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Bulging Disc & Bike Fit?

 
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Anonymous
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 5:30 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Bulging Disc & Bike Fit? Reply with quote

Looking for some info. Going to try to keep it as short and to the point as possible.
- Been racing for past 9 years and riding/racing for over 20
- No injuries until this year (38 years old)
- Have Systemic Lupus since age 8 and take no meds since teenage years
- I feel great
- December of 09 got a FIT by a "guru" not completely science based
- Moved my saddle back and tilted it up, dropped my bars (stretched out)
- I liked the position - felt like I was using more hamstring and glute, balls of my feet hurt (numb) but I slowly moved cleats back and changed pedals, no more issue there.
- used this position from Dec-August no problems
- Hired a coach in August, trained with heart rate (very difficult) until October - injury hit - intense fire like hot pain down left glute and leg
- kept training until pain just became horrible (early Nov)
- saved $, had MRI - 6-7 mm bulge in L4-L5 & 4 mm in S1???
- took 6 months completely off - back feels lots better - but it's still there
- ready to ride, but my position is just not comfy anymore
- Need to tweak my position, but I dont fully understand the types of forces my spine is exposed to in riding position? Compression, shear? all of the above?
- Fit = Knees well behind pedal spindle and bars were low
- when I want to go hard I naturally scoot forward on the saddle so I figure I can move the saddle forward a bit and be OK.
- Already moved the bars up by 3-4 cm - feels much better
- Am I on the rite track here?
- Could the aggressive postition have created a prime environment for injury? In combination with the hard interval training?
- Sorry for the long post, any help would be appreciated.
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The Bike Doc
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Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2010 5:35 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

peloner:

You might try higher handle bar position along with a more forward seat position to decrease the forward flexion off the spine and back that would increase the compression on the herniated disc and potentially worsen it. If you are not full suspension on mountain bike, time to upgrade. Ride with fatter tires with slight lower air pressure to decrease the shock being transmitted to your body. I like to ride with 2.1 to 2.3 tires on my mountain bike with my weight of around 150lbs with inner tube tire pressures 30-32 lbs. Tubeless tires you could even go 2-4 pounds lower.

For road riding, go recumbent and completely unload your back. Check out my article on the medical benefits of recumbent bicycles. http://www.bikeroute.com/Recumbents/BentMedBenefits.php

For off road riding mountain bikes rule so don't give up on your mountain bike.

Do visit with your doctor regarding your symptoms and ask for a referral to a Sports Medicine/Orthopedic coctor who is familiar with and treats bicyclists. Ideally, find an Ortho doc who bicycles.

Thanks,
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Paul K. Nolan, MD
AKA: The Bike Doc
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Anonymous
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 6:57 am GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great info here, thank you. I do not have a general doctor, NO INSURANCE. . . I cant get any! I have a specialist I see once a year, but he is not an athelete, and really can't understand me on that level. Can you recomend someone in the Houston area? (ortho/sports med)

I'm already trying to get a 29er full susp. . . Tried to find one this year but none available. I willl wait for the 2011 and continue riding my Giant NRS.

Thanks
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The Bike Doc
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Joined: 08 May 2003
Posts: 1398
Location: Corpus Christi and Warda, Texas

PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2010 4:14 pm GMT +0000    Post subject: Reply with quote

Your best bet for an SportsMed/Ortho Doc in Houston is to ask you cycling friends who they have found that they like. I have been away from the Houston area for 13 years so I am not current on who to recommend there.
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