Since we have so many old men here...

[docsimple]

...I was wondering if any of you riders have had cervical vertebrae fused?
 
 
I have been talking with my surgeon about getting a few vertebrae fused and I am on the fence. I would feel better about the whole thing if I could get some feedback from riders who may have experienced this. I'll be honest, my situation is pretty horked but it would be way worse if I lost my ability to ride. We define ourselves by many things, for me motorcycles is a big one. Who knows, maybe it will make my arm and shoulder feel so incredible that I can creep back up to 800 mile days

[bruceintucson]

...I was wondering if any of you riders have had cervical vertebrae fused? 
 
I have been talking with my surgeon about getting a few vertebrae fused and I am on the fence. I would feel better about the whole thing if I could get some feedback from riders who may have experienced this. I'll be honest, my situation is pretty horked but it would be way worse if I lost my ability to ride. We define ourselves by many things, for me motorcycles is a big one. Who knows, maybe it will make my arm and shoulder feel so incredible that I can creep back up to 800 mile days

Had C6 & C7 plated (after they rotor-rootered out a bone spur sticking into my central nerve bundle & replaced the disc with a synthetic one). Six weeks of no riding (weight of the helmet is the biggest issue). Had it done 3.5 years ago; would not be riding anymore if I hadn't had the surgery. Very little occasional pain anymore, more like an occasional aggravation.  Believe me when I say 90+% of it is the right surgeon. I know a couple who had similar done and the results weren't nearly as successful. Shop/check around. 

[docsimple]

thanks Bruce, that is very positive stuff. I am getting a second opinion but the surgeon has been around for years. I spoke with him about this a couple years ago (one time) and the guy remembered me and specifics of stuff we had discussed. So, at the very least, he has a good memory   B-|
 
 

[root]

thanks Bruce, that is very positive stuff. I am getting a second opinion but the surgeon has been around for years. I spoke with him about this a couple years ago (one time) and the guy remembered me and specifics of stuff we had discussed. So, at the very least, he has a good memory   B-|  

Or he takes good notes and reviews them before each visit.

[xlxr]

Results of this kind of surgery can be unpredictable on an individual basis. For example, neck surgery will not help if you have the same degenerative problems in your lower back and at high risk of injury if you continue to ride.

[Cruizin]

Results of this kind of surgery can be unpredictable on an individual basis. For example, neck surgery will not help if you have the same degenerative problems in your lower back and at high risk of injury if you continue to ride.

 
My uncle had similar surgery and he could no longer ride. It just hurt his back too much. So he sold his bike and bought cam am spyder and he loves that thing, rides it everyday.
 

[carey]

...I was wondering if any of you riders have had cervical vertebrae fused? 
 
I have been talking with my surgeon about getting a few vertebrae fused and I am on the fence. I would feel better about the whole thing if I could get some feedback from riders who may have experienced this. I'll be honest, my situation is pretty horked but it would be way worse if I lost my ability to ride. We define ourselves by many things, for me motorcycles is a big one. Who knows, maybe it will make my arm and shoulder feel so incredible that I can creep back up to 800 mile days

I have two vertebrae that self fused and still ride. With my neck problems (pinched nerves causing numbness), I didn't want to loose any more range of motion in my neck by getting more vertebrae fused/plated. I went with a non-evasive procedure to correct my problem. I would at least get a second opinion. With fewer doctors doing the non-evasive method, I found most doctor recommend the more traditional procedures because that's all they know. I'm not saying traditional methods are bad, but you should know all the options available.
 

[2and3cylinders]

I was riding my road bike (dropped bars, clip less pedals, etc) on a New Years Day ride 2007. The return leg had everyone separated in little packs and I was alone halfway back.
 
I did not make it home on my bicycle that day.
 
Another group rider also alone, a tiny spinner out to prove he was faster than a Clydesdale, came by me at speed. I heard him and shouted for him to watch out as he was passing literally elbow to elbow when there was plenty of room on the wide trafficless road on NYD morning.
 
He cut me off with his rear derailleur taking out 9 spokes of my front wheel like in the Ben Hur chariot race.
 
My front wheel banana'd and locked up in the forks immediately stopping all forward progess.
 
I went over the bars at 18 mph and landed on my head and face. Split my Bell Hemet and ground down my riding glasses, tore up my Joe Rocket jacket I was wearing, and burned though my HD tights knees.
 
I was riding bicycles only for health and cross training for motorcycling, and on the latter at the time over 33 years (and still to this day knock on plastic) I had never been seriously hurt. Not so on bicycles.
 
Very long story short, besides my abraded face (which caused them to wisk me though the ER lobby / waiting room when people saw me and started gasping), I suffered a concussion, compressed, herniated C5 and C6, tore loose 2 tendons in my left elbow, tore my left rotator cuff, etc, dislocated my left thumb plus other minor contusions and abrasions besides my face being hamburger.
 
After having my rotator cuff fixed, my bursus removed and one bicep tendon cut, and associated therapy which did nothing to aleviate the neck pain, numbness and tingling in my left arm, after several consultations with neck surgeons over the next 5 years I decided the risks of having titanium plates and stainless screws installed we too great compared to the potential rewards. I also decided to leave my left elbow alone. Instead I found a great pain specialist doctor who 6 times a year does a steroidal epidural injecting at C5/C6 under floroscope. He also injects my right shoulder which I tore favoring my left after its repair. I still have left bicep pain too, don't let them cut it!
 
I lowered the pegs and significantly raised the clip-ons and their drop and pull-back on my VTR, which OEM is a comparative coach. I could do 300 mile days on it if I had recently had an epidural but I bought the FJ-09 because 300 miles a day is not enough, let alone successive long days on tour.
 
Bottom line, everyone is different and with a great doctor and team miracles can sometimes be achieved. But for me with the discs impinging on the spinal chord causing my issues, adding metal bits that themselves possibly could cut the chord in a wrong fall or impact, and add their loads due to fixation transfer to the discs above and below causing them to abnormally wear and over-compress over time.
 
I never win bets I make and thus did not want to put down money on my neck.
 
I just realized my neck hurts now leaning over typing on my smart phone but it's nothing compared to how it could be, so I hardly notice it anymore. I just take lots of ibuprofen.