tendonitis at the sit bones

[rij73]

Hi gang... I've been off the forum for a few weeks because I've been off my bike and sooooo sad about it! Shortly after my solo country roads ride that I was so proud of, I came down with really bad pain at my left sit bone when on the bike. I went to the doctor who felt around back there [lucky him ]. He informed me that it was the tendon connecting my hamstring to the sit bone that was inflamed. I was to rest for a while.

So, now that I'm rested, and the pain is gone, I want to avoid another flare-up. Doc suggested a fitting and/or a softer saddle. Now, I recently switched from a Terry Butterfly that was too soft (squished my private parts) to a Specialized Ruby that felt good. However, I'm thinking it must be too firm for me if I developed this issue.

Can anyone recommend a saddle that is less squishy than the Terry but softer than the Ruby? Also has anyone else had this problem, and what did you do?

[Andrea]

I started getting the same pain from the Ruby when I went for longer rides! My (totally unsupported by any scientific evidence) theory is that it has to do with a combination of little padding & a flexible shell- it's like a hard piece of plastic partially wrapping around your seatbone, so it irritates the soft tissues surrounding the bone. I got the same pain from the SSM Glamour aspide, and it's also very flexible after it breaks in.

I swapped the Ruby out onto my Surly since the rides on it tend to be relatively short when compared to my road bike.

Oh yeah... and I switched to the Selle Italia Lady SLR Gelflow. The jury is still out on it, though. Others I've tried that didn't cause that sort of pain would be the Koobi Xenon, Specialized Jett (though it was bad on the side-taint chafing), and... hold on... lemme find the list...

[kt004]

I used to have had similar problems. I tried the Terry and a few others as well. I started riding the Selle Italia SLK gel flow a year or so ago and haven't had problems since. The womens version was actually a little wide for me, but the narrower mens version works great!

[indigoiis]

I used to swear by the WTB Speedshe, but then I rode two centuries (plus) this summer on my Specialized Dolce, and I am not sure what the saddle is called but it came on that bike. Anyhow, while I am not really that happy with the rest of the bike, I really, really like the saddle. I like the saddle so much that I want to see if I can get it for the rest of my fleet. It's just the right amount of soft and support.

It looks like this:



I am not quite sure if it has a name, or if it is just the standard Dolce saddle.

[sundial]

Specialized saddle fan here. I have the Avatar on the roadies and the Lithia on my mtb. I haven't had any sit bone soreness or squashed button issues.

I've heard Koobi is excellent for distance riding and racing.

[aicabsolut]

How old is your Ruby? It took me a while to break mine in at the sit bones. I still am not totally comfortable on long rides, and sometimes when the hams get tight, I will irritate the tendons like you describe. So far, it hasn't developed into anything lasting, and I can just move around on the seat to find a more comfortable spot (and stretch out the hamstrings too). I had really really bad sit bones pain until I broke it in, though. I've heard that the Toupe style saddles are all like that.

[Andrea]

I didn't have any sit bone pain w/my Ruby, just the area where the muscles meet the bones.

I finally found my list of saddles I've tried...
The ones I mentioned in the last post didn't cause any of that type of pain, but the WTB Speed She actually caused severe pain in that area for me. I guess it's the arrowhead shape or something, because I remember actually limping after a long ride on it and having to take a few days off afterwards.

[OakLeaf]

I ride a Lithia, and a friend of mine who does like 7-8K miles a year rides a Dolce. The general shape of all those saddles is similar I think, just different levels of padding.

[maillotpois]

I had the same issue last year. Ended up with some cortisone injections - ouch!

What about a firmer Terry saddle, such as the fly (men's) or the damselfly? I'm using the Terry zero, which, sadly they don't seem to make anymore (but you can find it online w/ a google search and I just ordered on as a backup), and it is great.

[pyxichick]

That sounds exactly like the problem I've had for about a month and a half now!

I went to a sports med. dr. and he couldn't find anything wrong. Well, I'd been basically off the bike for 3 weeks, so nothing was hurting at the time I had the appt., but even though I only ride about 1 or 2 times a week (under 1.5 hrs. each time) I still have a sort of achy feeling in that general area. I haven't tried switching my saddle, because, heck, it worked for 2.5 seasons without any problems, so I'm not sure that's the cause of the pain. I thought it might be the connection of the hamstring/tendon/sit bone, and wondered whether forward stretches in yoga could be aggravating it.

Anyway, I'm glad you're feeling better. I think staying off it until the intense pain lets up is a great idea.

And if you find the perfect saddle, please let me know!

In the mean time, I've rediscovered running, and ironically, will be doing a 5k this weekend called the "Rump Roast Run."

Kate

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Just my own impression but I'd guess that your saddle is too soft (or the padding has become less supportive with age) so that the padding is now pushing up at the tendons and tissue that SURROUND your sit bones. You need to get your soft tissue up off that padding by having a firmer support that your actual sitbones can perch on, thus keeping your soft tissues up and off the downward pressure. The more you sink into the saddle, the more pressure there will be on surrounding tissues, rather than supporting your weight on your sit bones.

[kermit]

Wow, I have been having the same problem. I actually just got shots in my back at the facet joints in the spine. That bad. I do have an old fracture of L3 from my horse riding days. I was using a very flat SI SLR, mens version, and although very comfy always put direct pressure on my sit bones. I ride alot and do not like cushy saddles but concerned about the whole walking and not being in pain issue, I ordered a Terry zero X. I had one before and liked it although it didn't last long. I put it on yesterday and my back felt better. I think for right now, whatever I injured, the muscles, tendons or sit bones, I would get a knot in my butt cheek that would extend up to the lower back. The terry seems to keep the pressure off the bone directly and the pain has subsided. I think for right now, I need this saddle to let my back heal, whatever I did to it.
Maillotpois, terry has the zero x on sale right now, $90.

[maillotpois]

Maillotpois, terry has the zero x on sale right now, $90.

Duh - it must be in a clearance area or something. I was just looking at the non-closeouts. I use the Zero Y, though, but maybe they have it. The place I ordered was $93 or something. Maybe I should get yet another from Terry as well.... Stock up on the good saddles. Hm, what would SK do.... (rhetorical question. I've seen her garage. )

Thanks!

[rij73]

Thanks for all the replies, everyone... The saddle is quite new. I've only ridden about 200 miles on it. I'm going to start out by making sure I stretch before rides and see if the pain comes back. If it does, it's saddle-shopping time!