Sodding Lower Back!!!!!

[Browser]

Not really one for the Health & Fitness section, just me having a rant. 6:15 this morning, up gets me for a constitutional (it's me age y' see ), 6 inches from seated, descending in a controlled manner, back straight and weight on both feet, when POW, mr back pain comes to visit again. Horrid sensation of a hinge just above my pelvis suddenly releasing and said pelvis and spine opening forwards (i.e. me collapsing forwards onto self) followed almost immediatley by back muscles trying to 'catch' this and locking solid. Only the fact that it was early a.m. stopped me from loudly shouting imprecations at the world in general. Browser is defenitely not a happy bunny today, more because I will now have to take time off the bike to let this heal
I'm going to go and sulk now.........

 

[Archie_tect]

Awful isn't it! Hope you're better soon- my lower back pain doesn't get agitated by cycling but limited to the right side of my back which gets worse when twisting or getting up.

 

[gary r]

welcome to my world !!! i have constant back pain, when it goes into a spasm it can be days before im fully mobile again, ive just got used to living with it, driving or sitting at my work desk for long periods seems to make it worse for me.

 

[ASC1951]

Regular swimming and occasional visits to the osteo are the only things that keep me pain-free these days, no matter how much cycling I do. Still, it's better than the alternative.

 

[colly]

My sympathies Browser. It comes out of nowhere and really buggers your plans up.

I have found some relief by using some of the Yoga exercises that my Mrs does. Some are specifically for loosening the back and I have found that they help a great deal. I can't tell you which ones or what they are called but I'm sure with a bit of research you could find out. Had a couple of twinges last week after sleeping awkwardly one night and 10 mins doing them put me right again. If I think of it and have time I do them most mornings to keep trouble at bay.

 

[wiggydiggy]

Do any of you work in an office/spend lots of time sat down (when not on the bike) - I too suffer from occasional lower back pain but I manage it with a special chair at work (ask for a DSE assessment) and maintaining my posture elsewhere when sat.

I ride a Hybrid BTW, I haven't had drops in 20+ years so no idea how the back would be on them but on my Hybrid I do have to 'sit up' occasionally rather than the usual semi-hunched and rarely I do the no hands trick to properly straighten myself up.

Also I saw a Chiropractor a while back (free walk in on NHS, check with your GP for nearest clinic) who spent some time giving me some crunches on the spine and other wonderful things.

Good luck

 

[Red Light]

My understanding is these days the old advice of taking it easy or lying flat while it gets better is out the window and keeping active and mobile is encouraged. So maybe the bike could be a good thing.

 

[Archie_tect]

I tried a chiropractor for back pain about 5 years ago... went every week for four weeks at £40 a time [no NHS/ doctor referrals up here]... stopped going when I realised it was the half hour walk he recommended after the sessions that were doing me more good... He was Australian and was a really smarmy type with all the mumbo-jumbo patter. I try and walk 10,000 steps a day and that really helps.

 

[Browser]

Just back from chiropractors (brilliant, Broadway Chiropractic Clinic in Peterborough for anyone in the area) and she's signed me off work for a week. Hillarious getting accross the road from car to clinic, looked like a crippled crab
Rest, lie, walk, don't sit for too long, ice pack for 15-20 mins at a time, see her again Friday.
Off to walk gently and fume in quiet.......

 

[Globalti]

FWIW I only suffer from back pain when I've lifted something badly and I pull a muscle. At 55 with a long back I put my good luck down to the fact that I have the air cushion on my VW car seat pumped up to its fullest, meaning the small of my back is always supported (if I let the air out I can't believe how uncomfortable and slouched my position becomes) and at work I use a compact, firm typist's chair with a rigid, firm back, which forces me to sit correctly. Again, sitting in some colleagues' chairs I can't believe they can bear to sit in such soft, un-supporting chairs. I really do believe that correct sitting is the key to avoiding long-term back trouble.

 

[thom]

I've had lower back pain a couple of times when I over exercised. The root cause has been my core muscles were not strong enough and I was doing something particularly energetic.

I'm not a medical professional but this is now my impression of the problem:

I had a job where for years I would sit in for 10 hours a day or more, in an ergonomically designed chair in fact but in the same position essentially.
The core muscles just were not exercised - I would run a bit but that seemed not to do so much for the core.
Anyway, when you have locked muscles with lower back pain, I think the deal is they are basically blocked with toxins. So the idea is to stimulate fluid flow through them by massage or gentle exercise and this gets rid of the toxins. Keeping well hydrated helps and off coffee apparently.
Over time if you don't aggravate the muscles, the toxins dissipate of their own accord but only really slowly and if you lie still all the time, you're doing nothing to help the process.
I was reccomended to do Yoga or Pilates as a long term solution to strengthen the core but in fact I swim a fair amount and the rotation there is a good substitute I think.

A related point is about lower back pain from riding a bike. I found the hamgstring stretch on page 2 of Mosquito's bike fit article really helpful - it improved my range of positions on the bike which I think were limited to an extent due to my lower back issues.

 

[asterix]

Good post thom.

I have a lot less back trouble since I lost my office job and now do building work and the like. The worst thing I can do now is drive a car for long periods! Cycling OTOH is a very good way of getting rid of aches and pains but good bike fit is crucial.

 

[col]

I used to suffer regularly with this, as Im sat all day. The best advice I can give is be active, even just gentle walking can stave off back pain. And if it rears its ugly head, gentle movement as often as possible gets rid quicker than resting it.

 

[Globalti]

The last time I pulled a muscle in my back lifting a suitcase badly, I suffered for a couple of months before trying yoga. To my amazement I walked out of the yoga session completely pain free. It's the stretching, innit.