So last week i was a numpty and pulled a bike down off the wall at full stretch and twisted round and felt my back go "crack" right down by my hips. About an hour later and I'm in agony and barely able to walk, nothing new there I've done my back a few times before and really should know better but there you go! There then followed a few days of ibuprofen and lying very still and now it is mostly ok again but I keep getting what I can only describe as a 'hot' pain running down the back of my right leg into my little toe. So from a quick bit of googling last night and I think I've managed to trap a nerve, does this sound right? and if so is it worth bothering the GP with or is he just gonna give me a dose of MTFU and tell me to take it easy and wait for it to heal itself? any help much appreciated both by me and the SO who is starting to run out of sympathy!

You may have impinged your sciatic nerve as it passes through the pelvis.

Your symptoms sound like you have annoyed your sciatic nerve.

Ibuprofen and rest sounds good.

nice one cheers D_S thats what I thought but it's always best to check with the STW hive mind!

i too years ago damaged my sciatic nerve, its just recuperation time im afraid, they recomend going to the swimming pool and floating to take the weight off it. i took ibuprofen but it irritates my stomach after a while i found syndol pain killers better as they have a muscle relaxant in them always gave a good nights sleep, poss worth a visit to the doc as you may need phyisio and probably a sick line for work.

You told me you were going to the doctors!

the singletrack forum DOES NOT count!

no doctor – no sympathy!

p.s. get back to work

x

It's nearly the same! besides managed to ride last night for 2 1/2 hrs and it was ok just had to lie still for a bit when I got home :-),

I am working just procrastinating about moving stock about to fit some more stuff in. Plus the eurobike coverage counts as work, gotta keep the knowledge fresh!

call you later

x

Having has a discectomy as recently as 2 weeks ago I'm fairly up to speed on this.
It does sound as if you may have trapped the sciatic nerve which could be caused by a herniated disc. My best advice would be go and see your GP and get him to send you for an MRI.
Back in Feb I had 9 of the worst weeks of my life when I was in absolute agony 24 hours a day, couldn't get out of bed, nothing. I wouldn't wish that sort of pain on anyone, and it's best you get it checked with an MRI sooner rather than later.
According to both my spinal consultant and a pain management specialist, once a disc has herniated it will never go back to the way it was without surgery.
You can however if the damage is not too bad (and this sounds like your case,) prevent it from getting worse with physio, core strenghtening and pilates exercises.
You do of course need to get it properly diagnosed before you can do this.
Hope you get it fixed soon.

Cheers 5AM yeh Helen keeps mentioning pilates and core strength stuff sounds like I should give it a look, sounds like a trip to the GP is on the cards then 🙁 bloody hate the doc's! will monitor it over the next few day's and see how it goes.

same as 5am, i ended up having a discectomy and spinal decompression (now have a big scar that makes me look like i got builders bum all the time!
Play it by ear and see how it goes, if your riding already, sounds like you just irritated the nerve.
For pain relief, i was prescribed everything, including oramorph, nothing really hit the mark until…would you believe it i tried soluble asprin, it is the business for my back pain, nothing comes close (well nothing legal anyway)these days i only use soluble asprin and a little self medicating with herbs and i am reasonably pain free.
PS. dont bother with pilates, i went for same reason and nearly fell asleep every session (so boring) try ashtanga yoga, works on all the core strength but is fun and challenging too

Yeh my back is now fine no pain at all, just this lingering pain down my leg which sounds more and more like sciatica it comes and goes in intensity but is manageable most of the time seems worst first thing in the morning before my body 'gets going' as it were but ibuprofen seems to be keeping that under control. Just wondering how long to leave it before a doc's visit is needed not so much for now as I said I can control/deal with current pain levels but really don't want to cause any long term damage (tho I appreciate it may be to late for this!) thinking more and more a GP visit after the weekend just for reassurance and peace of mind that hardtail SS riding isn't gonna cripple me when I hit 30!

see your GP and get him to send you for an MRI.

Or how about ask his professional opinion? It ain't tesco's you know! 😉
Back Pain is very common and most doesn't need an MRI, as that is really only if you are considering surgical intervention for a disc.
The majority of cases get better with little or no intervention, but my first port of call would probably be a physio, and some exercises to mobilize the lower lumbar spine. If you had persistent symptoms suggestive of nerve entrapment for more than 6-8 weeks that hadn't settled with conservative measures, then we'd br talking MRI
HTH

Docrobster, yeh as I said above my back is fine again now its just the nerve thing. Having just had a chat with my sisters fiance (who is a swimming coach) he has given me the number of a sports physio that he knows so will look into that and see how that helps before taking more drastic action! I just have visions of going to a yoga/pilates class and getting odd looks as a slightly chubby bearded late 20's mtb'er in a room full of ladies! Probably just my ill-concieved preconceptions though, sure it would be lovely in reality.

Sounds like a good plan to me Graham
Having been to see a physio myself about something very similar this lunchtime I know what you're going through.
you may find this book useful as well if you can get a copy,

I's second that book – I've used it a lot over the years…..

….and this week !

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/daftest-way-you-have-put-your-back-out

ok cool will check that book out, will see if I can find a copy at any rate! rest and more care needed I think must stop taking my back for granted 😉

many thanks once again for the STW massive for helping me through the little bumps on life's road!