tried. I often wonder how strange I would look on a three wheeler?!!! So sad to give up these things we love. But as you say, hard to risk another injury. Grieving and letting go, and trying to find something new.

I hit the tennis ball with my kids last week.....it felt good to do something physical at last...i was happy to see that people were not wearing helmets!

I have to give up squash.....a game I loved playing...because it really is a contact sport and way too much spinning and vestibular stuff. More grieving, because I also lose my squash 'friends'.

Fly fishing anyone?! What else? Swimming? If anyone has good suggestions for safe sports post mtbi, let us know!

My husband and I have been talking about what activities he can do while he recovers from his mTBI 3 weeks ago. He has stopped his cardio workouts until his balance improves. I'm going to try swimming with him. If the head-turning from freestyle causes problems I'm going to have him try kicking while holding onto a float. As for fly fishing, if you're serious, be careful. If you know any flyfishers, ask for a casting lesson. It requires little strength, but learning the timing without twisting around to see your line requires some spatial visualization. If you go out and fish when the rivers and lakes open, find a shoreline clear of trees and obstacles so you can cast and slowly walk along the shore. Then there's the multitasking- watching your line, walking carefully, and taking a steady stance each time you cast. If you hook a hot fish that you have to run after while playing the fish and reeling, things get dicey. Better to break the fish off than risk a fall. Flyfishing is most always done standing up, so even in a boat on a calm lake you'll want a way to brace yourself. If in a drift boat on moving water you can use the knee locks in the bow to keep steady, but the boat will move horizontally and vertically as the guide rows or you go through rapids. IMO, using spinning gear is easier, safer, and can be done sitting down. Peggy

[PCS Mikey]

Originally Posted by cyclecrash

... should I give up cycling and sell my road bike?

CC

Hard call to make. I'm 3.5 years into my brain issues, still can't exercise beyond spinning on my cyclops indoor trainer in granny gear for 30 minutes without getting a headache (I still have an old school Centurion for indoor riding).

I sold my Cervelo 2 weeks after a guy ran a red light and t-boned the right side of my Toyota 4Runner. Truck did a 270 degree spin and I finally stopped in the opposing lane of traffic, snapped both rear wheels off at the axles.

I hope he has a nasty concussion.

It pained me to keep seeing my bike just sitting there being fully aware that I'm making zero healing gains with respect to exercise.

You're still early on in the healing, keep it for a while longer, as they say your mileage may vary.

Mike