Cycling after a nerve root block injection?

[deejay]

I have just come back from seeing a spinal specialist as I have been having sciatica for a number of months now. An MRI scan has shown that one of my lower discs has degraded; nothing to do with cycling apparently.  The doctor has recommended that I have a Lumber Nerve Root Block injection which is an injection of a steroid near the nerve root in an attempt to reduce the swelling and ease the discomfort.

I just wondered if anyone else has had the same treatment and if it affected their cycling?

I suffer the sciatica symptoms when standing or walking. On the bike am generally ok; I completed my audax RRTY last year but have not done a 200k since March as I have been concerned that cycling was causing my symptoms; the specialist thinks this is almost certainly not the case.

Having said this I do not want to have treatment that will cause a problem when on the bike. Obviously I will not be on the bike for the first few days after the treatment - if I have it.

Thanks.

John T.

[Canardly]

My sympathies, had sciatica many years ago and remember the horrors vividly.  Can't advise ref Docs advice but things have moved on significantly in the years intervening. Remember to listen to advice regarding rest.

[Pedaldog.]

Thread resurrection:-     Over the past 12 years I've had periods of Sciatica, absolute agony a lot of the time. It's returned with a Vengeance a few days ago and I can hardly do anything for the pain. Hurts like Hell when sitting, walking or just a slight movement of my foot/leg/posture. Due to a recent Medication experiment, I'm not advised to use Naproxen (NSAID) with the new stuff. Does THE COMMITTEE recommend Bed Rest or should I try some gentle cycling, if I'm able, to try and shoo off the current episode? The last Bad one lasted about 8 weeks.

[hellymedic]

I think the current thinking is that bed rest is not good and sitting is terrible.

Stand/kneel when you can, lie flat when you can't, don't sit and

GET WELL SOON!

[Pedaldog.]

Hey then Queue

Can't kneel but standing is okay. What about gentle cycling, slow on a flat off road cycle way?

[hellymedic]

Suspect it depends on the pelvic tilt and whether sitting on the saddle obliterates the lumbar lordosis or not.

You want to preserve some backward curvature of your spine.

[Pedaldog.]

Suspect it depends on the pelvic tilt and whether sitting on the saddle obliterates the lumbar lordosis or not.

You wand to preserve some backward curvature of your spine.

Spoke to the Doctor and he told me... £If you use that Laid Back trike, gently, it'd be a Great Idea". Can't, yet, walk as far as the garage to get the Trice out. I'll try as soon as I can.