[footballdan]

I've been riding for only 3 months, just to and from work which totals about 20 miles of riding per day and had been experiencing right lower back pain along with right hip pain which I know was actually back pain radiating into the hip but even hurt when I moved my legs by shifting gears or hitting the right brake. U know those 2 dimples in your lower back? My right dimple area was the area of concern....hehe! Anyways, I noticed my arms were not bent at all when riding so I figured bar risers would do the trick, or maybe a new seat thinking maybe I was affecting a nerve somehow. Well, I have upgraded to the bar risers yet but I have been mimicking the job of how bar risers operate. I've been sitting very close to the tank and I have been holding the grips with my fingers tips and sure enough...........back pain is GONE. So now I know bar risers will save my back. I never even felt any back pain when riding my bike normally but man it was killing my right lower back during the day but now its gone. I highly recommend bar risers if u have lower back pain. At least try sitting way up on the tank and use your finger tips to get that bend in your arm. :thumbup:

 

[high pipes]

I used to have back pain all the time, I started doing circuit exercise on the machines at the YMCA and all the pains left me. It mite not work for you but ya never know.

 

[footballdan]

I've been trying not to lift my legs as much plus I've ordered some shift shoes which will help that as well. I wear hiking boots most of the time when I'm riding and those soles are pretty thick and I have to lift my leg a lot to get my foot out of the cracks...hehe!

 

[kick]

We just had this discussion last week.

http://www.stromtrooper.com/dl650-specific-wee-strom/65836-back-pain-upright-riding-postion.html

 

[dancer]

These may sound like silly questions. These may be silly questions. But...

How big/thick is your wallet?

Where do you carry it?

 

[Jimding]

Walk

I suspect the best exercise for lower back pain is walking. Not much stress, not much jarring, enhances circulation, improves core strength. I do lot's of fix-it work around the house, and whenever my lower back starts to bothering me, time to spend more time walking. Beyond that, might think about bar-backs if you find yourself stretching-leaning to get to the handgrips. And some sort of kidney-belt might help as well.

 

[bluninja]

Strange. I have lower back pain from a few old sports injuries but riding the v-strom seems to actually loosen up my lower back and ease the discomfort.

 

[tytek]

I have two herniated disks, one with a very nice protrusion that is constantly molesting my nerve endings at the L5/S1 area - due to a sports injury from a while ago. This also causes my coccyx to be very tender and often sore. On the bike or in a desk chair.

I am able to ride my Wee for up to 4-5hrs at a time, since I have switched to the OEM gel seat. On the stock seat, I could only go about 2hrs, and that was only possible when leaning forward and sitting on my sack (which would get numb and tingly). The gel seat helps with not having to sit on the nut bag anymore, but it still causes some coccyx pain after a few hours.

I tried using butt bead pads on both seats, and while they help a little with monkey but, it was not the answer for pain management.
Taking Advil before heading out helps too, but that wears out after a couple hours in the seat. I also wear a back protector with a kidney belt, but it does not affect things much at all.

I have just ordered the medium Airhawk 2 seat cushion to see if that helps even out the pressure on my butt and spares my coccyx from seat contact.
Will advise on how the Airhawk does after I get it and have some seat time with it.

In my case, surgery is the only option to relieve pain of the protruding disk. I have just not decided if I want to have it done at this young of an age (32 yrs old).

 

[568v8]

pain relief

I carry a small roll-on of Biofreeze that give hours of relief. I rarely use it traveling on the Vee because my back is actually better in the upright riding position than many daily activities. But, if you have pain, the gel will give instant relief allowing a good night's sleep. Samples are available in small single use packets.

Biofreeze Pain Relieving Gel Review | Buy Biofreeze

 

[jokermtb]

About a month ago, I woke up with a small back ache - right in the lower back like the OP mentioned. Thought nothing of it, and went mountain biking a few times, went to band practice for a few hours of letting a guitar hang off my shoulder, and by the end of the week, my back was incredibly painful - that same stiff pain, with the sore right hip. The hip pain was a surprise, and was so disabling, especially trying to swing my leg up and over my Strom's seat! I sympathize with you on that - it's an all encompassing pain.

Went to my chiropractor a few times for some adjusting + ultrasound heating of the area to get some blood flow goin', cold pads/electric heating pads [love thos Icyhot adhesive pads too!], massive IBUPROFIN gobbling...all to no avail. I was convinced my days of painfree fun were OVER. I was in a bit of a mental panic! So, I went to see an orthopedic surgeon in my neighborhood, and he xrayed me and found no real issues at all [phew!], and filled me out a script for some oral steroids [prednisolone?, I believe].

I don't know if it was a factor of 'taking it easy', oral steroids, ibuprofin, cold/heating pads, etc....but after a couple weeks I was feeling great, back to my routine. The doctor said we'll probably never know what caused my initial back issue, but it's nice to know that Oral Steroids are a good option, instead of eating Ibuprofin like candy.....

 

[acududeman]

About a month ago, I woke up with a small back ache - right in the lower back like the OP mentioned. Thought nothing of it, and went mountain biking a few times, went to band practice for a few hours of letting a guitar hang off my shoulder, and by the end of the week, my back was incredibly painful - that same stiff pain, with the sore right hip. The hip pain was a surprise, and was so disabling, especially trying to swing my leg up and over my Strom's seat! I sympathize with you on that - it's an all encompassing pain.

Went to my chiropractor a few times for some adjusting + ultrasound heating of the area to get some blood flow goin', cold pads/electric heating pads [love thos Icyhot adhesive pads too!], massive IBUPROFIN gobbling...all to no avail. I was convinced my days of painfree fun were OVER. I was in a bit of a mental panic! So, I went to see an orthopedic surgeon in my neighborhood, and he xrayed me and found no real issues at all [phew!], and filled me out a script for some oral steroids [prednisolone?, I believe].

I don't know if it was a factor of 'taking it easy', oral steroids, ibuprofin, cold/heating pads, etc....but after a couple weeks I was feeling great, back to my routine. The doctor said we'll probably never know what caused my initial back issue, but it's nice to know that Oral Steroids are a good option, instead of eating Ibuprofin like candy.....

Glad you are pain free again. Prednisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory, but keep in mind that it is a drug to use sparingly. Ongoing and regular use can wreak havoc on your system. Remember when Jerry Lewis was looking awfully lot like a bull frog a few years back?

 

[jokermtb]

Glad you are pain free again.

As Murphy's Law would have it, as I was donning my overpants for my morning commute, as I pulled em up I felt the familiar cascading 'ripple of instant pain' begin in my lower back. Fack!

Here I sit at work, Ice pack on lower back, 14ooMg Ibuprofen since morning, and I can't wait to see my Chiropractor this afternoon....also got an appt. to see my hopefully chagrined Orthopedic Surgeon on Friday morning for a big discussion of "what the hell is happening down there!?"

Grrrr.....cranky!:biggrinjester:

 

[Kantuckid]

I'm reading this to view "lower your Wee " ideas, but need to share this on lower back pain. I suffered from pain in buttocks,thigh & lower leg from mid-Sept/mid_Nov from sciatica , which is lower back problem via pinch of the sciatic nerve. It's common. I have gone to Chiros (good ones too!) and neuro surgeons & orthopedists for years, but this sciatic thing was new territory for me! Think charlie horse in thigh,shot in the butt & shin splint all at once! What really helped me was what you do for/to yourself, nobody else is needed! Get the book "Back Rx' & read it and do the stuff in it. Get the book on McKenzie Method and understand "lordosis" and read that one too. McKenzie #3 does me more good than any chiro manipulation I ever had,period. Of course if your really out of shape , lift too much or the wrong way, overweight,etc. those are factors. My MRI is a blueprint for back problems but I'm painfree now and the "secret" is those 2 books & whats in them& doing "it".

 

[John V Strom Jr.]

It's that stock seat!:cryin:

 

[Dread7]

I went through the same thing. I bought a back align belt. Problem went away

Might not work for you but it worked for me.

BackALine Back Support Belts, Best Lumbar Lower Back Support Braces

 

[LordSmoke]

FWIW The stock seat was the cause of my hip pain, my posture the primary source of my upper back (between the shoulders) pain. The former solved by Sargent, the latter by Master Yoda.

 

[mobeus102]

back pain

Backaline is the best! !!! You will wonder why you did not get one sooner.

 

[Illinois]

back pain radiating into the hip:

Hard for some to accept that getting more active can in some cases alleviate the pain. You might also give an inversion table a try, stretches the muscles and realigns the spine using your own bodyweight. As mentioned earlier a wallet in the back pocket with prolonged sitting can cause problems. I am now a (young)senior citizen and have experienced back surgery and numerous injuries (blown-up once). Regular exercise keeps me going. Good luck. :beatnik:

 

[Attackturtle]

My wife uses back a line and it fixed her back problems. Just wait till you get your first leg cramp. I used to get them occasionally when I first started riding in the upper thigh. I'll still get them once and a while. Usually my right leg thankfully. I get some odd looks with my leg stuck straight out past my fairings. I could stand but always fear getting pulled over for showboating.

 

[kiwi_outdoors]

hold your handlebars

not your fingertips !!!!


to use a "loose" grip hold you handlebars in the crook between the base of thumb and forefinger, with fingers open, this is an archery hold to stop your fist unintentionally rotating the bow and it works well on a motorcycle - as your extende dfingers can cover brake and clutch