Riding with a Hernia

I got a 20" Torker LX for Christmas. I still require a
wall/fence/bridge to hold onto to go very far, so I have been learning
to ride on days it is not too snowy on the bridge by my house. I've
had only one particularly bad spill that left me in serious groin pain
for 10+ minutes, but other than that I've manage to land on my feet.

I had my yearly checkup today and my doctor says I have a hernia. He
seemed totally unconcerned about unicycling and was sure that no amount
of racking myself with my unicycle or falling off would cause this or
make it significantly worse. However, he is not a unicyclist and I
thought maybe someone here may know a bit more about hernias and
unicycles.

Does anyone think I should definitely avoid riding my unicycle until
after my surgery? I see a 4 year old thread where experienced
unicyclers said it would be 5 weeks or so after my surgery before they
could/should ride again... but they are experienced unicyclers, maybe
learning to ride is more likely to cause injury and I should wait
longer?


I'm bummed about being injured and probably not learning to ride my
unicycle for a while, but I guess January is a better time to be stuck
inside than May or June!

Any advice is appreciated!
Ueki Tylor


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In my professional opinion, i wouldnt. It could worsen anything, and
prolong recovery time. If your just riding distance/comuting you ask
your doctor what he thinks about cycling in general.


but just to be on the safe side i'd say dont unicycle.


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I trust a doctor more than I trust potentially uneducated guesses from
random people I have never met.

They could be giving decent advice, but still, you are just learning to
ride still and aren't doing any serious riding, so I wouldn't worry
about it at all.


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ntappin

'how to build a strong comfy saddle from junk.'
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Thank you for the advice! I'll ask him about mountain biking... that
seems to make my legs ache about as much as practicing my unicycle.
Although I suspect it is totally different muscles that are aching.


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I have a hernia and unicycling never bothers me, but mine isn't bad
either. It depends on your own situation so asking your doctor is a good
idea.


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blueharmony

_________
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-unicycle for yourself-
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It could depend on the type of hernia. If this is the "turn your head
and cough" type then racking yourself probably will not make it worse. I
do think that all the stress of carrying your weight on your legs while
learning to unicycle could make it worse.

Learning to ride a unicycle is physically stressful.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. I speak only from personal experience.

Talk to your doctor. Do what the doctor says. Be sure to describe the
leg/groin stress involved. The mountain biking comparison sounds good
but tell the doctor unicycling is harder than mountain biking.


--
Wheel Rider

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blame someone else. - Waite Phillips

The art of medicine consists of keeping the patient amused while nature
heals the disease. - Voltaire
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UekiTylor;1169535 wrote:

I had my yearly checkup today and my doctor says I have a hernia. He
seemed totally unconcerned about unicycling and was sure that no amount
of racking myself with my unicycle or falling off would cause this or
make it significantly worse. However, he is not a unicyclist and I
thought maybe someone here may know a bit more about hernias and
unicycles.



I rode with a pretty major inguinal hernia up until the time I had it
surgically repaired.
After that I didn't even want to see my uni for a couple of weeks.

I'd go with the doctor's advice tho, and have it repaired sooner rather
than later.


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I would continue to ride your unicycle. If your hernia gets worse as a
result, then sue him for malpractice. What a swell idea!


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iAmVincent

The only way to comprehend what mathematicians mean by Infinity is to
contemplate the extent of human stupidity.
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I talked to my surgeon yesterday. He agreed with my doctor that
unicycling or biking or jogging would not be a problem while I wait for
surgery. He said I would need to avoid it after surgery though. I
currently have a minor inguinal hernia, so other people's hernias
mileage may vary.

There is supposed to be good weather this weekend, so I will work on
mastering going in a straight line with no wall!


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UekiTylor
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I ride with JC all the time which is pretty much like riding with a
hernia. I have had no trouble with it so far.


--
harper

-Greg Harper

*jc is the only main man. there can be no other.*

"Natural logs are what you ride on a Mun'e'." - kevinalexandersmith
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