Saddle Pain - only on one side

[The Mechanic]

After surgery for prostate cancer in July last year (2013) I am experimenting with cutaway saddles. I am currently using a Specialized Romin Pro but am finding I get significant pain on the left side only. It is not directly on my sit bone but appears to be further in towards the centre and a little forward. I can feel what appears to be a ligament over the bone where it hurts. After a 30-40 mile ride it is so bad I can't sit on the saddle. There is no pain whatsoever on the right side. Anyone had this experience or can suggest a reason I would appreciated your feedback.

[LollyKat]

This post may possibly related to your problem - the solution may just help?

[MGate]

Hi Mechanic,

sorry to hear of your trials - but glad to hear you want to be back out on the bike.

I'm reluctant to say anything as I'm no expert but I went through something similar - may be the same or not. I had a pain develop near (but not on) a sit bone on one side, that felt a little like it had been bruised, but it wasn't. Just felt numb and uncomfortable. I ended up doing stretches for my 'piriformis' (sp?) muscle and that seemed to help. Especially if the discomfort had come on during a ride - hop off and do some stretches.

The two other things I did was to raise my bars and inch and move my saddle forward by 5mm. The load now is spread more evenly on my backside and not just near the sit bones, saddle has a barely perceptible tilt up to help spread the load too, but I stress its a completely different saddle (a Brooks Swift) and suits my narrow bottom. That was a revelation.

Now - here's the other thing I did - and I'm prepared for some flack - I bought some Assos T607 shorts - £130. Perhaps the best thing I have ever bought for a bike! Yep more £ than a decent saddle - but my backside feels the opposite of sore - it feels cosseted! 40 hilly miles friday followed by 70 miles on sat and I never thought about my rear end! The padding is in the right place and is firm in places and soft in others.

BUT take all this with a pinch of salt - bike fit is part science part art - and this just happened to work for me. But it is worth experimenting with other things - and of course looking at maybe a professional bike fit might be a good idea. It may be that you problems are somewhere else and just happen to pull or irritate something in that area down there, having undergone surgery you will be understandably focused in that area. Hope you get it sorted though and keep cycling! Very Best M

[bikepacker]

Are you sure it is not Ischial Bursitis as that only normally affects one side?

There was a discussion here on the topic: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=80515

[The Mechanic]

Thanks all. There is some interesting ready there. Unlike some of the posters in the links, I do not have any pain when standing or sitting or even walking. Only when sitting on a saddle. Will research some of the links

Thanks again.