Back pain gets better on bike

[Dogmama]

I saw my spine doc & he said that my L-4 vertebra is pushed out of place (I have arthritis in my spine.)

He's an MD - orthopedic surgeon who specializes in spines. He is a HUGE proponent of cycling and core strengthening. He says that a strong core is essential and can eliminate a lot of problems down the road.

[PamNY]

ACiveE, sorry your surgery didn't go well. Hope things are looking up.

I wish core exercises weren't so boring. I may need a class for motivation.

[tulip]

ACiveE, sorry your surgery didn't go well. Hope things are looking up.

I wish core exercises weren't so boring. I may need a class for motivation.

I find that a very good Pilates mat class is not boring at all. And it's very effective.

[tctrek]

I actually had the more common effect of getting a lower back pain after a ride or even a spinning class. I was going to the chiropractor a lot because my right hip was hitching up and rotating and causing my SI to get enflamed and spasm'd.

I knew that my left femur was shorter than my right by at least 1/8-1/4 inch. So, a few weeks ago we put shims under my left cleat - a little more than 1/8 inch. And, voila! No more back pain! Seems I was rocking my hips. My right leg was doing most of the work and my left leg was just keeping up. Now my left leg has to work as hard. It improved my power a tad also Cool, huh?

[Dogmama]

If I push big gears, my lower back kills me. My L-4 vertebra is out of joint. Spine doc says, "Core Exercises" - which I've been ignoring

Guess I'll take Tulip's advice & find a good class.

[shootingstar]

If I push big gears, my lower back kills me. My L-4 vertebra is out of joint. Spine doc says, "Core Exercises" - which I've been ignoring

Guess I'll take Tulip's advice & find a good class.

I know if I push too hard and long on bike, my lower back might hurt later.

Simple ab/core exercises and all over stretching helps me a great deal. I have to do them regularily, several days per wk., as preventive medicine. Prevents also sudden back muscle seizure also if I should sit in my chair incorrectly.

[ACiveE]

I find that a very good Pilates mat class is not boring at all. And it's very effective.

I've been told no pilates/yoga/anything but walking for at least another 3 months...

[ClockworkOrange]

Almost eight years ago, I had been unable to work for 1 year. I'd had enough, not sure why but I felt if I could ride a bike, it would help.

I had been diagnosed with a prolapsed intervertebral disc. Have had a back problem for over 20 years. I checked with my consultant and he said providing I did not fall off, it might be a good idea.

Cut a very long story short, borrowed a bike from my son, my then new partner (who I am still with), taught me how to ride a 'modern' bike, as I had only ridden as a child.

It helped enormously, all the physio, anti-inflammatories and pain killers assisted but did not improve my situation but my bike did!

To this day, I still regularly visit my chiropractor but only as a check up, rarely is anything badly out of alignment.

Yet another super reason for me riding my bike daily.

Clock

[TrekTheKaty]

Over two years ago, I had an episode of extreme back/buttock pain including numbness in my calf and toe that sent me to the emergency room. At the time I was a runner and had a stressful job. I ended up at the best ortho guy in the area and he scratched his head. The MRI showed a bulged disc, but apparently that is common--and shouldn't cause that much pain. Out of desperation, I went to my neighbor--a chiropractor. INSTANT relief. He diagnosed tight hamstrings, a pelvis tilt, pelvis twist, and previous blow/injury to my lower back--probably in childhood. He recommended I pick a new sport for awhile--maybe swimming and ICE, ICE, ICE. It took several weeks and two bottle of pain killers to get back to "normal." After a second episode, I demanded the Doc recommend a physical therapist. She was wonderful--didn't teach me any stretches I didn't already know (I showed up with a book, so she simply folded down corners for me) but taught me I would need to stretch twice a day, every day, for the rest of my life. She concurred that I had a twisted/tilted pelvis with a bulged vertebrae with tight hamstrings and hips.

I still stretch twice a day (there are great "back" yoga videos out there), see the chiropractor monthly, and switched to cycling. I know cycling tightens the quads which in turn stretches the hamstrings (I stretch after riding and the hammies are loosest then). However, I think I also "exhaust" my hips on long rides which is a positive. I hesitated to switch to a road bike because I didn't think I could take it, but it's actually helped my flexibility.

Thank goodness, I'm a slow runner and a terrible swimmer

[tctrek]

I still stretch twice a day (there are great "back" yoga videos out there), see the chiropractor monthly, and switched to cycling. I know cycling tightens the quads which in turn stretches the hamstrings (I stretch after riding and the hammies are loosest then). However, I think I also "exhaust" my hips on long rides which is a positive. I hesitated to switch to a road bike because I didn't think I could take it, but it's actually helped my flexibility.

I have a similar problem, except mine is a rotated hip which in turn yanks on my right SI joint around the back and down the front of my quads on one side. I absolutely know that if I stretch religiously I won't have spasms, but I frequently forget and end up in serious backaches that won't allow me any range of movement at all.

Somehow I have to develop the habit of stretching more frequently -- I know I will save myself a world of hurtin' . There's nothing worse than getting a back spasm when you're out on the bike and 20 miles from home!