Ischial Tuberosities - Pain

[pyxichick]

Has anyone had to heal from ischial bursitis or other pain in the sit bones?

One day last week I got on my bike, after riding 2000+ miles this season, and had a sharp, pinched nerve sort of feeling on my right sit bone. I could not get comfortable on the saddle no matter what, so I ended up riding most of my ride standing up. I don't want to make it worse, so I'm going to take a few days off the bike and see if it gets better, but is there anything else I can do?

I had no pain the day before, when I rode 30 miles. It just appeared out of nowhere.

Kate

[maillotpois]

I had this for several months last year. My friend sky dubbed them my "a$$ thetans". Ultimately I had a cortisone injection which really helped and got me through my last double of the year.

When I went to an ortho for this, he actually tracked the problem to the hip area. I am pretty sure, though, that it came from the seat of the MTB I got in July. That's right about when it started hurting, it was the only "new" thing in my line up, and I'd never had a problem before. It could have been from ramping mileage too fast after being off the bike the year before for the PEs, but I don't think that's it because it didn't hurt during any of my doubles or longer rides in the spring - only after I got that MTB in july.

The pain I got was almost like "funny bone" pain radiating down the leg if I sat wrong or got the wrong angle on the seat.

Have you changed ANYTHING about your bike at all?

Taking some time off is good. You might try some ibuprofen or something before you ride next. I basically did the cortisone shot, then did my double century and then had several months where I wasn't riding at all (this was last fall). Then coming into the year this year, I have not had any issues there at all.

ETA: I could feel a lump on the tuberosity itself - larger on one side than the other. Do you have anything like that?

Good luck!

[LBTC]

ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch!

I have had that pain on occasion, and, mercifully, it has only lasted for a day or two for me. whew! But I know now that if I get that little pinch, I'd better change my position on the saddle *right now*! If I can get comfortable again really quickly, the pain goes away and I can ride as normal. If I try to keep riding and pretend the pinch isn't there, it will last for a few days. It also seemed to be worse for me with a certain combination of shorts and saddle. I think it was my more well-padded PI shorts when I was on the road bike.

If you have any arnica rub of any kind, it may help relieve the inflammation and discomfort, so you can get back on your bike sooner. Heck, sitting on ice would probably be good, too.

Sending butterflies for your quick recovery,

hugs, too
~T~

[pyxichick]

Thanks for the replies.

The only thing I've changed in my setup is a backward shift of my cleats about two weeks ago, since my feet were getting numb. That resolved the foot problem. Is it possible it caused a slight shift in where I sit on my saddle?

I can't feel any lumps where I have the pain.

I hope I'm lucky and it goes away like it did for you. But it sounds like I may need to stay off the bike for awhile. I'll try in a few days and see how it goes.

The cortisone injection sounds like it worked, but I hope I don't have to do that. I do have a century ride in a couple weeks, so I'm a little worried about that.

Thanks,
Kate

[maillotpois]

the cleat thing could absolutely contribute. try moving them just slightly back toward where they were before.

[LBTC]

I agree. Moving your cleats can make a huge difference. Have you had your bike fitted professionally? Maybe you need the saddle placed differently, etc...

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~

[pyxichick]

I did have a professional fit on this bike early in the season, but there wasn't much attention paid to my saddle, since I'd been riding on it for over a year on my old bike, so I already knew how I liked the angle.

I'll try to readjust my cleats when I feel like it's safe to get back on the bike. It's only been two days off and already I feel like it's been forever! But I absolutely do not want this to become a chronic problem, so I'm going to wait a few more days.

Thanks!

Kate

[rij73]

I just self-diagnosed myself with this! I have a doctor's appointment next week. On Friday, I noticed a really bad pain at the point where my left sit bone contacted the saddle. Couldn't get comfy on my bike at all... When I came home, I felt around back there, and did notice a lump deep under the flesh up against the bone. This lump is only on the left side.

I initially thought it was a boil or cyst or something. After much googling, though, I discovered this Ischial Bursitis thing. Sounds like it must be what I've got. It only hurts on the bike or if I push on it with my hand deliberately.

I got a new Specialized Ruby saddle about a month ago. It was going great, but I have been playing around with saddle position, and last week I went on a 30 mile ride that was pretty bumpy now that I think of it. I did that after a week of not having time to ride.

I switched to the Ruby saddle after using a Terry Butterfly for a year. The Butterfly started giving me serious soft-tissue pain and chafing.

What to do????

[pyxichick]

So after staying off the bike since September (!) and trying to focus on skiing and yoga instead, I finally got back on a spin bike last week and this pain flared up again! I went to a sports medicine Dr. today and he gave me a cortisone injection in my bursa. I REALLY really hope this does the trick and I can get back on the bike. If not, then I have to get an MRI and see what else could be causing my pain.

I am determined to get back on the bike this season!

Kate

[maillotpois]

Wow Kate I am so sorry this is still hurting you!! I hope the shot helps - it did help me for sure.

Also work on stretching of the hip and hamstring area as well (with warm muscles). That also helped.

[channlluv]

I'm sorry, I'm still stunned over your having ridden over 2,000 miles this season. How long is your season? Holy cow.

Roxy

[Zen]

It sounds to me like a pinched sciatic nerve

[Tokie]

I have had this same problem, it turned out to be tight Piriformis muscles. Try looking into stretches for your piriformis. If this is the problem, your relief could be pretty quick (it was for me!) Good luck! Tokie

[Head Quail]

I am so glad to have found this site, thank you for the previous discussion/ posts on ischial tuberosity pain. I am having some of my own.
A brief overview is that I have done lots of cycling without this problem until last season. It is back again and needless to say quite painful. After trying numerous women's saddles including Bontrager, Deva and Terry I am now off my bike til this gets resolved. I recently sucumbed to setting aside my Davidson Signature which was built for me some 20 yrs. ago and stepped up to a Trek Madone carbon fiber.
Clearly a lot has changed in 20 years. I love my Trek and the fit is much better and more comfortable than the Davidson and I am now 50, so comfort is becoming more important. Anyhow my L. sitz bone is the culprit. I do feel a small marble like lump immediately in front of my sitz bone. I am allergic to all NSAIDS, (aspirin, ibuprofin etc) so any help and information will be most welcomed. Including just how to you present this to a DR. and which type of Dr.?
Look forward to hearing some wise words of wisdom.

[JayDoc]

I started to have pain over the ischial tuberosities 'sit bones' last season. It popped up in the middle of the season, but felt like an extreme of the normal seat soreness that happens in the beginning of the season. The pain was bad enough that I suddenly had a time limit on rides. After many saddle trials, measurements, etc. without fixing the pain, I started to note that my bike short padding is too far back (too far towards my tailbone) to actually pad my ischium. Anyone have suggestions about bike shorts that pad about 2 inches further forward? If I sit in a chair, upright, the pad is in the correct place, but when I rotate forward, the pad moves back too far.
Thank you for your help.
jj