Bad back, declining fitness, tell me it’s not all over – Page 2 – Bike Forum

Kojaklollipop · 2021-05-30T21:16:08Z

So far this year I've ridden a bike once! And it's making me a right miserable sod! I'm 54, this time a year ago I was doing maybe 15 to 20 mile rides nearly every evening, as well as working during the day. Then I get a back spasm just sitting on the beach, this puts me out of action for a few weeks but I'm back out on the bike quite soon. Then around xmas time I have another spasm pulling some shoes on, Dr's put me on some strong pain killers which caused constipation that leads to a double back spasm and I've felt like a cripple since. This time it's taking months to sort it's self out. Dr's thought it might be ankylosing spondylitis, but blood tests came up ok. Dr want me to have an xray, hospital refused. Dr wanted an MRI, hospital refused. I've put on weight, lost motivation, that one bike ride I did wiped me out. If I do anything like I used to like gardening, mowing the lawn, diy etc. it wipes me out for a day. I end up aching all over and with back pain. I had some physio through the Dr's but it's the same as I've had before. The thing that annoys me is that no one has actually looked at or even touched my back. I know there will be people that will be worse off than this, but I've gone from fit, active and healthy to zero. I just hope I can get back out on a bike. It's frustrating looking at nice bikes and kit just sitting there unused. I so miss that feeling of pedalling hard bombing along a trail on a sunny day with the wind in my face, totally out of breath but feeling fantastic! I've hardly looked at this place either. If you can, go and ride your bike more. I still feel like I've not ridden my bike enough, please tell me I can still get out there, I can get the health, fitness and enthusiasm back.

13thfloormonk

Posts: 11847

Full Member

I tried doing some deadlifts this morning after my other exercises, no weights just going through the motions. Could definately feel it later.

Yeah... if lower back muscles are stressed/tight/twitchy/spasmy then doing exercises whixh specifically target them isn't going to end well!

Your starting point needs to be relaxed and happy muscles, so stretching anterior muscles and strengthening the muscles AROUND the low back is the starting point.

Also learning to avoid flexion of the low back (a lot of pilates and traditional core work basically attempts to straighten out the arch in your low back, effectively putting the angry muscles under strain again!).

Am on day 2 of 3 of a wee gravel tour in the Highlands. The defining change I've made to my low back regime is focusing on letting my belly hang down when I'm forward on the bars, rather than 'bracing' my abs. This way my low back retains much of its natural curve and is miraculously happy for a change 🙄

Posted : 01/06/2021 11:02 pm

BigJohn

Posts: 10747

Full Member

Pay for a scan. Don't let anybody touch your back unless they've seen the results and understand it. Don't throw yourself into new exercise until you've had a diagnosis. I'm a big Pilates enthusiast but look at my posting history to understand why I'm saying this.
Short explanation: I'd had severe back pain. Surgeon looked at my scan and phoned me as he was looking at it and told me to get to the hospital straight away. Operated within 24 hours, told that one false move and I'd have been in nappies for the rest of my life. 6 months on I'm fully mended. Since coming round from the operation the sum total of painkillers I've needed is 2 paracetamol.

Posted : 01/06/2021 11:28 pm

colp

Posts: 3323

Full Member

AthleanX (Jeff Cavalier) who @edward2000 linked really knows his stuff, explains what to do and why it works

Posted : 01/06/2021 11:59 pm

Kojaklollipop

Posts: 58

Free Member

Topic starter

edward2000 - thanks for that link, interesting stuff there, especially the first one: fix back pain by doing this. I think I'm guilty of bending forward wrongly all my life and it's caught up with me now.

BigJohn, I don't know how you look at someone's posting history now, it all changed a while ago and nothing seems to come up, but that's sounds scary.

Actually got out on the (e)bike this morning, 8 mile gentle off road up onto the South Downs, really good to be out in the sunshine and open space and my back feels ok at the moment. Coming on here, reading other posts and the responses on here have given me a bit of encouragement and motivation.

Posted : 02/06/2021 12:35 pm

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