Help. What could this be? Sensitive question.

[ttaylor508]

I get a similar sounding bump (very painful) every once in a while in the same area. I think mine is a small cyst type thing (technical term) and it usually goes away on its own although it takes some time. I did show my gynecologist and she said a hot compress would help ease the pain. Mine show up for no reason either. I luckily haven't had one in about a year. Probably going to your gynecologist is the best bet for an answer although there may not be a treatment other than time to let it heal.

That must have been some wind that blew you off your bike!!!

[KSH]

I get a similar sounding bump (very painful) every once in a while in the same area. I think mine is a small cyst type thing (technical term) and it usually goes away on its own although it takes some time. I did show my gynecologist and she said a hot compress would help ease the pain. Mine show up for no reason either. I luckily haven't had one in about a year. Probably going to your gynecologist is the best bet for an answer although there may not be a treatment other than time to let it heal.

That must have been some wind that blew you off your bike!!!

Thanks! I hope it can get fixed up soon.

The winds were gusting up to 45 mph! And they were whipping around a high rise building, which created a wind tunnel effect. Scary stuff!

[redrhodie]

I had the same thing, which I think is a hematoma. Your saddle may be too wide in the nose.

[KSH]

I had the same thing, which I think is a hematoma. Your saddle may be too wide in the nose.

See, I was wondering that. Because I only get irritation on the sides of my legs where the fold is.

I'm not sure how much skinner I can get on the saddle/nose though. I'm already on a men's saddle that is pretty narrow.

I'll do some research on what a hematoma is.

[Grog]

A hematoma, plainly, is a bruise...

A few tiny (or bigger) blood vessels break, and a little (or a lot) of blood pools, creating a red/blue/purple/turning to ugly browns and yellow with time bruise. Anyone who's taken a fall, or had a brother, knows what it's like...

I'm not sure but in my experience (extensive with bruises, less so with cysts thankfully) they look quite different. But because you said it was bruised and slightly black I wouldn't rule it out...

[redrhodie]

I just re-read your post, and maybe you're ready for new shorts? I read somewhere that they wear out in 6 months !

I thought mine was a cyst, but it was more like a bloodblister. It hurt to the touch, and got better with time off the bike, then would come back with each and every ride. Ouch. The little bump was always there since I never took that much time off. It had color, same as yours. It's gone now. I got a new saddle, and that's really helped.

[jesvetmed]

KSH: I can't comment on the sore your have, but I will say that I trust my gyno / ob more than anyone. I go to her for absolutely everything, and she always has a great recommendation for a referral if she can't help. It's amazing what jerks most general docs and specialists can be, so it helps to have a personal referral from someone you trust that, in turn, trusts the other doc.

Good luck with everything.

[DirtDiva]

A hematoma, plainly, is a bruise... Anyone who's taken a fall, or had a brother, knows what it's like...

ROTFLMAO - I hear ya! I'm sure I have fewer functioning nerve-endings in my right upper arm after all those years at the family dinner table...

[KSH]

Emily, read your thread. Thanks for that! I might see if I can get a shot like that. Although, I wonder if a Gyno can even give shots like that.

I wish I knew what was causing the issue... but I just suspect it is what it is. Ya know? Like someone in the thread said... you can have the right saddle, shorts, lube... and you still get it. I've done everything "right", nothing has changed and I still got it.

It's nice to know that it's not life threatening... although painful and annoying, I can ride through it.

After I hit up the Dr. tomorrow I'll let you know what she says.

[KnottedYet]

I had the same thing, which I think is a hematoma. Your saddle may be too wide in the nose.

Yeah. Maybe you need a more "T" shaped saddle, with a narrower nose and more abrupt transition from sit area to nose. (I get irritation like you describe when I'm on a saddle that is too pear-shaped for me)

[aicabsolut]

Usually, it's caused by ill-fitting shorts (even just ones that get stretched out a bit, have weird seams, etc.) and saddles second in that location. I do have the same problem, and I think my saddle could be narrower there, but I have found no other solution among saddles wide enough in the rear. I do find that shorts make a HUGE difference (too bad my team goes with some cheap stuff).

Anyway....it is most likely a cyst (what most saddle sores are). Try hydrocortisone cream on it after your shower post-ride. Keep lubing up as you have been. Sometimes, I think a mix of chamois cream and neosporin does the trick. Some drying zit or razor bump treatments can help a little bit (like TendSkin).

If it gets bad, a derm can do the cortisone injection, and in some cases, it will need to be surgically removed, when the cyst is too deep or the cyst wall isn't going away. The latter treatment can mean a month off the bike. I have had some shrink to a manageable size or even disappear over time. You may be able just to treat it and take some time off and have it go away without doing anything else.

Clearly, your derm was clueless. Guys get these too, and it's not uncommon. I hate getting the run around from doctors. Hopefully you can find someone who can help you!