Another saddle problem; Bursitis?

[531colin]

3D pelvis animation here https://anatomytool.org/content/3d-model-pelvis Takes a few seconds to load the 3D stuff on this PC.
Ischial tuberosity is labelled 3; this is where you sit on a chair. I'm struggling to find a better-labelled diagram, https://healthiack.com/encyclopedia/pic ... he-ischium is the best I found.
Where you sit on a bike is forward of the ischial tuberosity, somewhere on the inferior ischial ramus/inferior pubic ramus depending on your back angle. ( these bones are closer together at the front; so race saddles are narrow)

I have developed what might be bursitis; where the inferior pubic ramus turns up to the body of the pubis "something" passes under the bone, presumably in a bursa.

After a long lay-off I got out on the bike for a couple of hours on several days a month ago; initial discomfort I put down to not riding, and by the time I realised I had "done something" there was an almond sized swelling in the area, which felt bruised.
A month later, after just one (ill-advised) ride, I can feel a "cord" passing under the bone in that area. (and not the other side) Its still painful to just sit on my brooks B17 narrow; I have been riding these saddles for most of a lifetime. However, on a newly-purchased saddle with a cutout I have ridden round the block with no discomfort at all.

I think that if I can ride pain-free, then I am doing no further damage, and the injury will heal naturally. What does anybody else think?

This is new territory for me, I have reached the age of 74 without anything like this happening previously.

[simonineaston]

You have my sympathy - sounds proper uncomfortable. Just a thought but I wonder of you can get some sort of gel top for saddles - something along the lines of the Sorbothane footbeds you can get for footwear.

[Jdsk]

3D pelvis animation here https://anatomytool.org/content/3d-model-pelvis Takes a few seconds to load the 3D stuff on this PC.
Ischial tuberosity is labelled 3; this is where you sit on a chair. I'm struggling to find a better-labelled diagram, https://healthiack.com/encyclopedia/pic ... he-ischium is the best I found.
Where you sit on a bike is forward of the ischial tuberosity, somewhere on the inferior ischial ramus/inferior pubic ramus depending on your back angle. ( these bones are closer together at the front; so race saddles are narrow)

I have developed what might be bursitis; where the inferior pubic ramus turns up to the body of the pubis "something" passes under the bone, presumably in a bursa.

After a long lay-off I got out on the bike for a couple of hours on several days a month ago; initial discomfort I put down to not riding, and by the time I realised I had "done something" there was an almond sized swelling in the area, which felt bruised.
A month later, after just one (ill-advised) ride, I can feel a "cord" passing under the bone in that area. (and not the other side) Its still painful to just sit on my brooks B17 narrow; I have been riding these saddles for most of a lifetime. However, on a newly-purchased saddle with a cutout I have ridden round the block with no discomfort at all.

I think that if I can ride pain-free, then I am doing no further damage, and the injury will heal naturally. What does anybody else think?

This is new territory for me, I have reached the age of 74 without anything like this happening previously.

There are several bursae round the lower edge of the pelvis. I think that you are describing the ischial bursa. Lots of images to choose from:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ischial+bursa ... &ia=images
and filter by Images.

A recent overview of ischial bursitis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482285/

On that almond/ cord: is it tender when you press directly on it? It sounds not.

If riding is really pain-free then I agree with you. But don't try to ride through it.

Hope you're better soon.

Jonathan

[bikepacker]

Many times over the years I have been a member of this forum I have posted on this subject, the latest being on the "One Sided Saddle Problem" thread. viewtopic.php?p=1676656#p1676656

Having suffered the problem for over 25 years and after spending a small fortune on visiting medical experts (including having treatment at a clinic in San Pedro CA) who claimed to have cures. I can categorically state; if you have an ischial bursitis problem and you want to ride your bike, there isn't an effective cure.

From the experience of the last 25 years and cycling over 200,00 miles in that time, I know all you can really do is find a saddle or saddle position that doesn't cause too much pain. I have tried every make of saddle and not found one that offers a complete cure but some of the cheaper foam or gel saddles help. At the present time I am using Selle Italia Man Gel Flow saddles, the older leather covered model but do occasionally keep trying a Brooks.

One lesson I quickly learnt was not to take notice of anyone including physios and doctors who have not had the problem or who are not cyclists. After spending £1500 to see a so called Harley Street specialist, his advice was "give up cycling".

[531colin]

You have my sympathy - sounds proper uncomfortable. Just a thought but I wonder of you can get some sort of gel top for saddles - something along the lines of the Sorbothane footbeds you can get for footwear.

You can get gel saddle covers, but i don't know anybody with a good word to say for them.
Going with a saddle with cutout

[531colin]

There are several bursae round the lower edge of the pelvis. I think that you are describing the ischial bursa. Lots of images to choose from:
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=ischial+bursa ... &ia=images
and filter by Images.

A recent overview of ischial bursitis:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482285/

On that almond/ cord: is it tender when you press directly on it? It sounds not.

If riding is really pain-free then I agree with you. But don't try to ride through it.

Hope you're better soon.

Jonathan

Ischial bursa seems to overly the ischial tuberosity? My problem is anterior and midline to this, close to pubic symphysis.

No longer tender to finger pressure, but painful to sit on saddles I have used for most of a lifetime.

However, a random saddle with cutout (From H*lf*rds!) is pain-free, at least for a mile or two.

Experience tells me not to ignore it / try to ride through it......very unpleasant!

Going to try Selle smp cutout saddles, Dillglove do a test saddle scheme.

[531colin]

............
One lesson I quickly learnt was not to take notice of anyone including physios and doctors who have not had the problem or who are not cyclists. After spending £1500 to see a so called Harley Street specialist, his advice was "give up cycling".

I feel your pain.........almost literally. I am desperate to get out on the bike, but frightened of causing further damage if i start too soon or ride too far.
Unfortunately your ischial bursitis is in the area where you have to weight bear on a saddle, I think I am maybe fortunate that my problem may be solved by a cutout saddle to relieve any pressure on my sore area.

[mattheus]

Experience tells me not to ignore it / try to ride through it......very unpleasant!

I would certainly go with that! I don't have any personal experience, nor medical expertise, but I do know Steve Abraham who had something similar and required surgery.

In case you don't know him, he's a record-holding Audaxer, and the only UK rider to (seriously) attempt the World Year Mileage record in many decades.
https://ultracycling.com/archive/record ... mr-record/
He rode 72,000 miles that year! One of 3 attempts.

IIRC the bursa was before his record attempt(s), but I could be wrong. He was certainly riding a lot at the time.

[Jdsk]

Ischial bursa seems to overly the ischial tuberosity? My problem is anterior and midline to this, close to pubic symphysis.

Iliopsoas bursa?





Jonathan

[531colin]

Iliopsoas bursa?....................

Jonathan

No. Pubic arch / sub-pubic angle ... or thereabouts.

Makes cutout saddle a possibility, I think.

[Greystoke]

I had numbnuts, tried many saddles selle SMP trek fixed it. Trek model suited my riding position.
Not sure if my issue is similar but I hope you find a solution

[531colin]

I had numbnuts, tried many saddles selle SMP trek fixed it. Trek model suited my riding position.
Not sure if my issue is similar but I hope you find a solution

Just got an SMP TRK saddle "tester" from Dillglove.
Doing OK so far; I found it a bit odd to set up, I am aware of the 2 separate sides where the nose of my Brooks used to be. **
Setting the nose 5mm down relative to the back of the saddle is better, and next I'm trying it set a bit further forward.
i guess I'm trying to sit on the back of the saddle.

**I was never that aware of the Brooks nose, but thats the bit which has done me, after many years riding the things!

[Paulatic]

[
Just got an SMP TRK saddle "tester" from Dillglove.
Doing OK so far; I found it a bit odd to set up, I am aware of the 2 separate sides where the nose of my Brooks used to be. **
Setting the nose 5mm down relative to the back of the saddle is better, and next I'm trying it set a bit further forward.
i guess I'm trying to sit on the back of the saddle.

**I was never that aware of the Brooks nose, but thats the bit which has done me, after many years riding the things!

I’ve SMP on all my bikes but prefer the Hybrid as I found the TRK too wide between the legs. Mine are all set with the central flat section level. The advice I offer is set correctly that curve from there to the rear cups your bone structure. Initially it gives a sensation towards the front pubic section that you probably won’t be used to. Think it took me around a week and now struggle to ride anything else.

[bikepacker]

I had numbnuts, tried many saddles selle SMP trek fixed it. Trek model suited my riding position.
Not sure if my issue is similar but I hope you find a solution

Just got an SMP TRK saddle "tester" from Dillglove.
Doing OK so far; I found it a bit odd to set up, I am aware of the 2 separate sides where the nose of my Brooks used to be. **
Setting the nose 5mm down relative to the back of the saddle is better, and next I'm trying it set a bit further forward.
i guess I'm trying to sit on the back of the saddle.

**I was never that aware of the Brooks nose, but thats the bit which has done me, after many years riding the things!

How did you get on with the SMP TRK and which size of saddle did you try?

[531colin]

.................How did you get on with the SMP TRK and which size of saddle did you try?

I'm trying "medium" which i think is the narrowest, slightly confusingly!
I'm cautiously optimistic, but for various reasons i haven't ridden much lately.
HOWEVER, I don't think I have ischial bursitis.....my problem was further forward, so the saddle cutout appears to be working and taking the pressure off that area.