My back

DonDaddyD

My back its smegged. That's the only way I can describe it.

OK pains: Lower back when arched (belly sticking out) on the bike begins to hurt and become unbearable after a while. Curving (belly crunched) the back seems to help. Riding on the drops instead of the hoods also helps.

Right ribs, hurt in a I had no sleep kind of way. Not sure why.

Neck at either the base of the head or base of the neck hurts at alternating moments.

Right shoulder has always hurt after recent bike rides.

Mid part of my back where the spine curves out as it meets the rib cage, absolutely hurts , sitting upright is proper painful.

I sort of hunched, curled up position over my desk is my only salvation....

I haven't felt this much pain body pain, ever. In someways it feels like my muscle pain from over exercise.

Not riding bike today, could be bike, could be weight and position of bag, what should I do.

prawny

Swine flu no doubt about it, get yourself to a morgue at once :twisted:

Deadeye Duck

Get yourself to a physio pronto. Back pains are not to be ignored.

jedster

DDD,

what has changed recently? Are you doing more miles? Pushing much harder? Could it be a bike fit issue?

J

Rich158

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Get yourself to a physio pronto. Back pains are not to be ignored.

+1, or at the very least a sports massage. At the end of my last sportive I could hardly stand up due to back and neck pain. Luckilly they had a massage service and the difference it made was unbelievable.

Take my current predicament as a warning. A slight lower lumbar sprain has led to drasticly reduced reflexes in my right knee, no power at all in my right quads (to the point the legs starts to collapse if I run up stairs), and a numb tingling sensation in my lower leg. The worse thing is my back doesn't hurt until my physio find the exact spot that's in spasm, and then it's excrutiating.

Get thee some proper advice my man, these things aren't to be ignored.

Rich158

Deadeye Duck wrote:

Get yourself to a physio pronto. Back pains are not to be ignored.

+1, or at the very least a sports massage. At the end of my last sportive I could hardly stand up due to back and neck pain. Luckilly they had a massage service and the difference it made was unbelievable.

Take my current predicament as a warning. A slight lower lumbar sprain has led to drasticly reduced reflexes in my right knee, no power at all in my right quads (to the point the legs starts to collapse if I run up stairs), and a numb tingling sensation in my lower leg. The worse thing is my back doesn't hurt until my physio find the exact spot that's in spasm, and then it's excrutiating.

Get thee some proper advice my man, these things aren't to be ignored.

il_principe

Did you get fitted properly?
Do you ever stretch post ride?
How strong is your core?

You shouldn't ride with a slumped posture by the way, you need to keep your core stable and your spine neutral.

I'd suggest looking at your position on the bike, perhaps playing with your saddle tore/aft position, it may be that you are putting too much weight on your hands. Of course part of these pains may be your body getting used to the new bike but it shouldn't be this bad.

Edit: Perhaps some of us can have a gander at your positioning on Saturday?

Headhuunter

I always found stretches really helped with back pain.

Sitting on the ground and reaching your hands out to hook your fingers round your toes, or reaching down to your heels if you can make it. This "opens up" you back. I also somehow find that stretching my abs helps my back by doing a similar stretch to "upward facing dog" in yoga.

Other than that, lie on your back, bring your knees up so that your thighs are perpendicular to the ground and your calves are parallel to the ground, (upper and lower legs form a right angle at the knee) then swing the knees across to the right and hold that position, whilst keeping your shoulders flat on the ground. Then do the same but swing the knees to the left. This will probably make your back "crack", but in a nice way and it also seems to stretch the muscles down the side of your ab (can't remember the name now).

I do those stretches and others, but the ones above really free up my back really well.

DonDaddyD

Did you get fitted properly? - Yes
Do you ever stretch post ride? - No
How strong is your core? - You've seen me, it could be stronger

You shouldn't ride with a slumped posture by the way, you need to keep your core stable and your spine neutral.

Its weird my back is neither over extended or crunched and my hands seem alright.

I'd suggest looking at your position on the bike, perhaps playing with your saddle tore/aft position, it may be that you are putting too much weight on your hands. Of course part of these pains may be your body getting used to the new bike but it shouldn't be this bad.

I recently dropped the handlebar height. May raise it again. may just take the bike back and get them to undo all my positioning tweaks...

Edit: Perhaps some of us can have a gander at your positioning on Saturday?

I would love that, though I can't make it. Mates stag do

linsen

Sounds a bit similar in some ways to my gripes a few months ago.

You need to work on core stability, pilates is brilliant. If you think about it, the spine is an intricate and delicate thing. Your body has provided you with the perfect support for it - your stomach muscles (mostly transverse thingamybobs), which if used correctly will take almost all the work away from the spine.

My problem is historic - it has developed over the last twenty years, but I am certain the massive amount of riding I did over the winter tipped it over the edge. You need to get some advice on how to look after your (significantly younger) back so it lasts you a lifetime.

always_tyred

How much did yo move your bars by, and how did you go about this?

Almost certainly that is the issue. Give your back a day or two to recover (going back to your old position may not suffice, now that you've irritated your back) and put the bars back where they were. Stretch. Strengthen (do both your back and your abs). Lower the bars gradually over the course of weeks.

The Chingford Skinhead

Have you considered a hybrid? Better riding position won't wreck your back and neck.... 8)

+1 for stretches (I'm told pilates is particularly good) and for seeing someone.

DonDaddyD

Right so going to do the following.

Heal back - At my rate of recovery I'd be surprised if it wasn't back to bearable by Friday and rideable on Saturday.

Stretches - Going to see Dad to learn some.

Re-adjust bike - Put bar back to original position and then talk to bike shop about resetting riding position.

Piilates, situps and things - To strengthen core.

Thanks guys, been a big help. My mobility is still shot, can't look over shoulders easily so won't ride bike tomorrow, probably not until Saturday or Monday....

doog442

Ive got a prolapsed disc and this is what i did

flipped bars, lowered saddle and got on with it...what i didnt realise was this was a major traumatic non curable injury that levelled me for months.....

You can get a private MRI scan for £300 or so.....your so called smegged back may be a disc issue....if it isnt they may be able to pinpoint the problem...dont fanny around get it done

lardboy

Try an osteopath. Both my girlfriend an I have been treated at the BSO, her for whiplash, and me for an indeterminate neck pain and they were brilliant. You get a full work over and treatment, lasting about 90 mins for your first session, for £20. They'll give you stretches and exercises to do between visits. You do get treated by the students, but they are fully supervised and generally brilliant.

You do have to strip down to undies, and you might have a young lady treating you, so no going commando. Best pants only!

jjojjas

go see someone. I have always had back problems, had a prolapsed disc earlier this year it even stopped me walking for a few days, I'm just back on the bike now..
I can't do drop's Flat bars and sitting up (nurts your butt...) is the only way I can ride.
Jas

secretsam

Physio.

Now.

End of.

INFO: lower back pain since being in small but permanently injuring car crash about 8 years ago. Me and Physios are well acquainted.

INFO (2): Pilates VG but see doctor/physio first

DonDaddyD

OK so I sort medical advice - I got scared today as I couldn't take deep breaths without serious pain in that area. My airway is clear and the verdict is that I've pulled a muscle, badly, and rest is what is needed.

Weight and fitness came into conversation, but I've been riding 16miles a day for nearly a year with occasional weekends rides, I've also all but stopped smoking and drinking and changed my diet so the doctor didn't have much to say. I'll have to follow up weight with him another time - sigh...

How I managed to injure myself came into conversation... I think the lower back, neck and right shoulders may have been the bike and I need to seek bike shop fitting help for that, again :roll: but the serious injury - the ribs - is probably when driving and I came round a corner with one hand on the steering wheel and the steering wheel turned back on me violently. Told me to take something anti inflamatory and if the pain is still there by Thursday next week, come see him.

Gotta do some core work. Doctor said that the other pains were probably compounded by this injury because my core is realtively weak (given size, age, height and level or activity - cycling doesn't really help strengthen the core) and I went from bike, so sore, to car where I got then got injured.

Thanks for all the advice. Asked girl friend if we can do Pilates together.... :oops:

Rich158

Ok the quack has confirmed what you probably suspected. I'd still get yourself to a physio to be properly treated, and a full set of exercise. Believe me a decent physio is worth their weight in gold.

itboffin

I had a quick scan through and didn't see it, so...

MTFU you girl

Signed
Dr. itboffin

il_principe

DonDaddyD wrote:

Thanks for all the advice. Asked girl friend if we can do Pilates together.... :oops:

Pilates is good. Don't do it with the GF though! You'll be the only bloke in a room full of ladies in tight clothing...

I need to start going to classes again!

:shock: