Cycling UK Forum

Any advice very welcome. It's been getting much worse over the last couple of years and therapy has not helped. Now raising bars above saddle height for a little relief much to the amusement of the club!

Could you add a photo showing where the pain is worst, preferably with one finger pointing at it.

When does it occur, what makes it worse, and how long does it last?

What treatment have you had so far?

Thanks

Jonathan

Oilyhands wrote: ↑9 Apr 2023, 12:28pm Any advice very welcome. It's been getting much worse over the last couple of years and therapy has not helped. Now raising bars above saddle height for a little relief much to the amusement of the club!

When I first got into long distance touring I had to raise the bars to a level most regarded as comical to get some of the weight off my arms, then as my fitness improved a bit I was able to take more weight on my feet rather than my arms, and put the bars back down to a more 'normal' level. However, after a while I developed problems which caused neck pain, and a trapped nerve feeling in my arms. After an MRI it was diagnosed as cervical foramenal stenosis, but whatever the cause, it pretty much resolved itself after I quit cycling. Nowadays I've only had the problem recur when I hold my neck in a similar position to that on the bike for protracted periods (such as craning my neck back to view the laptop through varifocals when it's higher up on the dining room table rather than lower down on my lap). It also helped when I weaned myself off the habit of sleeping with my head thrust forward on the pillow.

Much sympathy for your issues.I, also,have had to adopt a more upright position,though for a different reason,namely an old elbow injury from a fall whilst climbing 45yrs ago.It,s only caused bother on long rides,70plus miles but,more relevant to you,neck issues also started to rear their ugly head.Raising the bars helped a fair bit but,more recently[15mnths ago?],I made the decision to go the whole hog with riser bars as per my mt bike.Importantly,I also put on two forward extensions,mounted inboard to replicate,approximately,my"on the hoods"position from the old drop bars.The grips and extensions were covered in good quality foam grips.I,ve now got a really comfy ,more upright position with the option of the forward position in a headwind.Might work for you.P.S.my cycling mates expresséd some interest but hardly even noticed,certainly didn,t take the mick,even in a jokey way,especially when I descended steep ,technical twisty decents comfortably in the lead !!

It sounds as if you have already been to a sports physiotherapist and have been doing stretching exercises, is that right? The latter have helped me: I was out for 4 hours on the bike yesterday and did some stretches afterwards and I had no pains this morning: hurrah!

Another thing that I would try is sleeping on your side rather than on your front. Also make sure that your head is well supported by a medium to firm pillow.

Not cycling in the cold and wearing a buff/neck tube may help.

Then you could also try a recumbent bike or would that cause too much hilarity?

Sorry to hear about your discomfort and pain in the area. I've had it very occasionally, not helped by my melon head!

Do you do any strengthening exercises for your upper back and shoulders? As well as stretching, improving overall strength and stability will aid in minimising neck pain when riding.

Oilyhands wrote: ↑9 Apr 2023, 12:28pm Any advice very welcome. It's been getting much worse over the last couple of years and therapy has not helped. Now raising bars above saddle height for a little relief much to the amusement of the club!

Maybe a shorter stem? Then you could put the bars down again and nobody would be any the wiser.

NOTE DATES OF POSTING

OP hasn’t returned since April

Oilyhands wrote: ↑9 Apr 2023, 12:28pm Any advice very welcome. It's been getting much worse over the last couple of years and therapy has not helped. Now raising bars above saddle height for a little relief much to the amusement of the club!

Simply raising your handbags may not be the whole answer.. especially if you are using flat handlebars.. whichvare of course the work of belezebubb himself... as already stated previously, you may need to move the 'bars towards the saddle. This is especially true if you are having tocurve both your shoulder blades inwards to reach them

cycle tramp wrote: ↑19 Feb 2024, 6:30pm

Oilyhands wrote: ↑9 Apr 2023, 12:28pm Any advice very welcome. It's been getting much worse over the last couple of years and therapy has not helped. Now raising bars above saddle height for a little relief much to the amusement of the club!

Simply raising your handbags may not be the whole answer.. especially if you are using flat handlebars.. whichvare of course the work of belezebubb himself... as already stated previously, you may need to move the 'bars towards the saddle. This is especially true if you are having tocurve both your shoulder blades inwards to reach them

Or may be carry the handbags on a pannier