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Post by matthewlaws on Oct 3, 2015 20:50:46 GMT
Hello All,
I was wondering if anyone has ever trapped or compressed a nerve on their sit bones?
After riding last weekend I developed extreme phantom pains at the end of my pudendal nerve (I'll spare the details). It's so bad I cant sit for a second on any of my saddles. It was pretty shocking as I normally ride 100K + and the whole thing pretty much came out of nowhere. My doctor told me to stop cycling and to consider a new sport, or getting rid of the source as it is a 'mechanical problem' - all valid points.
I am trying different saddles at the moment, as well as trying my own shapes from old saddles and carved foam. It may just get better with time too.
Any advice people have would be much appreciated
Thanks,
Matthew
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 14:46:06 GMT
Check if it got out of adjustment (bike fit) and if it is old? replace it - as they do lose form with use...
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Post by matthewlaws on Oct 4, 2015 15:13:34 GMT
Hey - the seat is a year old and was the most comfortable I've tried when I got it - also chosen by a bike fitter.
I was bike fitted a month and half ago and the fitter lowered my saddle height compared to what I used to ride (a position that was also fitted for me).
I have found that increasing the height of the saddle alleviates the problem slightly as it rotates my hips forward. TT positions work well as it takes a lot of weight off the sit bones!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2015 15:42:50 GMT
I had another bike fit with Simon at Cadence yesterday and he mentioned that he's got a client with the same issues and they're looking into some interest saddle options. Maybe worth popping in to see him?
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Post by James Malone on Oct 4, 2015 20:36:21 GMT
I'm wincing reading this! I've a couple of specialized saddles with cutouts your welcome to try.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2015 9:25:16 GMT
I would go and see someone like Nic Roberts at Velophysio for an expert opinion. It doesn't sound like a mechanical problem as you now have pain sitting on any saddle. My guess is your back / hips / hamstrings / glutes need some loosening.
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Post by david emery on Oct 5, 2015 10:10:06 GMT
Second that. Get an expert opinion or second medical opinion. My opinion on doctors (esp GPs) and sports injuries isn't great, unless you find one with sporting experience. Sounds like a break at least wouldn't be a bad thing
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Post by Charlotte "Charly" R. on Oct 5, 2015 13:31:07 GMT
Cycle fit in Covent Garden do saddle pressure mapping if it comes to getting detail analysis on saddle selection. If anyone has done this i would be interested in hearing feedback.
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Post by Dalila Lecky on Oct 5, 2015 22:34:38 GMT
I had quite a long pressure mapping session with CycleFit when I was in for a bike fit last month. They're sort of perfectionists, they wouldn't give in until they had stopped me sitting on my "soft tissue" and also asymmetrically. It resulted in me buying the saddle they recommended there and then and having them fit it on my bike, my sit bones are still getting used to the pressure, but it's been a massive improvement. However, if Matthew is looking to reduce the pressure on his sit bones they probably wouldn't recommend that, it's quite the opposite of what they aim for.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2015 5:57:08 GMT
Second Cyclefit and pressure mapping. I had a Physio and bike fitter work on my many issues in the same session- they were brilliant and most issues have been resolved.
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Post by jonathangales on Oct 6, 2015 15:52:02 GMT
I too had pressure mapping at Cycle fit. I was sceptical at first but I was riding completely off to one side without knowing. Now my symmetry fixed and riding is much more comfortable!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2015 20:09:09 GMT
Second that. Get an expert opinion or second medical opinion. My opinion on doctors (esp GPs) and sports injuries isn't great, unless you find one with sporting experience. Sounds like a break at least wouldn't be a bad thing As a GP with a sports medicine qualification, I would second David's comment. I really do not wish to speak ill of any of my colleagues but sports medicine has exploded in terms of knowledge and available (sadly mostly privatley) treatments. It is commonplace to get 3 quotes from any tradesman, so why would you think differently about your health? Personally I am never offended if someone wants a second opinion, neither would most other doctors, but generally, if you go back to the same GP with the same problem, they will be receptive to having a rethink Anyway I am sending you a private message with my 'corridor consult' as to what I think may be going on and hopefully helpful suggestions...
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Post by matthewlaws on Oct 6, 2015 22:25:45 GMT
Thanks for all the great support and advise.
From reading around and some kind advise from Malcolm, I think I have some kind of nerve entrapment/neourpathic pain problem which is probably caused by one of my nerves coming in close proximity to my sit bone when sat on a saddle - the repeated motion of pedalling has probably caused it to become irritated - causing the odd phantom pains. I think I will be able to solve the issue with a mix of saddle exploration and medical treatment.
My advise to anyone with a saddle niggle, no matter how insignificant it is to try an sort it out - when reading around I have been quite shocked about what can happen f you just keep riding through it (much worse than what I have!). For me I think years of tolerating a slight pain without completely resolving it has been the cause, even though I have maintained a good position and saddle fit in recent years.
In answer to some of your suggestions - I have been professionally fitted twice and also got saddle advise from a fitter a while ago when I purchased a new bike - getting a flat saddle (specialised toupe) rather than a curves saddle (specialised romin) was a huge improvement - in fact - for the past year I thought my saddle fit was perfect as it has been totally comfortable with nearly all my weight through the sit bones. This works well for most people but perhaps not me in the end!
I also emailed cyclefit about a saddle pressure test -they were very helpful suggesting pressure mapping could give me an insight, but also stressing that I should be seeking medical advise too. In the long run I could this data to design myself a custom saddle - having looked at the pelvis anatomy in 3D (I got a 3D scan of a pelvis) I have a few ideas to try out.
I will also be pursuing medical advice too especially if it doesn't improve in the time duration my GP told me to rest for - my GP did say he would be happy to refer me in the direction of an expert if this was the case. Malcolm also kindly suggested next steps for me to take from a medical point of view too.
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