Sciatic nerve pain is often overwhelming and sure to sideline your cycling workouts. Sciatica describes the sharp pain that radiates from your lower back down the back of your leg. You may also experience numbness or weakness in your leg. The pain comes from the irritation of the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve of the human body. Cycling will likely aggravate your pain until the inflammation surrounding the nerve heals.
Herniated Disc
A herniated disc often is the underlying cause of sciatic nerve pain from cycling. As you age, the composition of your spinal discs changes. These cartilage discs located between the vertebrae absorb the trauma on the spine. A herniated or slipped disc may put pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing your pain. As you age, you may be more prone to a slipped disc due to the loss of moisture within the discs. This can occur from a sudden movement you make when bicycling or perhaps twisting around to view traffic behind you.
Treatment
You should soon be able to return to biking after your bout with sciatic nerve pain, explains the Spine-Health website. You will find using standard pain management techniques effective for restoring your freedom of movement. Ice can help relieve the swelling which may be aggravating your pain. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen may provide relief.
Exercise
While you may be off your bike for a few days, you can still exercise to help treat your current condition and prevent a flare-up. Strength training exercises targeting your back and abdominal muscles will help prevent sciatica by improving your balance while biking. Regular bicycling may cause tightness in your hip muscles which can contribute to your risk of sciatic nerve pain. Stretching exercises which target these muscles can help prevent a reoccurrence. You should also incorporate some light physical exercise into your day. Your activity will improve circulation in the affected area and hasten recovery. (Ref. #4 & #5)
Prevention
Exercise can provide the physical basis for preventing bouts of sciatic nerve pain caused by bicycling. You should also include frequent breaks in your biking sessions. Prolonged periods in one position can lead to muscle stiffness, which can increase your risk of a herniated disc. You should check the seat adjustment on your bike to make sure that you are using proper form when on your bike. Taking the necessary steps to prevent sciatica pain can keep you on track with your bicycling workouts.
