Have been out of work for almost a month. Had MRI done which showed L3 herniated disk, several
other disks about to herniate as well, lots of degeneration in the entire low back region.
Had all kinds of treatment over the past month including cortisone shot in the affected spinal
nerve. Now back at work and relatively pain free for the moment. Rode 30 miles the other
day in low gear for a first ride back without any problems. Fitness has pretty well decompensated
after lying around all that time on muscle relaxers and vicodin. Physical Therapist doesn't give
me a lot of confidence relative to riding as I have in the past but says I should be able to ride again at some point (kinda sounds like he doesn't want to take responsibility if I get hurt again) in the
future.

Any out there dealing with significant back issues as above and how does your cycling affect it?
Thanks!

ruptured l5-s1 last fall. severe sciatica in my right leg. did the pt thing all winter. they told me not to bike as it would make my injury worse. I listened to them for about two months and once spring came started putting in the miles again. cycling has definitely help my back, but I think any kind of activity short of running does. I also stepped up my overall health, eating better, loosing more weight and found that pilates has helped a lot. mostly bridges with a fitness ball and planks. recently started swimming too. now my sciatica and pain is gone. all i have left is some nerve damage making my small toes a little numb. My days of moving heavy objects is over. good luck with you injury.

I forget the numbers, but my lowest three discs are herniated in the 2-4 mm range. My sports medicine doctor aid lose weight and build up core. I lost 60 lbs and work daily on my core. I have ridden 100 mile rides, but I use either a lodocaine patch or RX creme for lower back pain. Not 100%, but I still enjoy riding.

Yep, I am just getting back on my bike after being off for the last 6 months with a significant buldge in L4 and I also have a small tear in the disk that is leaking disk fluid (don't remember the name). I did the same things you are doing. Lots of physical therapy and I had a steroid injection done by a pain clinic. This is my second steroid injection and they seem to work pretty good at bringing down the disk inflammation and reducing any stenosis that you might be experiencing.

Last year I also had a significant buldge in my C6 (neck) that brought on a lot of stenosis.. Lots of left arm pain. Very nasty! I had a steroid injection there as well and it cleared up.. Although a I have started to feel some symptoms of arm pain again but they are sporadic and do not last long. If I get it back, I will go in for another steroid injection.

All in all, I have missed 6 months of in season biking over the last 2 years and I went from trying to get into racing to just trying to get a full season under my belt! I also changed my bike to get a longer head tube (still with a full spacer stack) and I also went to a Fizik Aliante saddle to push my pelvis more forward to keep my lumbar region more straight. Lastly, I have went to never stretching at all before or after my ride to at least 15 minutes of good stretching before the ride and 20 to 30 mins of stretching post ride. It is a lot more maintaince, but if you really want to ride.. Well you gotta do what you gotta do.

Good luck friend.