MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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I've done a lot of cycling in the last 12 months but this summer after some long rides (4-5 hours) I felt like I had bruises near my sit bones, but realised there is swelling on the right side only. Dr Google make me think it's this:
https://www.physio-pedia.com/Ischial_Bursitis
So had 2 weeks off, tried again and immediately it came back. So tried ice pack treatment for a week, 4 weeks off, went out again yesterday and it's back.
Anyone had this? And successfully got rid of it?
Have you checked your saddle for thorns 🙂
First thing I checked actually, but no. Thats not it.
Hmm... I wonder if I have it, certainly a one-sided discomfort that seems unrelated to anything else.
I've made some inroads by shimming the foot on that side, I've always known I over-reach with my right leg (is 'functionally' shorter than my left). Shimming it should hopefully 're-balance' pressure on the saddle. I already feel slightly more centred on the bike, no longer always looking at the left hand side of the front wheel!
It's also a reminder to shuffle forward on saddle slightly, I have a fairly broad nosed Bontrager saddle that seems to work best if you sit forward a bit, I even wonder if I need to slide it back slightly.
Finally, have you been spending more time in an aero position? I think you can cause ischial bursitis by putting more strain through hamstrings e.g. by spending more time stretched out on bars.
Yes I'm probably 70/30 Road:MTB, and this summer I downsized my road bikes to a medium and have spent more time down in the drops than usual...
I've had it before, it's horrible. Drove home after a race and it felt like I had a stack of £1 coins in one back pocket of my jeans. Next day I made it maybe a mile before the pain got so bad sat in the saddle. It was on just one side of my bum for me.
I was probably off the bike for maybe 2 months, lots of physio (free via work healthcare) and a lot of stretching lower back and legs.
Also changed all my saddles which were Specialized BG Toupe and Phenoms. Now only use Fizik, it may be a coincidence but the edge of the cut out bits on the Spesh saddles were possibly causing the issue. Or it could have been a lot of CX re-mounts during a race and I landed badly.
I get an occasional slight niggle on long rides or on the Turbo if I've not warmed up, but touching wood, its gone.
I get an occasional slight niggle on long rides or on the Turbo if I’ve not warmed up, but touching wood, its gone.
That's interesting about not warming up, you think it goes away once warmed up?
Whatever it is that I'm feeling is pretty mild in comparison but I tend to notice it most at the start of a ride. I had put it down to the fact that I'm usually soft pedalling at the start of a ride until I warm up!
Thanks for the info, both of you. I suspect the change of bike may be the trigger. I did 3000 miles on the old Large road bike, then sold it and didn't really pay any attention to the saddles on the new bikes. I have some pictures of my old bike so I guess the search is on for something that looks similar. And I have healthcare through work so Physio is looking likely.
Yes usually or if its a long ride it's probably just the point where things generally start to hurt anyway so you back off or change position a bit.
As one of the posters above mentioned it could be hamstring related, so a bit of a stretch now and again may help - nb. I basically never stretch because it hurts and I find it boring, have an office job which I have to drive to, which all possibly explain why I got the problem in the first place 🤦♀️
Check with a decent sports physio for High Hamstring Tendinopathy.
Something I suffer from.
Cheers.
How about this for a suggestion? A couple of years ago I began to feel pain around my left hip. Puzzled about it for ages then realised it was due to putting all my weight on that side on the bog seat while attending to personal hygiene. I started taking a different approach to the task and the pain resolved itself quickly.