Welcome back to Street Pigeon MTB. Unfortunately this is a bit of a different video.
I currently have an injury that will eventually threaten my ability to ride MTB and exercise. For the past ten years I’ve had chronic lower back pain. Now, anyone who rides mountain bikes can appreciate how challenging riding mountain bike with back pian is.
In this video I reveal the story behind my back pain and the current reality for me. It is clear to me that if I don’t get this fixed my days on the bike are probably numbered. However, I am being positive. I want this video to chronicle a moment of change for me. I don’t want back pain to be the thing that ends my mtb riding.
If you are new to my videos then expect to see high quality riding vlogs shot in the same style as McTrail Rider and BKXC. I try to travel to the best MTB locations in Scotland finding you the best mountain biking trails to ride, enjoy and explore.
I am sponsored by Bird Cycleworks. They make incredible bikes at really competitive prices. check out their range of bikes and more at their website: https://www.bird.bike/
I am sponsored by Mudhugger. They make the best MTB mud protection out there! https://www.themudhugger.co.uk/
I am supported by Endura clothing. This is one of the most respected brands in the industry. To see why check out https://www.endurasport.com/
My bike is maintained by Bspoke Cycles Peebles. They offer insanely good service and I cannot recommend them enough. Check them out at https://bspokepeebles.co.uk/
#backpain #chronicpain #keeppositive
31 Comments
I’m 54 and I’ve had a few flare ups over the years. Often from indoor rowing but once going off a jump on the bike. Each time it was patience , rest ( from exercise ) and mobility ( walking everyday) that got me through it. It takes 3 or 4 weeks before I can put my socks on. Currently pain free. Hope you get yours sorted.
Your situation and pain symptoms very similar to me. I’ve been working on fundamental movement patterns as I’ve got an imbalance between left and right. It’s been hard work especially as I have a manual job so I am overworking it all the time. I’ve ridden very little in the last 6 months but I am getting better. Wish you well
Woodworker with right hand dominant machines put my lower spine into an S shape… any period beyond 3days of ‘relaxing’ i would stiffen up and be completely crippled… family holidays were horrendous because i so wanted my family to have fun but my body wouldn’t allow it, this plagued my life for 15years until i found Mctimoney chiropractors. It took quite a few visits of correction but each time the period between grew longer before my body would return to misalignment… i’m 50now and haven’t returned for 10years.. sure i get sore but prevention stretches keep misalignment at bay…
There are some very cleaver people out there so chin up because you’ve definitely got plenty more years of cranking in you!🫶🏻
Hope you can get it sorted Jamie, sending you all the healing vibes you need! Best wishes buddy.
I'm the same age as you, also suffered back pain massively for years, I tried all the stretching and flexing recommended, it done nothing for me. Then I tried actually resting my back for a few weeks, brought a rock hard mattress and memory foam pillow, I gave up the gym totally and now just ride the ebike. I found that I still get a wicked exercise and the added weight of the bike some how totally allows me to forget about back pain. So my advice is rest up thoroughly till your actually recovered could be weeks, could be months but you will get better, then take it easy, don't rush into things, your back might never be as strong as it was at 20yo but it can be strong enough to still enjoy your life .
Similar story with me although we are different, but just because my lifestyle changed and I could not go riding so much it gave me time to work on some other exercises which have helped my back amazingly, to the point that when I do now get a chance to go riding I feel stronger and now no pain, so hope you get the result you want too, and best of luck! And will keep an eye out for more videos in future!
Stay focused but give it time and maybe longer than you might imagine. I had 10 years of misery with my back and tried everything that I could think of. Eventually a combination of acupuncture and chiropractic manipulation turned a corner and now at 67 it’s controlled and I’m back biking and more active than ever.
Best of luck with the back program and keep those amazing videos coming where possible.
I do the McGill big three every morning. Then, I do stretching in a hot shower. I also do a lot of decompression with hangs more than pull-ups… up to 2 mins on dead hangs. Also, I have only worn zero drop heel minimalist shoes for 3 years. They corrected my gait, and made me use my hamstrings and glutes to push through my stride, rather than overstride and pull forward with the quads and hip flexors. This changed my forward pitched pelvic tilt to straight. Last, i ride the bike/trainer 3-4 times per week. Good luck. Don't give up on yourself.
On yersel mate. I hope this all gets fixed for ya. I love watching you shred 💚
I was same with back problems,mine was due to heavy lifting in my work,and a car crash.Got to the point i was in pain all the time,a chiropractor helped me,but if i missed a monthly appoitment i would be in agony with my back,when i got to the 4 weeks of "normal" pain i would be pain free due to chiropractor appoitment.Also have you thought it might be sciatica?
I have lived with severe neck and knee pain since i was 14 yrs old due to a car crash, i had to stop doing everything i enjoyed doing (biking, rugby, weight training etc). I was so miserable and down so after 2 years of this i had had enough and began doing them again. Slowly it got better and around 19yrs of age i was at my peak for around 5yrs then becoming a family man not long after it all got put aside except for the very odd occasion.
Now in my middle ages i am riddled with severe pain in most of my back, neck and shoulders (2 slipped discs and arthuritis, trapped nerve) especially feeling very down and fed up. I do what i can but the pain takes over and i have to stop what i'm doing and then i'm in pain for days after. I try not to let it get the best of me for the sake of my family but there are those days when you wish you hadn't woke up that day and skipped it for the following day. Sorry to sound so depressing but all i'm trying to say is keep your chin up do what you can as often as you can and try to enjoy life as much as you can. Stay positive and good luck 👍👍💪💪
All power to you and sending positive vibes! Thanks for sharing and I’m sure documenting this process will be informative for us all. 💪🏽💪🏽
You are a decent chap Jamie. Try and be fair on yourself pal, we all have our issues. Getting out on your bike is so good for your physical health alomg with with mind health, which is so much more underestimated. I lost my Big Brother 5 years ago gone Christmas and my Mam a couple of years ago. Such important people in my life and I feel lonelier for their departure. The gym and biking has been my absolute saviour and got me through some incredible dark days and times. We all want to be happy and these things have helped me immensely. I'm 55 this year and just become grandad. I'm blessed by my son and daughter and now grandson, I will always do my utmost best to hang around as long as possible for them.
Enjoy what you do whilst making allowances for your own body where possible. Stay strong pal and keep up your great content. Hey I I even ride a Bird Aether 9c because of you and your channel. All the best bud 👌💪👍
Hope you get better! I'm 36 now and have similar lower back pain since I started my career as lecturer almost in 2015 because I had to sit down and did lots of documents works. Everyone around me just blames mountainbiking that makes my conditions worse. However, only myself and my wife know that it's not true because I did take a long break from MTB due to severe back pain (to the point I could not stand up and sit down). I took quite a long break, a few months, and it didn't get better. At the time, I still work a lot, no MTB, and still in pain. I almost quit MTB. My colleaque who introduced me to MTB told me that stress from work can induce back pain because he was bedrridden for a few days even he hasn't MTB for years. Every now and then I still have back pain, but I manage it by using medication. Now I bought an ebike, I am happy than ever 😉
Feel for ya mate! Keep ya chin up, rest till your inflammation settles down. I have a L5 blown disc. I still bike, for me it helps strengthen my back, probably because I single speed, so I’m constantly standing whilst pedaling up hill and down since it’s a hardtail. Best wishes on your way back to feeling better. Rest!
back pain amd lumbar spine ddd are a part of life. dont ever get surgery and keep doing what u want as long as u can.no one is getting out alive
Best of luck with your recovery, I struggled with back pain for years, slipped discs etc,etc. I went to a physio who helped me out. I still do the excercises he gave me 5 years ago was the last time he saw me. Itsjyst part of my daily routine now. I don't mtb anymore but I do run and lift weights. Keep going and be patient, there is light at the end of the tunnel
Hey everyone. I put the vid out yesterday. The support has been amazing. Know that I will respond to each comment, it's just taking me a little time!
I hadn't expected this to be such a popular topic, and it's sad that so many people have had some real trials and suffering with their backs.
However, to read about the success stories and the sheer determination demonstrated by folks, is really inspiring.
I'm just starting week 4 of my back training. I can't tell you how motivated I am to get this sorted.
I'll update you when I can 👍
But once again, thank you so much.
Sorry to hear of your back issues Jamie.
I started lifting heavy when I was 15 (37 now). I felt bullet proof until around 5 years ago when I tweaked my lower back lifting a box. That resulted in glute and lower back pain that I have had to work on since. I have found that the pain came from scar tissue caused by the injury and general tightness in the area that has taken an extremely consistent (and stubborn!) routine to address. I self massage small massage balls and spiked rollers to break down the deep tissue causing the issues. No amount of stretching or rehab work would ever have done it for me.
For reference, I am also a trail runner. There will have been a lingering issue there – imbalance, tightness etc – that caused your hip and knee issues. I reckon if you can sort it you can get back to running too 😉
Good luck on your journey!
Dr Jim McGhee bridge of Alan Chiropractor. You need a chiropractor not a physio. I mountain bike and weight train. He will sort you out.
Much the same everyone else here, 5 slipped discs, 2 broken vertebrae and daily, almost constant pain. I can’t imagine not cycling so manage it with massage, pain relief and stubbornness. First ultra event in June. Good luck!
I started my channel about riding with a leg injury as I have suffered pain since I was 22 years old ( Now 46) Mountain biking is really the only sport I can do and I really hope you can continue to do it as well all know it brings more than just fast trails. I cannot jump and do not ride fast but I love it….good luck
Take it steady bud and get better 💪
Really sorry to hear what’s happened, all too common and I’m speaking from professional experience. I work as a musculoskeletal spinal advanced practitioner (who mountain bikes) and my biggest piece of advice would be to get thoroughly assessed by a spinal specialist/orthopaedic spinal consultant (not a personal trainer) rather than just jumping from one workout/rehab plan to another. By establishing a cause and source of symptoms you’ll be more effectively able to make informed decisions about your care plan moving forward, avoiding (as much as is realistically possible) further distress and functional restriction.
Good luck and speedy healing, it’s not easy but it is achievable 👍
''Keep the Faith''… I didn't know you were a Bon Jovi fan?!? I won't hold that against you. Joking aside, good luck. I have every confidence you'll make a full recovery. I had issues with my shoulder for around 18 months. It really effected my riding and daily life. Took a while to get right and I struggled with the patience side of recovery. But with the right physio and patience I have every confidence you'll be fine. Good luck…you will be fine.
Best of luck with the rehab. 👊🏻 Do you know the source/origin of the pain?
48 like yourself,love riding, never put it down since around ten, i have a pain full hip.due to riding with a super high seat from what i am told, Learned to ride a unicycle last years and that really kills my ankles
and knees,ruins me for a few days, i take pain killers quite a bit now,and have just accepted this as natural ageing. All the best
Im 54 I have suffered back pain constantly for 9 yrs now I was also missing diagnosed with a hip problem that didn't show up on MRI a year and a half ago I paid 6 thousand euro for a hip operation that failed 5 months ago I had a total hip replacement like u I had knee pain from tight hamstrings I still ride but I have a emtb and I suffer back pain after it but the buzz I get from riding I can't give up ..have u had MRI on your back and possibly your hips and the pain from both over cross and it could be your hip and not your back that's the problem
I went through similar problems when I retired and became much more active after many years at a desk job. We're all different but for me the key was total rest for a couple of weeks followed by further short rest periods as soon as any problems recurred. Resting was hard as I was addicted to hill walking and MTBs but the result was a complete an permanent cure. Take a look at Scottish climber Dave Mcleod's vids on training and nutrition – they might help. Hope you recover quickly.
Incidentally the weird and unnecessary background muzak on this vid is distracting and headache inducing. Please stop it.
Hi – I'm almost 55 and also struggled with back pain / sciatica. After some years of physio/chiropractor etc with only Limited success, I was looking at other longevity support and discovered Gary Brecka and his videos on the Methylation cycle and how deficiencies in some specific vitamins & minerals can affect people quite seriously.
He mentioned back pain being linked to low vitamin D. So taking a simple high strength D3 (with K2) supplement can help.
I've started using it and found a large improvement. Along with magnesium, which helps absorption of the D3 to get better effect.
It's pretty cheap to try and you may find this linked to your pain. (Especially if there is not anything like a visible major disc problem causing it.)
Google search D3 for back pain and you will see some content on you tube (Dr. Eric Berg etc)
Start with 20,000 iu a day to see if you notice improvement.
Plus a high strength magnesium glycinate supplement (is apparently better absorbed than other Mg types).
I've found it helps me so wanted to mention it, in case. I'm also using some other supplements that help me feel more like I did when rather younger but adding the D3-K2 and Mg at a higher strength was when my back improved, so maybe there is something in it…..
After an MRI, then you will have a mechanical picture in hour head. Before that its just guessing. I had a bulging disc on l4 and l5 since the age of 28, still achieved some of my best cycling after that. Its all manageable, but best worth taking the guessing of physio and rehab correctly directed. Definitely sounds like you have some sort of nerve irritation from a disc problem.