I'm in desparate need of advice/information on a back pain issue. In July 2012, I got fitted to my bike with the BG Fit system. My right leg is 3/8-inches shorter than my left so the technician added shims to my right shoe. The fit worked because my average speeds increased and took a minimum of 30 min off my ride times of rides >50 miles. However, after a 50+mile ride, my spine above the tail bone is so sore that it feels like my hips can't support my body weight. On ocassion, both my legs get siatica. This condition lasts for 2-3 days and comes back after another 50+mile ride. I been back for bike fit adjustments and now the technician thinks putting a shorter stem might be a solution. I'm not convinced. Any suggestions/advice out here? Thanks in advance.
need info on back pain issue
- Thread starter ronin359
- Start date
I don't remember how much shim was added to my shoe. 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. I see my doctor tomorrow, Tueday. Thanks though.
I asked about how much shim was added because the body will tend to accommodate asymmetries, particularly in the case of length length discrepancies. The net effect of this is that it's entirely possible that shimming so that leg lengths are effectively equal can cause pain and injury, too. I've got a leg that I creatively remodeled such that it is a bit more than 3/8" shorter than the other. When I was having issues with a fit many years ago, a fitter shimmed out a cleat to make my lengths virtually equal. The result was the onset of back pain. When the cleat shim stack was then reduced to about 1/2 my length discrepancy, everything improved. It's unlikely that you have 3/8" of BG shims inside your shoe, but it'd be worth measuring how many are there just for your own sake. Another consideration in terms of fit is valgus vs. varus tilt in your feet. I don't really trust BG trained LBS people to measure as much, so I had my feet scanned. My remodeled leg's foot had very nearly equal in magnitude but opposite tilt (i.e. varus in one foot and valgus in the other). With insoles to correct the tilt of each foot, everything was perfecto. Hopefully your doctor will provide some insight.ronin359 said:
I didn't experience any pain similar to this before the fit. What puzzles me is that I feel comfortable during the ride and it's the aftermath that kills me.
Here is the latest on my back issue. I saw my GP who prescribed pain killers & muscle relaxants. He wanted a MRI done and he submitted it for authorization. My HMO will get back to my doctor in about 2 weeks with either an approve/disapprove on the MRI. My GP also will refer me to see a back specialist ONLY after the MRI. So, it seems that I am in a holding pattern. The GP didn't tell me stop riding so that's good (I guess).
Here is the latest on my back issue. I saw my GP who prescribed pain killers & muscle relaxants. He wanted a MRI done and he submitted it for authorization. My HMO will get back to my doctor in about 2 weeks with either an approve/disapprove on the MRI. My GP also will refer me to see a back specialist ONLY after the MRI. So, it seems that I am in a holding pattern. The GP didn't tell me stop riding so that's good (I guess).
I apologize for the lack of updates on this post. Due to dealing with a HMO and the holiday season, I got my MRI done on Dec 14th and I finally saw a back specialist physician today (Jan 17th). Of course, my lower back pain left about 2 weeks ago and the sciatica in both legs disappeared 3 days ago. The doctor initially thought that the root of my back pain was due to my spine adjusting to the shims on my right shoe. He drastically changed his mind after we looked at my MRI. It revealed that I had a ruptured disc on my L3-L4, very little disc left on my L4-L5, and formation of arthritis at L2-L5. The doctor said if I had seen him when I still had both pain and sciatica, he would have recommended surgery. I now have to wait for the next episode of pain and sciatica before he can get authorization for surgery. He still wanted me to take a "nerve test" (I don't know what that is) but I still have to wait until the doctor receives authorization from the HMO.
So that's where I'm at with this issue. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions.
So that's where I'm at with this issue. Thanks to all of you for your suggestions.
If by "nerve test" he means a nerve conduction study, prepare for one of the worst days of your life. After a motorcycle racing crash I was left with over 26 fractures in my rib cage, a collarbone, neck, and scapula, as well as a partially paralyzed right arm. The shoulder doc did a nerve conduction study to find out exactly what nerves were damaged and the likelihood of the damage healing. The first part of the test involved using an electrode placed on the skin, starting at my fingers and finishing on my neck, to stimulate muscle contraction. The second part of the test involved a needle with an electric wire attached. The needle was stuck in every each phalanx of a few fingers and into the muscle and proceeded through parts of my hand, forearm, upper arm, shoulder, back, and neck. The electrified needle caused massive spasms and at the shoulder, back, and neck caused all kinds of bone ends to rub together. The fun lasted for well over an hour. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried when it was done. It was ****ing torture. Hopefully, yours won't go like that.ronin359 said:
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