Injured in BED!!

Read on--its not what you think...

Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor low back pain. This pain
went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve in my left leg. I have been riding fairly
consistently and did roughly 20 fast miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
Absolutely no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain in my
buttocks that flows down into my hamstring.

Getting fed up with this irritation, I saw the doc today. He listened to my woes did a few minor
tests then hit the spot when he raised my leg while laying on my back. YEOCH!! He laughed and said
the problem is sciatica. The prescription was stretching and rest and more stretching. He believes
it will clear up in a couple of weeks without further problems. If it gets worse or persists then he
will order x-rays or an MRI. He also said: No Crits!!!

Any road riders or racers experience this before? I am fine on the bike but uncomfortable sleeping
or sitting. Any home remedies?

Advice appreciated,

 

This sounds ridiculous. Go see a sports doctor. Sounds to me like your bike doesn't fit properly and
perhaps you upped your mileage too much too soon in order to do the early birds. Am I right? Are you
a beginner racer? Too much too soon (in the cold and rain to boot) on a improperly fitting bike will
mess you up.

Mark VandenBerghe

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Read on--its not what you think...
>
> Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor
low
> back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve in my left leg. I have
> been riding fairly consistently and did roughly 20
fast
> miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont. Absolutely no problems with my
> leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain in my buttocks that flows down into my
> hamstring.
>
> Getting fed up with this irritation, I saw the doc today. He listened to
my
> woes did a few minor tests then hit the spot when he raised my leg while laying on my back.
> YEOCH!! He laughed and said the problem is sciatica.
The
> prescription was stretching and rest and more stretching. He believes it will clear up in a couple
> of weeks without further problems. If it gets worse or persists then he will order x-rays or an
> MRI. He also said: No Crits!!!
>
> Any road riders or racers experience this before? I am fine on the bike
but
> uncomfortable sleeping or sitting. Any home remedies?
>
> Advice appreciated,
>

 

Stretching might work, but it wasn't the solution for me. I had a nasty case of it for about four
months before I figured out what was going on. For me, the "cure" was simply to remove *everything*
from my pockets before I sit down. Seems that things like wallets & keys and such can push against
all the wrong places. Did you Doctor not mention anything about that?

--Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReaction.com

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Read on--its not what you think...
>
> Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor
low
> back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve in my left leg. I have
> been riding fairly consistently and did roughly 20
fast
> miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont. Absolutely no problems with my
> leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain in my buttocks that flows down into my
> hamstring.
>
> Getting fed up with this irritation, I saw the doc today. He listened to
my
> woes did a few minor tests then hit the spot when he raised my leg while laying on my back.
> YEOCH!! He laughed and said the problem is sciatica.
The
> prescription was stretching and rest and more stretching. He believes it will clear up in a couple
> of weeks without further problems. If it gets worse or persists then he will order x-rays or an
> MRI. He also said: No Crits!!!
>
> Any road riders or racers experience this before? I am fine on the bike
but
> uncomfortable sleeping or sitting. Any home remedies?
>
> Advice appreciated,
>

 

On 1/10/03 3:24 PM, in article [email protected], "waxxer"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> Read on--its not what you think...
>
> Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor low back pain. This pain
> went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve in my left leg. I have been riding fairly
> consistently and did roughly 20 fast miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in
> Fremont. Absolutely no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain
> in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring.
>
> Getting fed up with this irritation, I saw the doc today. He listened to my woes did a few minor
> tests then hit the spot when he raised my leg while laying on my back. YEOCH!! He laughed and said
> the problem is sciatica. The prescription was stretching and rest and more stretching. He believes
> it will clear up in a couple of weeks without further problems. If it gets worse or persists then
> he will order x-rays or an MRI. He also said: No Crits!!!
>
> Any road riders or racers experience this before? I am fine on the bike but uncomfortable sleeping
> or sitting. Any home remedies?

Sleep on the bike............

>
> Advice appreciated,
>
>

 

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Read on--its not what you think...
>
. I have been riding fairly consistently and did roughly 20 fast
> miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.

What I want to know is, why would anyone want to do a crit in January? Unless you live in Oz or
NZ. Yikes. I just started doing minimal intensity like, last week, I can only imagine how painful a
crit would be right now! -Suz

 

On Fri, 10 Jan 2003 15:24:45 -0800, "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Read on--its not what you think...
>
>Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor low back pain. This pain
>went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve in my left leg. I have been riding fairly
>consistently and did roughly 20 fast miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in
>Fremont. Absolutely no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain
>in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring.

Reverse Hyperextensions.

-Scott Johnson "There is nothing, I think, more unfortunate than to have soft, chubby, fat-looking
children who go to watch their school play basketball every Saturday and regard that as their week's
exercise."
- John F. Kennedy, 1962

 

"waxxer" <[email protected]
> He did. However I hardly ever carry anything in my pockets. He did ask about sitting on the wallet
> syndrome. We are also discussing trying a new saddle.

Wow -- you saw a doc and he didn't ask you to take out your wallet? What?!

>
> "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > Stretching might work, but it wasn't the solution for me. I had a nasty case of it for about
> > four months before I figured out what was going on. For me, the "cure" was simply to remove
> > *everything* from my pockets
> before
> > I sit down. Seems that things like wallets & keys and such can push
> against
> > all the wrong places. Did you Doctor not mention anything about that?
> >
> > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReaction.com
> >
> > "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > > Read on--its not what you think...
> > >
> > > Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed
minor
> > low
> > > back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched
nerve
> in
> > > my left leg. I have been riding fairly consistently and did roughly 20
> > fast
> > > miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
> Absolutely
> > > no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this
burning
> > > pain in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring. ...

 

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I am looking for insight into sciatica and overcoming it in as short as time as possible.

Well, there's good news, and bad news. The bad news is that sciatica very often is not overcome.
Depending upon the source (and it's usually a pinched nerve due to disk slippage or disk
dessication), you might just have it forever.

The good news is that is comes and goes. My first episode was seven years ago. It came on after a
fast ride, and the pain was excruciating. The interesting thing is that the least painful thing I
could do was ride the bike, and the two most painful things were getting out of bed, and getting my
leg over the bike. I had an MRI, and was diagnosed with a dessicated (dried out) spinal disk. It's
age-related.

Since the first episode, it has recurred several times, lasting for a few days to a week. None of
the recurrences were as bad as the first episode. PT and stretching seem to help, but sometimes it
just goes away.

I don't race, but I would suggest that fast riding, or technical MTB riding, are not a good thing
when you are having an "attack".

The sports doctor that I was seeing told me that in severe cases there is surgery possible, but that
it's risky and often (>50% of the cases) just doesn't work. Sometimes it makes it worse.

Do a google search on "back pain" and sciatica. You should get about 20000 hits.

>"Mark VandenBerghe" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> This sounds ridiculous. Go see a sports doctor. Sounds to me like your bike doesn't fit properly
>> and perhaps you upped your mileage too much too soon in order to do the early birds. Am I right?
>> Are you a beginner
>racer?
>> Too much too soon (in the cold and rain to boot) on a improperly fitting bike will mess you up.
>>
>> Mark VandenBerghe
>>
>>
>> "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
>> > Read on--its not what you think...
>> >
>> > Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor
>> low
>> > back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched nerve
>in
>> > my left leg. I have been riding fairly consistently and did roughly 20
>> fast
>> > miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
>Absolutely
>> > no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this burning pain in my buttocks
>> > that flows down into my hamstring.
>> >
>> > Getting fed up with this irritation, I saw the doc today. He listened to
>> my
>> > woes did a few minor tests then hit the spot when he raised my leg while laying on my back.
>> > YEOCH!! He laughed and said the problem is sciatica.
>> The
>> > prescription was stretching and rest and more stretching. He believes it will clear up in a
>> > couple of weeks without further problems. If it gets worse or persists then he will order
>> > x-rays or an MRI. He also said: No Crits!!!
>> >
>> > Any road riders or racers experience this before? I am fine on the bike
>> but
>> > uncomfortable sleeping or sitting. Any home remedies?
>> >
>> > Advice appreciated,
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>

 

Really! No doubt the bill will hurt another nerve when it arrives...

The only thing he took out was a prescription for Vioxx--a pain killer. I am looking into this stuff
before I take it. I don't want to be loopy while on the road. "Ken Papai" <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
>
> "waxxer" <[email protected]
> > He did. However I hardly ever carry anything in my pockets. He did ask about sitting on the
> > wallet syndrome. We are also discussing trying a
new
> > saddle.
>
>
> Wow -- you saw a doc and he didn't ask you to take out your wallet? What?!
>
>
>
> >
> > "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > Stretching might work, but it wasn't the solution for me. I had a
nasty
> > > case of it for about four months before I figured out what was going
on.
> > > For me, the "cure" was simply to remove *everything* from my pockets
> > before
> > > I sit down. Seems that things like wallets & keys and such can push
> > against
> > > all the wrong places. Did you Doctor not mention anything about that?
> > >
> > > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReaction.com
> > >
> > > "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > > > Read on--its not what you think...
> > > >
> > > > Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed
> minor
> > > low
> > > > back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched
> nerve
> > in
> > > > my left leg. I have been riding fairly consistently and did roughly
20
> > > fast
> > > > miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
> > Absolutely
> > > > no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this
> burning
> > > > pain in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring. ...

 

Vioxx won't make you loopy. It's an a pretty specific antiinflamatory (cox-2 inhibitor). Just a
possible increase for risk of heart attack in comparison to over the counter NSAIDs (e.g. ibuprofin
ketoprofin) but easier on the stomach. Are you sure he prescribe Vioxx and not Viagra?

Kendall

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Really! No doubt the bill will hurt another nerve when it arrives...
>
> The only thing he took out was a prescription for Vioxx--a pain killer. I
am
> looking into this stuff before I take it. I don't want to be loopy while
on
> the road. "Ken Papai" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "waxxer" <[email protected]
> > > He did. However I hardly ever carry anything in my pockets. He did ask about sitting on the
> > > wallet syndrome. We are also discussing trying a
> new
> > > saddle.
> >
> >
> > Wow -- you saw a doc and he didn't ask you to take out your wallet? What?!
> >
> >
> >
> > >
> > > "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > Stretching might work, but it wasn't the solution for me. I had a
> nasty
> > > > case of it for about four months before I figured out what was going
> on.
> > > > For me, the "cure" was simply to remove *everything* from my pockets
> > > before
> > > > I sit down. Seems that things like wallets & keys and such can push
> > > against
> > > > all the wrong places. Did you Doctor not mention anything about
that?
> > > >
> > > > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReaction.com
> > > >
> > > > "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > Read on--its not what you think...
> > > > >
> > > > > Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed
> > minor
> > > > low
> > > > > back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a pinched
> > nerve
> > > in
> > > > > my left leg. I have been riding fairly consistently and did
roughly
> 20
> > > > fast
> > > > > miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
> > > Absolutely
> > > > > no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this
> > burning
> > > > > pain in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring. ...
> >
> >
>

 

"waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> Really! No doubt the bill will hurt another nerve when it arrives...
>
> The only thing he took out was a prescription for Vioxx--a pain killer. I
am
> looking into this stuff before I take it. I don't want to be loopy while
on
> the road.

Vioxx is crap (IMHO). maybe is't OK for anti-inflammatry reasons but as a pain-killer it's crap.
You'll stay alert with it.

> "Ken Papai" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "waxxer" <[email protected]
> > > He did. However I hardly ever carry anything in my pockets. He did ask about sitting on the
> > > wallet syndrome. We are also discussing trying a
> new
> > > saddle.
> >
> >
> > Wow -- you saw a doc and he didn't ask you to take out your wallet? What?!
> >

 

You make me laugh any harder and I will looking for you and using the Twinkie defense after. Viagra,
no. So far no problem with the woody. "Kendall" <ckensto(nospam)@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Vioxx won't make you loopy. It's an a pretty specific antiinflamatory (cox-2 inhibitor). Just a
> possible increase for risk of heart attack in comparison to over the counter NSAIDs (e.g.
> ibuprofin ketoprofin) but
easier
> on the stomach. Are you sure he prescribe Vioxx and not Viagra?
>
> Kendall
>
>
> "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > Really! No doubt the bill will hurt another nerve when it arrives...
> >
> > The only thing he took out was a prescription for Vioxx--a pain killer.
I
> am
> > looking into this stuff before I take it. I don't want to be loopy while
> on
> > the road. "Ken Papai" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...
> > >
> > > "waxxer" <[email protected]
> > > > He did. However I hardly ever carry anything in my pockets. He did
ask
> > > > about sitting on the wallet syndrome. We are also discussing trying
a
> > new
> > > > saddle.
> > >
> > >
> > > Wow -- you saw a doc and he didn't ask you to take out your wallet? What?!
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > "Mike Jacoubowsky" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > Stretching might work, but it wasn't the solution for me. I had a
> > nasty
> > > > > case of it for about four months before I figured out what was
going
> > on.
> > > > > For me, the "cure" was simply to remove *everything* from my
pockets
> > > > before
> > > > > I sit down. Seems that things like wallets & keys and such can
push
> > > > against
> > > > > all the wrong places. Did you Doctor not mention anything about
> that?
> > > > >
> > > > > --Mike-- Chain Reaction Bicycles http://www.ChainReaction.com
> > > > >
> > > > > "waxxer" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > > > > news:[email protected]...
> > > > > > Read on--its not what you think...
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter
developed
> > > minor
> > > > > low
> > > > > > back pain. This pain went away and has now graduated to a
pinched
> > > nerve
> > > > in
> > > > > > my left leg. I have been riding fairly consistently and did
> roughly
> > 20
> > > > > fast
> > > > > > miles yesterday getting ready for this weekend crit in Fremont.
> > > > Absolutely
> > > > > > no problems with my leg. However if I sit or lay down I get this
> > > burning
> > > > > > pain in my buttocks that flows down into my hamstring. ...
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
>

 

waxxer wrote:
> You make me laugh any harder and I will looking for you and using the Twinkie defense after.

Hey "Waxxer", please edit your replies somewhat in stead of quoting 100 lines of junk and adding 2
of your own on top. This is not a chat room but a discussion group. Imagine if ALL posts would
look like yours, it would be impossible to recognize any order in the chaos. And that is hard
enough as it is.

Thanks,
E.

 

Two things that might help you:

1) see a massage therapist ... not a masseus or masseur, but a real massage therapist. A couple of
sessions will take care of just about anything that ails you. Your doc could even give you a
prescription for it so it would be covered by insurance.

2) Check out the Koobi PRS saddle (www.koobi.com). I got one recently and, though I don't have too
much time on it, it seems like it's really gonna enhance my comfort on longer rides. I have some
really harsh roads in my area and the koobi really takes the edge off. It has three different
elastomers at the back of the saddle where the rails meet the top. I'm using the mid-level
elastomer. The sensation is a little like what you get when your rear wheel starts to go soft.
I'm probably gonna switch to the stiffer elastomer 'cuz I don't care for the squishy feel at
times, but it's a very comfy saddle -- made in the Selle Italia factory in Italy.

Bob C.

 

waxxer wrote:
>
> Read on--its not what you think...
>
> Gotta new bed just before Christmas. Shortly thereafter developed minor low back pain.

Go back to the old bed. Seriously.

 

"Ken Papai" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:[email protected]...

> Vioxx is crap (IMHO). maybe is't OK for anti-inflammatry reasons but as a pain-killer it's crap.
> You'll stay alert with it.

It isn't intended to be used as a pain killer, its use is an anti-inflammatry. Any associated loss
of pain is usually as a result of a reduction of fluid and swelling. It seems to work well as an
anti-inflam, I have been taking it for nearly 6 months after a serious knee injury. Ibuprofen didn't
'agree' with me. Gemm