Aches and pains... what does anybody else do to get rid?

mac_man

Left elbow joint is feeling very stiff and a bit tender... possible tendonitis?

Anyhoo will be going to the docs to get it checked.

But... question for the older riders out there... is there anything you take or any treatments you recommend to reduce/mitigate general stiffness/ached/pains. And not painkillers... more things like heat treatment, massage therapy, accupuncture, or even remedies like fish oils etc.

Other than the possible tendonitis am assuming it's just advancing years that's leaving me feeling a bit of a crock.

weeksy59

yeah, don't ride for 6 months... they all go away

.blitz

mac man wrote:

... question for the older riders out there...

Oh hai!

Just lots of stretching before and afterwards and at least 5-6-7 miles to warm up before attempting anything remotely strenuous.

mac_man

weeksy59 wrote:

yeah, don't ride for 6 months... they all go away

LOL... no chance

mac_man

.blitz wrote:

mac man wrote:

... question for the older riders out there...

Oh hai!

Just lots of stretching before and afterwards and at least 5-6-7 miles to warm up before attempting anything remotely strenuous.

main problem seems to be mainly elbow and wrists from bouncing over the rocky trails round hebden bridge.

cooldad

MTFU. Threre is no cure for old age except death.

tsenior

warm up, stretch
cool down, stretch
beer, hot shower.

.blitz

mac man wrote:

main problem seems to be mainly elbow and wrists from bouncing over the rocky trails round hebden bridge.

Better forks/better brakes/less of a death grip on the bars?

It all makes a difference when you get to our age

mac_man

.blitz wrote:

mac man wrote:

main problem seems to be mainly elbow and wrists from bouncing over the rocky trails round hebden bridge.

Better forks/better brakes/less of a death grip on the bars?

It all makes a difference when you get to our age

Death grip on the bars... yeah that does sound like me sometimes.

Bike is a Rockhopper with Tektro Auriga brakes and a rockshox tora 85-130mm U turn fork.

What spec fork would make a noticeable difference to plushness when hitting the knobbly stuff.

For brakes... maybe something a bit more powerful would give me more confidence downhill.

As for gloves... already got some Endura gel padded jobbies. It's not a question of MTFU as some have suggested... just concerned the elbow problem could get so bad it stops me riding

curlie467

I have decided that this year is riding for fun rather than going like hell everywhere, my body just cannot stand it!!
I am suffering this week with a really bad shoulder, i landed heavily on it last may and it has never been right since, various trips to the doc suggests just muscle damge and physio therapy sessions might help it.
This is why i am going to slow down a bit, i can still ride but certain movements hurt like hell, hence the slowing down and riding a bit more gently will keep me riding my bike rather than rendering me useless for a few weeks, i would rather be out there enjoying it than suffering.

A nice air fork rides well over the rough stuff but even those you can have set up hard (i do).

.blitz

mac man: there's not a lot wrong with Aurigas and Toras 90% of the time but trust me that remaining 10% gets more noticeable with age.

Forks? What about some Recons or push the boat out and get some Revs? The floaty sensation is very addictive and although at any given moment they may not seem that much better, the reduction in noise, vibration and harshness over the course of a bike ride is very noticeable.

Brakes? Some bigger rotors would give you more power at the expense of modulation but a powerful brake requires less effort so you're not having to heave on the lever with two/three fingers and hold on at the same time.

It helps if the lever falls naturally below the line of your extended fingers when in a normal riding position and mounting the brakes quite a bit inboard means that you're pulling the outside of the lever.

Just little things (apart from the forks ) but they all add up

Daz555

As an old un who suffers a lot from his devotion to Sunday football I have to say that ice and heat are a bit of a cure all.

- Following a big game or ride. Ice the bits that hurt. Reduces swelling.
- The day after a big game or ride. Ice the bits that hurt and then heat them afterwards. Encourages blood flow and healing.

Repeat the ice and heat bit for several days if required.

One warning - never heat a fresh injury as you may encourage swelling - always ice it at most on the first day.

supafly1982

i was just tole today that having your bike set up properly to suit your riding style reduces aches and pains, theres a sportsphysio im going to try and see as this one sets the bike up just right for you, ive got a glass back

aneesh99

+1 on making sure the bike is set up right, and technique (as so eloquently put by others as a 'Death grip on the bars' )

Stretching, ice packs, this brill stuff my dad nets me from some medical sales reps he knows called Biofreeze, the stuff works wonders!

cee

i fit into the older lads category (in body at least if not in mind...)...

I am currently taking:

A course of cortisol injections to help my fskeded back
Calcium chews (for my Osteopenia)
Recovery drink includes protein powder and lemon flavoured fish oil..available from Holland and Barrets.
I also take a bunch of vitamin D.

course....none of that is gonna help the balck and blue right hip and thigh i am sporting at the moment!

mac_man

aneesh99 wrote:

+1 on making sure the bike is set up right, and technique (as so eloquently put by others as a 'Death grip on the bars' )

Stretching, ice packs, this brill stuff my dad nets me from some medical sales reps he knows called Biofreeze, the stuff works wonders!

One thing I don't seem to siffer is back ache. The riding actually seems to improve any backache I get

I've tried running my brakes inboard so that I'm only pulling on the lever ends, but the shifters get in the way when I do this. I can't get rid of the gear indicator windows as they are not detachable from the shifters.

Would love some new XTR brakes as they have the teeniest blades I've ever seen.

Am running a 180 front rotor and a 160 out back.

Am thinking a set of 120mm Rebas would be ace. Anyone recommend powerful adjustable brakes that will fit with my Deore shifters?

meesterbond

I'm running loads at the moment and never known such pain - joints audibly creaking and spending the 2 days following a long run hobbling around like a geriatic...

Best 'cure' I've found is an ice bath for my legs... I'm in two minds about whether it's actually more painful than the run in the first place, but it really does work.

Arkady001

My right knee is FUBAR'd after many years of abuse: even climbing the stairs on a cold morning makes it hurt like a be-atch.
Only way to minimise the pain is make sure you perform a proper warm-up and warm-down, followed by a hot bath (or ice-bath for the Spartans amongst us)...

...then flollop on the sofa, munch your way through copious amounts of Ibuprofen and drink a large whisky.

...or three...

curlie467

Is vodka ok? i just prefer it to whisky!

mac_man

LOL.... after reading some of the posts on here, maybe I do need to MTFU.

Some of you guys are properly wrecked... yet are still up for sustaining yet more punishment :oops:

I shall have to go out and do at least 40 miles around Calderdale's rockiest before I come back and start moaning about aches and pains.

bamish1000

Try some different diameter grips, could be suffering from something like arm pump? What grips do you have? Maybe even a different density will also help.

mac_man

bamish1000 wrote:

Try some different diameter grips, could be suffering from something like arm pump? What grips do you have? Maybe even a different density will also help.

Just the standard Specialised push on grips.

Some people seem to swear by those ergon grips... might give them a go.

fixie71

Stay away from the docs, they only advise you to stay off the bike.

bamish1000

I had ergon style grips on my tourer and found them very good, not sure about off road though as have never tried them in that sense. Oury's are very good and have been around a long time and are big and soft:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BTOUMO/oury-mountain-grips

Maybe try using a stress ball when watching TV? I found one very usefull after i broke my wrist. Could even use it before riding to warm up your fore arm muscles aswell.

johnnygooner

From one of an age to know!!

Bike setup is indeed very important.
I find cod liver oil capsules do work. My creaking knees have certainly improved.
Someone mentioned avoiding the deathgrip. I'd go one further and advise being as loose on the bike all over and let your joints and the bike work together.
Grips and gloves. Experiment. Not just the softest but those that give you greater confidence will encourage you to be looser.
Carbon Fibre bars do take a bit of the buzz out as well.

In summary, lots of little changes will help

mac_man

bamish1000 wrote:

I had ergon style grips on my tourer and found them very good, not sure about off road though as have never tried them in that sense. Oury's are very good and have been around a long time and are big and soft:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BTOUMO/oury-mountain-grips

Maybe try using a stress ball when watching TV? I found one very usefull after i broke my wrist. Could even use it before riding to warm up your fore arm muscles aswell.

Thanks.

I have a squash ball I used last year when I fractured my forearm. Doh.. why Didn't I think of this... probably good for hand/wrist/forearm muscles & tendons.

Will check out squidgy grips along with the ergons... ditto a carbon bar

lochussie

mac man wrote:

I've tried running my brakes inboard so that I'm only pulling on the lever ends, but the shifters get in the way when I do this. I can't get rid of the gear indicator windows as they are not detachable from the shifters.

I'd rather cut off the indicators than run my shifters inside my brakes.

Arkady001

curlie467 wrote:

Is vodka ok? i just prefer it to whisky!

Only if it's Pertsovskaya or Stoli...

thelodge

I have suffered alot over the years and tried many things, I recommend:

Ground Flaxseed
HathaYoga
Reduce or eliminate dairy from your diet (i know this is a biggie but try it for a few weeks and see how you feel)

Rich9

I find a heat pad on the offending area works well
http://www.supergoose.co.uk/index.php/bodycare/products

i have one of the smaller pads that I bough on Covent Garden market for a fiver. Worked a treat on my recent dodgy neck

miss notax

I'm feeling old today

15 miles off-road last night felt like bloody 100's of miles! My back is aching like hell today and my right knee is merrily crunching and cracking (and hurting) at every opportunity. I am avoiding the doctor at all costs for fear of what she will say, so am hitting the ibrupofen and wine instead

Ironically my back always feels fine when I am actually riding, but sadly work gets in the way of my all-day MTBing! I'm open to all suggestions about the knees though!

We are off skiing at the weekend which should be interesting....