Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge May have had my last ride

Bad news for me & this seems to be the venue where people will understand my disappointment with the situation. Since Nov. 2011 I have been having tailbone pain (no jokes, it's called the coxyxx) At first I thought it was my bike but after taking weeks off of the machine it got no better..it hurts to sit like a normal person and even worse when I try to stan. I have had x-rays, have had two cortisone injections (did not help), an MRI and this week I went in for a bone scan. The orthopedic Dr's. are at a loss and have no answers. I'm 60 in a few months but this has never been one of my normal ailments. The thought of giving up my bike kills me, I know you all understand that. I am hoping the bone scan shows a problem that can be rectified. There is a surgery to remove the tip of the tailbone but the risk for infection and 6 months healing while lying on your side does not excite me... besides this only works in about 30% of the cases. I am at a total loss. I may make an appointment up at Stanford where there are better Dr's. Wish me the best guys...I am down in the dumps but at least my ride is clean as a whistle. I have tried to ride and after about 25 miles I feel like I have ridden 400 miles, no freaking fun.

That's lame. Sorry to hear; I'm sure it is incredibly frustrating.

Personally I have avoided this problem by enlarging my ass cheeks through a steady diet of red meat and sweets, such that even when I am riding the Speedie my coccyx is nowhere near to bottoming out on the seat.

I hope they come up with a solution for you. If not, I suggest this method: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ls5nW_10OSs

That is sad news. Hope it all works out for you.

That must be very distressing, hope you find a solution that allows you to ride.

Jerry, I hate to hear that, getting older sux. Good luck to you and hopefully they can get you back in the saddle. It might be a year or so but don't give up the bike just yet.
Mike

Damn Jerry, that sucks. Have you tried a bike with a different seating position, say a Scrambler perhaps?

Sorry to hear about your pain, Jerry. Hopefully you'll discover the cause and be able to rectify things before too long. Hang in there.

That sucks,like bigbill suggested,it's worth a try.Best of luck however things turn out.

Rotten news indeed. I hope the guys at Stanford can find a solution for you that is easier.

I'm sorry Jerry. Hang in there, hopefully the bone scan will show something that can be rectified. I had bone issues 3 months after I had a kidney transplant in 02 right after I bought my red America. It was because of taking too much prednisone. Like Mike said, don't give up hope or your bike, The specialists may eventually find a cause for your pain.

i am sure that this sucks in more ways then one and am sorry to hear about your perdicament, that being said i have to ask, have you talked to a Chiropractor about this?? i know some people dont like them or trust them or have never been to one to understand it or them but the right one can do amazing things when it comes to skeletal problems. if your tailbone is not positioned right and can be severe pain in the azz (pun intended)and i know it is no laughing matter first hand. i cracked mine some yrs ago (oh the jokes that were told about that ) and untill i seen a Chiropractor, i found no relief. i hope it all gets better for you but i wouldnt let a doctor investigate nothing when it comes to skeletal problems. it could be just tipped a little and a doctor or boneguy or nuroguy wouldnt have a clue and would have you jumping thru all kinds of hoops or taking drugs and all the while it could have been clicked back into place and problem cured with just a couple of visits to the right kind of doctor. good luck and like others have said, dont give up on the bike just yet, if they find the problem and fix it and you have sold your bike, you will be regretfull about it.

Wrotten news, Jer. Hope it works out for ya.

Jerry, I agree with Myke. Doesn't hurt to see a Chiropractor other than the $$$s. Hope you find the cause of the pain and it can be worked out.

what about trying a different bike style/seating position. Many of us have had low back pain that was eased by a different seat or bike.

I'm hoping your second opinion docs see a different way to treat you. I had a disc removed in my back 12 years ago, 3 years ago, I had a hip replacement. Both times I was told you can't/shouldn't ride again. I still do. I'm just 55 now, and am not ready to give up the bike, even though sometimes the back and hip give me fits.

Good luck!

Jerry, sorry to hear about your constant pain, its bad enough just throwing the back out. Looks like I'll need to travel your way to meet up for a short ride. AmyLee and I will list you in our thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery. Your neighbor in Chowchilla.

Bob

Keep your hopes up. A couple years ago I was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis. The way it manifested itself was I would randomly experience feeling like I had been tazed. I'd be walking across the room and...zap. I'd be dropped to my knees. No way I could ride.

Fortunately for me a talented neurosurgeon made me as good as new (I keep telling myself). He made no promises but I feel great.

I hope it works out for you as well.

I had a much milder form of a similar problem while riding. I got a new seat that removes most of the weight from that spot. Also, putting running boards on the bike allows for changes in seating position so I can easily change the spot where the weight is concentrated if it starts to hurt. Despite a substantial belly I have almost no butt so all my (over)weight was on that tender area. About 18 months ago I took the bike from Iowa to California and back. It was still uncomfortable by the end of the day, but much better than just a few hours on the stock seat.

I tried the Airhawk seat cover and that helped quite a bit, but with the other changes I seldom need it anymore.

I think you're suffering from an infection. Take mega doses of Vit C, as in 10 grams a day for 10 days (because doing so will kill a bacterial infection) and hopefully tell your doctors you cured yourself. It can't hurt to do the Vit C thing so you have nothing to lose. Do a bit of research to find out why I suggest this. Sometimes the solution is simple... perhaps this is one of those times.

Hope it all works out for the best. Good Luck!

You might do well to look into one of these.
spinal cord stimulator

They are not a cure-all, but if it will work for you, it's the best thing since Jaffa Cakes. The folks at UCLA (not far from your home) are quite expert in their application.

Hey amglo don't give up to soon. See if you can try out a bike with a harder seat and back rest. The back rest will pivot your tail bone off the seat and a harder seat will prevent you from sinking in to the point where your tail bone is once again touching the seat. As suggested previously, you might also want to try running boards. This will allow you to move your feet back a little. Mid pegs may also help. There are a number of ways of attaching them, one of the simplest is to fashion a new rear peg holder to hold two sets of pegs ( here ).

Thanks for all of the good wishes and feedback guys, I think Keith is on to something with the infection. I just came home from an overnight stay in San Jose (about 250 miles round trip) and I noticed that the feeling besides the pain almost feels like swelling at my butts base. I tried several seating positions on the way there and back...I drive a loaded Audi with awesome adjustable drivers seat and still no help. I hurt to the point right now that I am going to go for a ride..hell, it can't be any worse than it is, lol. I am not quite ready to throw in the towel yet, understand that I have minor muscular dystrophy that has resulted in no calf muscles but that has not stopped me from riding, it has only stopped me from riding a heavier bike. Once again, Thanks to all...this is a first class forum with first class people. I'll keep you posted.

Best of luck Jerry. Don't sell the bike until you know for sure

+1 for the call to the Chiropractor.

I broke the top of my tailbone slightly when I was younger and it pinched a nerve between the tailbone and the 1st vertebrae. The pain would subside until I moved a certain way and then I could barely walk. I had to see the chiropractor 3 times a week to keep realigning my spine to allow the tailbone to heal. Havent had a problem since.

+2 on seeing a chiro, worked wonders for me, back hasnt bothered me in about 12 yrs. +1 On the vitamen C, ists good for you anyway. One more option I thought of but sounds absoultly ridiculus, make a seat in the same concept of a toilet seat, void in the middle that way no pressure on the coxyxx itself. Just an idea.

I've been the victim of an F-Ued back for the last 15 years.
My problem is the lumbar area.
The cortisone injections are usually only the first remedy attempted.
There are also medial-branch nerve blocks which try to effect
the pain msg at the first major nerve junction to the pain spot.
Also they have the RFA, radio frequency ablation, which burns
out the nerve's ability to transmit a pain msg.

I'm a chiropractor. It could help. Find a Palmer college of chiropractic grad. There is a school in San Jose out your way. Feel free to ask me questions.

I had pain in my lower back while I had my America. The cure was switching to the Tiger which has a more forward seating position and keeps me off my spine. I went from only being able to ride for about an hour to doing 8 hour days. Good luck!