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Hurt my lower back 2 months ago (on my 40th birthday) up at the Forest of Dean. Back seems ok now but have pain down my right side. Worst in the morning and at night. Am actually ok riding the bike but walking still hurts and feel a it like John Wayne at times.
Been to the doctors and he says it could be sciatica and should go for a scan in a few weeks if it still the same. Anyone else had this and am I making it worst by getting the bike out. Need to really to stop me going mad. If this is what being in my 40's is all about then it's not good.
Few searches on the interweb recommend stretches which seem to work as well as hot and cold presses. But nothing on mtb which is my main passion..
Could also be sacro iliac joint dysfunction.
Bird-dog is the exercise that sorted out my SI problem
Deep tissue massage, full body checkout.
Found out mine was a result of a skeletal imbalance from having one leg shorted than the other, and my frame being all to cock trying to accommodate the shorter leg.
The only way I get rid of it is stretches to 'floss' the sciatic nerve.
more stretching, more stretching, more stretching
go see a physio and get some ones that will work for you
Mine is an injury more than 20 years that flares up in the last 5 years.
I use the massaging stick/roller on myself from time to time and that tends to stop it but I shall get some proper treatment next year using traditional massage.
Yoga.
Well it's a bit more complicated than that.
It could piriformis it's common and just get blamed on sciatica. You tube really is your friend here loads of videos on the subject.
Don't wait for a scan spend 40 quid and see a sports physio for treatment or to diagnosis the problem.
http://www.nhs.uk/video/Pages/sciatica-piriformis-syndrome.aspx
I use a foam roller too which works along with ibuprofen.
I hurt my back a few months ago. Fortunately I went to a chiropractor who sorted me out and now I'm better than I have been for years.
The danger in taking advice from non-experts (and some good physios can be non-experts in certain back problems) is that the treatment that helps one kind of pain can be damaging for another, seemingly similar, one.
And sometimes you just have to wait for the initial damage to heal before you can start any treatment.
Take professional advice, not a bunch of numpties on the internet!
It could be many things so you need to get the real source identified and dealt with.
If you are not getting leg pain, then it is not sciatica
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Sciatica/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx
Thanks guys
Stretching and maybe a psysio then. But keep to the biking within moderation. I will try.
Get a proper diagnosis, MRI is probably essential for a possible spinal cord/ prolapsed disc diagnosis.
It is also useful to rule in or out other conditions
No matter what the precise diagnosis, Ibuprofin will be a very good bet. Unless you have some kind of issue with it, use it as soon as you feel discomfort. Seriously.
My first bout of sciatica was so bad I couldn't walk at all. So ended up some physio treatment. This was mostly massage and heat.
Wheat bags are good, placed in the microwave to heat up. I could however ride the mtb for miles and miles.
My second bout was the opposite. Couldn't sit down but cold walk for miles and miles. Again heat and stretching really helped. Oh and exercise.
Took a trip to local chiropractor for free assement. Sounds like it is sciatica and obviously recommended their treatment. This I don't mind as I am prepared to give anything a go. But they said to lay of the mountain bike which is a big blow. Cycling on road may be ok but that's not me. Meant to be off to Afan next week as well.
Will try the wheat bags as well and keep with the strecting exercises. How long does it last?