pain in the nether regions...
11-14-07, 11:54 AM
#1
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pain in the nether regions...
My right testicle to be exact although it sometimes happens to the left.
Sorry if this is kind of long.
This was not a problem all spring or summer, but in late September or so it started to get noticeable. I'm constantly playing with seat post height and at first I thought it was just too high but moving it back down didn't help. I tried different seat angles and finally 3 different saddles (just ones I had around). The one from my mountain bike seemed to help so I left it on there.
A few weeks ago I went to get my bike out of the garage and the rear tire was flat, so I took another road bike we have into work. Since I needed to regrease the hubs on my bike anyway I didn't start riding it again until I got around to doing to the hubs. While I was riding the other bike, I didn't notice any discomfort. I started riding my bike again today and the pain is back. It doesn't start right away, it takes 4 or 5 miles and I don't have any pain off the bike. It was not an issue at all on the other road bike. It's not excruciating but if my commute were to be twice as long I don't think I could handle it. During the summer, I routinely rode longer distances.
None of saddles I tried are particularly ergonomic. It seems to have something to do with the bike geometry/adjustment and/or the change in the weather. I've had this bike 20 years and although I've ridden far more this year than in the past, It's never been a problem before.
Another thing I just thought of is that I ride hard. Somewhere around the same time I started experiencing the discomfort I had made a conscious effort to pick up my cadence to reduce the stress on my knees and help my future triathlon times.
Any thoughts or tips?
Sorry if this is kind of long.
This was not a problem all spring or summer, but in late September or so it started to get noticeable. I'm constantly playing with seat post height and at first I thought it was just too high but moving it back down didn't help. I tried different seat angles and finally 3 different saddles (just ones I had around). The one from my mountain bike seemed to help so I left it on there.
A few weeks ago I went to get my bike out of the garage and the rear tire was flat, so I took another road bike we have into work. Since I needed to regrease the hubs on my bike anyway I didn't start riding it again until I got around to doing to the hubs. While I was riding the other bike, I didn't notice any discomfort. I started riding my bike again today and the pain is back. It doesn't start right away, it takes 4 or 5 miles and I don't have any pain off the bike. It was not an issue at all on the other road bike. It's not excruciating but if my commute were to be twice as long I don't think I could handle it. During the summer, I routinely rode longer distances.
None of saddles I tried are particularly ergonomic. It seems to have something to do with the bike geometry/adjustment and/or the change in the weather. I've had this bike 20 years and although I've ridden far more this year than in the past, It's never been a problem before.
Another thing I just thought of is that I ride hard. Somewhere around the same time I started experiencing the discomfort I had made a conscious effort to pick up my cadence to reduce the stress on my knees and help my future triathlon times.
Any thoughts or tips?
11-14-07, 01:26 PM
#2
nashcommguy
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Having experienced similar problems re numbness and/or pain in the 't' area I'll venture a guess of one or two things.
First: seat angle, not height. You may be having to lean too far forward and not riding on your 'sit bones' which will cause too much pressure on one's underside of the...um, package. My pain, numbness went away when I 'flattened' the angle of my saddle and brought it a little forward in relation to the post.
Second: Seat height, not angle. If your saddle is slightly too high the downward pressure in this sensitive area can cause the same problem from a different angle. Make sure your on your 'sit bones' for the vast majority of your rides. Adjustments to eliminate pain can be in the millimeter or two area. Each body is different. Upper body and core strength can contribute alot to relieving pain in this area, also.
One more thing. Don't overlook the fact that the pain may be a slightly strained groin muscle that manifests as testicular pain when is in reality a strained ligament or tendon. Especially if you stand-up to mash on tough climbs and aren't doing enough stretching after you ride.
First: seat angle, not height. You may be having to lean too far forward and not riding on your 'sit bones' which will cause too much pressure on one's underside of the...um, package. My pain, numbness went away when I 'flattened' the angle of my saddle and brought it a little forward in relation to the post.
Second: Seat height, not angle. If your saddle is slightly too high the downward pressure in this sensitive area can cause the same problem from a different angle. Make sure your on your 'sit bones' for the vast majority of your rides. Adjustments to eliminate pain can be in the millimeter or two area. Each body is different. Upper body and core strength can contribute alot to relieving pain in this area, also.
One more thing. Don't overlook the fact that the pain may be a slightly strained groin muscle that manifests as testicular pain when is in reality a strained ligament or tendon. Especially if you stand-up to mash on tough climbs and aren't doing enough stretching after you ride.
11-14-07, 01:30 PM
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Not to try to scare you or play doctor, but I'd get a cursory screening to rule out 'down there' cancer just in case.
Other than that, consider possibly the fore-aft position of the seat (it could be too far back, causing you to pitch forward on your non-load-bearing equipment. Having your bars too low could do the same.
Good luck getting it sorted out - that's not something to mess around with!
Other than that, consider possibly the fore-aft position of the seat (it could be too far back, causing you to pitch forward on your non-load-bearing equipment. Having your bars too low could do the same.
Good luck getting it sorted out - that's not something to mess around with!
11-14-07, 01:35 PM
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At one time, I had "excess" fluid around my testicles. It went away on its own, but they were a bit larger than usual for a while.
It didn't really affect my cycling, though, and I was basically car-free in those days...rode the bike to work every day!
Time for a trip to the doc, for you!
It didn't really affect my cycling, though, and I was basically car-free in those days...rode the bike to work every day!
Time for a trip to the doc, for you!
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Fewer Cars, more handlebars!
11-14-07, 02:18 PM
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11-14-07, 04:14 PM
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just a heads up, pain down there can be a sign of decreased blood circulation and can lead to very permanent damage, not something to take lightly if you're a guy. If I were to ever start experiencing any discomfort down there I would get it taken care of immediately
11-14-07, 06:00 PM
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Just to follow up.
After reading the responses and doing some poking around on the net, I raised my stem a bit. Since I had raised my seat post a fair amount not long before I started having discomfort there was probably a connection. Even though I'm pretty sure I tried lowering it again.
Since my seat post was higher and my stem hadn't changed, I was riding in a more crunched position(as someone had mentioned). I'm almost always in the drops or on the aero bars. My guys were probably getting squished more.
Anyway, the trip home was pain free and one of the more enjoyable rides I've had in a while. I even seemed to have more power. Of course, the festive snow flakes and the 15-30 mph tailwind may have helped. ;-)
Some of the tips I found on the net were to stand more often,get off the saddle when waiting at an intersection, and don't spend too much unbroken time on the aero bars.
My nads thank you
After reading the responses and doing some poking around on the net, I raised my stem a bit. Since I had raised my seat post a fair amount not long before I started having discomfort there was probably a connection. Even though I'm pretty sure I tried lowering it again.
Since my seat post was higher and my stem hadn't changed, I was riding in a more crunched position(as someone had mentioned). I'm almost always in the drops or on the aero bars. My guys were probably getting squished more.
Anyway, the trip home was pain free and one of the more enjoyable rides I've had in a while. I even seemed to have more power. Of course, the festive snow flakes and the 15-30 mph tailwind may have helped. ;-)
Some of the tips I found on the net were to stand more often,get off the saddle when waiting at an intersection, and don't spend too much unbroken time on the aero bars.
My nads thank you
11-14-07, 08:16 PM
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+1 in seeing the Dr. Slight pain started me down the road to diagnosis.
Advice- if you have prostate cancer go to a noseless saddle.
Advice- if you have prostate cancer go to a noseless saddle.
