horatio 

Does anyone know of a connection between low saddle height and piriformis
syndrome (sciatica from irritated/injured piriformis muscle deep in the
buttock) ? I believe I may have triggered such a problem this year.

I've just gotten over a 10+ week bout of sciatica. Normally I attribute my
attacks to a bulging lumbar disc, but this most recent episode began
differently. Prior to onset of the leg/back pain, I noticed a pain in the
left buttock. This began following a relatively short bike ride with
moderate hills, after I had lowered my saddle height for better power (i.e.
higher cadences) on the hills.

I stayed off the bike afterwards, but the pain only increased. Eventually it
became sciatica in the left leg. I am pain free now, and just beginning my
training riding for the year.

Has anyone experienced a similar problem related to changes in saddle
height? Any suggestions as to how to avoid this? Should I raise my saddle to
the old setting? I'm leaving it as is right now.

FWIW, I posted this question on rec.bicycles.misc and so far have received no answer.

Thanks for any info.

Horatio

Jawbone

I haven't found a connection between saddle height and the piriformis going into spasm, but it sounds like the bike riding has aggravated it a bit. I had the piriformis go into spasm when I (duh) tried to pick up my son's clothing with my foot. It went berserk, spasmed out, I lost all feeling down the back of my right leg and, 4 years later, still have numbness. It kept me off the bike for several months. But I found bike riding has actually helped, and I've ridden with various saddle heights (on different bikes) and that doesn't seem to hurt it.

JLD

[QUOTE=horatio]Does anyone know of a connection between low saddle height and piriformis
syndrome (sciatica from irritated/injured piriformis muscle deep in the
buttock) ? I believe I may have triggered such a problem this year.

....I had back surgery about 6 years ago--the removal of a disc. Prior to that I was still cycling. On that bicycle I had a fairly narrow seat. Riding then, seemed to help control my persistent leg pain. After the surgery though, I was not allowed to ride for well on 12 weeks. The surgeon was not concerned with my far forward lean and pointed out that in the immediate post-op stage, I should not 'see-saw' at the hips. I was naturally pretty deconditioned by the time I did get back on the bike and switched to an upright bicycle. It took several trials to get the new bike seat right where it needed to be-to avoid setting off the burn in the sciatic nerve. I moved on from that retro bike to my present Norco. The seat on this is okay-not bothering my leg-but could go a long way to being comfortable for the sit bones! None the less, my impression is that any 'see-saw' movement if the seat is just not at the right level, will start the beginnings of sciatica. I would suggest raising or lowering the seat in short increments--test drive--see how it goes. Maybe as well, you need to alter that forward lean a bit too?

msv

I know this was a very old post here, but anyone here faced the same problem and is now pain-free? Appreciate any response

Thank you.

MSV

Carbonfiberboy 

I have had the same problem, but don't think it had anything to do with saddle height. I fixed it quite simply by walking with a odd hip motion, trying to rotate each hip in a circle as I walked. That hurt like the very devil for about the first mile, then got better. I had the sciatica completely gone in a week. Walking and stretching has kept me sciatica-free ever since, though it keeps trying to come back. Just had a bout a few weeks ago when I was being too sedentary between rides. Gone now. Gym helps too, full depth squats, back machine, stiff legged deadlifts, etc.

MoAlpha

Sciatica or piriformis syndrome? They can be hard to distinguish, even for professionals.

I have had both. The sciatica was due to a very clear anatomical situation and required months of transforaminal injections to control pain, and rehab for the weakness and atrophy that came with it. All good now, but my left vistus lateralis is still visibly smaller than the right. Piriformis syndrome, I used to get regularly in the early season before I got serious about strengthening my ass muscles. It generally responded to stretching and NSAIDs, but was quite unpleasant and kept scaring me about another disc herniation.