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I was also an avid mountain biker, equestrian and downhill skier before my back pain took over my life. I can relate to feeling like I have lost all my friends, social circles, even travelling and holidays as most of my trips were ski trips or hiking/camping trips. I built my life around that stuff and when I was suddenly unable to do it, I found myself spending all my time watching my friends doing it on facebook without me and being horribly depressed. They stopped asking me to come years ago because they know the answer :-(

However, this summer I have started riding my bike on trails again. As well as taking lengthier and more vigorous hikes. One of the things that has really been helping me stay motivated is the "evidence" that I don't really seem to have pain WHILE I am doing these activities. Only later, after. And if I have some kind of structural problem in my back then that shouldn't be the case. However, it makes total sense when I think about it from an oxygen deprivation perspective. What happens when your muscles warm up and your heart starts pumping? Your blood vessels dilate, and blood flows readily to the tissues carrying more oxygen with it. So of course, when I'm in the midst of the workout, I feel good, and when I stop, I go back to the O2-deprived state. I use this to keep myself calm when the pain comes back and to prevent myself from thinking things like "your back hurts because of that bike ride you took"....wrong. That bike ride made my back feel better, the TMS is what made it hurt again.