lower back pain and butt numbness

[short cut sally]

After reading the most hated/loved saddle debate, I know you either love the Terry butterfly saddle or don't. Here is my problem/question. I have a new bike, straight tube with a fixed stem. Have had 3 new stems on this bike to raise the handlebars and shorten the distance. Problem was, I had this lower sacral pain that would set in around mile 20 and just wouldn't leave, unless I got off the bike frequently. After all the stem changing, rode again for 50 miles, still have that sacral pain and now my butt muscles are becoming almost numb. I am at a loss here! I am thinking it could now be my saddle, which is the butterfly, which is also new for this bike. I've also had my saddle readjusted too. I have the liberator on my old bike, loved that, rode for miles but the only problem was I had terrible chaffing at the folds and I wanted something that I thought was comparible. I don't get chaffing on this but after the back pain, I am thinking chaffing would be beautiful. So, i see that Terry also makes a Liberator race saddle. That will be my next purchase. BUT my question has anyone ever experienced this back pain and butt muscle numbness and what helped or what did you change? I am at a loss here, any advice, suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[KnottedYet]

Sounds like a low back issue, more than a saddle issue.

Low back pain coupled with numbness going into the buttocks or legs is a pretty good sign that you might want to contact your doctor. (it might be something in your back that only flares up on the bike, but it should definitely get checked out because if it is a back problem it could get worse down the road. Checking it out now could save you big trouble later.)

[indysteel]

After doing a hilly century over Memorial Day followed a week later by a flat metric, I had a couple bad weeks of pain and numbness in the left side of my butt and upper thigh. I would describe the pain as burning followed by numbness. It hurt to sit for long stretches of time, and it would get particularly bad about 10-15 miles into most, though not all, rides. I assumed that my sciatic nerve was involved in some way, which of course worried me. Before I had a chance to go to the doctor, I found relief by stretching my piriformis muscle. I concentrated on it during my regular yoga classes and did a lot of stretching before, during and after rides. The worst of the pain is now gone. I would note, ironically, that I have a Terry Butterfly Tri Gel saddle. I've been riding it w/o incident for about a year now, so I think my pain was caused by doing a ride that was hard on my back followed by a ride where I sat in a static position on my bike for long stretches of time. I need to remember to move around a bit more during long, flat rides.

I found the following site to be helpful for understanding what can cause sciatic nerve issues and for a list of stretches/exercises: http://www.spine-health.com.


Kate

[coyote]

I have cronic sciatic nerve problems. I don't bike much yet but it is good to know that it may be a problem and to remember to stretch. A good Chiroprator got me thru my intial onset. I think yoga is the only thing that keeps it at bay.

Thanks for posting.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The only time I've ever had horrible painful butt followed by total butt numbness was once when I borrowed a girlfriend's bike for a 20 mile ride and she had a big soft cushy foam saddle on it. Oh, the AGONY!!!!!! I had to finish the last few miles riding standing up as much as possible, thanks to this "comfort" saddle.

[RoadRaven]

Sounds like more than a saddle issue...

Get your back checked out Shelly... and whenthats got the all clear, think about the bike fit... but you shouldn't be numb in such significantly extended areas...