rousseau

I ride between 8 and 10 hours a week. For one week now I've had an intermittent dull ache that seems centered in the middle of the gluteal fold, just below the left buttock. Thing is, this dull pain seems to be going down my leg, so I feel it a bit in my foot or even my shin.

One night the pain, which seems related, was slightly more intense in my left hip joint.

Does this all sound like I've got my saddle too high? I've been playing around with my fit lately, trying to get it comfy, and I've raised my saddle a bit.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated,
R

EDIT: Oh yeah, if I'm not riding my bike then I'm sitting at a computer for 10 hours a day, and sometimes I wonder if that doesn't exacerbate it.

EDIT AGAIN: Just got back in from a ride, and felt better. Last week I suddenly upped my intensity by staying in the big ring for most of my rides. I'm thinking that that contributed to the pain, in combination with my rearward position on my Fizik Arione, which caused the wing of the saddle to dig into my buttock. Today I consciously made an effort to position myself more in the middle of the saddle, and it seemed to make a difference. I'm thinking that the last few days of rest off the bike has helped whatever damage I did to myself to heal. That's my take, anyway.

chrisvu05

sounds like you've probably tweaked your hamstrings a bit...mine do this early in the race season when i'm out of shape and i up my intensity. I'd suggest doing some stretches. Also Illiotibial Band Syndrome could cause this as well....last season i had ITBS in my left knee and in my right hip...

rousseau

I certainly did make a conscious effort to ramp up my intensity in the last two weeks, and that has included staying in the big ring for the majority of my ride. My average speeds have all gone up, but I think I may have pushed myself too hard.

But I gotta say, I honestly don't even know what the hamstrings are. Off to Wikipedia I go!

chrisvu05

hamstrings are pretty much the entire back of the upper leg except for the butt (gluteus)....they are hugely important in cycling and they definitely can be overworked....that being said most people have flexibility issues if they are having hamstring issues so stretching or yoga can help greatly.

rousseau

Stretching, eh? Yoga, eh? Never done them. Got any links to share that might help out a beginner?

I'm 42 years old, and just got back into cycling two years ago. I now ride 10 hours a week. I guess I probably need to be more careful!

randya

sciatica. it will get worse until you treat it, usually with extensive physical therapy. stretching, yoga and pilates are definitely steps in the right direction. see about your bike fit too.

chrisvu05

stretching for cyclists
https://www.lmb.org/mfls/Docs/Stretching.pdf

yoga for cyclists
https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-For-Cycli.../dp/B000ESW77M

rousseau

Thanks for those links, I really appreciate it.

I obviously should see a doctor, but the more I look into sciatica, the more it looks like I might have a mild form of that. And it looks like it may be due to how long I sit in front of a computer every day. I'm going to need to address that.

Thanks again!

rekall

holy comprehensive routine, batman.

Machka 

Sounds like sciatic pain ... see your local chiropractor, and switch to a Brooks saddle.

chrisvu05

yup....4 months after this was posted and I'm wiser. It seems like Sciatic Pain. I actually have been battling Piriformis Syndrome for the last 2 months...it sucks.

rekall

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piriformis_syndrome
(detail image here)

considering the location of the piriformis and the duration of my pain, this could be me too.
but i've for sure had pain in the ischial tuberosity, biceps femoris, and greater trochanter... like i said, pretty much all around the hip but getting a little better daily

i'm actually starting to think this is more of a function of my crank length (175mm) compared to my height (4'11") -- i hated 'spinning' as much on shorter cranks but the pain didn't happen until i swapped out for the standard cranks and rode more - though, i also changed to a WTB pro gel at the same time too. maybe a combination of both did me in.

rekall

hmm, trochantic bursitis sounds applicable in my case...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trochanteric_bursitis

and on that note, i'm going to new thread with links to information about common bicycle-related sports injuries.

smoore

Sciatica pain can be difficult to treat. I've been fighting it for years. Initially most doctors will recommend stretching and some anti-inflammatories. This doesn't seem to work for a lot of people and then they'll recommend more stretching and probably some PT. Also, very important that you pay attention to how you sit at your desk and also in your car. Interestingly for me, riding didn't bother it at all but it hurt A LOT while driving, sitting at work and walking. After two years and several doctors (and lots of prayer) a physical therapist who specialized in lower back pain finally helped me with with lots of visits that included traction.

It also has a lot to do with what nerves are being pinched as the come out of your vertebra. Let me also mention that a surgeon insisted that he operate on me and told me there was no hope otherwise. Ultimately he may be right but I've been essentially pain free for three years now. But it sure did take a lot of effort to get there.

Good luck.

PS: What really brought it on with a vengeance was running...so I no longer even attempt that.

chrisvu05

a 175mm crank is rather large for you. I'm 6'and use a 175mm crank. Do you stretch regularly? What is your flexibility? How much riding are you doing? Have you recently increased the intensity or amount of riding?

rekall

when everything came to a head, i was definitely overdoing it and the long cranks totally didn't help... unfortunately i don't have a ton of options in single-piece cranks for a bmx frame... but i am going to use a 5 1/2" crank instead of 175mm "standard" cranks on my newer rebuild... ideally i'd prefer 155/160mm or 6"/6.25" but i don't see those lengths being offered Anywhere... i'm tempted to buy a 1/2" tap and shorten a pair of 175mm cranks and thread them myself.

my flexibility is pretty crap but it always has been; i've got mild osteogenesis imperfecta ("brittle bones") and with that comes some rheumatoid arthritis. i should have added a stretch/cooldown regimine to my daily routine when i started riding daily. since the pain started i have been doing basic hip stretches & exercises whenever i feel the pain coming back a little or feeling just generally 'tight'... the Most helpful i've found are straight leg raises & 'spread eagle'/'snow angel' laying flat on my back, and especially 30-60 second stretch of the hamstring by throwing the affected leg straight up a wall in a doorway; this is much easier and more effective than pulling at your foot with a towel/exercise band.

drinking water has become a priority for me as well, since i realized i was doing Lots of riding sans water bottle throughout september when it was still pretty damn hot out, and joints and muscles appreciate having water around to do their thing.

at the moment i'm riding occasionally as the pain is still slowly but steadily decreasing (few miles every other day just running errands and what not).

chrisvu05

check out the stretching for cyclists link i put earlier in this thread. I'm cursing my life of non-stretching now that i'm having this Piriformis pain. My PT was surprised I could still walk because my muscles were so tight.

rekall

have you tried accupuncture, shiatsu, or other 'release' mechanisms? (cortisone injection also common for this, but i get the impression it's not exactly great; side effects outweigh temporary relief.)

koffee brown

Jumping in, I'd also suggest MAT (muscle activation technique) given by a personal trainer. Between MAT, stretching and perhaps some foam rolling for myofascial release, I think you will be ok.

koffee

Richard Cranium

Geez, this thread started in July - for real.....

late

If the OP is still out there... What's the difference in leg length. I'd bet you that the left is shorter. If your original innersoles are flat, take the right one out and get some decent ones. You can find many threads for suggestions.

Leave the left one in, and put the new ones in. See what happens. Your knees may get a bit irritated from the different track. But they'll get used to it.
If it helps your hips, it will be worthwhile.

Another question, take a look at some old sneakers or shoes. Are they worn more on one side than the other?

rekall

i'm not the original poster but my left leg is in fact the shorter one.

i have been getting a pretty significant amount of relief in both legs from some insoles i bought and shoved into my everyday sneakers:



have really good, stiff arch support, thicker gel/padding on the heel and otherwise comfy/spongy stuff everywhere else. recommended!

1bluetrek

A herniated disc and degenerative disc syndrome have me dealing with numbness and a severe burning sensation in my left leg. Not a lot of fun

rekall

been riding a different bike (built around a mongoose frame) and it fits me a LOT more comfortably; the pain was starting to fade but this in addition to taking it easy has been a huge help... during xmas i had more pain but it was more 'specific' (smaller affected area, definitely the piriformis) and a couple of days after that it seems to be going away altogether. "gets worse before it gets better."

Garfield Cat

Sounds like a rider left something in the left back pocket of a Fred type shorts. Hope it wasn't the cell phone.