Massive Pain in the backside...

[TrekMad]

It sounds exactly like the sciatic pain I had . The clue is in the sharp pain when just sitting down, no amount of adjusting your bike will fix this. Pain killers are of limited use as its a nerve running over bone and it's protective 'sheath' is damaged. Only physio and long term exercises will help. Been there, burnt the T shirt!

[anniesboy]

Not much consulation, I suffered this in my left buttock many years ago. A "friend" advised the pain would go after 5 or 6 years.

It did, trouble is I now have it in my right buttock, my pain starts when walking, touching my toes helps for a while. Afer walking for a couple of miles or so pain is much reduced.

The good news is that cycling is pain free.

[661-Pete]

I've probably had attacks of it, on and off, for ten years plus. But the important words here are "on and off". I can be free of the symptoms for a year or more, then suddenly it flares up again with a vengeance.

An exercise which my osteopath taught me. Lie flat on your back on the bed. Bend your right leg so that the knee is above your stomach, and your heel above your buttock. Then clasp both hands around your shin, just below the kneecap, and SLOWLY but firmly pull down, as if trying to force your knee up against the chest, breathing in. Hold it about a second, then release slowly, breathing out. Wait a few seconds, then repeat this, about ten times in all.

Then repeat the same sequence on the left knee.

Finally repeat the sequence on both knees together.

I'm not promising that this will sort it, but sometimes it gives a bit of pain relief.

[Vorpal]

Raise your bars or use a shorter stem to bring them closer (or both). Your problems sound more like lower back / nerve related, and not to do with the saddle. Being less bent over whilst riding is worth a try. Ibuprofen may help the symptoms, but see your GP for advice.

The direct causes of sciatica are varied; it's pressure on the sciatic nerve, but there are various possible sources of this pressure. However, for many (most?) sufferers, being more bent helps, and being more upraight may be less comfortable.

For me, when I was suffering, cycling was the only time I was completely pain free, and my road bike, with a slightly agressive position was better than any others.