I've suffered back pain for as long as I can remember - at least 15 years since having my first child, just general lower back pain but also more recently, I have been getting sciatica more often. I am currently having a bout of sciatica - the last time I went on my bike was last Tuesday and could manage ok but have deteriorated since then. I went to the GP last Thursday who tested my reflexes and leg raises and confirmed it was sciatica. He told me to take paracetomol and will make me a physio appt but not as an urgent case! I have found the only way to relieve it is by walking round and avoiding sitting. Not always easy. I got kitted out on Saturday to go on my bike but could only manage about 1/8 mile and had to come home as my back was twinging all the time. I can't drive either as its my clutch back/leg. Any advice at all please? I am desperate to get better and can feel my fitness dwindling rapidly. The GP suggested I go off sick but wherever I am I can't get comfy yet I can't really drive or cycle to work!
Thank you so much

Go see a chiro or an osteopath or even a sports physio, you will have to pay but it is worth it to have someone spend time looking at you structurally. In my limited experience GPs don't have the time or the expertise to properly deal with back/hip problems.

I had problems sitting, my lower back pulling when riding and eventually having referred pain into my groin from my lower back which stopped me running and made walking difficult. I went to see a chiro (first professional I could get an appointment with as I was in agony) who diagnosed sacro-iliac problems (causing the referred pain), piriformis problems (show up when sitting) and foot problems - I was lopsided!

A few appointments later and some adjusts I am much much better, pain is gone - piriformis only bugs me if I neglect to stretch and I'm now level.

Hi Julbags - I hear exactly what you're saying about the GP but at the time of making the appt, I was in agony and really didn't know which way to turn (no pun intended)I have an appt with our works physio on Weds at 8am as its free. What do you recommend if I could go to anyone professional then and am prepared to pay? Im not sure if its a sports injury althoug it does stop me cycling at the moment. Glad you're sorted btw - just goes to show how we learn to live with things and when we do sort them out, can't believe how your quality of life improves! Thanks Julbags

Hi HILS, I know what you mean about agony, however I didn't bother my GP as I've gone to him before with "sports" injuries but he wasn't really interested.


I would wait to see what the physio says first, they may be able to help or they may point you in the direction of someone else, no point paying for somethin if you don't have to. I went with a chiro as I could get an appointment quickly and a friend of mine is one (although she lives miles away unfortunately) so I could always discuss any treatment questions with her if I needed to. A friend of mine uses an osteopath for her back and it works for her, osteos also look at muscles and soft tissue as well I think. I need to find time/cash to have a sports massage to really complement my chiro treatments.

I agree about quality of life improvement, I'm feeling much better now. I'd been putting up with the latest pain for about 4 weeks until it was clear it wasn't going to get better on its own. Have had all sorts of niggles etc over the last few years which touch wood are gone at the moment.

That kind of pain is really debilitating, I had all sorts of mini dramas to myself thinking I was going to be in pain forever.

great advice again - thanks. Ive got to the point now where Im getting cross with myself now for not doing something about it sooner. Ive only really started cycling seriously over the last 18 months so this time Im really getting frustrated as I never really knew how much I did/enjoy cycling because I can/want to do it not have to. Having said that, Ive just weighed myself and have put on about 3 lbs this week and I really do believe that is down to lack of exercise combined with all the junk Ive been eating. I can normally get away with eating virtually what I want and maintaining a steady weight. Thanks again. I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your interest and comments

I had lower back pain for about 15 years too, and only just started seeing a chiro last year because it had gotten ridiculous. I could hardly stand upright some days. I was also a bit lopsided, but mainly because of compensating for pain for so long. Most of my problems were/are in my neck and upper back rather than where the pain was. To me it's been something of a revelation and I'm rarely in pain anymore. (I also have very tight hamstrings so when I am in pain now I usually need to stretch.)

I'd recommend a chiro, physio or osteo too. Not sure what all the differences are but I just thinking taking that step is well worth it. Mine was fairly pricey to start because of the frequency of visits, tho not so much since I don't need to go as often now. But I wish I'd done it much sooner regardless of the price.

Tina-M: I went to the physio at work this morning only to be told it wasn't sciatica after all as the pain in my leg would be down the back of it instead of the front but he did say there was nerve damage there which with manipulation could be treated. He told me to listen to my body and if I found things painful to do, then don't do them. I cycled to work today and really enjoyed it although I went a bit gingerly and got blasted off by a roadie (but I did have a huge rucksack and semi slicks on my mtb)! I am actually suffering tonight though again. I was given some exercises to do to. Pretty Peed off really but at least Ive finally got things moving - just wished it was me!

Least its not sciatica, that can be a nightmare to treat. Its also good to get a diagnosis. In my case it took about 6 weeks of treatment before I felt I had turned the corner so hang in there - I'm not the most patient type in the world and wanted results immediately! I also found that when they fixed one thing something else became apparent so be prepared for that, in my case it is tight calves and tight/weak glutes which I think is the root of my problem.

Do the exercises they give you no matter how boring or daft it seems. I was given some stretches to help my piriformis and they do help and at the chiros suggestion I have started to introduce some "core" work again (it bores me senseless) but I can already feel the difference in my lower back and lower abs as well as some glute strengthening (apparently my a*se isn't big enough!).

Decided its probably time to spend some time looking after my body properly. Once clocks go back and I won't want to be out on my bike all the time I am going to try to find a yoga or pilates class I can get to.

Hi HILS,
Sciatica is a term that is often used very loosely, but by definition it means pain radiating the full length of the leg. There are lots of possible causes for the pain and in order to get the right treatment you should be assessed by someone who can make an accurate diagnosis. I would recommend going to the physio first and hopefully they will be able to give you a definitive diagnosis and advice about how to manage it.
If you have true sciatica then there are some simple rules you should follow. Avoid activities that make the leg pain worse. Sitting and bending are often the culprits although this varies form person to person and depends on the cause. Lying flat on your front or with a pillow under your tummy can take the pressure off the disc and often relieves the leg pain. It's important to keep mobile as much as the pain allows, but keeping the amount of sittin and bending to a minimum. Some people find swimming is helpful, although take it gently at first.
You should stay off the bike until the leg pain settles and then slowly re introcuce it. The physio will give you lots more advice and exercises that are specific for your individual problem so make sure you stick with them for a speedy recovery.
Hope this helps. Sarah (She cycles physio)

Hi Hils, back pain since giving birth is a relatively common complaint

During pregnancy your ligaments soften to enable the pelvis to accomodate the baby through the birth canal. This is a good thing-obviously! but it can also cause problems. If the ligaments are soft the joints they are supporting can become less stable and more prone to injury. The pelvis itself can sometimes be strained and moved very slightly out of alignment during an awkward birth or your pelvis and spine can be injured after the birth with all the strange lifting and activities a new baby demands. The ligaments can take a while to strengthen up so you are pretty delicate around this time. Its not uncommon for these joint dysfunctions to remain undetected for years, causing a varitey of aches and pains as your body tries to compensate and restore balance.

The good news is that these problems are treatable under skilled hands. Ask your physio is she/he is familiar in sacro iliac -(the joint where the spine attaches to the pelvis) problems. As i would advise a thorough evaluation of this area in any one who comlains of pain post partum. Sorry for the long waffly reply, but i hope it makes sense!

Update on my 'sciatica' - Ive now been to the physio 3 times who I have to say is extremely good. He originally thought it was nerve damage but now he seems to think its disc damage. I have improved no end since seeing him but suffered a setback when I went on my bike on Saturday and Sunday morning, I couldn't move and my back just kept giving way. My sister took me to New Look to get my daughter some holiday clothes and I just stood there in the middle of the shop hanging onto the rails as I was stuck rigid. My daughter was SO embarassed. I couldn't even sit on the loo so at 5 in the morning, my husband was holding a jug for me to wee into! Im taking ibrobrufen and co-codomol and am still off work at the moment as I daren't drive. I'll give it till the weekend to have a go. So I suppose Id better slap on the suncream and go and relax in the garden!

Is there any way you can get an emergency visit with the physio again quickly??? I had some serious neck pain at one point which I avoided my chiro because of (thinking it would get worse if he prodded me!). I went in to book my next appointment, mentioned the pain I was waiting to end, and the receptionist interrupted his session to tell him. It turned out that it was a rarer side effect from the previous session (lucky me) so he saw me right away that day.