Okay, so my husband and I are big motorcycle riders. He has two Harleys right now, a Sportster and a Fat Boy....he doesn't need two Harleys, but he just can't bring himself to sell the Sportster! LoL, it was his first one.....
Anyway, I am not the most coordinated person in the world.....LoL, I can't walk through a door frame without running into one side of it! So, my husband has always said that he could teach me how to ride a bike. Now, I can ride a bicycle, but my last experience on a 2-wheeled, motorized vehicle was about 10-15 years ago on a dirtbike. I fractured my shin falling off the bike.....after only going about 6 feet. Yeah, I'm the pinnacle of grace.
My solution to this is that my husband can just get me a trike (3-wheeled motorcycle) to ride instead of trying to teach me 2-wheels. He really wants to be able to ride alone on his bike......I understand it's more fun. But he also wants me to go riding with him, so.....I vote for the trike so that I don't fall over.
Here's my question for the masses: Coordination problems aside, I also have tingling in my pinkie and ring fingers of both hands, headaches (of course), light sensitivity & night blindness, dizziness, etc, etc.....I could go on and on, but is there anyone out there who has CM -1 and still is able to ride his/her own motorcycle? If not, do y'all know anyone who does? I'd hate to spend all the money on a trike, they're really expensive, and then not be able to ride it myself......
i had surgery last year in January. I used to ride motorcycles but my neurologist has advised me not to do it anymore my husband has 2 Harleys when the dr told me that I bout came un glued I love to ride motorcycles.
I was suppose to get a bike as my graduation present from nursing school in 2011 back when things were still ‘normal’. I’ve always been a daredevil and loved taking risks for adreneline.Instead, 2 weeks after passing my boards and gaining my license I ended up in the ER and over the nxt 2 yrs to dozens of Drs. coast to coast. Nothings been the same since. Long story short, I LOVE(d) riding, but 5 months post op, with my continued balance vision and dizziness issues, I wouldn’t dare get on a bike. I get nervous just driving my car now. What I am about to say is not meant with anything but good intentions so please take it as such. If you have balance and dizziness issues to the point of ‘walking into doorways and tripping’, there are clearly spatial/perceptual judgement issues going on with you that most here can relate to. In NO way is getting on a motorcycle a good idea until at whichever point those issues are resolved. You would be taking a seriously unnecessary risk. If you choose to take the risk, I would personally ONLY do it on a trike just because there’s more balance with that. On a personal note, I use to be one of the most active, physically fit, ‘on the go-anything goes’ type personalities you could meet, that is until this thing crash landed into my life seemingly out of nowhere. I think one of the hardest things with this whole situation, aside from the daily wondering if I’ll ever feel and be able to act somewhat ‘normal’ again , has been accepting my limitations I know have. Until 36 yrs old I never had any and lived life to the fullest. I don’t know if you need sx or how much your life is being affected by this, all I know is only you can make a high risk decision lije that. On one hand you don’t want any regrets but on the other you don’t want to have to kill yourself to say that. Plz just think it through and take care.
I’ve been riding for the past 15+ years no problem. Except when it rains then everyone is in danger…I say try one out and see what YOU feel COMFORTABLE with. You know you better than anyone. As my father said when teaching me to drive. “drive at the speed at which you can best control the car…” sage advice that crosses over into so many other aspects of life. Little did he know then what a Andretti I would be… He should have known, being a test pilot himself. It’s in the DNA! So, again, I say go for it if You want to and if You feel comfortable. A little fear is healthy, btw, it keeps you respecting the bike (or trike) and most likely will keep you alive too so don’t let a little nervousness/fear from keeping you on the bike. It’s a thrilling feeling. Fwiw, I’ve had CM1 my entire life. Good luck and wear leathers! (and wear clothing beneath those leathers…don’t let what happened to me happen to you!
Here is my opinion… key word being opinion. What I’m about to write may seem controversial to some, but I stopped caring about drama when I realized how much more sick I get when I worry about what people think of me etc.
Ok. I have Chiari 1 with Syringomyelia, EDS and various other illness that tend to be related. I had posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty and laminectomy in 2009. I have chronic pain, numbness in my extremities, headaches… I could go on as well.
I love to ride. At one point pre-surgery we had 5 bikes. There was no way in heck I was going to let my health conditions take away the one thing that makes me feel like I’m free. If you ride, you get what I’m saying. I ride as a passenger all the time and ride on my own when I feel up to it.
A trike would be perfect, I’ve been thinking of getting one also! Everyone thinks I’m crazy for still riding. But I’m still alive. And as long as I’m alive, I will find a way to ride. I need the feeling it gives me. It soothes my soul. Part of me would die if I could no longer ride. I’m not willing to give it up.
If I were in your situation, I would go with the trike and trust in my husband to teach me. It’s easy, especially if you have 3 wheels! I wouldn’t want to let the chance pass me by and then always regret not going for it. I’ve survived way too much to let anything or anyone get in the way of what I love doing the most.
Message me if you want to talk with me about it.
Riding a motorcycle is actually less painful for my head and neck than a car or truck because motorcycles can avoid a lot of jarring situations that cars/trucks can’t maneuver around
In 2010 we took a trip from okc to Niagara Falls, went down the East coast and back. Over 2000 miles in 2 1/2 weeks. It was amazing. Kat
I got my motorcycle license after I had my decompression surgery. I have the symptoms you mentioned plus others and was still able to ride. However, I wasn’t able to go out as much as I would have liked because I rarely felt 100%. Whether you are riding a motorcycle or a trike, it still takes a lot of concentration. Although a trike is more comfortable to ride (but less fun in my opinion), you still have to watch out for other drivers, animals, etc. plus understand that bikes don’t stop as fast as cars do. It is definitely more difficult than driving a car and you really need to be on your A game when riding.
I’m kind of in the same boat. My husband has 2 bikes also. Since my surgery (4-16-13) I still have not been released to ride due to the dizziness, numbness (in hands and feet), lower back pain and shakes. I get so jealous when he rides. I have no desire to learn to drive a motorcycle but maybe a canam. I would sell the bike and get a trike especially if you have tingling and dizziness and light sensitivity. Good luck honey.
Thank you all so much for your replies & advice. Some of you have brought up things that I hadn't thought about yet. As of right now, I'm not planning on having the surgery.....but I guess that could change at any time. I was only diagnosed a month ago.....
I'm really leaning towards getting a trike. My husband said that he would fix it up so that it would look "cool" next to the other bikes! LoL!
I hope you recover after surgery. If u were just diag. That’s great you found what’s causing issues, but there r a few different surgeries for cm1. Take time to explore options. Surgery can help if its the right one.
