Recumbent bike helped with Sciatica recovery
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Two years ago I was diagnosed with a herniated disc in my back. This caused my sciatic nerve to be pinched, which caused great pain in my legs when I was sitting or standing. I spent a lot of the next two weeks lying flat on my back. After standing for just a few minutes, the pain would become intense again, and I'd need to lie back down.
I'm the sort of person who resists taking medicine, and I found myself taking up to eight ibuprofen a day just to cut the pain and get through it.
Yes, having Sciatica sucked.
I wanted to get better fast, but I felt fairly helpless. Even stretching that used to seem light was difficult to do without pain. Lying on the living room floor watching movies got old.
I was desperate to be able to get outside get some form of normal exercise, but it seemed just about every kind of movement hurt.
In this desperation, I tried an experiment. I hobbled out the bike shed to see how painful it would be to ride my Rans V-Rex, a recumbent bike. The seat was more reclined than most seats, so it might be feel more like lying down than sitting. That could make it low pain.
I pulled out of the alley and was tentative with the first strokes. Even if there wasn't immediate pain, I was concerned that some shooting pains might appear while I was riding, causing a wreck, or leaving me stranded waiting for someone to pick me up.
But so far, my experiment was working. I began to pedal harder and harder, until I was going full steam. There was no pain! It was working. I remember riding to the library, feeling good while I was on the bike. I had to move around the library quickly, as the pain was building quickly as I checked out some books on Sciatica. The irony.
The pain was significant by the time I returned to the bike for the return trip. Again, I took off with some concern-- I had made it here, but perhaps there would be a problem on the return trip, having started with some pain getting on the bike.
But again, I was able to pedal trouble free. Since I was on "vacation" that week, I started taking longer and longer bike rides each day. I practiced a 25 mile loop and that went well-- I rode the course at full speed with no problems.
The experience allowed me to get my blood flowing, clear my head, get some fresh air...feel normal. There wasn't immediate relief when the ride was over, but I knew this helping my recovery. Certainly my mental state and outlook improved.
The irony was that even by the time I parked the bike in the bike shed, I would already start having pain off the bike again as I rushed to the house to lie down again.
I took a risk and decided to set a daily distance record in this condition-- I planned a 60 mile solo round trip ride from Richmond, Indiana to Oxford, Ohio and back.
As I pedaled down the barren country roads on the way there, I had doubts the trip I was embarking was a good idea. I arrived in Oxford safely but still had to sit on floor of bike shop briefly while I shopped there. I couldn't stand comfortably long enough to complete the task.
Even on the way back, the pain on the bike did not increase, although I approached being on bike about four hours that way.
Over the next few weeks, the pain eventually tapered off without the need for surgery or other expensive treatment. Besides cycling, I also used walking, massage, acupuncture and yoga to help recover.
Now, two years later, I'm thankful the symptoms are completely gone. I would definitely recommend trying a recumbent bike to others with sciatica or lower back pain. Some stationary bikes are also recumbent, and may be available at local gyms or health clubs.
In my case, it was only coincidental that I had recently purchased a used recumbent bicycle, and I'm glad I did!
Thanks
I read your article, went out to the shed, and dug out my old mountain bike I hadn't ridden in 15 years. Cleaned it up, oiled it and got on. MY PAIN WAS GONE IMMEDIATELY!!! I had been dealing with pain and eating vicodin for 2 months. This was about 6 weeks ago. I had the same deal with the pain coming back while not riding for a while, but now it's completely gone. Thank you VERY much!
By the way, I only rode the mountain bike for a couple of days and got the wrist, neck, and arse pain that accompanies that bike. Bought a sun EZ-1 recumbent and have been having the time of my life since, I don't ride for exercise anymore, I do it because it's a blast!
Sciatica
What's the cause of your sciatica? Mine is my disc (L5/S1, rightside bulge). I'm surpirsed it felt Ok with a upright which tends to bother me. I'm still commuting on a mountain bike, but want to go 'bent. Thanks.
recumbent bicycle
I've had a sciatic problem which has flared up 4 or 5 times in the last year. The last two times the pain lasted for over a month.. I'm actually currently in pain from a sciatic flareup.. Just the other day I started thinking about these recumbent bicycles and wondering if it would be a good way for me to get back out on the bike path and out in the sun for some exercise and hopeful recovery. Today I started searching Google to find prices on these bikes, but then also searched for the phrase "recumbent bicycle sciatica" and your blog entry was the very first link in my search results! I cannot tell you how encouraging it was to read what you wrote about your own sciatic experience and how you found recovery through using a recumbent bike!
Question though, I've noticed that some recumbent bikes seem to have more of an upright seat, while others lean way back. It's my thought that the one's with a more leaned back seat would be more appropriate since they come closer to that "laying down position".. The question is, which kind of recumbent bike are you using? Which brand? Your story sounds so similar to mine and I really want to get back out and get some much needed sun/exercise so I'm very curious which bike you'd reccommend to use for this?
Thank you for posting your blog about this, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has found hope reading your words!
Rich
You've already given me the answer!
I was re-reading your post and just now realized that you actually did share the name brand of the bike you were using! For some reason I missed the part where you had said;
"I hobbled out the bike shed to see how painful it would be to ride my Rans V-Rex, a recumbent bike."
I noticed you made a link out of that name, and clicked it and saw the actual picture of the bike. That's exactly what I had in mind! I'm going to do more searching on the "Rans V-Rex" bikes and see what I can find used!
Thanks again for the great post!
Take care,
Rich
That story is very inspiring
That story is very inspiring for people who are suffering from back pain. What are the cost of such a bicycle?
recumbent pricing
The pricing varies. I would expect to speed at least $800 on a recumbent bike, which is comparable to what a road bike can cost. As with anything else, there are possibilities to find ones for less, as well as much more expensive options for those who want them.
When used to replace trips normally made a by a car, a bike easily pays for itself due to the savings on gas.
I have a similar problem
I have a similar problem with my disc (L5/S1, rightside bulge) with minor siatica that kicks in with a ride on my mountian bike, thus the desire now to switch to a recumbent, maybe a Longsbikes Slipstream. Is this the same disc problem you have? How's it going these days? Does it flair up if you ride a different bike? Thanks.
no problems lately
My chiropractor at the time described the issue as a herniated disc. I'm not sure which one it was. I have completely recovered now and have no ongoing symptoms. I also like to think that I'm better at dealing with the stress that was the underlying cause that set the stage for the issue.
I do regularly ride an upright bicycle with no problems at all now. Because the posture on this European commuting style bike is very straight up and down, I would suspect it's also easier on the back than a mountain bike, although perhaps still not as much as a recumbent.
Bike riding with sciatica
Wow! This blog is a breath of fresh air! I've been out of commission with sciatica for several weeks. I took a fall hiking and had a pinched nerve on one side. Started doing core strength building and then fell on the otherside. I'm going nuts. All docs want to do is give me narcotics and I don't like medications. I'm a very active person and this stuff has really impacted not only my physical well being, but my emotional sanity! Standing is S-L-O-W-L-Y getting better. Sitting is still difficult and the nights are the worst - but I belong to a gym with great low slung bikes so I'm heading there now! Thanks for the insight. Everything else I have read is so depressing. Plus, in June I'm suppose to be hiking in Alaska. May have to lower my expectations, but at least I maybe feeling somewhat better by then.
Thank-you,
Carla Wills-Brandon
sciatica
riding a bike really helped
Great to hear
I'm going through a similar herniated disc problem right now and was very happy to read your account...
I'm an active person, was doing triathlons through the summer until November, then on Dec. 31st, herniated a disc in my lumbar spine that's compressing a nerve. Took me a week to be able to move without pain killers. The pain's in my back--can't stand up straight or walk and look completely crooked. Everything I read says to stand and walk, but like you say, that is the most painful thing to do and I just want to lay down. The longer I walk/stand, the worse it is. It's been four weeks--the movies are old, and I'm feeling helpless, stagnant, and depressed. Can't stretch. The thought of walking a block is exhausing.
Yesterday, against my doctor's advice, I decided to pull my bike and indoor trainer out and try it out. Took it very easy, gradually started pedaling harder... and voila! I felt like a normal person on the bike and rode for 45 minutes with no pain. I have the same pain when I get off the bike as when I get on, but it's the first thing I've done that's made me feel hopeful I might recover without surgery. I've only ridden two days, but I already feel my mood lifting. And your story made me feel even more optimistic. Glad to hear it worked for you! Crossing my fingers and sticking to the rides...