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Posted 10/31/2015 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
As part of my workout today at the gym, I hopped on a spin bike for 25 minutes. I used to do spin class multiple times weekly, this is the first time I've gotten on a bike of any kind since surgery nine months ago. I was actually planning on getting my cardiologists ok to start up spinning again next month

Anyway, I digress. So about 3 hours after the workout, I started getting some annoying sensation where my prostate used to be. Not really painful, but a feeling like a pin prick (no pun intended). That didn't last long. But since then, I'm feeling a bit sore down in. Prostate land, or , I guess, in the prostate bed.

Anybody experience this, or have any ideas?
It's not bad a enough to stress over, but it's there.
Posted 10/31/2015 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Its called a sore butt and it would be there even if you were a girl. I find it hard to believe the pain is where your prostate used to be...unless you have a gps marker there. nine months no butt on a bike then 25 minutes on a gym bike... yep that would cause a sore butt.
Posted 10/31/2015 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I had my post surgical follow up with my surgeon yesterday and I asked about general sitting and the space where my prostate was.

He said that ONLY horseback riding and bicycling hit that particular spot. He didn't say you can't sit for a long time but implied that a saddle or a bike seat would probably hurt when you sit on either for a while.

There must be something else you can do without grinding on your prostate bed. <grimace>

Paul from Florida
Posted 10/31/2015 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
Nope.def not a sore butt. I know what that feels like. This feels like the same think I felt the first few weeks after surgery when I sat down without a donut hole.
Posted 10/31/2015 3:12 AM (GMT 0)
the seat on my bicycle is almost identical to this one, this one is several years newer.

I can ride a long distance, several hours at a time on this seat, but can't do 15 minutes on spin cycle seats at the Y.

www.bikeradar.com/news/article/new-specialized-road-saddle-and-tyres-at-paris-roubaix-25645/

Might be worth it to pick up a similar seat, that has a relief section down the center.

CAVEAT: I haven't had RP. Even so, can't make it spinning at the Y.
Posted 10/31/2015 3:13 AM (GMT 0)
Pratoman-

I've rediscovered cycling relatively recently, and I'd probably side with you that "sore butt" and discomfort closer to where your prostate was are pretty different (and easily recognizable) issues. The former is usually related to your sit bones where they contact the saddle, and, with time riding, goes away as "callouses" form. The softer tissue a bit further forward in the saddle when you are riding is where I'm guessing you are having an issue. That's definitely where there's a lot of pressure, and, for me, a "cutout" saddle helps (I get numbness "down there" when I ride.) One thing that does affect how much pressure you put on that area is how you have the bike fit to you.... So, on a spin bike, I would think that it's VERY important to have the seat at the proper height for you. Normally, you would want to have just a small amount of flex in your knee at the bottom of your pedal stroke. You might play around with setting your seat height to give you just a bit more flex as a way to keep some pressure off.

I've had my road bike professionally fitted, and specifically asked my fitter to keep my knee angle at the greater end of the spectrum to ease some pressure on my perineum. This may help you, too. If it doesn't, then I think, if I were you, I'd just find another option for cardiovascular work..... :)

Good luck!

Rich
Posted 10/31/2015 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks guys. Impossible to buy a seat since it's a spin bike at the gym. But the idea of playing around with the height, and maybe the forward position of the seat I.e. How far from the handlebars, makes some sense. I'll try that.
I found spin classes to be probably the best cardio workout I've ever had, except maybe 5 on 5 full court hoops. I'd hate to give it up.

As a side note, I tried something new today, as I know with cold weather coming, walking/running outside down by the water is gonna not be happening, and I'll need to retreat indoors which. Find boring.
So I changed it up, rather than 45 minutes on the treadmill. I did 10 minutes each on the rower and elliptical, 25 on the bike, then did some lifting, followed by 10 minutes on the treadmill. Really broke things up and made it easier to stick with it
Posted 10/31/2015 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Having trouble with this...

Exercise? On purpose? Dude...

Andrew
Posted 10/31/2015 2:44 PM (GMT 0)
Lol@Andrew. Dude, I don't have a shop to keep me busy.

The old arse is feeling better today,
Posted 10/31/2015 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

InTheShop said...
Having trouble with this...

Exercise? On purpose? Dude...

Andrew

I always feel better when I exercise. I am only _semi_ retired, so I usually don't get as much in as I like.

A great week for me is to get in about 70-80 miles on the bicycle. Was doing 32 miles 2 or 3 times a week and My Dr asked "are you trying to bring on a heart attack?" "You need to cut back."

So now I try to ride more frequently and hold it down to 15 or 20 per ride.

Wish I could get out there more than I am.
Posted 10/31/2015 7:14 PM (GMT 0)
I'll add my two cents just to balance out the replies a bit. I've ridden quite a few times since my surgery five years ago and have never felt anything out of whack or anything different than prior to surgery.

There are some muscles down there in the pubic area, though, that you perhaps haven't used much since surgery, but which are activated during cycling. And if the spin bike has one of those big fat barcolounger seats, you might be forced to pedal in a way that's not natural to you.

If the discomfort persists, though, you might mention it to you doc (though bear in mind that some people are just opposed to exercise and may comment negatively simply for that reason).

Here's an article that may or may not be relevant: http://pain.about.com/od/exercisehealthylifestyl/f/cycling_CPP.htm

I hope this is just a temporary annoyance.
Posted 10/31/2015 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
This discussion makes me wonder: What happens to the area where the prostate used to be and does anything support the urethra?
Posted 11/1/2015 2:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the responses, and clock it thanks for the link, interesting read. The description of "pins and needles" fits, but the article seems to imply that it would take months of riding to bring it on.

I'm going to try the cycle one more time, if it continues to bother me, I'll find another way. Although, if I do an actual spin class, you really aren't sitting in the seat for more than 5-10 minutes at a time.
Posted 11/2/2015 2:04 AM (GMT 0)
perhaps get yourself a padded seat cushion that you can put on the bike quickly and easily remove. Walmart and sporting goods stores carry them. Inexpensive
Posted 11/2/2015 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
A friend of mine who rides a lot purchased a "split" saddle for his first season after surgery. He said it made a big difference in comfort level and allowed him on the bike much sooner. I didn't ride my road bike much the summer after my surgery, but I had no issues at all. Surgery was in January and I think I did most of my riding in July and August. I have an old leather saddle that is well broken in and I just stuck with that with no issues.
Posted 11/2/2015 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
you can buy a "split" gel pad cover that fits over the seat and tightens with velcro or drawstring.

Basically, it has two pads with a channel down the center to prevent center contact.

Small local bike shops may not have, but larger ones sometimes do.

ETA Amazon has a number of them.

Post Edited (Ken) : 11/2/2015 8:33:29 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/2/2015 4:41 PM (GMT 0)
I used to cycle 1000s of miles a years until I incurred perineal nerve damage. there were red flags I ignored. I now use the recumbent bike in the gym and I can cycle on the road with a SPECIFIC noseless saddle that took me lots of pain and research to find.

ed
Posted 11/2/2015 8:22 PM (GMT 0)
I was looking at the Adamo Saddle. You can see them on ebay. I know a guy that has one and he really likes it.

Not sure how much good it would do.

Cajun Jeff
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