Grasschopper

Just be sure you tell your doctors that you're having this pain while you cycle. I had a back issue a few years ago (wow 7 now that I look back) and when I asked all doctors and PTs involved said I could continue to ride my bike. Now I wasn't having pain issues on the bike...but when you ask a doctor if it's ok that you ride a bike they think you're sitting bolt upright on a hybrid doing 10 mph down a bike path not riding a road bike.

RNAV

+1. Cycling engages your core in a way that isn't really duplicated otherwise. Lack of visible bulge does not entail zero hernia possibility. That's the only thing I can think of that would cause such lasting pain.

rbk_3

Sounds exactly like a "Sports Hernia" the only thing that's off about this definition is the severe pain. I wouldn't say it is severe.

https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00573

"A sports hernia will usually cause severe pain in the groin area at the time of the injury. The pain typically gets better with rest, but comes back when you return to sports activity, especially with twisting movements.

A sports hernia does not cause a visible bulge in the groin, like the more common, inguinal hernia does. Over time, a sports hernia may lead to an inguinal hernia, and abdominal organs may press against the weakened soft tissues to form a visible bulge.

Without treatment, this injury can result in chronic, disabling pain that prevents you from resuming sports activities."

rbk_3

More research and I think it could maybe be Osteitis Pubis.

https://www.hxbenefit.com/osteitis-pubis.html

rousseau

From Wikipedia:

If this turns out to be the answer, then perhaps it looks like your enthusiasm for cycling got the better of you. I can sympathize. I've had issues in the past where I ramped up the intensity and the kms too quickly and ended up doing myself in. Classic overtraining.

rbk_3

And this sounds exactly what I'm experiencing

"In case of less severe instances of the injury, the symptoms may include stiffness and mild ache in the groin area that increase when one rests after some activity like kicking and running"

rbk_3

I sent the following to the local Sports Medicine Centre that I had great success with for a previous injury.



"Hello,

At the end of June I picked up cycling again. For the first 1500km, everything was great. No pain at all. Then early August, after cycling 1000km over the course of
My 2 week vacation and when my intensity being to increase, up from 26-27kph average to a 30-31kph average, I started to experience a dull ache in the testical/lower abdominal area after cycling that lasts for over a week after riding, even when not riding at all. On the bike every thing is great, no pain, it begins after and really ramps up during the night and really intensifies the next day before slowly tapering off throughout the next week. Putting pressure on the area does not cause any excess pain so it is not on the surface.

I just took 9 days off with everything feeling pretty good, but still some slight discomfort. During that time I got a professional bike fit, which included a saddle pressure mapping that made sure I had no soft tissue pressure. My results came back excellent. All the pressure was on my sit bones. I had perenium pain when I first started cycling before I got an appropriate saddle and can tell this issue is not that.

Then after 9 days of rest, I went for a 20km ride yesterday Aug 31 on the trainer and now the pain is back and more painful then it was previously. My research indicates that this could be a "Sports Hernia" or "Osteitis Pubis"

I have made an appointment with my family doctor for this upcoming Tuesday. They had trouble diagnosing my last injury, torn cartilage, and after several appointments I was referred to you guys, where Dr. Lee diagnosed me immediately and I was in surgery a few weeks later. I will inquiry with my family doctor about a referral to you on Tuesday.

Thanks,
Brad "

awesomeame

Hey! Saw you're nearby. What sort of pressure mapping did you have done? Only thing I've found here in Toronto is the "sit on this special paper" deal. Did you find something better? I know some places have sheets with pressure sensors that go over your saddle, but I have yet to find this any sort of locally.

I know nothing about your injury, but I have had sports issues in the past. Over the past 3 years I saw over 6 'doctors' multiple times for an issue...none of them helped, some made it worse. But I finally got an appt with one of the top sports medicine doctors here in toronto. In 1 visit he figured out my issues and had them solved. One year later I'm all healed up. Could always try him: Darren Edelist. hpsm.ca 416 486 4776

Matt

rbk_3

Yep, that's the same scenario when I tore cartilage. Kicking around for 2 months with the local doctors the. went to Waterloo Sports Medicine, he diagnosed me in 1 visit and had me in surgery in less than 2 weeks. That's why I sent the above email.

As for the pressure mapping, any Trek dealer than does a Trek Precision Fit should have the pressure mapping device that goes over the Saddle. I went to Speed River Cycle in Guelph. I highly recommend Tim, he was very knowledgeable and does all the fits there. Not one of those guys with little training who just works at the store for a few months and has no idea what they're doing (been there before)

Here is the link to the pressure mapping I did.

It was super helpful to rule out that it isn't my saddle that is causing my issues.

https://speedriverbicycle.com/m/about/saddle-pressure-mapping-pg257.htm

awesomeame

Thanks! That is what I want to have done. Neither Trek store Toronto or Trek store Mississauga have this btw. I haven't seen it at any bike stores around here actually. I'll look those guys up, thanks! I hope you get your other issues sorted out soon

Matt

rbk_3

Really eh? All 3 Trek Dealers around here have that so I assumed the big city ones did. Ziggys in Kitchener, Grand Riger Cycle in Cambridge and Speed River in Guelph all have it.

I originally had chosen Speed River incase I needed a new saddle cause they had an amazing selection in stock compared to the other 2 and most of them were on huge discounts. Thankfully, mine was perfect for me already (Specialized Power). He mentioned that one has solved a lot of issues for people.


If you don't mind me asking, what was the sports injurys that the regular doctors couldn't figure out?

JohnDThompson 

Perhaps pudendal nerve compression?

Pudendal Neuralgia Symptoms | Health Organization for Pudendal Education

Does your current saddle have a central cut-out? If not, perhaps that wpould help.

awesomeame

I had pain (pinched nerves) and numbness at the balls of my feet between two biggest toes. I used to be a runner, 20kms/day. I went through 6 pairs of orthodics from 6 different doctors, MRI's on both feet, ultrasounds on both feet, and multiple arthritis "experts." Six months after the pain started I could barely walk, on anti-inflammatories all day every day...othodics made it way worse. The general concensus was I was arthritic. Went do Darren...he sold me some cheap $25 shoe inserts and told me to switch to 4E footwear. 8 months later and 99% of the issues are gone. It literally was that simple, just needed a different perspective. I haven't really gotten back into running, 'cause ya know..cycling is way more fun

EDIT: should note that I do still run now and then, just not 'full time.' No issues.

Matt

rbk_3

Here is my pressure map, easy effort in the drops. This is the worst case scenario. Hoods is better and harder efforts in the drops provide lighter pressure. Even this is pretty great.

531Aussie

prostatitis?

RNAV

Just curious, do you have a leg-length discrepancy?

rbk_3

I'm not sure. I have never been measured.

The fitter didn't seem to be concerned with my pressure maps. I believe it was 48/52 left to right which is well within normal range. I have a free follow up later on and could inquire about that.

RNAV

Judging by the look of your pressure map (most pressure is right side, rear), it looks like your right leg is shorter and your saddle may be slightly high. To compensate for the shorter leg, your pelvis is pulled to the right rear (hence, more pressure there), which causes your hips to rotate clockwise (hence, the lighter pressure on the left side, which gets distributed further up the nose of the saddle due to the clockwise rotation).

When pedaling, is your left knee closer in to the top tube than your right?

rbk_3

I will bring that up with him, thanks. I took a few spins and it seems pretty even from my point of view but it probably is stubble if there is a difference and not easily noticed by the naked eye.

I don't think my seat is too high. It was though, he lowered it over 1cm. The pressure map had 2 red hot spots on the sitbones initially, over 1800MB.

Also the seat would have been slightly off Centre on those pressure maps cause he had lined it up by eye. I used a string from the rear centre of the saddle to the headset to make sure it was perfectly straight when I got home.



You mentioned you did the pressure mapping in another thread I believe. Do you happen to have a screen of it? Just curious how yours looks.

timtak

I agree with John and highly recommend "hollow" saddles with a cut out in the centre. The above by Brooks is one of the pioneers. I use one similar to the below by Selle SMP.

The idea is that the problem is that the boneless area in the centre of your body, the perineum, is not designed to support weight.
I find that I feel like I am floating when I am on a saddle like the above.

rbk_3

Doctors appointment seemed pretty useless. He just felt around a bit and didn't think it was a hernia.

I suggested it may be Osteitis Pubis but he said there isn't really any treatment for that or anything.

I guess I'll just take some time off and hope it heals on its own.

rgconner

Pregnant?

ModeratedUser17082018

Humans heal as a matter of course. The body wants to heal. Give it time and be optimistic. Let us know if you learn more.

rbk_3

Hopefully. It's been 6 days now and I had trouble sleeping last night due to the aches. This is by far the longest it has lasted at this intensity.

draganm

I don't know about floating , but I love my Selle SMP's. Maybe not the hard Carbon shell you posted but the Drakon on my Road bike and SMP Hell on my TT, which is a Drakon shell with heavier padding.
So glad these guys did their homework and finally solved what has been a 27 year quest by me for a perfect saddle.

For everyone who can't sit on the flat-as-a-board type saddles, have wierd pain in the crotch you can't pinpoint, this line is worth a try. Interesting video showing a fitting where they have a post with a saddle quick-release for fast swaps.

https://www.bikeinn.com/bike/selle-s...E&gclsrc=aw.ds