General Cycling Discussion - Battling a saddle sore... now what ?

So I've been fighting a war with a saddle sore now off and on for 6 months... during the week it seems to go away, on the weekend (when I do most of my riding) it flares up again.

During the week I make sure I put Gold bond powder on it after I get out of the shower, and some on it before I go to bed at night.

On days I ride, I liberally smear some Chamois butt'r on both the sore and the chamois inside my PI bibs.

I don;t want to give up riding until it heals... who knows how long that may be...

Is there anything else ya'll know about getting rid of the sore ? It really is driving me nuts...

jeff

Sounds like something worse then just a saddle sore, especially if you've been dealing with it for 6 months. Go to the doctor as soon as you can.

Yeah and I dont think Chamois butt'r is a topical aid... I'm guessing putting that crap on an open sore isn't the best idea. In fact, are you sure thats not whats irritating it? Just suck it up, go to the Dr. and if it takes a week or two to heal then so be it. At least you can ride then without discomfort when you get back on it.

First of all.. Yes, it is just a saddle sore...

Secondly, I know that Chamois butter is not a topical aid, and my sore is NOT an open sore.. infact, it is more like scar tissue right now...

It just gets irritated when I ride... the chamois butter does help to keep it from buggin'... but it has not gone away

jeff

Alright if you won't go to the doctor then at least change what you use to treat it. I don't know much about chamois butter but it sounds like it is not an anti-biotic. As soon as you can, tonight even, go to your nearest 24 hour pharmacy and buy a product called Bag Balm. I kid you not the stuff is great when it comes to saddle sores. Plus it has anti-biotic properties in it. It'll heal you up in no time, meaning the sore will go away. You can also use Bag Balm for more then just saddle sores, it'll treat the sores caused by athletes foot, abrasions, road rash, etc, which means you can use Bag Balm for open wounds that are on the surface of the skin or superficial. Oh and toss the chamois butter, it sounds like it's not worth a hill of beans.

Alright if you won't go to the doctor then at least change what you use to treat it. I don't know much about chamois butter but it sounds like it is not an anti-biotic. As soon as you can, tonight even, go to your nearest 24 hour pharmacy and buy a product called Bag Balm. I kid you not the stuff is great when it comes to saddle sores. Plus it has anti-biotic properties in it. It'll heal you up in no time, meaning the sore will go away. You can also use Bag Balm for more then just saddle sores, it'll treat the sores caused by athletes foot, abrasions, road rash, etc, which means you can use Bag Balm for open wounds that are on the surface of the skin or superficial. Oh and toss the chamois butter, it sounds like it's not worth a hill of beans.


yeah.. it doesn't sound like you're familiar with chamois butter.. it certainly is not an antibiotic, or a cure-all, but it does help with friction some when riding.

I have heard of Bag balm... I will pick some up, and give it a try...

This is the kinda answer I was looking for... any other recommendations ?

Thanks

jeff

A & D ointment at night.

I just got a saddle soar after last week end so I decided to stay off the bike for probably 5 days, it's been 3 now and it's getting a lot better. Mabey you need to stay off the bike for a bit? I may give the bag balm thing a try too. I've been using this stuf called Burts 'something or other'

Alright if you won't go to the doctor then at least change what you use to treat it. I don't know much about chamois butter but it sounds like it is not an anti-biotic. As soon as you can, tonight even, go to your nearest 24 hour pharmacy and buy a product called Bag Balm. I kid you not the stuff is great when it comes to saddle sores. Plus it has anti-biotic properties in it. It'll heal you up in no time, meaning the sore will go away. You can also use Bag Balm for more then just saddle sores, it'll treat the sores caused by athletes foot, abrasions, road rash, etc, which means you can use Bag Balm for open wounds that are on the surface of the skin or superficial. Oh and toss the chamois butter, it sounds like it's not worth a hill of beans.

It sure does work. it's just too bad it smells like ...

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/media/jonski/donkey_toledo-pic00018_th.jpg

-mark

I just got a saddle soar after last week end so I decided to stay off the bike for probably 5 days, it's been 3 now and it's getting a lot better. Mabey you need to stay off the bike for a bit? I may give the bag balm thing a try too. I've been using this stuf called Burts 'something or other'


is that like Burt's Bees ?

jeff

Drawing salve.

Drawing salve (a.k.a. black ointment) is available at any pharmacy. It brings a boil to a head and "draws" the infection out of it. Apparently you have a fairly deeply infected hair follicle.

When riding, keep using the Chamois Creme to reduce friction. You might also try putting a Dr. Scholl's corn pad or a bit of moleskin around the site to help keep the friction to a minimum.

If the drawing salve doesn't cure the problem, you may need to see a doctor to have the boil lanced. A doctor can also prescribe an appropriate antibiotic.

Underwear Nazi
And, oh yeah, if you have been wearing undies under your bike shorts, stop it now!

Drawing salve.



Underwear Nazi
And, oh yeah, if you have been wearing undies under your bike shorts, stop it now!

How dare you say this ?!?!? I roll Commando in the underwear army !

I'll have to find some drawing salve... I did notice last night when I was looking at it, that it seems to be clearing up some... I haven't ridden in a week, gonna ride tonite. We'll see how it goes...

jeff

How dare you say this ?!?!? I roll Commando in the underwear army !

jeff


I just had to be sure, Jeff. I'm reassured that you are a good soldier.

UN
Don't get huffy...the attitude or the bicycle.

Try sitting in a bath of epsom salts too. That helped me back when I was having saddle sore problems.

Koffee

I use chamois butt'r and occassionally get a saddle sore. Try putting some neosporin on it. Apply it after you ride after you have dried off from a shower, then again before you go to bed. That always seem to help me.

Okay guys, this is funny, but it works. I promise. An old wives tale says to duct tape a potato to it. Yes, a piece of raw potato. My mother told me to do this when I got one that wouldn't go away. One night of sleeping with a piece of potato taped to it, and it drew all the stuff to the top of the skin. A little clean up with some rubbing alcohol, and I was good as new. No time off the bike, and a much happier rear end. Try it.

Duct tape a potato to your @$$.

is that like Burt's Bees ?

jeff
yes it is. To be honest I don't know if it has helpped or if just time alone has helped, probably a combo of the two. Tomorrow I will get on the bike anyway it will have been 4 days and I feel myself stiffining up from not riding...

Okay guys, this is funny, but it works. I promise. An old wives tale says to duct tape a potato to it. Yes, a piece of raw potato. My mother told me to do this when I got one that wouldn't go away. One night of sleeping with a piece of potato taped to it, and it drew all the stuff to the top of the skin. A little clean up with some rubbing alcohol, and I was good as new. No time off the bike, and a much happier rear end. Try it.

Duct tape a potato to your @$$.

Hmmm ... I would have to be awfully creative in trying to explain that one to the wife.

-mark

Hmmm ... I would have to be awfully creative in trying to explain that one to the wife.

-mark

Welll, maybe she'd like to do the duct taping of the potato to your a$$?

Welll, maybe she'd like to do the duct taping of the potato to your a$$?

and if you've been bad, very bad, she's like to take the duct tape off?
;-)

You gotta let us know if you try the potato thing. I guess if it helps the eyes after being burned..........(from looking at welding arc too long unprotected)

Potato? I though the solution was a steak? A meal on your saddle mmmm.
I had an infected follicle that didnt respond well to more riding. I layed off the bike for a few weeks (and missed it), and the doc advised lancing the deep boil. Letting a doc mess around with your 'nads and a scalpel is really a matter of trust. I had to change saddle since the old one finds my weak spot.

Well I rode last night 32 miles at about 18.1 mph... used the chamois butter pretty liberally (think pudding in my shorts) and today I don;t feel any irritation there.. I used Neosporin after I got out of the shower, and then right before I went to bed, with a good dose of Goldbond to keep things dry over night... so far so good... I may pick up some bag balm when I run to the store this weekend... see if that helps :-)

Thanks for all the repsonses... I'm not totally sold on the potato idea... but, hey, stranger things have been known to work !

jeff

Suspension, my friend, suspension...

Suspension, my friend, suspension...


suspension ? Huh ?

jeff

Everything you riders are saying sounds good. Being a Certified Athletic Trainer and avid cyclist I have used pretty much everything mentioned, except potato meets duct tape! Keeping the area as clean and dry as possible is a good start. It also might be the saddle or the chamois/shorts. Could the shorts be worn out? I currently have a stuborn saddle sore as well but have had it for 3 weeks, not 6 months. Jeff, AKA SipperPhoto, if it persists, I would seek additional medical attention and/or stop riding. We understand your frustration.

I currently use Bag Balm as my chamois cream and it works OK. I use it pretty liberally but it tends to stain the chamois. Just ordered some Chamois Butt'r Euro Style. Used it before, ran out, didn't order it out of laziness. I have had good luck with Neosporin as well for sores.

Speaking of wives tales. I heard that if you take a jar of Vlasic Bread and butter stackers, soak them with a bottle of '97 Italian Red Zinfandel, apply a liberal coating of flufernutter and then wrap them to your saddle sore with limp canadian bacon, it will go away quickly. Plus they're a cure-all for the bonk.

Hopefully, in the six years since the previous post, the saddle sore has healed.

^^ LOL

I have since adopted the use of Bag Balm for long rides and it's worked great.