Sciatic Nerve Pain & MTB

nikmcc

Likes Dirt
Does anyone have any experience with sciatic nerve pain?
I'm wondering if you think riding mtb is the cause or if it helps relieve it?
And, if you have had this pain what treatments helped you?



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dain2772

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Does anyone have any experience with sciatic nerve pain?
I'm wondering if you think riding mtb is the cause or if it helps relieve it?
And, if you have had this pain what treatments helped you?



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I have had something very similar, not necessarily the sciatic nerve, but nerve pinching. I think a weekend of mtb/road riding exacerbated the issue (due to the curve in my spine). Usual recommendation is anti-inflams & pain meds if necessary, and visit a physio. Usually it is due to a weak core and can often be fixed with exercises/stretching.

I ended up with surgery because parts of my disc had broken off and were jammed up against my nerves (taking all strength from my right calf). After surgery, Neurosurgeon said that riding was good (once I was better) for the back because of less jarring than running and he was quite happy for me to get back into riding - the key is core strength to keep your spine in the right position.

disclaimer: My experience is just my own and I have no medical/physio/other relevant training or knowledge.
 

mittagongmtb

Likes Dirt
If you're in the Shire, then you're not far from a great exercise physiologist down the road at Wollongong. Yes I know what sciatica pain is like - I lived with it for years. But getting your core strength built up and right is the key to relieving back-leg pain. Give Dr John Booth from Rehwork a ring - 02 4229 2012. Do it today! John knows his stuff on pain management and exercise. And to top it off he's a pretty good mtber himself!
 

Yet1

Likes Dirt
I had sciatic nerve pain from a pinched nerve in my S1-L5 region (right at the base of the spine). This was the result of bike meeting car on a commute, so I was off the bike for quite a while. The only thing which got me back was pilates - mostly using the reformers. Now I do a few excercises on a fit ball before each ride (even just some floor excercises if I cant get to the ball) that I learned at pilates and Im pain free while riding. I even just did my longest ride ever on Saturday (7hrs in the saddle) and was worried that I would have issues, but I was fine.
 

matt24

Likes Dirt
My nerve pain was the result of a bulging disk it was my l5 disk pushing on my s1 nerve. I had keyhole surgery to have the bulge cut off so the scar sealed the disk back up. mine was over years of constant riding and mx, got to such a point the pain was unbelievable at times. if you stop riding when you feel the pain until it goes away the buldge in the disk sometimes goes away, but if you keep riding with it, it'll just get bigger, you'll lose more disk volume and the's nothing you can do to fix it. This is only of your pain is from a disk pushing on the s1 nerve.

this was kinda rushed, hope it makes sense
 

bmx

Likes Bikes and Dirt
When I was 14, I was tackled over during footy training. I hurt my back and they told me to "run it off". Turns out I severly ruptured 3 lower discs in my back. I can't remember which ones they were, but they run down my glutes.

I spent a year, everyday in rehab. A doctor said I'd never have any sort of labouring job, or do any sort of physical/contact sport again. I almost got referred to have surgery, but apparently I'd be one of the youngest people in Australia to have it so they didn't put me through it.

About 13-14 months after the injury, a skatepark was built down the road. After my physio sessions, I'd go skating. That lead to riding.

I'm nearly 23 now, work as a fitter which includes heavy lifting. I fought muay thai until work became too much (and an ankle injury). Go to the gym everyday. And I ride, everyday. Whether it be mountain bikes or BMX. I like to believe moving and jumping around is what got me through it.

I mean, I still get pains down my legs and every now and again my back will give up on life over nothing. I'm hoping for a miracle treatment before I'm 35. After that I'm expecting to be crippled.

In short, I'd say keep riding.
 

mittagongmtb

Likes Dirt
When I was 14, I was tackled over during footy training. I hurt my back and they told me to "run it off". Turns out I severly ruptured 3 lower discs in my back. I can't remember which ones they were, but they run down my glutes.

I spent a year, everyday in rehab. A doctor said I'd never have any sort of labouring job, or do any sort of physical/contact sport again. I almost got referred to have surgery, but apparently I'd be one of the youngest people in Australia to have it so they didn't put me through it.

About 13-14 months after the injury, a skatepark was built down the road. After my physio sessions, I'd go skating. That lead to riding.

I'm nearly 23 now, work as a fitter which includes heavy lifting. I fought muay thai until work became too much (and an ankle injury). Go to the gym everyday. And I ride, everyday. Whether it be mountain bikes or BMX. I like to believe moving and jumping around is what got me through it.

I mean, I still get pains down my legs and every now and again my back will give up on life over nothing. I'm hoping for a miracle treatment before I'm 35. After that I'm expecting to be crippled.

In short, I'd say keep riding.
In short - OP: go to someone who knows how your back and muscles actually work - an exercise physiologist... they'll sort out appropriate scientifically based exercises for you. Well I'm now 56y and have avoided surgery despite having severe back pain for the 30years from 20-50y. From 50y I started to learn how to exercise so that back pain is minimalised to the point of 'not an issue' any more. I wish knew at 20y what I now know about how backs work. (And I work in a medical field.... you'd be shocked how little some GPs know about backs. The worst thing you can do is to take some nsaid and go the downward spiral of 'rest' and lack of exercise...)
 

ctguru

Likes Bikes and Dirt
Get some imaging of your spine

MRI lumbar spine would be best to get to see what's going on

X-rays are shit and a CT scan uses a reasonable radiation dose (MRI no ionizing radiation)
 

nikmcc

Likes Dirt
Thanks for the replies and info!

mmm, exercise and stretching... My two worst enemies! I'm very guilty of never doing either of them.

In short - OP: go to someone who knows how your back and muscles actually work - an exercise physiologist... ...)
Good idea!

...In short, I'd say keep riding.
I like your attitude!


I was lying flat on my back on the lounge room floor in agony and not thinking very clearly when I first posted, I guess I should've added a back story (pun slightly intended:lol: )

I've always had issues with my right side, but semi regular trips to the chiro have kept me going almost pain free.

Then, about 2 months ago I had little incident on the log ride at hornsby. Back wheel feel off to the inside of the first turn. I went down left hip first in the log.
Since then, both sides have been hurting on and off and the chiro visits have not been doing the trick.
Then I thought it'd be a good idea to help build a rock garden at menai... I think this was my real mistake!
The last few days both sides have been firing hard at the same time. Couldn't walk/work/move.

I've since been to the physio twice and its starting to come good. The physio seemed to do the same thing as the chiro, but for longer. I think its the way to go,

I forgot to ask the physio if riding is doing me harm or good (pedalling, not crashing) so I'll ask next time I see him.

Maybe I'll also look into getting a proper bike fit when my new bike arrives this week.
 

krisko

Likes Dirt
I love these threads and the miracle answers etc

The bottom line is you have a slipped disc or similar causing it to rub on your nerve a catscan will show this. Xrays will not.
An Xray will show the bulge, protrusion, slipped disc or other name/jargon used for the same problem.

Specific back stretches will, relieve pressure off the nerve. Helping to better manage the pain.
This will not cure the problem.

You need to work out, for yourself what caused the problem. Most commonly tight hamstrings, bad flexibility and weak core.
Address these problems. Stretch twice a day, when you can put your palms on the floor you are flexible.
Stretch your piriformas, when you legs can be pushed beyond parallel from the sitting pose you are flexible.

When you sit in your car, bend over etc get into the habit of activating your core. Don't neglect your abs
when you can plank for 3 minutes plus your getting their. Don't get complacent think your cured and stop stretching.
I did this and after 8 months the pain came back.

Back surgery has it's risks I looked into the Australian medical statistics for shaving the bone. I was alarmed at the number of failed surgeries
Failed surgery means being wheelchair bound for the rest of your life, your Doctor will simply tell you all surgery have risks and wont tell you the statistics.

I have never stopped riding. Learn to love anti-inflammatory drugs they will keep you riding. Don't slouch
I found keeping my rides shorter (less than 3 hours) when getting on top of your back, helps.

Did I say don't slouch. Slouching may feel comfortable but actually will aid (further push out) your slipped disc.

Good luck
 

Mywifesirrational

I however am very normal. Trust me.
I love these threads and the miracle answers etc

The bottom line is you have a slipped disc or similar causing it to rub on your nerve a catscan will show this. Xrays will not.
An Xray will show the bulge, protrusion, slipped disc or other name/jargon used for the same problem.

Specific back stretches will, relieve pressure off the nerve. Helping to better manage the pain.
This will not cure the problem.

You need to work out, for yourself what caused the problem. Most commonly tight hamstrings, bad flexibility and weak core.
Address these problems. Stretch twice a day, when you can put your palms on the floor you are flexible.
Stretch your piriformas, when you legs can be pushed beyond parallel from the sitting pose you are flexible.

When you sit in your car, bend over etc get into the habit of activating your core. Don't neglect your abs
when you can plank for 3 minutes plus your getting their. Don't get complacent think your cured and stop stretching.
I did this and after 8 months the pain came back.

Back surgery has it's risks I looked into the Australian medical statistics for shaving the bone. I was alarmed at the number of failed surgeries
Failed surgery means being wheelchair bound for the rest of your life, your Doctor will simply tell you all surgery have risks and wont tell you the statistics.

I have never stopped riding. Learn to love anti-inflammatory drugs they will keep you riding. Don't slouch
I found keeping my rides shorter (less than 3 hours) when getting on top of your back, helps.

Did I say don't slouch. Slouching may feel comfortable but actually will aid (further push out) your slipped disc.

Good luck
I also love miracle answers that include core stability; if you are going to rubbish other peoples advice in your opening sentence, best to make sure your statements actually have some basis in evidence based practice.

As far as I can tell a weak core has little to nothing to do with sciatica, since not a single published study has investigated an intervention involving core stability and sciatica (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library). But I can find several RCT’s and some fairly decent systematic reviews that have shown core stability exercises offer nothing in chronic LBP that conventional approaches don’t do better.

Consciously ‘activating’ your so called ‘core during activites particularly in the presence of disc herniation is considered a contraindication - it is TERRIBLE advice to tell people to do this. Co-contraction of the core muscles increases spinal compression, increasing loading onto intervertebral discs, this INCREASES herniation and all the unpleasant symptoms that go along with this.

What’s the rationale for planking for three + minutes? I’m not sure of a single exercise guideline that advocates more planking is better. I’m not sure what this is supposed to measure?

Many people will never be able to touch the floor with their palms, as many people are not responders to flexibility training and this has no effect on their musculoskeletal health. While I agree that hamstring and other flexibility exercise for around the pelvis are good, many people will not have large changes in flexibility.

While it’s not surgery I would ever want done on myself, you statement about being wheelchair bound is plain scare mongering. Fushions, Laminectomy, discectomy… have a very small complication rate, with very few people having any issues with nerve damage, more common is instability around that motion segment of the spine, which is treated in rehab with conventional exercise, not core stability.
 

Trickymac

Likes Dirt
I also love miracle answers that include core stability; if you are going to rubbish other peoples advice in your opening sentence, best to make sure your statements actually have some basis in evidence based practice.

As far as I can tell a weak core has little to nothing to do with sciatica, since not a single published study has investigated an intervention involving core stability and sciatica (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library). But I can find several RCT’s and some fairly decent systematic reviews that have shown core stability exercises offer nothing in chronic LBP that conventional approaches don’t do better.

Consciously ‘activating’ your so called ‘core during activites particularly in the presence of disc herniation is considered a contraindication - it is TERRIBLE advice to tell people to do this. Co-contraction of the core muscles increases spinal compression, increasing loading onto intervertebral discs, this INCREASES herniation and all the unpleasant symptoms that go along with this.

What’s the rationale for planking for three + minutes? I’m not sure of a single exercise guideline that advocates more planking is better. I’m not sure what this is supposed to measure?

Many people will never be able to touch the floor with their palms, as many people are not responders to flexibility training and this has no effect on their musculoskeletal health. While I agree that hamstring and other flexibility exercise for around the pelvis are good, many people will not have large changes in flexibility.

While it’s not surgery I would ever want done on myself, you statement about being wheelchair bound is plain scare mongering. Fushions, Laminectomy, discectomy… have a very small complication rate, with very few people having any issues with nerve damage, more common is instability around that motion segment of the spine, which is treated in rehab with conventional exercise, not core stability.
hear hear
thank fuck i meet somebody who doesnt believe core stability is that answer for you back pain....and everything other condition it get told it can fix...that it cant
Weak trunk muscles, weak abdominals and imbalances between trunk muscles groups are not a pathology just a normal variation.
The division of the trunk into core and global muscle system is a reductionist fantasy, which serves only to promote CS.
Weak or dysfunctional abdominal muscles will not lead to back pain.
Tensing the trunk muscles is unlikely to provide any protection against back pain or reduce the recurrence of back pain.
Core stability exercises are no more effective than, and will not prevent injury more than, any other forms of exercise or physical therapy.
Core stability exercises are no better than other forms of exercise in reducing chronic lower back pain. Any therapeutic influence is related to the exercise effects rather than stability issues.
There may be potential danger of damaging the spine with continuous tensing of the trunk muscles during daily and sports activities.
Patients who have been trained to use complex abdominal hollowing and bracing manoeuvres should be discouraged from using them.
The myth of core stability Eyal Lederman*
 

cabbo

Likes Dirt
Being a fellow mtb rider ive found that having sciatic pain for over 10 years somewhat a journey that is... just a full on nagging out of your controll pain, in your foot behind knee or in butt cheek dawn till dusk, chiros say this is the cause of this problem physios give you another reason, may be ive just had bad luck,ive been to neuro surgeons l got tired of paying out money, so l tryed to reduce my stress, which amped up my pain and now get some rideing in share good times with mates, just found on those good or better days grab them and punch out some laps, get the good vibes goen whislt your smoken.
 

Hugor

Likes Dirt
This is what happens when people who don't have the skills or training have access to pseudo medical literature.
They either misinterpret what they read or don't understand its limitations.
Core stability is no myth. Just cause some "Professor of Osteopathy" (haha!!) publishes his thoughts to the contrary doesn't mean that what he's saying is true.
Just because you agree with him doesn't mean its true either.
Its quite clear in this paper that he's pushing an agenda, and the fact that its published in a free open access journal is testament to the academic quality that it contains (or lack thereof).
 

Trickymac

Likes Dirt
This is what happens when people who don't have the skills or training have access to pseudo medical literature.
They either misinterpret what they read or don't understand its limitations.
Core stability is no myth. Just cause some "Professor of Osteopathy" (haha!!) publishes his thoughts to the contrary doesn't mean that what he's saying is true.
Just because you agree with him doesn't mean its true either.
Its quite clear in this paper that he's pushing an agenda, and the fact that its published in a free open access journal is testament to the academic quality that it contains (or lack thereof).
this is what happens when hugor puts his 2 cents worth in, you get a peek into his brilliant mind in which his contribution to the pile resembles today tonight or a current affair
his argument or really opinion if you can call it that consists of "core stability is no myth" care to back that with a shred of evidence? and "just cause" some prof of osteopathy.... wtf does just cause mean....children say that in arguments
 

Mywifesirrational

I however am very normal. Trust me.
This is what happens when people who don't have the skills or training have access to pseudo medical literature.
They either misinterpret what they read or don't understand its limitations.
Core stability is no myth. Just cause some "Professor of Osteopathy" (haha!!) publishes his thoughts to the contrary doesn't mean that what he's saying is true.
Just because you agree with him doesn't mean its true either.
Its quite clear in this paper that he's pushing an agenda, and the fact that its published in a free open access journal is testament to the academic quality that it contains (or lack thereof).
I also disagree with you Hugor,

I have the skills, training and experience to understand medical literature, my research specialty is motor control, specifically strength and neural activation of muscles during injury - I don't specialise in backs, but the principles of motor control apply here as well as any where else. I also started reading core stability literature back in 2004 as my first research job was on the topic.

Lederman coped a lot of abuse from the cult of core stability, regardless of what you think, he is a respected Prof in the rehab field for his knowledge. He got asked at a conference a few years ago why he published in open access, hes reply was so more people had FREE access to his paper. While it is a discussion paper outlining his views, based on expertise, strangely enough the evidence is catching up with his views. Yes, he has an agenda, to educate people about how the evidence in this concept is wholly lacking - if I can quote Bugdok (2004) 'Similar lack of evidence is not tolerated in other areas of medicine'

Two systematic review have been published recently, the one specific to LBP ONLY had 5 trials included, that to me shows that most papers on core stability fail to meet basic scientific requirements. 24 papers were in the sports performance review, the outcomes from both papers aren't exactly positive towards core stability being of benefit, particularly when compared to conventional methods.

If you do have some evidence to show that core stability is valid, please throw some links in, I would enjoy reading anything decent on the topic. I'd prefer a systematic review or two as then the paper has undergone review at least twice and has to meet basic scientific guidelines to be included. I don't think you'll find any, as I can not.
 

single-pivot

Likes Dirt
siatica

My experiance and what i learned from you tube .
was to get a solid round object and masage the glute muscles

i found this improved my ability to stretch and released lwr and back .and assosiated connecting mucsles.
 

ctguru

Likes Bikes and Dirt
I love these threads and the miracle answers etc

The bottom line is you have a slipped disc or similar causing it to rub on your nerve a catscan will show this. Xrays will not.
An Xray will show the bulge, protrusion, slipped disc or other name/jargon used for the same problem.

Good luck
MRI is better than a catscan
 

ADD

Likes Dirt
Oh god.... This thread is ridiculous.

I'll still put my 2 cents in though.
As someone who has been through a bulged disc and sciatica at a young age (I was 19), I can give you first hand experience of dealing with it. I've tried everything. The advice of the physio was best. I know a lot of Osteo's as well as one regarded as best in the business. Osteopathy wasn't as effective as good physio and exercise. I quit truck driving as this was the main cause. I recommend keeping fit and active. Flexibility isn't so much the issue, you just need to make sure you stretch. Pilates and yoga type activities seriously did wonders. I also took up karate for a while. Learning those strong high kicks works well to alleviate pain and stretch where you need to. I currently ride a lot of MTB and a bit of road cycling. I have no issues until I start to get tired on 100km+ road rides.
It's been 9 years since I hurt my back and while I might get the odd back pain after a few hours sleep, I haven't had sciatica in years.
 
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