Persistent saddle sore
 

Hi all,

I have a saddle sore that won't go away. It's been there for about a month and a half, now--and I was off the bike for three weeks during that period--it didn't go away while I was off the bike.

Has anyone had this experience? Should I see a doctor?

Thoughtful and informed replies are always the most welcome.

--D.

Are you sure it's a saddle sore and not a cyst ? I'd have a doctor look at it since it's been six weeks.

I'd have a doctor look at it. I got a PNI (perineal nodular induration) which required surgery to remove. Also called a 'third testicle' when found in cyclists, since it is more prevalent amongst men. I am not a man, but I got one anyways, and boy was that thing painful, and would not go away. Once they get set in, only way to cure it is to cut it out :(

Okay, I have an appointment for tomorrow. I'll post again after. I assume this is not an unusual thing, so the information may be helpful for others.

Okay, yesterday I went in. The physician's assistant recommended 'watchful waiting' because: a) it's just a red bump, at this point, b) it hurts a little but not a lot, and c) it doesn't appear to be growing or filled with pus or some other fluid.

She said that these types of sores were caused by malfunctioning hair follicles and mentioned ingrown hairs--although I don't think that's the only thing that goes wrong with hair follicles, but she mentioned them. She also said that hairs in that area grow in funny directions, which contributes to the potential for malfunction.

She recommended giving it 3 months, as long as it doesn't get worse.

I've had a sore for a couple months now. The family doc says it's a cyst that will need to be cut out, even though it has come to a head and drained twice. I guess cysts can sometimes become infected. I'll watch it and go to a surgeon when winter weather sets in to get another opinion. If cutting it out is required I'd rather do it in the winter. Fortunately it's not too painful to ride with.

Ouch! Sorry for your misfortune. Yeah, my p.a. said that infection was the thing to watch out for--if it's hot to the touch, etc. Apparently it's even possible start running a fever, or that's what she implied.

Thanks for posting. It's good to know that this is not that unusual, at least. I've been lucky. Ironically, it started to fade the day I went in to have it checked... I can barely find it now. But it took at least four weeks to go away, maybe six...

Saddle soreness last me 4 days, not conferrable at all wile sitting on a chair, Once in a wile I get those stupid ingrown hairs on my dude part and it's not something to take lightly! I've had my wife check it and she says it's nothing serious (She's an MD) just a painful and uncomfortable situation.

Even when they have to be cut out (and it is out... not off) it isn't a big deal. The removal is a very minor in office, doctors visit. No pain and they heal very quickly. Whereas.... inflamed and/or infected areas can become major or even life threating problems.

I read [here] a lot of times when a poster has a knee, hip, neck, back problem (in this case a sore caused by hair).... and automatically they contribute the problem to their cycling. I think that can often be a mistake. Even if a cyclist can find the time to ride say... 4 hours a week... how many hours are being spend in a desk chair, in front of a TV in a recliner, in their car seat?

I am sure some people who get tennis elbow also play tennis. But I'd guess many more get the repetitive motion/over-use injury without ever holding a racket.

And it might be weight gain that returned a person to cycling. And, many joint problems can have a root cause in the persons weight. But cycling may get the blame. I do a really crappy job of diagnosing my own health issues. Not that I have that many. But I've found that my doctor does a much better job of figuring out what and how to treat my minor issues.

Before I'd self-diagnose and self-treat by staying off the bicycle..... I'd rush to see my doctor for a professional opinion.

I used to get those occasionally when my saddle wasn't just right. When they started I just popped them in the hot shower at the right time and covered with neosporin. I never had a problem.

I found I got them in the Spring and mid-Summer because as my fitness changed, my saddle position needed tweaked. Now I try to ride year round even if it's indoors on a trainer or at a spin class. That keeps my position unchanged.

Had a lot o trouble years ago with sore bottom end so to speak. Kept myself cool and free downstairs (use your imagination but not too much) . . .now I have none at all. Hot weather can be a problem for a lot of people particularly cyclists. Stay cool!

Interesting posts. Thanks for posting, y'all (or 'you lot' as the English say).

It looks to me, judging by the posts, that there are a lot of minor afflictions that crop up as a result of hours in the saddle -- and I would bet that, usually, the afflictions are from 'chamois time', not office chair time, etc. The posts seem to indicate that a 'saddle sore' can actually mean several different afflictions. It all depends on your physiology (phenotype, as the geneticists say) and how your butt is interacting with your saddle.

Which reminds me, I've been having problems with my perineum, esp. with my TT bike. But that's for another post (here).

Hi deep sky


So after some searching on the internet I found your post about the PNI that you had removed. I was wondering if you could shed some light on recovery and any additional info you feel would help me out please.


Like yourself I got diagnosed with PNI. I am a male, 35 years old. I used race in Cat 2 until this thing showed up. So far I have seen a Urologyst who refused to remove it, and since then I have found a general surgeon who is willing to do it. I am just really curious about recovery. Where you able to get back onto your bike after some rest? Does it bother you still even though you had it removed? If you could be so kind and shed some light on this. It really sucks getting this thing. I went from winning my age division to riding my bike off and on.


Thanks in advance

Yes, I've had long lasting saddle sores. Several sores ago, I got fed up and started googling cures. I was going to just include the link, but it seems that the link is broken.

Anyway, the gist of the short article was that saddle sores are basically the same as acne, so you need to keep your butt clean, your shorts clean (wear a clean pair every ride), and put acne medication on it after your shower. This medication should be the kind with peroxide in the list of ingredients. My local pharmacy is a Rite Aid and the store brand with peroxide is Rite Aid Renewal. Works for me.

- Ed

A proper saddle is more important than many cyclists realize. The entire weight of your body is concentrated in a smaller area than in a chair. It very important that you get the right saddle for your build and tweak it till it fits as well as possible.

I would agree that cleanliness is very important. I have gotten that bump/cyst on occasion and what has helped is to maintain the area ultra clean. I scrub vigorously, (but short of drawing blood), before and after a ride. It bacteria are present before the ride, you really don't want to grind them into your skin followed by a good scrub during the shower for good measure. Fresh clean bike shorts should be SOP.

An infected in-grown hair is called a boil. Unless the hair is plucked out, it will not get better.

might try a hot 20min epsom bath every day while you wait and watch. can't hurt and it might ease some of your discomfort.

Yes, have you seen a Dr? dermatologist?

I avoided 'saddle sores' (a bacterial infection of the skin by the native bacteria getting in to hair follicles and minor abrasions )

by washing the region with antibacterial surgeon's scrub soap, applying a bit of antibacterial stuff topical on any 'hot spots' at night.

and always putting on clean bike shorts every morning , On bike tours lasting Months.

Thanks for reviving the thread. I noticed you haven't gotten a reply from DS yet. I suggest you try sending them a private message. They might not be getting email notifications about this thread but they most likely will get a notification about a PM.

I'm glad this thread was revived! My thanks to all of you for your posts. I didn't know that a saddle sore was a 'boil' and that it's basically a minor infection like acne.

I've had two more recurrences since my original post: one in the spring of 2015 and one in the fall. The sore is always at the same spot, so I think it is most likely as G1 says, an ingrown hair that periodically gets infected. When it recurs, it doesn't cause much of a problem--probably b/c i only do two hour rides, at most, so it doesn't get seriously chafed. But, in the future, if it causes more of a problem, I will definitely follow the advice both of you have provided.

Thanks for taking the time to post. This is the Internet at its best -- and cyclist solidarity at its best! :love:

Can you do me a favor and pm her for me. It won't let me pm people until I post 50 times. Much appreciated.

Carbuncle is another term. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbuncle

You can reach her by re-posting your request as a "Reply with Quote" to her post. An alternative method is to reference her user name immediately preceded by an "@" sign. In either case, the "Notifications" button in her BF header line will light up, telling her she has been either quoted or "mentioned," and identifying the thread.

Hi deep sky


So after some searching on the internet I found your post about the PNI that you had removed. I was wondering if you could shed some light on recovery and any additional info you feel would help me out please.


Like yourself I got diagnosed with PNI. I am a male, 35 years old. I used race in Cat 2 until this thing showed up. So far I have seen a Urologyst who refused to remove it, and since then I have found a general surgeon who is willing to do it. I am just really curious about recovery. Where you able to get back onto your bike after some rest? Does it bother you still even though you had it removed? If you could be so kind and shed some light on this. It really sucks getting this thing. I went from winning my age division to riding my bike off and on.


Thanks in advance

just want to put this in here for anyone else.

i had a similar problem and I used the "scrub it very vigorously and use acne medication" method. Plus I would use astringent after showering, and before riding. Solved all my problems!