Todzilla

I have degenerative spine disease (as do most folks over 50).

I have episodes of pain, but far fewer and less intense if I'm riding regularly.

Does anyone else find that cycling is a real life-saver for their backs?

-Todzilla

David Bierbaum

Me! Me! Before I started to once again ride regularly, I was having really bad episodes of "even twitching makes me want to throw up from the pain" lower back pain, and when I haven't ridden in a while, my back starts reminding me that it's ready willing and able to go back to it's previous state.

bbbean 

Yup - cycling and yoga efectively keep my sciatica at bay. It only flares up when I take more than a day off the bike or have to sit through flights/meetings in bad chairs.

takenreasy

You must keep your core strong as you age to prevent back pain.

drlogik 

Keeping a strong core is critical as one ages. Ironically most people as they grow older have more maladies and then to make it worse they exercise less. That's bass ackwards.

canklecat

There does appear to be something to the decades old theory about exercise induced euphoria, but researchers aren't certain whether it's endorphins (recent research indicates it doesn't cross the barrier between blood and brain), dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine or something else.

Whatever the science, I do feel better during and for hours after a ride. The worst part of the ride is usually about 10-15 minutes in, when my body suddenly realizes I've tricked it again and this ride isn't going to be over soon. But after 5-15 minutes of cramping, whining and punishing me for tricking it again (hey, is it my fault if my body is so gullible?), the body decides to enjoy the ride.

My back has gradually gotten a bit better since I resumed cycling last summer, but my neck will never get better (splintered C2). I just hope it stays tolerable. It limits my riding positions but for now the bike is set up well enough to enjoy 20-40 mile rides a couplafew times a week.

There isn't much I can do to strengthen the neck. There's bone on bone grinding, so too much exercise is potentially dangerous. I just do a bit of stretching and massage. If I stretch the neck too much, or even look up at the sky, I'll experience sudden dizziness and pain. That won't change, so I just avoid doing stuff that aggravates it.

ltxi

It's certainly helped me.

Papa Tom

Just about the only time my back pain doesn't get in the way of living is when I am on the bike.

I have found, over the past few years, that a good five-minute stretch in bed can make the difference between a good day and a horrible one, especially on days that I commute by bike -- and EXTRA especially before an all-day/overnight ride.

Wheever

Biking has *immensely* help my back. As in no longer having pain at all, and stronger and more resilient. Before I started riding, my back would go out a couple times a year, generally doing something as mundane as lifting a laundry basket! Now--knock wood--it doesn't at all.

My body also complains for the first 10 miles or so. Sometimes only 5, and you can see this in my heart rate, which for that first 5 (or 10) is 130+ or so for moderate efforts. Then it drops, to 110-120 for those same efforts, like my body is saying "okay, you win, I'll play nice."

I have some chronic illnesses going on, and biking has been magic for helping my health!

10 Wheels

I have had a long term back pain.

Read something about Vitamin B-12 helping it.

Got some 1000 mg and the pain went away the very next day...Yay.

Scotti G

Don't know why I always feel as if my back pain is something that only affect me. Bittersweet to read how so many of you have similar issues. Yep, the first 5 minutes on the bike is slightly painful, between cramping and back pain. Funny how it all dissipates and I seldom realize it until a good 20 minutes later.

I'm dealing with an achilles reattachment, spinal stenosis and a list of tears and breaks from years of college football. Aging simply SUCKS! Prescribed NSAID's some years ago and I decided to find a means to avoid taking them every day. Cycling has been terrific. Also I've found relief with Tumeric pills daily. Might also help one of you.

locolobo13 

In '05 I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis. Physical Therapy was prescribed. I wasn't riding regularly at the time. I asked my PT about cycling and she said it was "contraindicated" for my condition. Indeed, when I rode I could feel it in my lower back. After PT I continued the PT exercises and walking for exercise. Gave up on riding.

At the same time I was trying to lose weight. My problem is I am on the See Food diet. I see food, I eat it. I created spreadsheets trying to calculate my way out of my predicament. But walking just wasn't burning enough calories.

In Aug '08 my pickup battery died. My family was busy, so I dusted off the bike, aired up the tires and took care of my pickup. That night filling out my spreadsheet, using calorie estimates from the web, I discovered one hour of riding around at a slow speed was more than twice one hour of walking in calories. And my back felt fine.

Work was only 2 1/2 miles from home. I started commuting. Telling myself it was OK to quit if it was too hard. Within a month I was riding 3 or 4 miles during lunch. Then riding 8 miles before getting home. Within six months I had lost 30-35 lbs! And my back felt better!

I'm still giving the PT exercises for stopping the back pain. In fact if I stop those exercises for more than 2 weeks the pain comes back. But the bicycling doesn't bother my back. And keeping the weight down has to help.

Just my experience. Good luck to those working on their back problems.

takenreasy

If you're not already, start drinking some craft/home brewed beer. It is loaded with all kinds of vitamin B including #12.

RonH

I learned last June that I have spinal stenosis (L4-L5) and my spine doc, who is an avid roadie, said my Litespeed road bike is excellent for relieving back pain and discomfort because leaning over the bars stretches out my spine.
My Litespeed is my friend.

beechnutC23

You betcha! Any exercise is good but the bike is particularly good for my back. My wife is a family doctor and the thing she prescribes the most is *get moving and exercise*!

The exercise keeps the joints moving freely and strengthen the back muscles which help support the back. It's all good. As I posted elsewhere, I feel more decrepit off the bike than on it.

Winters are long and nasty here; I hate riding trainers indoors so my cross-training is hiking/snowshoeing on the local mountain, usually 10k or so hikes with about 500 metres elevation change. It does a good job of helping my back as well.

Sometimes overcoming my general creakiness to get going is a bit tough, when that happens, Ibuprofen is your friend.

Northwestrider

I'm another one that thinks bicycling helps my back .

canklecat

That's my preferred health tonic. Locally brewed unpasteurized, unfiltered traditional ales. Unfortunately my favorites are harder to find in summer. There's a shop down the street that sells beer brewing supplies and offers lessons. I might chat with 'em about homebrewing some traditional ales.

GerryinHouston

I 've had lower back pain as a result of office/sedentary life. In 2014 I was rear-ended and my car totalled. I had serious back-pain for months.

There is no back pain when I ride. The drop bar bike with a Brooks saddle are absolutely fabulous (and I weigh in the mid 250s...).

ButchA

Right now I have been experiencing sciatica at age 55. Ouch!!

Not quite a month ago I was at the driving range, hitting golf balls. I hit full powered, go-for-it, stinging 4-iron shot out to 200 yards, but it came with a nasty price. Right as soon as I hit the ball and came back around in my backswing, I felt like someone stuck a knife in my lower back right at my belt line (L5 & S1). That was it... I popped something or herniated something, and have been messed up ever since.

My main problem is that I was foolish and ignorant and kept doing what I do in spite of the pain. I went out jogging 3 miles and had to jog/limp the 1.5 miles back, which was torture! And it got worse and worse as the days went on.

Right now I have a bizarre tingling sensation going all the way down my right leg to my ankle. But yet, I can walk, I can stand up, I can move around, etc... If I try to ride my old C&V Fuji road bike, take my dog for a walk, etc... my hamstring, quad, and calf muscle in my right leg get all tight and I have pain radiating down my leg.

I have an appointment with a neurologist to probably get an MRI done to see just exactly what I did to myself. Hopefully it's something simple and a chiropractor or somebody could pop L4,L5/S1 back into shape. Then, I'll be able to follow PT and ride by old Fuji and stretch out my back.

genewiseman

I was a horseshoer for years. Some days I would come home stooped over and hurting really bad. Most of the time a run or a bike ride would make my back feel better. My back finally got so bad I had to change professions. No that I make knives for a living, my back doesn't give me much trouble most of the time but I no longer have any feeling in part of my right knee. Running and riding my bicycle still keep me feeling good though.

Carbonfiberboy 

Yes. Cycling is critical for my back health. I have spinal stenosis, arthritic facets, and thin discs. Stretching is also a regular necessity. My bike is the best and cheapest doctor I've ever had.

Gerryattrick

Earlier this week I had planned to go for a longish, hilly ride, but in the morning had moved a lot of heavy furniture from one home to another so my back was giving me a fair bit of pain.

I decided, with some trepidation, to go on the ride anyway. It was a bit uncomfortable for the first five miles, but after that there was no problem, even after some steep hills where I had to stand in the pedals.

No resulting after-effects, so I can attest to the benefits of cycling on lower back problems for me. YMMV.

a77impala

I have advanced arthritis in my spine which causes pain when walking or standing more than a few minutes.
I ride at least 140 miles a week pain free! Cycling is a Godsend for me. My doctor says it's great for back problems like mine.
I'm 72 and can't imagine ever quitting cycling, I go nowhere without my bike.

rydabent

I am 77 and have lower back pain once in a while. When I ride my recumbent, it seems to help it.

rumrunn6

trying to ride more so I'll report back (no pun intended) I do know that the converse is true, meaning sedentary life is bad for my back. you'd think a day of rest, lounging at home would be good for the old body but by the end of a lazy day at home watching TV and napping on the couch, I can barely stand upright