Cycling UK Forum

Suffering from lower back pain; possibly brought on by a impact on the right hip arising from a slow forward movement fall from the bike, and a recent CTC Scan indicating a narrowing of the spinal nerve canal located at vertebrae L3 & L4 would it be advisable to adopt a more upright position, I.e. straight/riser bars & short extension, in preference to my normal drop bars with a longer and lower extension. Symptoms being experienced: tightness in the gluteus and hamstring muscles in both legs generally but, when riding, pain in the right Gluteus medius region at the perimeter of the Ilium starting, and increasing in intensity, from circa 5 miles.

Any Health and Technical advice would be greatly appreciated

As an experiment, simply getting a shorter stem and having it a bit higher (if you have spacers to play with or can flip the stem) won't cost very much and takes ten minutes to do. I have used stems as short as 70mm (instead of 110mm or one bike) and it does make you sit up a bit, which I found resolved lower back problems. £30 and ten minutes with an allen key is all it takes to give it a try.

I have always found riding a more upright position causes my spine to compress whereas a lower handlebar position tends to allow my body mass to see-saw front to back with the bike. This is factual and at odds to the previous comment and, with all due respect to pwa, I include it deliberately as I really think you should consult a sports physio who can analyse your position and give a more specific answer that will not put you at greater risk of injury.

Cyril, how old are you?
The reason I ask is that in young people a "narrowing of the canal" usually means a herniated disc is protruding into the canal; if this is you, you should have been given very specific advice when you got your diagnosis from the CT scan. A herniated disc isn't a trivial injury and it isn't something I would seek advice about over the internet.
I am old enough that my discs can no longer herniate; the "soft centre" of the discs gets replaced by gristle. (I think the same must be happening to my head just now.... )

Thanks pwa, peetee & 531colin,
My reason for raising the question and my dilemma. Feeling that my discomfort/pain could possibly be caused by a trapped/ herniated nerve bulging into the reduced space at the front of the vertebrae would a more vertical position possibly worsen the problem by moving the load further to the rear thereby increasing the bulge on the front edge of the compromised disc(s) and increasing contact with the spinal nerves. Conversely, however, moving the load rearward may distribute more evenly the load over a greater area of the spinal discs, or gristle as mentioned.

With regards to my age, born in 1937 I’m rapidly approaching 83 but wouldn’t want my age to be a consideration as to my ability to continuing riding.

Thanks PSA, peetee & 531colin
My reason for raising the question and my dilemma. Feeling that my discomfort/pain could possibly be caused by a trapped/ herniated nerve bulging into the reduced space at the front of the vertebrae would a more vertical position possibly worsen the problem by moving the load further to the rear thereby increasing the bulge on the front edge of the compromised disc(s) and increasing contact with the spinal nerves. Conversely, however, moving the load rearward may distribute more evenly the load over a greater area of the spinal discs.

With regards to my age, born in 1937 I’m rapidly approaching 83 bu wouldn’t want my age to be a consideration as to my ability to continue riding.

I would agree with peetee. After years of trying to find a more upright position that suited me, I now flop forward on the bike with a lower handlebar position which relaxes the back and the hips just get on with their pedalling.. But every one is different.
Perhaps a recumbent trike may be your answer????

OK, at 83 I think your "discs" like mine will be pretty solid by now; you can actually see this as an advantage, in that I don't think that you can easily cause your discs a great deal of damage, unless you do something really daft.
However, there is still the business of a narrowed vertebra; If this is associated with (for example) a degenerative condition such as ankylosing spondylitis or arthritis, then I think you need to be very careful and seek professional advice.
If you have no serious underlying back conditions, then I think a little gentle fiddling with your riding position will do no harm. I would make a small alteration to one thing at a time, and see how you go.
Gentle stretching after exercise when the muscles are warm is helpful for tight muscles.

KM2 wrote:Perhaps a recumbent trike may be your answer????

Sounds like a damn good excuse to try a few