Sorry the old links did not work, tinyurl seems to link up good.

Hoping that someone may have some experience with these economical seats?

The F2 seems to have really helped. Nicely padded to my liking and a bit wider than the F1

Funny, I consider them bicycles. They have two bicycle wheels, chainrings, cassettes, derailleurs... in short they have all the pieces and parts that a Safety bicycle has, except the saddle. Exactly why aren't they bicycles?

I think recovery from prostate cancer depends on the individual and the type of procedure. I had robotic surgery that is not as invasive as some other techniques. I was back on the same saddle on the road in 3 weeks. Certainly cured the prostatitis I had.

What kind of Saw Palmento is best to take, as there are two kinds. Would the extract be best or the whole herb?

thanks

Guys,

I was a little surprised to see this 3-year old thread re-emerge. I was the Original Poster. Thanks for all the informative posts and suggestions. Fortunately, my issues cleared up with antibiotics relatively quickly (2 weeks or so). I have had no more problems, if you don't count breaking my upper arm in a fall off my tri-bike a year ago. I still ride a regular type Sella saddle.

I hope others have gotten some good use from the personal and informative posts to this thread. It shows once again that the 50+ Forum is a great community full of interesting and knowledgeable people.

Thanks to all,

TysonB

Hey guys--

Thanks for the great thread. I'm currently in the middle of flare up, I guess. I was diagnosed by a doctor with prostratitis last month. I'd been having trouble urinating for a week, and I went to the urgent care center, and one digital rectal exam later, I was on a two week course of cipro. I stayed off the bike for two weeks, and I got better.

But now, it's back. The doc attributed the original flare up to my saddle--I'd just gotten a new Brooks B-17 to replace the one I'd been using, which was 30+ years old. I stopped using that one after the flare up, and have been using a Brooks Imperial, with the cut-out. I thought it was fine, until I started feeling this way about a week ago.

For the record, I'm 32 years old, and I don't experience any of the pain that a lot of you guys report. It's just the strained urination that bothers me. At this point, I'm pretty bummed about what this could mean for my future on the bike. Anyone able to share some experiences? Should I stay off the bike longer? Get a new saddle? Thanks, guys.

Don't let it stop you
 

Sory to hear about your bout with prostatitis. Don't be discouraged, just give it some time. I first got prostatis after using a new saddle and attributed it to that. However, I stayed off of the bike for a year and still had symptoms. So, I figured it was not that. When I started riding again I tried a combination of saddles and suspension seatposts that I thought would alleviate the problem. Now, several years later I have found the Selle An Atomica watersged saddle to be just what I need to ride pressure free. They are expensive, but if you google them and go to their website they have a video that shows how the saddle moves with you during the pedal stroke and eliminates any percieved pressure on the soft tissue.

after trying one, I now have several mounted on each one of my bikes and still manage to get about 4,000 mies in per year. I still get flare ups about once or twice a year, but I have not had to stop riding other for a week or so after the prostatitis kicks in.

Check-em' out and don't get discouraged.

I am 60, & have had a little problem off & on over the past few years. We know the typical symptoms ! This is a plan I started a few years ago, & has relieved ALL symptoms. It should start helping within a couple of weeks, for most. Herbs & vitamins are from " Dollar General " store.
Take everything TWICE a day.

8 oz Cranberry Juice
1 Ginseng 600mg.
1 Men's Formula Multiple Vitamin
3 Saw Palmetto 320mg.

Once per day, [ I do this in the morning ] add 1/2 oz. apple cider vinegar to cranberry juice. Remember, the above is taken TWICE per day. You can cut everything to once per day after " pee-pee " symptoms are relieved.

BE SURE to talk this over with your Dr., first, & have him test your PSA levels, & yes,,, do a finger-wave, too.

Sorry to revive an old thread. This past summer I got back into cycling and went from 0-100 doing over 2000k in July/August. Mid way through August, I began developing a pain deep inside my perennial region. I would take a few days off and it would start to feel better, but I would get back on the bike and it would be come right back after the ride. I kept pushing through, which was a mistake. Now 5 months since I last rode, I am still dealing with this dull aching pain, sometimes it will feel as though it is getting better than the next day I am back at square one. I went to my general practitioner, but there were of little assistance. He sent me for an ultrasound for a hernia, but that wasn’t it.

I am not sure what caused it. I ride a Specialized Power saddle that I had professionally fit, including having it pressure mapped to be sure no pressure was being put on the perineum area. While riding I felt no pain, only after the fact. Initially when I started cycling a few years ago, I experianced a pain in my perineum because of a poorly fitting saddle. It would be tender on the outside and very sore to the touch. This is different. Putting pressure on the area does not cause any additional pain. I don’t have any other issues besides the dull aching pain. Does this sound like prostitis?

I've dealt with prostatitis off and on over the years. You should probably see a urologist. Let him do the usual tests and exams.
To answer your question....no, it doesn't sound like prostatitis to me. When I have an episode of it, to continues to get worse (sometimes much worse) until I see my doc and start taking antibotics.

Best of luck........

Serious?

If yes - does DIY count?

rbk_3, I will second the see a urologist ASAP. DRE plus testing would be a good start.

Good luck.

My 2 cents here. I have experienced several bouts of prostatitis, increased PSA's over a 10 year period, 4 biopsies, the last being a fancy MRI/staining/mapping type, and luckily no cancer. Digital exams within normal limits, as well. Pretty good so far. No family history either. BUT, a word of caution regarding Cipro, commonly prescribed for prostate issues. If you are over 60, there is an increased chance of tendonitis caused by the floxin-type antibiotics. I was recently prescribed Cipro for a rectal abcess (maybe from a saddle sore?). I now have symptoms of tendonitis, almost certainly from the drug. BE CAREFUL with these drugs, as they can affect folks at any age. Doctors do not have much concern about these side effects, but there is a black box warning I ignored, until I took 4 doses, and discontinued the drug. The symptoms can take months to improve, but can also lead to tendon tears, especially in the achilles. Since I swim in winter, I'm not stressing my tendons, especially not being a runner. I'm hoping for a good outcome, especially since my tendonitis has been mild, and not limiting any daily activities. I do snow ski, but stay on the groomed stuff mostly, although it's been too dang cold to even do that at the local little areas. An unfortunate side note is that a friend with low PSA's is in stage 4, after an abnormal digital exam, and slight increase in PSA. Sometimes we can just have bad luck. I did switch to the Selle Extra saddle, and have had great luck with it. I do take Flomax every other day, which is very helpful, though not to address inflammation of course.

Excellent response and warning. :thumb: :thumb: Total bummer with regards to your Cipro reaction AND your friend's PCa. My Prostate Cancer biopsy was Gleason 10 with 14+ PSA, had my treatment and enjoying life to the max and accepting a high probability of recurrence.

I started by doing a search for prostatitis and scanned the threads, this one seemed most appropriate so I'm posting here as opposed to a more current thread. Sorry if that's not the best approach.


I'm mid 40's, and after being an avid cyclist for 15+ years I started having an issue (painful ejac) in the summer and it hasn't fully went away as of yet. I see lots of info above about issues urinating, which thankfully I've not had, but as my case is a bit different I thought I would add to this thread so we have lots of the prostatitis comments in one place.


Again, no other symptoms other than one UTI shortly after this problem started, that is more likely related to what ever cause my original issue, rather than a UTI being the case of anything. And no UTI or other issues since. Also, when I say pain, I'm talking 2-4 out of 10, and it happens just prior to, during and shortly after ejaculation. A bit embarrassing to share, but I've now done so with various medical people so getting used to it ;-) And I do not experience pain or discomfort while cycling, but, perhaps, after years of cycling there is some nerve/other damage...just speculating.


Timeline:

- 1 month after the issue started I visited my family doctor, had urine, blood and PSA done...all came back no issues.

- About six weeks after issue started, had a UTI (antibiotic cleared that up within days)

- I see a naturalpath doctor time to time, and decided to have a food sensitivity test done (frequent constipation, bloating, for years)...came back with 20 or so foods scoring in the worst (red) category. I now have that under control with some natural supplements... and I continue to see this doctor (may explore testing for 'leaky gut syndrome'; will keep updated here for future reference)

- Had a urologist apt in November (4 months after issue started), and as there is a 20% chance the prostatitis is bacterial, started on the antiobiotic for 4 weeks; I'm now 3 weeks into that and still have the issue, but the amount of pain/discomfort is less

- I had another test done that I won't share here, but it came back fine

- Haven't been on the bike for 3 weeks, as the idea (from the urologist) is that if it's an inflamed prostrate, cycling may aggravate it

- Cause is unknown, but if it's non-bacterial inflammation, then it takes its own time...but given I'm only having a very specific symptom and because it's not very painful, nothing else to do

- Starting pelvic physio soon (may have tense muscles down there that contribute to frequent constipation)

- I ordered a new saddle (on the way) and I'm debating between some light, indoor cycling and will monitor pain level...haven't decided yet when to start up (it's not like I usually get pain during/after cycling, it's more that one symptom and even though I haven't ridden for a few weeks, the symptom hasn't went away...so this part is confusing to say the least)


Overall, lots of different stuff going on and different options for dealing with it...nothing solved as of yet but hopefully it resolves itself soon.


If anyone has any relevant info to share, please contribute (sure it's all uniquely subjective, but this is the internet!).

Please avoid taking Cipro or Levaquin if a doctor tries to prescribe it to you. It is simply too risky, and there are alternatives. My story: I recently got "floxed" by Cipro, prescribed for a potential UTI (that turned out to be negative after all). I got hammered with the toxic side effects from one single dose (I stopped right after that). Especially if you are active, DO NOT take this drug or other flouroquinolones. They can give you Bactrim, etc. I told the doctor I wouldn't continue with the cipro, and she was like "Ok, sure , here's some Bactrim". My brother was recently prescribed Levaquin for a nagging UTI and I told him to immediately stop and ask for something else. Sure enough, his doc said, "yeah, those drugs are dangerous, here's some Bactrim". I mean, WTF? These guys throw this stuff around like candy. These drugs have a black box warning from the FDA. I understand nine other similar drugs in the flouroquinolone category have already been banned for being too dangerous. My new doc says she would only prescribe these kinds of drugs as basically a last resort. Her analogy was something along the lines of, for a UTI or potentially even prostatitis, using these drugs is often like using a Howitzer when a BB gun would suffice.

The pharma and medical industry saying these drugs can cause "tendonitis" is misleading. They cause cell death in the tendons and connective tissues. It kills the mitochondria. That's why some people literally wake up, put their foot down and their achilles ruptures. The tendon has basically fallen apart overnight. One of my doctor's patients had a lung collapse because of cipro.
I consider myself lucky that I stopped after the one dose(I took one, started reading about it, freaked out and stopped. My symptoms started 24 hours later). I'm a few months out now and doing pretty good considering, but it has sucked pretty bad. The first month was very bleak--I thought my days of cycling and sports might be over. Some people get devastated by these drugs--can be from one dose or from 10--everybody's different, and sometimes side effects appear weeks, even months later. There's no shortage of horror stories out there. Sure, most people don't have side effects. But the number that do is very, very high, hence the "black box warning" from the FDA. And it's all ages, all levels of health. My ortho guy has seen teenage athletes with achilles ruptures from this poison. And again, we're not talking a typical tendon rupture. It's not just a tear. The tissue has been degraded on a cellular level. So, healing is waaaay longer and more uncertain.

A big factor(possibly the single biggest) I've learned is likely your magnesium levels. Athletic people (especially endurance types) are often magnesium deficient, and that makes one way more vulnerable to the toxicity of the drugs. And, the older you get, your magnesium levels typically drop (which explains this magic cutoff age they state of 59-60 to be more at risk---it's because of the magnesium depletion - but of course, they don't tell you that ...). So, for a middle-aged or older athlete, it can be a perfect storm. I suspect that was the case for me(59 years old, and I go hard on the bike 4-5 times a week, looong rides, often in hot weather, lots of sweating, getting depleted). Magnesium is apparently like the "antidote" to the toxicity of these drugs. The drug also wipes out magnesium you did have in your body(if you didn't have enough to offset it), and some of the symptoms are also those of extreme magnesium deficiency, so, more insult added to the injury of the toxicity in your body. As soon as I started bombarding myself with magnesium I started turning the corner. The joint/tendon pain started to get better, brain fog and crushing fatigue went away. But whatever damage may have happened is already done, so I have to heal and be patient. I'm riding again, at about 50-60% of my previous intensity and frequency. My shoulders are actually the worst at this stage--I feel like I'm still months away from feeling like I could get back to some light weight training. There's good and bad days--it's not a linear recovery. There was even about a week where my vision was slightly affected (not uncommon). I shudder to think of what shape I'd be in if I'd kept taking it, considering what one single dose did to me. I felt like I aged 15 years over night, with pain. I felt like a bag of bones that weren't gonna hold together right.
All that said about magnesium, apparently some studies suggest that some people may actually simply be genetically predisposed to the drugs becoming toxic in their bodies. Again, it is just far, far too risky to take this stuff, IMO.
I'm also taking a parade of other supplements that support healing of connective tissue and cell damage. I even wear one of those medical ID bracelets now that says I'm "allergic" to these drugs. If I end up in an emergency room, I don't want to risk it. They'd have to convince me it's the only thing that could save my life.

Sorry for the long rant. I have done a ton of research on this since I got hit. Don't hesitate to PM me anyone. I'm no doctor, but if I can help somebody else avoid this I would be grateful.

Here is an update as of Jan 3 2020:

- was off the antibiotic for a while and still had the issue mentioned above
- continue to take the natural path supplements
​​​​​​- started pelvic floor physio, focused on relaxing and stretching muscles in this area...while initially they were reasonably tight, they’ve loosened somewhat and this seems to have alleviated the original issue (last seven days), though too soon to conclude on anything
- off the bike 6 weeks now, and will resume riding in the next two weeks (new SMP saddle)
- after riding several times I’ll provide an update here (hopefully a good one)

Had this a few years ago. Took a while, as in years, to get through it. I tried everything. I thought my bike was part of it but it wasn’t. Be very careful with antibiotics as they can often do more harm than good if it’s not an infection. I believe the antibiotics lead to the pelvic pain. What helped me was giving up wheat and dairy. I had read this on other forums.

best of luck!!
Ed

Prostatitis---Yuck
 

Mine just continued to grow and pinch off urine flow to a dribble. I finally had a "Greenlight" procedure (roto rooter via laser). Things have been good for about 3 years.

I am not really certain about the drug treatment preferences portion of the discussion, but can say that I have had about three bouts of it in 25 years and they all cleared up at some point.

First time it happened I was in my late 30’s and was riding lots. I’d just tried a new saddle and it developed. Stopped riding for about a year, which killed me, and treated it with Cipro/Flomax. I eventually got back on the bike with a new fluffy Serfas saddle, and rode for two or so years with no issue.

It then returned during a period when I was not riding much at all. Cipro/Flomax again, but added Saw Palmetto to the mix. After s short period of 1-2 weeks it went away.

It later returned a year or two later, and it seemed to occur/become noticeable when doing speed rope workouts (like boxers do) in the off season.

Overall, it did never seemed connected to the bike. I picked up a Selle Anatomica saddle, and have been riding without issue for more than 10 years.

My Urologist also suggested it was an infection thing, not a bike thing. That said, the medical explanations received based on my own research and consultation with my Urologist have not really helped me figure out how it is contracted. Even now, my basic understanding is that it results from your prostrate becoming infected by other systems/processes within your body....not sexual transmission, serious illness, or other scary stuff, just things that inadvertently happen internally.

My point is that it has not stopped me or diminished my riding. It has put me on extended timeouts, but the world did not end. Once the active inflammation subsided, which was typically 1-2 weeks, I was good once I got my head/fears under control and switched to a Selle Anatomica. It has been more than ten years and 15k miles since I’ve had an episode.

That said, I still keep Cipro and Saw Palmetto around just in case things ever decide to explode down there and it takes me a second to see my Dr.

My experience with the big P may be different than others, but after the inflammation the thing that held me back was ongoing concern about it, not it. The concerns and long layoffs from cycling shared on this thread are consistent with my experiences - inflammation and pain, weak urine flow, constant need to urinate, reduced sexual performance and capacity. But in retrospect, it was short term. However, I stayed away from the bike for long stretches because I was freaked out by everything.

Now, I view as something to be managed rather than the potential permanent loss of my old friend down there. Additionally, my Selle Anatomica has been great. Of course, saddle choice is personal, but my Selle Anatomica has removed all perceptible bad pressure down there when I ride and is downright comfy.

!!!!!! FDA strengthened CIPRO danger warnings !!!!! so it might be a good idea to dump the CIPRO even if not outdated

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/class-o...ects-says-fda/

Absolutely. Please don't take Cipro. It is far too dangerous. It has a Black Box Warning from the FDA. That is only for the most dangerous drugs. Ask for a different, non-flouroquinolone antibiotic, like Bactrim. As I explained in my short novel above, doctors will give you something else - they know how dangerous Cipro and the like are. It can hit you after one dose, or after many doses, even years later. It can affect connective tissue anywhere in your body. Side effects from these drugs are not rare, hence the FDA warnings.

Recurrent Prostatitis.
I learned that some of us are more prone to this aggravating condition. I suffered with CPPS: chronic pelvic (prostrate) pain syndrome. Getting a seat cushion and tilting the saddle about 5-10 degrees down have certainly kept Prostatitis away. Also taking Quercetin with Bromelain, Turmeric, Krill oil with MV + Minerals have kept my CPPS at bay, under optimal control. Check with your doctor or urologist for scripts: Tamaulosin (Flomax) 0.4 mg (I take it twice a day) and Finasteride 5 mg daily. Some studies show that the Finasteride with Quercetin can also help reduce the size of your prostate. Mine was a huge 80 grams (normal 20-30g or the size of an almond) when initially diagnosed with BPH- benign prostatic enlargement. Running jogging may affect your prostate as bad as cycling. Also, I ride recumbent bikes or my Performer trike.

Update as if Feb 8/20
- with how quickly the pelvic floor physio worked my natural path doctor (who was treating me for possible prostate issues, as well as constipation) she now wonders if it was never my prostate but rather very tight pelvic floor muscles that caused a bunch of issues
- annoying cycling thing is I got outside for a ride the other day, and those muscles were very tight for days after (didn’t go to the bathroom for two days, and the pelvic stretches I had been doing were very painful)
- indoor riding in last month never led to this, so it could be the ongoing, jarring of riding outside
- both the physiotherapist and natural path doctor each said the same thing without talking (riding may be leading to tight pelvic floor muscles, which led to the symptoms noted above)
- won’t really know anything more conclusively until I can ride outside more often and for longer times