Back is back in trouble
 

Dang it. The season started late due to a cold and wet spring and now it is ending early due to a resurrected back injury. Been down this road 30 times and it has always recovered in a couple of weeks. Not this time. Been off the bike for a month now. The damn thing won't calm down. Sciatic nerve is getting pinched at work as I sit on my butt all day long. Glut muscle won't relax and loosen and the lower lumbar is not recovering from the pull. It surely sucks getting old. This one may be a couple of month recovery just like it was 30 years ago.

When my back goes out, which it does occasionally, I do my best to get on the bike or trainer and do a few miles. I go easy and it loosens me up every time. It might tighten up some afterwards, but I swear it reduces the healing time.

I'm not saying this would work for you, but if you haven't tried, maybe you should. Push through the pain and see if it helps.

Also, to loosen up the glute, have your wife or somebody take their thumb and press down hard on the sciatica nerve ending. Hurts like hell, but it can help to deaden the pain and relax the glute.

Sure enough the bike typically works wonders and recovery is within 2 weeks. Not this time. Working upper body and walking. This seems to be working. Short rides on the cruiser are tolerable. Been down this road a ton of times and pretty much know what to do and what to expect. Just whining a little, that's all.

Had a major breakthrough today. Late last night, around 9pm I did a full upper body workout and was in bed by 11:15. Woke up this morning feeling different, feeling good. No back pain at all. Even rode the road bike for 20 miles. Feeling like a 40 miler is possible by the end of the week provided it doesn't rain! Very pleased.