Lower back pain

[R12RnHouston]

Hello all!

After about 3 months of nagging lower back pain, I went to see my doctor. I was diagnosed with degenerative discs in my lower back (L4-L5), ugh. I've not been on my R in a few weeks because it was bothering my back. I start physical therapy on Monday, and am waiting to see what they say about riding. Is anybody out there in my shoes? I can deal with a little pain, as long as I know it's not making matters worse. Just curious what folks here have to say.

Thanks and best wishes to all!

David

[mogu83]

Why don't you ask you therapist what you can do about sitting position (higher/lower seat, move forward or back, bar backs or risers). Most of those guys are pretty savvy and can help out with stuff like that.

[NakedRider]

I have the same issue. Believe it or not sitting straight up made it worse (like and RT). I find I can ride better with a bike that has me leaning slightly forward which allows me to carry some weight on my hands and places my back in a slightly different position. Not too extreme or my wrists hurt.

Just a thought.

[deilenberger]

I have the same issue. Believe it or not sitting straight up made it worse (like and RT). I find I can ride better with a bike that has me leaning slightly forward which allows me to carry some weight on my hands and places my back in a slightly different position. Not too extreme or my wrists hurt.

Just a thought.

+1 - have the same diagnosis.. comes with age.

When I tried the bar-backs on my R12R I found it bothered my back. When I had the K75S - which had a lean forward ride (not extreme, but an "S" bike sort of ride) when my back was acting up, I'd go out and go for a ride. The forward lean decompresses the disks. The stock R12R bars, with the Sargent seat (which puts my butt back about 1") seem to work almost equally as well.

Make sure the PT teaches you the four exercises for the lower back. When mine starts kicking in again, I spend about 3-4 days doing these every 4-6 hours, and it clears up.. no meds, no shots, no PT. The exercises are again ones that get your lower back decompressed, relaxing the disks so they aren't pressing on the spinal cord.

[ShinySideUp]

I've gotten best results with using the Alexander Technique.

Here's a study in the British Medical Journal:

British Medical Journal randomized controlled study shows 85% reduction in back pain through lessons in the Alexander Technique.

---- Long-term pain relief still effective one year after study began.

Results:

579 patients were involved in this multi-center clinical trial, which is one of the few major studies to show significant long-term benefits for patients with chronic non-specific low-back pain. BMJ, 2008;337:a884


One year after the trial started and following 24 Alexander Technique lessons the number of days in pain fell by 85% compared with the control group. The average number of activities limited by back pain had fallen by 42%.

In real numbers:

After 24 lessons = 3 days in pain per month
After 6 lessons plus exercise = 11 days of pain per month

Control Group = 21 days of pain per month

Link to study:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/337/aug19_2/a884

Here's a resource to find a teacher in your area:

http://www.alexandertech.org/teachers/TX.php

[R12RnHouston]

Thank you for the feedback! There is an Alexander Technique teacher in Houston. During my first session, the therapist said my prognosis for recovery is good, but to stay off my R and out of the gym for two more weeks. Hopefully during today’s session he'll show me those exercises. I've got the bar-backs, just need to work on a better seat.

[deilenberger]

I've got the bar-backs, just need to work on a better seat.

Bar-backs may be counterproductive. IMHO a sit-up-and-beg riding position isn't conducive to healthy disks. Think of the impact shocks being transferred straight up the spinal column whenever you hit a bump..

[R12RnHouston]

Hmm, I see what you mean Don. I'm still slightly angled forward now, even with the bar backs. Before I installed them my lower back ached, after it improved. And then I bloody hurt it at the gym!