ITBS

on_the_nickel

Anyone other sufferers?

I had it a few years back but then was off the bike for a couple of years (twins, plus job move, plus moving back from UK - enough excuses?).

After a fairly decent late summer getting back into it (150km per week or so), I've got it again - ironically after about 10 days of no cycling, while on my stag (cycling a girls bike, around Berlin, wearing a blond wig and denim hot pants, oh yes).

Any advise on how to get rid of it and how to avoid it in the future?

PS I'm planning to do the SK 100 this weekend.

PPS. Not in a blond wig. Considering the hot pants however.

Raam

This thread will probably be locked cos none of us are doctors/physios (apart from those of us who are). You are best advised to go see a physio.

Lumen

on_the_nickel wrote: »

Any advise on how to get rid of it and how to avoid it in the future?

Don't cycle a girls bike around Berlin whilst wearing a blond wig and denim hot pants. :pac:

I'd see a physio and seriously consider your SK plans.

tunney

To be honest doesn't sound like ITBS, go to a proper physio.

DJsail

Prior to going the physio try your GP, if you've already had ITBS diagnosed then you'll already know the sypmtoms and the drill so a good physio can apply the usual magic massage and cold comp's etc.

However if all your experiencing is pain while moving around, walking or running then its advisable to see your GP first as it may not be ITBS as Tunney suggests and you can eliminate it or other conditions etc.

lukester

I'm no physio, or doctor, but I have had ITBS, still dealing with it. Personally I'd skip the doctor and go straight to the physio. The last GP I saw, when asked about knee issues, told me it was such a complicated area that she wouldn't even try to diagnose it, but could give me a referral to a sports clinic.

Physios deal with this kind of thing all the time. Someone with cycling specific knowledge would be a big plus- I found Leo in Irish Fit excellent. He referred me to an osteopath because of a leg length difference, and he was also very good.

I'd been to two physios before this and neither picked up the leg length discrepancy, which is at the root of the problem in my case (tight ITB, particularly on one side)

Most of the recovery work I've had to do involves lots of stretching, using a foam roller and self massage to work on trigger points. I was also advised to avoid big miles and lots of hills for a while during this period.

Ghost Rider

There are stretches you can do to prevent recurrence of ITBS (one of which involves doing the splits with your hands clasped together, then gradually lowering your elbows to the ground) but I'd definitely recommend talking to a physio first.

By the way, what is the story with the locking of threads to do with medical problems? Is someone bringing a lawsuit against Boards.ie for carrying "misleading" medical advice or something?

Jumpy

Ghost Rider wrote: »

There are stretches you can do to prevent recurrence of ITBS (one of which involves doing the splits with your hands clasped together,

DONT DO THIS IF YOU ARE BAD WITH ACRONYMS!

IF YOU HAVE IBS YOU WILL **** YOURSELF.

Ghost Rider

Dude, that was funny but like, seriously, it's "acronyms".

(You brought that on yourself, in fairness.)

Jumpy wrote: »

DONT DO THIS IF YOU ARE BAD WITH ACROMYNS!

IF YOU HAVE IBS YOU WILL **** YOURSELF.

The_Claw

OP, I've been off the bike for about 6 weeks with ITBS. I've had it before but this time it's really taking a long time to get better. At this stage the pain is mostly gone, but I don't think it'd be wise for me to do the Sean Kelly.

I saw a doctor prior to seeing physio. He told me I hadn't torn anything, or else knee would be swollen. Then he charged me seventy quid and sent e on my way. So go see physio, and if you're in doubt tell him/her to be honest with you about whether you need an MRI.

There are lots of good physios around - I posted here a few weeks ago looking for one and got several recomendations - search for "physio" and you should find it easily enough. I'm seeing a chap called Mark Sexton who's very near me in D7 and excellent to boot.

There's lots of good advice on this forum too - search for ITBS and you'll find it.

The impression I get, from Tunney and others, is that it's not a serious injury, but still one to be taken seriously. I made mine a lot worse by ignoring it until it got to bad to ride on. So IMO skipping the SK might be wise. Sorry.

Lumen

The_Claw wrote: »

OP, I've been off the bike for about 6 weeks with ITBS. I've had it before but this time it's really taking a long time to get better. At this stage the pain is mostly gone, but I don't think it'd be wise for me to do the Sean Kelly.

We should really just go on an all-day pub crawl around Waterford.

Jumpy

Ghost Rider wrote: »

Dude, that was funny but like, seriously, it's "acronyms".

(You brought that on yourself, in fairness.)

Oh man. I made a Spelling Nazi Fail. It must be the painkillers.