Sciatica and Recumbents
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Sciatica and Recumbents
I am a 50 year old ex-road/club rider. Three years ago I had to give up cycling due to chronic sciatic nerve/muscle pain in my right buttocks and leg. I am much better now, thank-you, and fantasize about a return to cycling, but I am leary of risking my improved health by getting back on a road bike. Does anyone in this "bent" forum have ideas or advice on whether a recumbent might be a better solution? BTW, my sciatica apparently had little to do with my back or spine. It was caused by localized inflammation and muscle-spasms in the butt, hip and leg. Thanks.
Mr. Mxlkpix
Mr. Mxlkpix
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I took a fall out of the press box via the staire weell before a scrimmage about 12 years ago. Had all kinds of problems over the ensuring years. Short story is I starting riding a cross-comfort bike a couple years ago (what a misnomer) for health reasons and had to give it up for the pain. Got and actionbent(only one I could affort) and am riding daily when the weather permits and in the winter have it on a trainer in the guest room. I'm riding in the MS150 in April in Houston. A bent should help you. But take the others advice and go to a shop and test ride. But they are delinately fun to ride and are definately much easier on your body. And now after having riden one for a year, I would not go back even if my old bod wasn't in need.
VTXT
VTXT
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You might do a search on "recumbent butt" on the internet. Some folks get similar symptons to what you described from riding recumbents. I believe that it is most often associated with more upright sitting positions, but it seems to vary by individual. Hopefully, you can find a bike shop that will let you take a long test ride not just around the parking lot. I have gotten "recumbent butt" on both my Rans Stratus and my Greenspeed GTO but only on rare occasion. I think that it helps me to be off the bike/trike and stretch every 10-15 miles.
Regards,
Gary
Regards,
Gary
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You need to do some long test rides, and keep in mind that when it comes to comfort, everyone seems to be different. As Gary Mc mentioned, the recline of a bent's seat can make a big difference. Also, bents have two very different types of seats: mesh seats and hard seats. The bikes with hard seats tend to have more recline.
My biggest health issue is my back (degenerative discs, L4-L5 is the biggest problem). My Tsunami T-1 SWB (manufactured by China Mascot, same as ActionBent) has the hard seat. I keep it reclined all the way back, ride about 100 miles a week, keep pushing myself harder and harder, and just don't get any back pain from the bike at all. I would say that you can probably do that too, but you're going to have to prove that, yourself. The fit of a bike is important, just like the seat is. Good luck in finding one that works for you.
My biggest health issue is my back (degenerative discs, L4-L5 is the biggest problem). My Tsunami T-1 SWB (manufactured by China Mascot, same as ActionBent) has the hard seat. I keep it reclined all the way back, ride about 100 miles a week, keep pushing myself harder and harder, and just don't get any back pain from the bike at all. I would say that you can probably do that too, but you're going to have to prove that, yourself. The fit of a bike is important, just like the seat is. Good luck in finding one that works for you.
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recumbents very widely in seat design and configuration. Hard to predict what would or would not work. I'd say try some and/or show your specialist some pictures and see if they can guess what might work. Still try some though.
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Originally Posted by Mr. Mxlkpix
I am a 50 year old ex-road/club rider. Three years ago I had to give up cycling due to chronic sciatic nerve/muscle pain in my right buttocks and leg. I am much better now, thank-you, and fantasize about a return to cycling, but I am leary of risking my improved health by getting back on a road bike. Does anyone in this "bent" forum have ideas or advice on whether a recumbent might be a better solution? BTW, my sciatica apparently had little to do with my back or spine. It was caused by localized inflammation and muscle-spasms in the butt, hip and leg. Thanks.
Mr. Mxlkpix
Mr. Mxlkpix
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Originally Posted by Mr. Mxlkpix
I am a 50 year old ex-road/club rider. Three years ago I had to give up cycling due to chronic sciatic nerve/muscle pain in my right buttocks and leg. I am much better now, thank-you, and fantasize about a return to cycling, but I am leary of risking my improved health by getting back on a road bike. Does anyone in this "bent" forum have ideas or advice on whether a recumbent might be a better solution? BTW, my sciatica apparently had little to do with my back or spine. It was caused by localized inflammation and muscle-spasms in the butt, hip and leg. Thanks.
Mr. Mxlkpix
Mr. Mxlkpix
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Originally Posted by Mr. Mxlkpix
I am a 50 year old ex-road/club rider. Three years ago I had to give up cycling due to chronic sciatic nerve/muscle pain in my right buttocks and leg. I am much better now, thank-you, and fantasize about a return to cycling, but I am leary of risking my improved health by getting back on a road bike. Does anyone in this "bent" forum have ideas or advice on whether a recumbent might be a better solution? BTW, my sciatica apparently had little to do with my back or spine. It was caused by localized inflammation and muscle-spasms in the butt, hip and leg. Thanks.
Mr. Mxlkpix
Mr. Mxlkpix