Lower back trouble

[crees22]

Hiya,

Just interested to know if any of you suffer with back problems due to cycling, Ive been told by some people that cycling can be good for your back while others state thats it aggrivates back trouble. Ive allways suffered with slight back problems since a young age and was allways told that I dont walk up straight, but in recent years have been making a effort to better by stance. I also at work carry lots of files around as a courier which has also contributed to the occasional strain. Its the pains from cycling that is worrying me though. I love my cycling and have it in mind to join a club and start competing in road racing in the near future, but cant overlook the problems caused to my back recently since ive up'd my training. This week it has been worse than ever, its a pain coming from right at the base of my back almost going into my right upper leg, can you get trapped nerves as that is sort of what it feels like, or is that what 'back ache' is?? Im worried as I do not want to give up cycling as its been a big part of my life of late, if a doctor was to tell me to stop i dunno if i could. Do you people suffer with back pain, and if so how do you control it and does it ever dictate whether you ride or not? Ive got a feeling that the hill climbing i have been focusing on has contributed more than normal, and i have been using the lower bar to grip on my racing bike for a more aerodynamic profile, obviously the extra bend on the back with using the lower bars cant help matters but feels good at the time.

P.S. has anyone got a spare spine laying around anywhere, has to be in good condition?

Thanx.. Mr Chris

 

[Peter Clinch]

crees22 wrote:

> Just interested to know if any of you suffer with back problems due to
> cycling, Ive been told by some people that cycling can be good for your
> back while others state thats it aggrivates back trouble.

"Back problems" is not a single thing which will respond identically in
different cases. So there are some BPs that will be improved, and some
that are made worse. The /type/ of cycle and cycling will also be an
issue. Cycling my recumbent in a leisurely manner as against Going For
It on a serious road racer will have a markedly different effect on
different BPs, for example.

> Im worried as I do
> not want to give up cycling as its been a big part of my life of late,
> if a doctor was to tell me to stop i dunno if i could.

I can't tell you what the root of your problem is, but as above note
that not all cycling will have a similar effect on one's back.

> Do you people
> suffer with back pain, and if so how do you control it

I've had the occasional ache on a long ride on an upright bike, but
changing to a recumbent has made everything far more comfortable.

> dictate whether you ride or not? Ive got a feeling that the hill
> climbing i have been focusing on has contributed more than normal, and
> i have been using the lower bar to grip on my racing bike for a more
> aerodynamic profile, obviously the extra bend on the back with using
> the lower bars cant help matters but feels good at the time.

If you're on a low recumbent your aerodynamics will be better than on
the drops of a racer in any case. You won't be able to compete with
"normal" bikes, of course, but there are the BHPVC race series if you
really want to race.

But it might just be the case that you're building up too much too fast:
ease back for a while and see what difference that makes. If it gets
better, increase your work rate more gradually. Also, make sure you're
spinning gears getting up the hills. If you're mashing big gears that
just puts a lot more power through your skeleton on single pushes, which
is more likely to strain things than lots of fast but lower power pushes.

Pete.
--
Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer
Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital
Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK
net [email protected] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/

 

[Nick Kew]

In article <[email protected]>,
crees22 <[email protected]> writes:

> Just interested to know if any of you suffer with back problems due to
> cycling,

Last time this was discussed here seems to be at or about
http://groups.google.com/[email protected]&frame=off

--
Nick Kew

 

[Jeremy Collins]

crees22 wrote:
> Hiya,
>
> Just interested to know if any of you suffer with back problems due to
> cycling, Ive been told by some people that cycling can be good for your
> back while others state thats it aggrivates back trouble. Ive allways
> suffered with slight back problems since a young age and was allways
> told that I dont walk up straight, but in recent years have been making
> a effort to better by stance.

I have found that weight training (esp. shoulders and upper /
middle back) vastly improves posture. I started a thread on this
a while back and have been working on strengthening my back
at the gym since then; it has definitely helped. I still get back pain,
but much less than I used to.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&c2coff=1&th=e62b285ecb67bd47&rnum=2

Taking time to experiment with your riding position is time well spent.
Minor tweaks in saddleposition (fore & aft, and saddle angle) made a big
difference for me.

> This week it has been worse than
> ever, its a pain coming from right at the base of my back almost going
> into my right upper leg, can you get trapped nerves as that is sort of
> what it feels like, or is that what 'back ache' is??

Pain going down into the leg can be an indication of sciatica (the
large sciatic nerve getting trapped), but don't treat this as a
diagnosis for gawd's sake! Go see a chiropractor or physiotherapist.


--
jc

Remove the -not from email

 

[bkay]

Hi

I have had lower back problems for years and have not been bothered much since I started cycling every day, maybe because I have a pneumatic seat.

B K Waddell

 

[Gwyn Oakley]

In message <[email protected]>
crees22 <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> Hiya,
>
> Just interested to know if any of you suffer with back problems due to
> cycling, Ive been told by some people that cycling can be good for your
> back while others state thats it aggrivates back trouble. Ive allways
> suffered with slight back problems since a young age and was allways
> told that I dont walk up straight, but in recent years have been making
> a effort to better by stance.

I have had back problems since my twenties, in my case diagnosed as
ankylosing spondilitis. Classically it starts as lower back pain in
younger people especially men, and is a hereditary condition. A
stooping posture is typical of the condition. It is furthe
characterised by flare ups and periods of remission, with age the spine
tends to become rigid. However there are variations to the classic
symptoms with things like periphary joint involvement.

A blood test HLA B27 is an indicator, but a full diagnosis relies on
xrays. Catch is in the early stages the xrays are often inconclusive.
Typically it takes up to 8 years from first symptons to full diagnosis.

There are a range of exercises to help sufferers, and swimming is
particularly beneficial.

I was advised to be carefull with cycling, but for me, if I replace
acar journey wih a bike journey then this is better. I find that
cycling helps maintain mobility.



> I also at work carry lots of files around
> as a courier which has also contributed to the occasional strain. Its
> the pains from cycling that is worrying me though. I love my cycling
> and have it in mind to join a club and start competing in road racing
> in the near future, but cant overlook the problems caused to my back
> recently since ive up'd my training. This week it has been worse than
> ever, its a pain coming from right at the base of my back

Sorry to say but that sound like the sacroiliac joint, see a doctor and
get checked for AS. At one stage in my disease development the pain in
my left hip was such that I had to hold onto a wall to walk, and was
unable to press the clutch pedal of my car. Strangely gentle cycling
was easier. For you sake I hope my suspicion is wrong.

> almost going
> into my right upper leg, can you get trapped nerves as that is sort of
> what it feels like, or is that what 'back ache' is?? Im worried as I do
> not want to give up cycling as its been a big part of my life of late,
> if a doctor was to tell me to stop i dunno if i could. Do you people
> suffer with back pain, and if so how do you control it and does it ever
> dictate whether you ride or not? Ive got a feeling that the hill
> climbing i have been focusing on has contributed more than normal, and
> i have been using the lower bar to grip on my racing bike for a more
> aerodynamic profile, obviously the extra bend on the back with using
> the lower bars cant help matters but feels good at the time.

To ease te pain try anti inflamatory pain killers eg ibuprofen.
Vioxx or Celebrex are better but presciptin only

I found that slightly higher bars helps.

>
> P.S. has anyone got a spare spine laying around anywhere, has to be in
> good condition?

If they have I want first refusal

Gwyn
>
> Thanx.. Mr Chris
>
>

--

 

[Graeme]

Jeremy Collins <[email protected]> wrote in news:dgy4d.241
[email protected]:

> Pain going down into the leg can be an indication of sciatica (the
> large sciatic nerve getting trapped), but don't treat this as a
> diagnosis for gawd's sake!

That's what it sounds like to me too (and I know from experience how bad
it can be).

> Go see a chiropractor or physiotherapist.

Can I add "osteopath" to that list? I'd seen chiros and physios for my
back for a year or two and they both gave me temporary relief from back
pain. I found that chiros focus almost solely on realigning joints and
often ignore the fact that the spasming muscles that are the cause/effect
of the misaligned joints. This means that the nicely aligned joints are
often pulled out of alignment by the spasming muscles.

The physios have almost the opposite effect - concentrate on the muscles
and pay little attention to joint alignment. The muscles relax but the
still misaligned joints cause them to respasm later on.

I found that osteopaths do a bit of both, muscle relaxation and joint
alignment. I found that this was more effective for me.

One exercise that I did find great for building up lower back strength
and reducing back pain was unicycling. It keeps up the general fitness
level, improves core stability and immunises you to ridicule

Graeme

 

[Sue White]

In message <[email protected]>, Graeme
<[email protected]> writes
>
>One exercise that I did find great for building up lower back strength
>and reducing back pain was unicycling. It keeps up the general fitness
>level, improves core stability and immunises you to ridicule
>
Also does wonders for your dynamic balance and breaks your death grip on
the handlebar.
While riding a bicycle, on the easy bits give your back a break by
letting go of the bar and sitting upright while you do a few simple
movements for your neck and shoulders.

It's vital to maintain mobility in your back, especially as you get old
and creaky like me. Bend forward and rest your knuckles on the floor
between your heels, lie on your front and do half-pressups with your
hips on the floor, do a few sidebends and see how far down you can
reach.
Little and often is better for mobility than an occasional workout.

Spine replacements are still a few years off.

--
Sue ]

What goes down must come up again - Confucius' Law of Mountain Biking

 

[Glm]

On 24 Sep 2004 01:08:40 GMT, Graeme <[email protected]> wrote:

> Jeremy Collins <[email protected]> wrote in news:dgy4d.241
> [email protected]:
>
>> Pain going down into the leg can be an indication of sciatica (the
>> large sciatic nerve getting trapped), but don't treat this as a
>> diagnosis for gawd's sake!
>
> That's what it sounds like to me too (and I know from experience how bad
> it can be).
>
>> Go see a chiropractor or physiotherapist.
>
> Can I add "osteopath" to that list? [snip]

May I take all three off the list and suggest an orthopaedic surgeon?
Below are a few lines I posted several weeks ago on this subject.

http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&th=66d6c5d691614a0a&rnum=1

---

I have suffered from increasingly herniated and
dessicated discs in the lumbar region (L4/5/S1) since my teens (diagnosed
mid-
twenties). Much of the time I am fine (although never perfect); now and
again I
have aches in my spine and/or sciatica (if I sit improperly or sleep in an
unsuitable position, etc.); on four occasions I have been unable to walk
for a
period of days (had a couple of epidurals, one of which went into the
wrong place -
not fun at all!)

When young I was an avid cyclist, but stopped during my university
career. I have,
at the age of 35 (correction, 36, yesterday was my birthday - *sigh*),
recently
climbed back into the saddle. To some extent, this newfound interest in
cycling
was an attempt to help with my spinal problem.

However, I have several observations.

Most importantly, a newsgroup is fit only for anecdotal advice. As several
individuals have pointed out, each case must be assessed on its own merits
(sic)
and comments here, my own included, should be taken cum grano salis.

Regardless of how serious your discomfort appears now, I'd recommend
seeing a good
specialist (an orthopaedic surgeon or, at least, a reputable pain
consultant). I
grew up in England, where my two general practitioners knew nothing about
spinal
problems. Indeed, the problem was not even diagnosed properly until I had
an
emergency MRI scan in Hong Kong (some 10 years after complaining of agony
in my
coccyx as a teenager, often associated with cycling).

When I was 16 I was sent to see an osteopath, who used to put me through
an hour
of torture each week. Again, he had very little understanding of the
problem; and
most orthopaedic surgeons since have told me that this almost certainly
did more
harm than good.

Ditto for physiotherapy. This can be very useful, even necessary, if done
properly. If not, it can be treacherous to the spine. Again, I'd
question the
ability of most GPs to make an appropriate recommendation on this front;
likewise
for physios themselves. There are new and old schools of physiotherapy,
it would
seem (hot-packs vs. ice!) - have tried both and they can both be helpful
in the
right circumstances. The *right* movement is very important.

Acupuncture: well, I am a sinologist, so I tried this, too! No real
benefit, and
I'd argue that few of these individuals are qualified ro assess a lumbar
spine
problem (at least in the UK; in China, where I have also lived, training
is for
more extensive).

As for chiropractors, I exacerbated my spine at the beginning of the year
(courtesy of a parsimonious client who flew me from New York to India in
caboose).
Once I had persuaded the surgeon in Bangalore to lay down his scalpel, I
came
home and saw a chiropractor. It was clear that he knew vanilla treatments
for
common spine problems. How precisely aligned his treatments were to my
needs, I
am not sure. Lots of marketing around his assessment of my MRI scans, but
he
clearly didn't get the picture (ouch!). He was a recognised (and
expensive!)
practitioner in New York (where this stuff is popular); still, I'd never
go back.

I stopped the chiropractor after a week and continued to see my personal
trainer.
Most of these guys are quacks, too; I, however, am fortunate: he
understands my
spinal problem and watches every single move I make (which is really
annoying as
reps in bad form sometimes don't count towards the total!). Knowing how to
protect my lower back when I am doing exercises he put me on a
rehabilitation
program, which has worked out very well. Incidentally, my last MRI scan
showed
that the muscles around my lower spine were very strong, which is entirely
attributable to this gentleman.

Which brings me to cycling (after quite a prologue, I am sorry). My
trainer
recommended that I buy a bike. I was somewhat hesitant, but once I got
there the
very smell of the LBS was enough to compel me to purchase a road bike (with
compact geometry). Explained about my spine to the sales chap, and he
recommended
a smaller frame so that I would not be too extended. Not sure how much
rationale
is behind this, but it is important that I keep my abs tight, so it does
make
sense. Sometimes I wonder whether they had the larger frame in stock
(although he
said they did)!

Rode the bike for two days with no problem (15-odd miles). After the
third (25
miles) I got off the bike and was in some pain. More indignant than
anything, I
popped 75mg of Vioxx, 15mg and of Diazepan and a few Tramadol pills; then
rested
for a couple of days and hopped back into the saddle. Since then it has
been
generally fine.

I find that cycling exacerbates my spine if I churn high gears; I often get
sciatica and/or numbness in my left leg at around the 20-mile mark, but
resting for
10 minutes usually resolves this. On the whole, I don't believe that
cycling is
doing me any harm. My surgeon's view of all this is that, provided I
don't hit
any major bumps (which could compress my 'dried-out bits', I should be ok
- it's
unlikely to be worse than sitting at a computer all day long. I certainly
feel
more 'mobile' now, which is good for my lower back.

I found that a cycling computer helped me maintain the right cadence to
stop me
from pushing too hard on the legs, which clearly impacts my spine.

All this is a somewhat circuitous way of saying that it makes sense to
have a good
specialist look at the problem, but that cycling is not necessarily a bad
idea.

One final point, however: experts have always stressed to me the need to
attenuate
the pain before embarking upon exercise. I'd be very wary of jumping onto
a bike
if you're still in pain as you might well exacerbate the root problem
and/or the
spasm.

Hope this helps.


Glm