{"id":2388,"date":"2018-01-26T06:00:47","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T06:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/?p=2388"},"modified":"2018-03-22T06:18:49","modified_gmt":"2018-03-22T06:18:49","slug":"paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/","title":{"rendered":"Not Even Spinal Surgery Can Stop This Cyclist Touring The World"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_62 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662c0204636e2\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-662c0204636e2\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#paul-franklin-has-struggled-through-life-with-spinal-problems-ever-since-he-was-young-and-recently-he-endured-extensive-spinal-surgery-but-none-of-this-has-stopped-him-from-doing-what-he-loves-from-cycling-the-world-this-is-pauls-story\" title=\"Paul Franklin has struggled through life with spinal problems ever since he was young and recently he endured extensive spinal surgery. But none of this has stopped him from doing what he loves, from cycling the world. This is Paul&#8217;s story.\">Paul Franklin has struggled through life with spinal problems ever since he was young and recently he endured extensive spinal surgery. But none of this has stopped him from doing what he loves, from cycling the world. This is Paul&#8217;s story.<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#little-did-i-know-there-was-so-much-more-to-come\" title=\"Little did I know there was so much more to come.\">Little did I know there was so much more to come.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#fast-forward-to-the-year-2000\" title=\"Fast forward to the year 2000.\">Fast forward to the year 2000.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#but-none-of-this-has-stopped-from-me-cycling\" title=\"But none of this has stopped from me cycling.\">But none of this has stopped from me cycling.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#towards-the-end-of-2014-i-found-my-inspiration\" title=\"Towards the end of 2014 I found my inspiration.\">Towards the end of 2014 I found my inspiration.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#we-werent-finished-yet-and-my-back-still-refused-to-give-in\" title=\"We weren&#8217;t finished yet. And my back still refused to give in.\">We weren&#8217;t finished yet. And my back still refused to give in.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#but-strange-as-it-may-seem-now-i-wanted-a-greater-challenge-too-and-this-time-the-bike-was-too-easy\" title=\"But strange as it may seem, now I wanted a greater challenge too. And this time, the bike was too easy.\">But strange as it may seem, now I wanted a greater challenge too. And this time, the bike was too easy.<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/#i-was-soon-longing-for-my-next-cycle-tour-even-just-a-few-months-after-walking-el-camino\" title=\"I was soon longing for my next cycle tour, even just a few months after walking El Camino.\">I was soon longing for my next cycle tour, even just a few months after walking El Camino.<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"paul-franklin-has-struggled-through-life-with-spinal-problems-ever-since-he-was-young-and-recently-he-endured-extensive-spinal-surgery-but-none-of-this-has-stopped-him-from-doing-what-he-loves-from-cycling-the-world-this-is-pauls-story\"><\/span><strong>Paul Franklin has struggled through life with spinal problems ever since he was young and recently he endured extensive spinal surgery. But none of this has stopped him from doing what he loves, from cycling the world. This is Paul&#8217;s story.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">My name is Paul Franklin, and forty six years ago I fractured my neck at the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Cervical_vertebrae\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">C3 vertebrae.<\/a>\u00a0It was November 30th 1971.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I was still just a teenager with so much ahead of me.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I endured close to two years of wearing a collar, and physiotherapy throughout my school years.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"little-did-i-know-there-was-so-much-more-to-come\"><\/span><strong>Little did I know there was so much more to come.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2424\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174351-1.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike\" width=\"1567\" height=\"2338\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174351-1.jpg 1567w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174351-1-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174351-1-768x1146.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174351-1-686x1024.jpg 686w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1567px) 100vw, 1567px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"fast-forward-to-the-year-2000\"><\/span><strong>Fast forward to the year 2000.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I was having severe nerve pains and there was numbness in my arms and fingers, while I was gradually loosing feeling from my waist down.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">It was my neck again , things were going from bad to worse.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I had the relevant tests, MRI and X rays and it showed that I needed urgent surgery, or I would become a quadriplegic. Subsequently I had an <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anterior_cervical_discectomy_and_fusion\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Anterior Cervical Discectomy Fusion<\/a> &#8211; an ACDF.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This a surgical operation to replace a part of a vertebra with metal screws and a titanium plate.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I also have advanced osteoarthritis&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2420\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1157153340964207.jpeg\" alt=\"Paul Franklin Spinal Fusion Guy\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1536\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1157153340964207.jpeg 2048w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1157153340964207-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1157153340964207-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1157153340964207-1024x768.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"but-none-of-this-has-stopped-from-me-cycling\"><\/span><strong>But none of this has stopped from me cycling.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Cycling has always been a part of my life and I&#8217;d always dreamed of cycle touring. In 2012 I made this dream a reality. I cycle toured the south part of New Zealand&#8217;s South Island for two charities (Cancer Society and Cure Kids), in honour of my mother who had passed away the year before from multiple cancers.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In 2013 I got on the bike again, and this time I cycle toured the north of the South Island of New Zealand. This time though, it didn&#8217;t all go to plan. While heading along the West Coast, I began experiencing bad lower back pain, and I began to have great difficulty in even walking let alone cycling.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Unknown to me, my lower discs were bulging, and in April 2014 I again had extensive surgery.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2437\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816063881739813-224x224.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"towards-the-end-of-2014-i-found-my-inspiration\"><\/span><strong>Towards the end of 2014 I found my inspiration.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I met a truly amazing cyclist, Elizabeth. She was cycling the length of New Zealand, and had already solo toured\u00a017 countries for close to two years.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Elizabeth inspired me. And she inspired me to think bigger than I had ever before.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Just one year after my last spinal fusion operation and we were both of cycling together. First we conquered half of Japan. My back held out.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Then we flew to Istanbul and cycled across Europe. We followed the River Danube, cycled to the Netherlands and then crossed to the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2425\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174219.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike\" width=\"1349\" height=\"954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174219.jpg 1349w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174219-300x212.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174219-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/20180121_174219-1024x724.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1349px) 100vw, 1349px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"we-werent-finished-yet-and-my-back-still-refused-to-give-in\"><\/span><strong>We weren&#8217;t finished yet. And my back still refused to give in.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Our next stop was Morocco. We flew into North Africa with our bikes and panniers before travelling to Spain, and then onto France, spending a further 3 months cycling.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Together we had covered close to 10,000 kilometres, I&#8217;d visited 17 countries, and completed a challenge and an adventure I&#8217;d never have thought possible when I&#8217;d had more surgery in 2014.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I returned home, but in the very first week I was longing to be back cycling in Europe again. My spinal issues seemed to be settling and becoming much better, and it was the cycle touring that had helped me.<\/p>\n<p>Standing and sitting were not good for me, and it seemed that the best\u00a0thing for me was to use my bike as therapy, both physically and mentally.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2436\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064138406454-224x224.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"but-strange-as-it-may-seem-now-i-wanted-a-greater-challenge-too-and-this-time-the-bike-was-too-easy\"><\/span><strong>But strange as it may seem, now I wanted a greater challenge too. And this time, the bike was too easy.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I wanted to challenge myself beyond what I thought possible, and I\u00a0planned to walk El Camino, the long distance hiking trail which crosses from France to the West Coast of Spain.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This was to be the biggest challenge since my spinal operations, and probably the biggest challenge in my entire life.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I would have to walk over 900 Kilometres, wearing a 10 Kilogram backpack.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I trained for 6 months straight,\u00a0walking to work and back, and slowly testing and strengthening my lower back.<\/p>\n<p>In March 2017 I successfully completed 942 kms in 54 days.<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"text-align: left;\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"i-was-soon-longing-for-my-next-cycle-tour-even-just-a-few-months-after-walking-el-camino\"><\/span><strong>I was soon longing for my next cycle tour, even just a few months after walking El Camino.<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">This time I decided to do the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, a 2500 Kilometre trip, and when I finished this, I carried on, completing \u00a0a full circumnavigation of Ireland of 2738 Kilometres.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I still didn&#8217;t stop there, and have now covered over 3,000 Kilometres of road in Ireland. I have never been so encapsulated by a country. On my last day in Ireland, I simply wanted to start over again and cycle the country one more time.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-2435\" src=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437.jpg\" alt=\"Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/received_1816064308406437-224x224.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>I have now had two major spinal surgeries and numerous other operations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">I am still grateful that I can even walk and cycle. I know as well, that without the walking and the cycle touring, without the challenges and the incredible and inspirational people I have met across the world, that none of this would have been possible for me, and I would never been able to do what it is I love to do.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><em>Paul Franklin, Spinal Fusion Guy on a Bike<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Thanks To Paul, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/biking.cause\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Spinal Fusion Fusion Guy on a Bike<\/a>\u00a0For His Story!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Travel Continuously is a community based platform, and we want you to get involved.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Do you travel continuously? Are you a full time traveller, <a href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/best-digital-nomad-jobs\/\">digital nomad<\/a> or expat?\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>We would love to hear from you! Get in contact to share your story with us, to be featured on Travel Continuously, to let us know what we\u2019ve missed, what you want to hear and even what we\u2019re doing wrong! Together we can help inspire others to follow their dreams and travel the world!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paul Franklin has struggled through life with spinal problems ever since he was young and recently he endured&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2420,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[73,68],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.9.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Not Even Spinal Surgery Can Stop This Cyclist Touring The World - Travel Continuously<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/travelcontinuously.com\/paul-franklin-spinal-fusion-guy-on-a-bike\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Not Even Spinal Surgery Can Stop This Cyclist Touring The World - 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