Quote Originally Posted by run it, ride it
I finally made it to the vvfa(very, very far away)bs to address these fitting issues.

Apparently my seat was too far forward and my handlebars were too low.

Needless to say, the adjustments created new and worse problems. Now my hamstrings and calves are straining to push and pull what I'm sure my quads did a better job of, and even more weight ends up in my hands--AND crotch. If I try to bend my arms at all, the muscle next to the spine in my lower back on the left side hurts so sharp I can't breathe (believe me, I'll tough through any pain. But breathing is necessary). I just feel like I'm braced against this thing. 'Technically' it's supposed to fit.

Question: is the front wheel hub supposed to be blocked from view when holding a) brake hoods, or, b) next to the top of the stem? The guy who fitted me said brake hoods--but with the old clunker bike, it's next to the stem.

Guess which bike DOESN'T hurt me? Clunker 10-speed from the 70s. I can completely give everything I have on that thing (not that it gets me anywhere fast) and I feel light, balanced. I use the handlebars to PULL, I can crouch down as low as I like with a flat painless back. Even after agony on the new bike. But according to newfound fitting logic, old bike is too small for me.

I'm 5'5" with a short torso and the new bike is 54cm. Old bike is 52cm.

New bike is supposed to fit! What is wrong here?
wow! you need to call those idiots and tell them that you feel worse, not better! (let your fingers do the walking!) tell them what you just told us.
I won't pretend to understand what your problem is; but i'll tell you this;
if you paid for the bike, they need to make it right. if you paid for the fit
you need to be able to go back in until you are comfy on that bike!