I'm just recovering from a bout of sciatica - my first. For the time being I'm not allowed by the doctor to ride my bike, only walking or swimming allowed. Hoping to get back in the saddle asap. Anyone any experience of sciatica and how it affects cycling? Is it likely to curtail my riding long term?
Or can I resume as normal when I recover?
Sciatica
Hello Alan
I have just visited the doctor after having been smitten with sciatica.
I am knocking 70 and trying to see if i can get cycle fit again after a 10 year lay off.I did suffer a nasty road accident some years ago,and this has probably caused the back stress.
My doctor has told me to carry on cycling gently,given me some 'gold standard' Ibuprofen type pain killers and told me to report back in a month's time.I seem to 'suffer' more at night in bed lying horizontal.Sciatica apparently comes and goes.So once you have it you might never loose it.
At my age you learn any new physical activity has trade offs.
I was concearned that i would do permanent damage by continuing to cycle.The doctor thinks not,as cycling is a supported activity like swimming.
We shall see.
N
I have just visited the doctor after having been smitten with sciatica.
I am knocking 70 and trying to see if i can get cycle fit again after a 10 year lay off.I did suffer a nasty road accident some years ago,and this has probably caused the back stress.
My doctor has told me to carry on cycling gently,given me some 'gold standard' Ibuprofen type pain killers and told me to report back in a month's time.I seem to 'suffer' more at night in bed lying horizontal.Sciatica apparently comes and goes.So once you have it you might never loose it.
At my age you learn any new physical activity has trade offs.
I was concearned that i would do permanent damage by continuing to cycle.The doctor thinks not,as cycling is a supported activity like swimming.
We shall see.
N
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reohn2
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Alan Roadley
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 10 Jan 2007, 1:47pm
Thank you for your reply. My sciatica crept up on me and I had it for weeks without knowing what it was before it suddenly got worse and I had to see the doctor. Getting better but it's a slow job. Seems no 2 people have it the same, I know of people who get recurring bouts and people who have it for months or in 1 case over 2 years.
Problem with the bike is not the pedalling but the bending forward to the bars (no bending allowed for me), getting on and off, and lifting the bike (no lifting allowed either). If it proves more long term I suppose all of these can be overcome one way or another. (A recumbent?) In the meantime, I've become a regular at my local swimming pool!
Good Luck
Alan
Problem with the bike is not the pedalling but the bending forward to the bars (no bending allowed for me), getting on and off, and lifting the bike (no lifting allowed either). If it proves more long term I suppose all of these can be overcome one way or another. (A recumbent?) In the meantime, I've become a regular at my local swimming pool!
Good Luck
Alan
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Dai
Hi. I suffered from the dreaded sciatica after falling down my garden steps. It took three months of physio to correct it, though mine was quite severe.
I too was told that swimming was the only exercise that I could do - but even then I was only allowed to do side stroke with my affected side downwards and the leg dangling down. (Great for improving your arm muscles!). I was told not to do breast stroke or front crawl because those strokes cause the spine to flex backwards and could exacerbate the problem by compressing the nerve ending.
After a while I was allowed to do light jogging and then finally got back on the bike after about 4 months.
Depending on how severe your condition is it may take a few years to go completely - you have to be very careful with lifting - bend the legs not the back, and carry even loads - for instance if you go shopping split the laod between two carrier bags rather than lumping it all into one. It's difficult to remember these things at first but it becomes natural to you after a while.
The other things I find very helpful were some floor exercises my physio gave me to do.
I do them still. If you're watching the box or whatever, lie on the floor with your knees raised and your feet flat on the floor. You then need to contract your 'cough' muscles. To find the muscles I mean, put your hands just above your genital area and cough - the muscles you feel moving are the ones you need to concentrate on. Pull them in (don't hold your breath) and hold them in for a count of ten then relax - repeat about 40 times.
After that lie on the affected side and stretch your arm out as far as you can to pull the shoulder across then bend the leg and try to touch the floor with your knee - this doesn't seem to do very much but is in fact stretching your hamstring which is one of the causes of the pain in your legs.
Stick at this and do as many general stretching exercises as you can - touching the floor between your toes and just hanging there loosely for a while is another useful one.
Don't be tempted to rush back into hard peddaling, sit very upright in your chair and generally try to keep your posture correct and you should be OK.
Thanks to reohn2 I've bought a book on Pilates with some money I had for Xmas which is proving very good too - though to be honest most of it is similar to the above exercises.
Hope some of this is helpful to you.
Dai of Wales
I too was told that swimming was the only exercise that I could do - but even then I was only allowed to do side stroke with my affected side downwards and the leg dangling down. (Great for improving your arm muscles!). I was told not to do breast stroke or front crawl because those strokes cause the spine to flex backwards and could exacerbate the problem by compressing the nerve ending.
After a while I was allowed to do light jogging and then finally got back on the bike after about 4 months.
Depending on how severe your condition is it may take a few years to go completely - you have to be very careful with lifting - bend the legs not the back, and carry even loads - for instance if you go shopping split the laod between two carrier bags rather than lumping it all into one. It's difficult to remember these things at first but it becomes natural to you after a while.
The other things I find very helpful were some floor exercises my physio gave me to do.
I do them still. If you're watching the box or whatever, lie on the floor with your knees raised and your feet flat on the floor. You then need to contract your 'cough' muscles. To find the muscles I mean, put your hands just above your genital area and cough - the muscles you feel moving are the ones you need to concentrate on. Pull them in (don't hold your breath) and hold them in for a count of ten then relax - repeat about 40 times.
After that lie on the affected side and stretch your arm out as far as you can to pull the shoulder across then bend the leg and try to touch the floor with your knee - this doesn't seem to do very much but is in fact stretching your hamstring which is one of the causes of the pain in your legs.
Stick at this and do as many general stretching exercises as you can - touching the floor between your toes and just hanging there loosely for a while is another useful one.
Don't be tempted to rush back into hard peddaling, sit very upright in your chair and generally try to keep your posture correct and you should be OK.
Thanks to reohn2 I've bought a book on Pilates with some money I had for Xmas which is proving very good too - though to be honest most of it is similar to the above exercises.
Hope some of this is helpful to you.
Dai of Wales
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Alan Roadley
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 10 Jan 2007, 1:47pm
Once again thanks for your replies. I find swimming breast stroke gives fantastic relief! (Hardest bit is putting my shoes and socks on after!) The doctor also told me to lie on my front and lift my shoulders, keeping my hips on the floor, which has a similar effect on the back. Works for me, but as I say no two cases seem to be the same. I soon get bored stretching etc. but I will keep trying, anything to get right again. And in future I will not neglect to try and keep all of my body strong and supple, not just my legs, as this seem to be best way of prevention.
Alan
Alan
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nuovorecord
you'll never be totally free from the problem.+
i hurt mine on a roller coaster - could hardly put one foot in front of the other. took 2 weeks to get to that stage, doctor gave me musle relaxant tablets - do get the odd painful twinge every now and again.
soon after i had pains in my shoulder and arms due to the nerves.
i hurt mine on a roller coaster - could hardly put one foot in front of the other. took 2 weeks to get to that stage, doctor gave me musle relaxant tablets - do get the odd painful twinge every now and again.
soon after i had pains in my shoulder and arms due to the nerves.
It should be good news
I think I can re-assure you on this based on my experience. I have had sciatica in the past and in 2005 ended up with a prolapsed disc. I was unable to do anything, even lie down without excruciating pain.
I used osteopathy and Pilates for my recovery and last year managed 10,000 miles without problem. As other posts have said, I will never be free of it, but so far it is not getting in the way of the cycling.
I used osteopathy and Pilates for my recovery and last year managed 10,000 miles without problem. As other posts have said, I will never be free of it, but so far it is not getting in the way of the cycling.
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Mrs Tortoise
- Posts: 453
- Joined: 8 Jan 2007, 11:44pm
- Location: Dorchester, Dorset
If it's bad rest, if not carry on exercising. I have it at the moment and it's bad enough to keep me from walking let alone riding - and it didn't rain today! 
I am going stir crazy, but hopefully by next weekend..... 
If you have lower back problems, it tends to come with the territory. Pilates is good.
I am going stir crazy, but hopefully by next weekend..... If you have lower back problems, it tends to come with the territory. Pilates is good.-
gwynn
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nuovorecord
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Mrs Tortoise
- Posts: 453
- Joined: 8 Jan 2007, 11:44pm
- Location: Dorchester, Dorset
I am 50 years old and have suffered with Sciatica for about 10 years now
I jogged for 15 years before taking up cycling and never suffered it during those years
I find it comes on during the damp months...February and November usually
I particularly don't like the burning sensation...like a hot iron being placed against my outer calf muscle...that occurs from time to time
I've been on the 'rack' at my local hospital...and had the electrical treatment at my physio...neither cured it as it recurs each year
As mentioned above...ibuprofen offers great relief...as do these three exercises which can easily be carried out:
- lie down flat on your back arms by your side palms downward knees bent feet flat to the ground...try pushing your spine flat to the floor
- lie down on your back....bring your knees up to your chest...clasp knees with both arms...and roll gently from side to side
- standing up...if pain is down right leg...put hands on your hips...arch your back backwards then pull to the left (vice-versa if pain is down left leg
I jogged for 15 years before taking up cycling and never suffered it during those years
I find it comes on during the damp months...February and November usually
I particularly don't like the burning sensation...like a hot iron being placed against my outer calf muscle...that occurs from time to time
I've been on the 'rack' at my local hospital...and had the electrical treatment at my physio...neither cured it as it recurs each year
As mentioned above...ibuprofen offers great relief...as do these three exercises which can easily be carried out:
- lie down flat on your back arms by your side palms downward knees bent feet flat to the ground...try pushing your spine flat to the floor
- lie down on your back....bring your knees up to your chest...clasp knees with both arms...and roll gently from side to side
- standing up...if pain is down right leg...put hands on your hips...arch your back backwards then pull to the left (vice-versa if pain is down left leg
...ever cycle ...ever CTC
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Alan Roadley
- Posts: 12
- Joined: 10 Jan 2007, 1:47pm
Once more thanks for all your replies. Bit of a setback yesterday. I was walking back from swimming when I was stopped dead by a massive pain down my leg (the bad one), felt like a huge sudden muscle contraction. Pain has now shifted from the leg to my l/h side lower back! And it's worse! Couldn't sleep for it and could hardly get out of bed either. Just when I was thinking about a little try out on the bike.
Been waiting a month for an appointment with an NHS physio. I'll find my own if I don't hear soon. I'm going to look into pilates as so many people have extolled it's benefits.
I will get the miles in again.
Alan
Been waiting a month for an appointment with an NHS physio. I'll find my own if I don't hear soon. I'm going to look into pilates as so many people have extolled it's benefits.
I will get the miles in again.
Alan
Sciatica
Hi Alan,
Be very very careful what you do. I started with sciatica 11 years ago, it gradually got worse eventually developing into"drop foot" ( the inability to lift the foot properly when walking). The root cause of sciatica is in the lumbar area of the spine, I ended up having keyhole surgery which removed the cause of the pain by releasing the trapped nerve. Ten years on and after lots of physio, I still have drop foot as the nerve in my leg was damaged. I still get some pain from time to time but the good news is I cycle regularly and for the last few years have averaged 5-6000 miles a year. Go back to your doctor, if you are not getting satisfaction get a second opinion and try to see a specialist. Don't be put off, a scan may be the only way to find the cause of the pain. There are some good sites on the web just Google it. Good luck.
Be very very careful what you do. I started with sciatica 11 years ago, it gradually got worse eventually developing into"drop foot" ( the inability to lift the foot properly when walking). The root cause of sciatica is in the lumbar area of the spine, I ended up having keyhole surgery which removed the cause of the pain by releasing the trapped nerve. Ten years on and after lots of physio, I still have drop foot as the nerve in my leg was damaged. I still get some pain from time to time but the good news is I cycle regularly and for the last few years have averaged 5-6000 miles a year. Go back to your doctor, if you are not getting satisfaction get a second opinion and try to see a specialist. Don't be put off, a scan may be the only way to find the cause of the pain. There are some good sites on the web just Google it. Good luck.