donger

I was fitted to my bike with the BG fit this year in July. The technician put shims under my right cleat since my right leg is 3/8-inches shorter than my left. Prior to the new fit, I was pain free for 2 years. After the fit, my average speed had increased so it did make a difference. I have been back to the LBS for minor fit adjustments. However, I developed debilitating back pain after long rides (>50 miles). It's not the lower back muscles but concentrated to the spine right about my tail bone. It feels like my hips can't support my weight and, ocassionally, I get siatica on both legs. The pain lasts for about 2-3 days and comes back after a long ride. The technician thinks I need a shorter stem but I don't think the stem is the cause. 1600mg ibuprofen is not doing anything to help. Any thoughts out here? Thanks in advance

SlimRider

I think you not only could use a shorter stem, but quite possibly a higher saddle position, as well...

JanMM

I hope you mean 1600mg ibuprofen per day.

Debilitating pain would suggest that you may want to consult a healthcare practitioner.

spinnaker

Yes stop riding that distance until you get the issue fixed. Obviously you don't have an average body. You have issues. No one here is going to be able to diagnose the issue without an examination.


Best thing to do is to consult an expert. Forget about going to the LBS. You need someone trained in sports medicine to help you. Specifically cycling. You can start by calling the sports medicine department at your local university. We have two fellows here are Pitt that specialize in fitting folks on bicycles.

You might also see your GP. He / she can determine if your pain is related to riding or it is some other issue that is becoming more obvious after you ride a distance. Meaning it could be a problem for you at some point even when not riding.

Looigi

I am not a doctor. Neither is the fitter at your LBS. I agree with the previous posters. Sounds like pinched nerves or a intervertebral disc issue, not inflammation. Ibuprofen may help with the latter but not the former. Best to not ride and possibly aggravate the situation. Definitely see a medical specialist, and once you do, get a second opinion from another. Insurance will usually pay for second opinions, but it may require pre-approval .

Nightshade

Good grief!! And your orthopedic doctor's appoint is when!!

Note: it is entirely possible that you are getting old enough now that you've developed a case of arthritis in your spine in the area where your pain is

Then there is the very real possbility that you'll have to give up those damn spine bending drop handlbars due to the arthritis in your spine.

10 Wheels

Time for an MRI...

donger

Thanks to all of you for the info/advice. I realize that it's a back problem but I believe that it's brought on by the bike fit. I was concerned that the lower back issue and siatica didn't appear until after the fit. It's a totally new issue on my part. I'm old (56) but in excellent health; 12-13% body fat, low cholesterol, low triglyceride level, blood pressure (128/70), and resting pulse of 50 bpm. I see my doctor tomorrow, Tuesday.

rdtompki

I'm not going to suggest a cause/effect, diagnosis or fit change, but I would encourage you to discard the notion that "I'm old". 56 is prime time.

zonatandem

Old at 56?!
Got kids your age and am still riding 100+ miles a week.

rogerstg

You changed your fit and your average speed increased. This generally means that your muscles are now working together a bit differently than in the past. It's logical that your pain is caused by overuse of some previously seldom used muscles, causing inflammation and pressure on the sciatic nerve. This would leads to pain like what you've described.

A very similar thing happened to me when doing a hard, though flat century on a new bike with slightly different geometry (lots of headwind, stayed in the drops for long periods, always pulled my wife). The answer for me was to ice the lower back after any of these rides and to do a few simple stretches if I felt the pain returning (stand, hands on hips and lean back as far as comfortable, hold for a few seconds, repeat a few times).

You probably just need to ice your lower back for the next few long rides until your new muscles get into shape. I'd try that first before running to the doctor.

catonec 

obviously not a cure but I found aleve (naproxin) more effective than ibuprofen.

cplager

Interesting... I find the opposite. I find they both work better than Tylenol.

Leebo

Yoga, and I like the flats of my drop bars 2" above my seat.

agent pombero

Certain yoga poses can help your back pain if you practice 15-30 minutes everyday and be patient. Results are not so sudden. These poses helped me greatly over the years and I recommend them for back pain.

OP, it is also a good idea to consult your doctor to see if you're capable of doing these poses and/or to find out what might be causing your pain. If it is an issue of flexibility:

Cat pose. Click here to read more.

Cow pose. Click here to read more.

Cat and cow pose are often combined into one fluid motion from inhalation/exhalation. This back and forth movement feels very good.

Sphinx pose. Click here to read more.

Cobra pose. Click here to read more.

Half Lord of the fishes pose, be careful not to overextend yourself:


You do NOT have to do any yoga pose exactly how it looks in any picture or video. Concentrate on the correct posture but never go farther than what your body is capable of doing at the moment. Don't hurt yourself. If you practice everyday, over enough time, your pose will naturally deepen, but the key is to never rush this process or you can seriously hurt yourself.

cplager

Since you were riding before with no pain, I'm assuming that this is something you can fix by a change in position/yoga/whatever-else-works.

If not, then why not come to the dark side? Recumbents are a lot of fun and help make the "should I sit in my comfy chair or ride my bike?" question much easier to answer ("why not do both?"). And we have cookies.

Just planting the seeds...

Cheers,
Charles

berner

There is the possibility that the shim corrected too much in one go. Your new position is too far from what your body had become used to. Talk to the fitter about a smaller shim.

Notso_fastLane

I hate to sound too much like I'm preaching the same ol thing, but have you tried a recumbent? I love my DF mtn bike, but I never have lower back pain on my bent (and I have chronic lower back pain, if I don't exercise enough). Not trying to sell you a new bike, but if you can't get your back to work with an upright, you might at least take a look at some bents (and there's a lot more variation in bents than uprights).

Oh, and like the others said, you should probably get a professional opinion on your back as well.

Good luck.

Nightshade

Where the hell did all the damn doctors that replied to this tread come from??

Don'tch think that it's better to encourage the OP to go to a doctor first to get real help before we screw the OP up with well meaning advice!!

BlazingPedals

Although I like recumbents as much or more than others here, I think you're on the right track that the shim/adjustment is related to the back issues. I'm going to guess (strictly as a layman) that you should see a sports therapist. You rode without the shims for years with no issues. You may have a 'frozen' muscle, i.e. one may be atrophied because you've never used it before; but now you are and it's being grossly over-worked. You may need to get it analyzed and some PT prescribed. Seeing an ortho is a great FIRST step; but the ortho's problem is that when you're holding a hammer, all the problems you see will look like nails. A GOOD ortho will send you to PT before trying anything invasive; but if he doesn't suggest it first, make sure you ask. Massage, acupuncture, or exercises might all help in your case. A good phys therapist may be better than the ortho at determining what's going on.

TiHabanero

Did he go see a therapist or doc?

fietsbob

Got a lousy health Insurance policy? tell those who legislate, you want single pay non profit.