I’m all of 27 and have started getting these gifts of physiology on the lower-right of my back.

Anyone else have this and how do you deal with it?

Maybe I need to swap out my road bike (transport, not lycra) for something less aero? My MTBs fit me well but I have tight hamstrings so my lower back can try and compensate. I’ve read this isn’t uncommon for cyclists due to our activity and riding position.

I’m off to the Dr in an hour, I’ll be walking today!

Stretch! Bit of yoga works wonders. Are you actually going to your GP about this?!!

When it hurts to the point that I feel almost stuck in a position, yes. It’s been tolerable until recently, now it’s a bit scary.

I’ve assumed it’s spasms based on what I’ve read, it may be something else.

I do a few stretches daily, I will start on a more thorough yoga routine.

I’ve had occasional back spasms for the last 10 years. Painful to the point where I can’t stand straight, or it takes a while to force myself up.

Everyone is of course different, but I have a set routine for dealing with it.

1. Keep moving, even if it hurts. My job is sedentary so not great for the back.

2. Stretching every day. Plus a bit of core exercise.

3. Hot bath followed by ice pack followed by more gentle stretching.

4. If it hasn’t settled down in 24 hours, get some acupuncture. Works for me.

5. Keep moving…

Ok to see the GP but they are not specialists, you need a physio and probably one with some sports expertease. I’ve always fou d the first session with physio is most useful, diagnosis and excersize programme. Also I’ve found the “interconnectivity” of the body is quite complex, one thing affecting another back/abs/hamstrings. If you hamstrings are tight you should certainly work on some stretches plus other back strengthening excersizes. Back muscles are very strong and can “lock” taking time to loosen. Some simple yoga poses may help but starting yoga with a bad back is not a good plan.

Probably not a good idea without diagnoses but I’d suggest the following as a gentle experiment. These are my basic back excersizes (old tennis injury and poor posture)

Lie on back on floor – bring both knees to your chest and hold them for 5-10 seconds, loosen then repeat building up time. Then bring each knee separately and hold, alternate sides. This just stretches out the back.

Lie on front arms outstretched (sort of superman pose) – lift left leg and right arm a few inches off the floor and hold. Alternate sides. This is harder to do and hold than it sounds.

edit: I’m a big fan of yoga but please take care, do other stretches first and if/when you start yoga you need proper tuition especially with a back problem. All you really need at this stage is gentle sun salutation (ie basic morning stretches), but how you do these moves, eg feet position speed of movement breathing all make a big difference to effectiveness, when you do the simple bend forward there are little things that can really make a difference to how effective it is.

Ok, back from a 1:1 with the rather yummy Dr Rushden. She was helpful and it seems like a simple issue, the muscles are in a state of spasm and they’re stimulating the nerve when overloaded which doesn’t take much as they’re already tense.

Ibugel, custard donuts, stretching and a cup of tea are my weapons in the battle.

That’s a good point about yoga with a delicate back, noted.

I think this may be the product of a recent increase in riding plus a comical bail where I clipped my left foot on a tree, turning to the right at speed. Not cool.

Thanks for the advice so far, the donut/ibugel is working 🙂

I was running my saddle too high a couple of years ago and suffered from back spasms as my pelvis was rocking when pedalling.

Dropping the seat by 10mm stopped it and I’ve not had it happen since.

I have also heard that arch supporting insoles can help stabilize your foot on the pedal and stop your pelvis from rocking. I use Superfeet green insoles in my shoes now.

trapped nerve?

I did that with my road saddle a while back as I was getting the rocking you mention ninja. I tried orange superfeet at the same time and ended up making a knee complaint worse! This was when I left SPDs and long road rides alone. It’s just transport now.

I wondered about the nerve thing, I’ll consider that if I’m still whinging next week.

I get what sounds like similar symptoms and use the following couple of exercises. Done for a couple of days (morning and night) they really make a difference for me…

* Lie on your back with one leg bent with the foot on the floor. Bring your other leg across so that your ankle is against the front of the knee of the bent leg. Bring the bent leg towards you and the other leg (knee) away from you to vary the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat. Repeat with the other leg.

* Lie on your back with one leg bent with the foot on the floor. Keeping your foot on the floor, bring your knee across the other leg to feel the stretch. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat. Repeat with the other leg.

I had similar symptoms last year (and only couple years older than you) culminating in a baddish spasm during a triathlon. Settled down relatively quickly and I could finish the race but saw a sports physio who helped quite a lot.

Fast forward to 4 weeks ago and whilst examining a kid’s ear my back gave way 🙁 Waiting for an mri in mid april and will hopefully put together a long term plan. I’ve been swimming this week but prob be a while before can use the bike properly. My advice would be to find something that you can do long term and stick to it, i got slack on my exrecises and i’m sure it’s not a coincidence. Prob be doing pilates, core work and swimming much more in the future.