Arthritis in the neck

[plumbob]

Hi
This may not be he right forum but there did not seem to be a health one.
I have arthritis in the neck facet joints, which means when keeping my neck straight and looking forward as per normal riding position on a R1200GS LC, After about an hour i get progressively worse neck pain spreading into my right shoulder, after 4 hours rotating my head for lifesaver look becomes interesting. When riding i am only thinking about how much apin i am in and not the ride and surroundings (really P@£$&s me off).
I want to sit in a slightly more laid back position so i have to tilt my head forward to relive the pressure on the facet joint, which causes the muscle spasms, i have bar risers and a low seat.
I did buy a tall screen from Givi, very nice visor up motoring but it made the neck issue much worse. I then bought a bikini screen and shortened it and the wind blast helped by taking some of the pressure off the already angry neck muscles (only good when going fast).
Anyone else have or had this issue and how did you mediate it, as i don't really do the Harley thing (i know you understand)? Any suggestions are welcome as i am coming to the point where i may have to give up the motorcycling.


Plumbob

 

[Zoton]

Have you had an MRI or seen a specialist or just a plain X ray ? you might be doing more damage than you think,then if required get it sorted out.

 

[plumbob]

Had the Xray and local GP, and not happy with the take some pills and live with it response, am going to go back and request an MRI scan to confirm their diagnosis.

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

You could get a set of custom bars made up that fits what you need. The only thing odd about GS bars are the thickness at the clamp which could easily be overcome. Trouble is I don't know how you would go about getting the perfect bar shape short of seeing a specialist if there is such a thing.

 

[Fanum]

You could get a set of custom bars made up that fits what you need. The only thing odd about GS bars are the thickness at the clamp which could easily be overcome. Trouble is I don't know how you would go about getting the perfect bar shape short of seeing a specialist if there is such a thing.

There used to be.
His name is Ricardo Khun ....famous for 'Ricky bars'....his posts can still be found here in fact.

He's an oddball designer who specialises in ergonomics and he used to do a tailored bar solution...fill in a form with various measurements and he'd work magic.

"Ricky bars" are still available commercially, but I have no idea if they are still so tailored to needs.......worth looking up though

 

[kurienp]

plumbob, there are 'up' bar risers and 'up and back' bar risers. Have you tried the up and back Wunderlich ones (available from NN)? The up and back (~40mm) may help more if you don't already have them.
K

 

[blues n twos]

You have touched on a topic close to my heart here.

I was diagnosed with cervical osteophites on C6 & C7 in my neck after getting a lot of pain in my right arm. An MRI showed additional bone growth that pinched the nerves if I tipped my head back for any length of time.

For me the upright GS riding position is the only one I can tolerate. As soon as I adopt the leaning forward, head up position, I will get cramps and shooting pains in my arms and hands

So with me I know exactly what I can and can't do on motorbikes and cycles etc. with your problem it's going to be very difficult to know what's right or wrong for you. The very nature of arthritis means that any position could cause you discomfort. Do you know of a position you can adopt that does not cause you pain?

Do you get pain if you are sat down relaxing watching TV with your arms by your side? If not then you need to try and replicate what's comfortable for you in a riding position the best you can, so it may mean taking a low slung HD out for a good 3/4 hour ride to see how you get on.

Maybe the upright GS riding position aggravates the arthritis

I wish you well in finding a solution

Jon

 

[plumbob]

You have touched on a topic close to my heart here.

I was diagnosed with cervical osteophites on C6 & C7 in my neck after getting a lot of pain in my right arm. An MRI showed additional bone growth that pinched the nerves if I tipped my head back for any length of time.

For me the upright GS riding position is the only one I can tolerate. As soon as I adopt the leaning forward, head up position, I will get cramps and shooting pains in my arms and hands

So with me I know exactly what I can and can't do on motorbikes and cycles etc. with your problem it's going to be very difficult to know what's right or wrong for you. The very nature of arthritis means that any position could cause you discomfort. Do you know of a position you can adopt that does not cause you pain?

Do you get pain if you are sat down relaxing watching TV with your arms by your side? If not then you need to try and replicate what's comfortable for you in a riding position the best you can, so it may mean taking a low slung HD out for a good 3/4 hour ride to see how you get on.

Maybe the upright GS riding position aggravates the arthritis

I wish you well in finding a solution

Jon

Thank you Blues n for the responses, i do find layed back with head forward helps a lot in the car and on the bike if i look towards the clocks and then look at road through the top edge of the visor it helps. Although it makes me look like a shy biker.
The pain is mostly when my neck is held straight.
I have the NN bar risers and they help. i read somewhere (cant remember where) from a biker who says he removed 25mm from ends of the bars and that helped a lot also.
Further rearward movement of the bars is likely to require some new brake and clutch lines. Am thinking of one of those Sargent back supports to also help with the spinal support.
I may just op for putting my granny's wing back chair on there with some layed down ape hangers and some slippers, cause you wouldn't want it to look wrong would you.

Plumbob

PS
I will look into the ricky bars as they would look better than too many bar risers etc.

 

[Bigtrucknuts]

I don't have your back troubles but have you considered forward foot pegs. The yanks call them comfort or highway pegs. That are available to fit the the engine bars of a GS/GSA.

Using pegs like that rotates the pelvis and effects the the whole spine position and load points.
Just try resting your feet on the engine for a wile. Course you can't change gear like that so it's only a motorway position.

 

[GC6269]

Stupid question.

Do you keep your neck area well wrapped up? I can't imagine the wind blast does you any good.

 

[blues n twos]

Using pegs like that rotates the pelvis and effects the the whole spine position and load points.
Just try resting your feet on the engine for a wile. Course you can't change gear like that so it's only a motorway position.

I was thinking the same but we are back to a Lazy HD riding position again. At least on a Harley you can change gear like this

 

[Bigtrucknuts]

Oh in think forward pegs on a GS is a long way from riding half a trackor around.

 

[blues n twos]

Oh in think forward pegs on a GS is a long way from riding half a trackor around.

a V twin tractor or a boxer tractor?

 

[plumbob]

Plumbob
Hadn't considered the foot pegs, but have rested legs on the pots. It was a lot easier on the air cooled model before someone put an air intake in the way. Am going to increase the lay back first. I am also considering a lighter helmet, I have a schuberth c3 at the moment (very quiet) but quite heavy, havn't done any research in that area yet.