Saddle issues still...

[93legendti]

Ok, still suffering they my sports hernia, which only bothers me when I sit on a saddle for longer than a minute... Pain is on the left side of my groin...

The WTB Pure V saddle felt the same as my existing saddle. I am going to try a SMP and I am desperate enough to consider this:

http://www.nexride.com/installation/

Anyone ever ride this saddle or know anyone who has ridden it?

[AngryScientist]

that design is crazy. please dont even consider this. if something abrupt happens and slides your butt off the saddle forward, you're going to be in for a painful experience. i bet you'll have a hard time stabilizing the bike too without any nose at all. no no no.

https://html1-f.scribdassets.com/8i9wbzj4jk2dgykf/images/1-065e1a07b7.jpg

[Cicli]

That looks painful. You slide off the front and you might as well kiss your buttonhole goodbye.
Then again, I am all for anything that gets you out riding.

[quattro]

Not sure if it will solve your problem, but take a look at the Rido LT from England, it is a bit different. I have one and I like it very much.
http://www.rido-cyclesaddles.com

Rido saddles are available from Weber Bicycle in the US and reasonably priced compared to many saddles on the market.
http://www.weberbicycle.com/index.html

Good luck, I hope you find a saddle that gives you comfort.
quattro

[oldpotatoe]

Ok, still suffering they my sports hernia, which only bothers me when I sit on a saddle for longer than a minute... Pain is on the left side of my groin...

The WTB Pure V saddle felt the same as my existing saddle. I am going to try a SMP and I am desperate enough to consider this:

http://www.nexride.com/installation/

Anyone ever ride this saddle or know anyone who has ridden it?

Big fan of SMP. Have a Glider. Any SMP test centers around? I'd start with a 'pro'.

[gdw]

That design looks dangerous to put it mildly. Spiderflex makes a noseless saddle which looks much safer and has been used by some very experienced backcountry riders.

Here's a review of the Spiderflex which might be useful:
http://www.bikepacking.net/reviews/spiderflex-noseless-saddle/

Another Tour Divide racer tested one but "discarded it as it simply puts too much weight on my feet, hands and forearms. In short there is no real ‘rest’ position; you always have to brace your arms or legs. And it’s more difficult to grab & eat or other one-hand or no-handed actions with a noseless saddle."

[93legendti]

Big fan of SMP. Have a Glider. Any SMP test centers around? I'd start with a 'pro'.

We have them in our Performance Store. Going to get one today.

[93legendti]

Not sure if it will solve your problem, but take a look at the Rido LT from England, it is a bit different. I have one and I like it very much.
http://www.rido-cyclesaddles.com

Rido saddles are available from Weber Bicycle in the US and reasonably priced compared to many saddles on the market.
http://www.weberbicycle.com/index.html

Good luck, I hope you find a saddle that gives you comfort.
quattro

That looks promising...I will look into it

[MattTuck]

Sorry to hear about your issue. Not being an expert (although I've had hernia issues in the past), I wonder what is actually causing you pain. Is it the pressure, the friction, the exertion of riding.

I think that, until this question is clear (and it may already be clear to you), looking at the saddle issue may be fool's errand. In other words, this presupposes that there is a saddle out there that will solve the problem.

Have you tried time off the bike to let the hernia heal to some extent?

[93legendti]

Sorry to hear about your issue. Not being an expert (although I've had hernia issues in the past), I wonder what is actually causing you pain. Is it the pressure, the friction, the exertion of riding.

I think that, until this question is clear (and it may already be clear to you), looking at the saddle issue may be fool's errand. In other words, this presupposes that there is a saddle out there that will solve the problem.

Have you tried time off the bike to let the hernia heal to some extent?

Thank you,

No question. I am not sure a saddle will cure the issue..I guess this is desperation and wishful thinking...

I either damaged the area doing planks, cuz there is some slight tightness in my abs, and/or my saddle tilted up slightly and caused/exacerbated the issue.

I took a month off...tried heat pads and soaks per my dr's suggestion...no relief, so I tried icing. HUGE mistake. Even thou I wrapped the ice in a towel and was wearing sweats, I ended up "burning" my entire groin-lost a layer of skin and ended up on antibiotics and prednisone. (I use ice all the time for aches and pains - never had this before.)

I hoped the prednisone might help the underlying issue, but no. Last night I tried and it felt as bad as 1 month ago. My dr. ordered an ultrasound...$500, insurance doesn't cover. I guess I have no choice.

I can walk or run with no pain, same with go up and down stairs. Can't sit on a saddle.

[gasman]

Ok, still suffering they my sports hernia, which only bothers me when I sit on a saddle for longer than a minute... Pain is on the left side of my groin...

The WTB Pure V saddle felt the same as my existing saddle. I am going to try a SMP and I am desperate enough to consider this:

http://www.nexride.com/installation/

Anyone ever ride this saddle or know anyone who has ridden it?

Adam-

The ultrasound I assume is to diagnose whether you have an inguinal hernia or as you call it a sports hernia. If you do have a hernia it should be palpable by a good general surgeon and easily fixed with surgery-either laparoscopic or open. I gather you haven't seen a surgeon.
I had a hernia for about a year-diagnosed myself but waited to have it fixed until I got sick of pushing my bowel back into place. Had it fixed and never looked back.
A new saddle won't really help a hernia I suspect. I wonder if you have something weird like pudendal nerve entrapment that could be causing your pain only on a bike saddle ?

Good luck.

[93legendti]

Adam-

The ultrasound I assume is to diagnose whether you have an inguinal hernia or as you call it a sports hernia. If you do have a hernia it should be palpable by a good general surgeon and easily fixed with surgery-either laparoscopic or open. I gather you haven't seen a surgeon.
I had a hernia for about a year-diagnosed myself but waited to have it fixed until I got sick of pushing my bowel back into place. Had it fixed and never looked back.
A new saddle won't really help a hernia I suspect. I wonder if you have something weird like pudendal nerve entrapment that could be causing your pain only on a bike saddle ?

Good luck.
Thanks for the comments.

My internist examined the area...he is not a surgeon. He didn't refer me to a surgeon yet either. Rest, then ultrasound was his RX.

I will schedule the ultrasound tomorrow...

I just looked up pudendal nerve entrapment...I don't have the main symptoms - thank G-d.

[93legendti]

Also, I looked up inguinal hernia...there is no bulge and my pain is where the inner leg meets the groin...nothing out of the ordinary physically there either...

[gasman]

Also, I looked up inguinal hernia...there is no bulge and my pain is where the inner leg meets the groin...nothing out of the ordinary physically there either...

Hmmm. I wonder what's going on. Good luck to you.

[MattTuck]

Also, I looked up inguinal hernia...there is no bulge and my pain is where the inner leg meets the groin...nothing out of the ordinary physically there either...

When I had pain, I did not have any bulge that was noticeable to me. When I was examined much later by a surgeon, he stuck his fingers into the hernia and it was quite the experience (not pleasant). I didn't have pain only when cycling, but it was painful in the groin... a more generalized pain, I'd say, than what you are describing... but that doesn't mean anything.

All I'm saying is that you could have pain from an inguinal hernia without an obvious bulge.

[93legendti]

When I had pain, I did not have any bulge that was noticeable to me. When I was examined much later by a surgeon, he stuck his fingers into the hernia and it was quite the experience (not pleasant). I didn't have pain only when cycling, but it was painful in the groin... a more generalized pain, I'd say, than what you are describing... but that doesn't mean anything.

All I'm saying is that you could have pain from an inguinal hernia without an obvious bulge.

Gotcha. Hopefully I can get in for an ultrasound ASAP and will ask my dr about a referral to a surgeon.

[93legendti]

Hmmm. I wonder what's going on. Good luck to you.
Thanks.

[cainez]

It might be worth getting a second opinion. Try finding a different doctor that specializes in sports medicine that takes a holistic approach. I know a doctor (http://www.quistmd.com/) in the DC area that specializes in this type of thing. Pain Rx's are a last resort and he uses mostly activities that strengthen the underlying muscle problems. He's also a cyclist.

An ultrasound may be helpful, but it seems like the doctor is out of ideas. It would be worth it to get a second opinion at this point.

[93legendti]

It might be worth getting a second opinion. Try finding a different doctor that specializes in sports medicine that takes a holistic approach. I know a doctor (http://www.quistmd.com/) in the DC area that specializes in this type of thing. Pain Rx's are a last resort and he uses mostly activities that strengthen the underlying muscle problems. He's also a cyclist.

An ultrasound may be helpful, but it seems like the doctor is out of ideas. It would be worth it to get a second opinion at this point.

Good points. I called my dr Monday morning and his power was out,..never got back to me.

In the meantime, a friend is a chiropractor and treats a lot of sports injuries, I discussed my issue with him and he asked me to come in so he could look at me. I am not a big fan of DC's, but what the heck. I have had 3 appointments and feel better. He advised waiting until today to try sitting on a saddle again, so later today will be a test...

He thinks it's a pirformas impingement...I had a pinched nerve on the same leg a few years ago...I could ride, but my power was diminished until it resolved.

[GRAVELBIKE]

Another SMP recommendation here. Running the Plus on one of my bikes, and will probably buy another one.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8571/16369033765_09f9e1bf6d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qWtzs6)

[Lewis Moon]

Another SMP recommendation here. Running the Plus on one of my bikes, and will probably buy another one.

https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8571/16369033765_09f9e1bf6d.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/qWtzs6)

Saddle as designed by Salvador Dali...or Viagra.

[GRAVELBIKE]

Saddle as designed by Salvador Dali...or Viagra.

"Does it straighten out when you ride it?" -- Mrs GRAVELBIKE

[weisan]

Legend pal, I don't have anything meaningful to contribute here except to say, I am sorry to hear about the issue you are battling with, I hope you find a solution soon.

Have you tried yoga?

[93legendti]

Legend pal, I don't have anything meaningful to contribute here except to say, I am sorry to hear about the issue you are battling with, I hope you find a solution soon.

Have you tried yoga?

Thank you.

I have tried yoga in the past, by it's not my thing.

[henrypretz]

"Does it straighten out when you ride it?" -- Mrs GRAVELBIKE
Mrs GRAVELBIKE gets you post of the day. :hello:

[krismac23]

Is it possible you have a leg length discrepancy that is forcing uneven distribution of your weight on the saddle. almost everyone has a minor leg lengths discrepancy. If you combine that with some other fit issues like saddle to high or ankle-knee alignment you may have your culprit. I'm sure this has been asked but have you had a fit by a good fitter take a look at you?

[93legendti]

Is it possible you have a leg length discrepancy that is forcing uneven distribution of your weight on the saddle. almost everyone has a minor leg lengths discrepancy. If you combine that with some other fit issues like saddle to high or ankle-knee alignment you may have your culprit. I'm sure this has been asked but have you had a fit by a good fitter take a look at you?

Good tip. I have been fit. But on a hunch I checked my trainer bike and the bar height was higher than my other bikes. So I lowered the stem a tad and tried to ride. Felt a twinge the first minute, but consciously made sure I was on my sit bones and rotated forward and went for 10 minutes with no trouble. I could have gone longer, but my DC is advising really tiny baby steps. I guess the trainer can lead to some bad habits when you don't have to worry about weight distribution, balance and turning.:crap:

Still on my same saddle that has served me well for years. Going to try again today for 15-20 minutes. Hopefully no pain again. Sounds pitiful but it's better than nothing and will lead me back to being a cyclist.

Thank you all.

[weisan]

Thank you.

I have tried yoga in the past, by it's not my thing.

Actually, it's not my thing either...I just do one or two exercises that helped with relieving pain points....underdog, pigeon pose.

Wait! You mean you are not a cyclist anymore??? I call first dibs to legend pal's bike collection. :banana:

Hope you get well soon my friend.

[93legendti]

Actually, it's not my thing either...I just do one or two exercises that helped with relieving pain points....underdog, pigeon pose.

Wait! You mean you are not a cyclist anymore??? I call first dibs to legend pal's bike collection. :banana:

Hope you get well soon my friend.

Ha ah...I think you have more bikes than I do!

Actually, that is also a good suggestion. I am going to do a search of yoga exercises that may benefit me. Thanks for the suggestion.

[93legendti]

Saw my DC today and he was really pleased with my progress...

So I did 20 minutes on the trainer tonight with a bit more effort...I am coming back...going to put off trying a different saddle for now- I want to get back to normal before I try a new variable. Once I feel as normal as possible I am going to explore a different saddle, if necessary.

Thanks everyone for their help.

[93legendti]

Tonight's ride will be 7th day in a row. Been limiting to 30-35 minutes on the trainer, but with good effort...some tenderness, no pain. I can go longer, but deliberately have been conservative as to time, with a plan of going a bit harder and a bit longer each time. Tonight will probably be 40-45 minutes with a litttel less intensity than last nights' 1 min on, 2 minutes off intervals...

My chiropractor feels it was a pirformis impingement and treated it as such...he applied lots of painful pressure on different spots of my upper leg that seems to have really helped.

I am not a huge believer in DC, so you know where I coming from.

Thanks all for your help.

[weisan]

keep it up, legend pal! :beer: