Saddle Sore From H_LL!

[Norse]

I developed a nasty saddle sore on a 75-mile training ride in late August, which was not helped by doing a century two weeks later. Other than 1 short ride, I have not been back in the saddle since while trying to let it heal. I have been using a generic version of Prep H religiously, twice a day for about 3 weeks now and although it has shrunk a bit, it is still about the size of my pinky nail and does not seem to want to shrink any further. While I have enjoyed hiking and long walks with our dog, I would really like to get back in the saddle again.

Other than seeing a doc, which I really do not want to do, any suggestions? Is it too little too late to try Epsom salts or something else???

[Blueberry]

Salicylic acid (for acne) or Cortisone may help. But it's probably time to see a doc.

CA

[emily_in_nc]

I had a nasty sore that didn't go away on its own, despite being off the saddle for three months last winter. I finally broke down and went to a dermatologist and got a cortisone shot in it. Instant relief! Unfortunately, it came back once I started riding regularly again this spring. I changed saddles after measuring my sitbones and deciding that my saddle was too narrow, and no recurrence of the sore from h*ll whatsoever.

Nothing else I did helped but the cortisone shot and the saddle change.

Best of luck to you!

[indysteel]

Benzoyl Peroxide helped me get rid of mine. Basically, it's just zit cream. Good luck.

[TahoeDirtGirl]

Is this a sore on the sit bones or is it like a hemi? I know I've gotten them on the flesh part of my butt or the sit bones but not where I would have to use Prep H. I agree on the zit cream stuff, if it's that variety, almost like a boil, that seemed to help mine. That and heat/cold compress cycles. But it's not a place to fool around as my sis got one on her sit bones after riding her horse on an endurance ride and wound up having to get it drained. Ugh.

[Norse]

It's not on the sit bones.

Thanks for all the feedback. I have stopped using the Prep H and switched back to hydrocortisone. It seems to be shrinking again, notwithstanding that I went out and did a 41 mile ride this weekend when I was intending a 20-30 miler (the fall foliage was just so darned spectacular, I couldn't stop!). I do have my annual check-up coming up in a few weeks so I'll ask for the shot if it is still hanging around then.