I've dealt with left sacral/ileal joint pain for years after spraining it years ago and if I bend the wrong way I'll get an electric jolt and it takes a while for my lower back to not be sore and to walk normally again. I found for riding, mini-apes work best, pushed just a little forward so I am slightly leaning forward. This is a perfect posture for me. Because I'm leaned forward just a bit and not slouched there is no weight on my lower back. I can ride for hours like this and feel fine afterwards. Also drag bars work well too because again, you are leaned over and no weight on the lower back. On my old '95 rigid mount it had buckhorns and I sat back, slouched and with weight on the lower back. After my last 4 hour ride on it it took 3 months for my back to heal so sadly I sold it.

 

I would seriously check into a TENS unit as someone mentioned earlier. I've been using one since last year. For me (YMMV) it will give almost instant relief of those much enjoyed pain spasms. Check with your doctor and because it does not require use of intense drugs to operate, would make riding safer.

Have a great trip

 

There has been a lot of good advice given so far and I'm glad to hear that your doctor was of some help.

I've been dealing with lower back pain and sciatic nerve damage for 20 years. It has been about 16 years since my last back surgery. For the most part I have always been able to deal with the pain or discomfort, but over the last couple of years the permanent sciatic nerve damage became painful to the point that I now see a pain management specialist for specific medications as well as monthly steroid injections. I do not want to deal with another back surgery and there isn't a surgery that can really solve permanent sciatic nerve damage.

Some of the best recommendations I can make are to follow your doctor and physical therapists advice. Keep the exercises and stretching techniques they teach you in mind, as a lot of them can be used during fuel/food stops. You will definitely want to do plenty of stretching at each stop. The TENS unit is an excellent tool that is well worth the investment and they make battery powered versions that allow the unit to be mobile and clipped to your belt. Capsaicin creams do help and can be applied basically as often as needed. Icy Hot now makes an electrode pain patch that works pretty well also. If your doctor hasn't given you anything stronger than the Motrin (aka ibuprofen) and Flexoril, you might consider grabbing some extra strength Tylenol (acetaminophen) for the pain aspect and a bottle of Aleve (naproxen sodium) for the inflammation. While ibuprofen is a good non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, naproxen sodium is much better, not nearly as hard on your stomach, and can be taken less frequently (as few as 2 tablets every 8-12 hours). However, do not take both the ibuprofen and naproxen. It's a one or the other kind of thing since they are both the same class of medication. Ultram (tramadol) is now a scheduled narcotic medication, so doctors are less willing to prescribe it in comparison to years past when it was a non-narcotic alternative pain medication.

I'm sympathetic to your issue, but it can be dealt with. While it may be an annoyance on longer rides like the one you have planned, it shouldn't stop you from going and enjoying the majority of your trip.

Best of luck with everything and I hope you have a great and safe trip!

 

Though I've never been diagnosed with a sciatic (sp?) nerve issue, I have had my share of lower back pain.
FWIW, my backrest stays on my bike 24/7/365!!!
I've found three things that really help with the lower back pain.


1. Getting in a hot shower and leaning over as far as I can and remaining in that position, with the water running on my back for several minutes.


2. Placing a pillow between my thighs when I sleep.


3. Any pain reliever that contains codeine.
I don't use pills very often, but these (for me) are very effective.


As for the Saddlemen BR4100 back seat bag, I got mine over a year ago and it will not fit in between the tour pack and the rider's backrest, or for that matter me, once the backrest is removed.
I had the Kuryakyn tourpack re-locator bracket installed on my bike over the winter but I haven't had a chance to see how well it fits.
Also, my friend saw my Saddlemen bag and he also bought one.


We had an optional, leather wrapped "cushion" made that mounts in the recessed part of the bike to serve as a rider backrest and it attaches to the bag for quick installation and removal.
I hope to get an opportunity to use it in July so I'll let y'all know how it works out.

 

What bike are you riding 2AMGuy? I previously rode a 2010 Limited and the BR4100 was right there against my back. With my 2015 Limited, there's a good amount of space between my back and the bag(evidently more roomier for the passenger) . For some, this may be fine, but for me, I'd like to utilize the bag for back support. I was going to consider the riders back rest(along with the BR4100, but this doesn't fit?

 

Again, thanks to all for the very thoughtful, in-depth responses. All advice well-taken. When I do get to PT, I will ask about the TENS unit possibility. I did a 50 mile ride yesterday and my back was actually fine. I pre-medicated with 600 mg of ibuprofen and took another 600 mg later on. I'm doing a 200 mile ride this morning and we'll see how it goes. I packed my bike for pick-up yesterday. Still 10 days away from being picked up, but wanted to make sure I'm not forgetting anything(or overpacking!).

 

Speaking from experience, I'd recommend getting an MRI instead of just an x-ray.

 

Get a chin up bar from Walmart. Install it in bathroom doorway. Hang from it morning and night. Also hold ten pound weights with each arm. Stand erect and do side pull ups. Lean back and hold for 10 seconds. This stretches the spine and strengthens back muscles. Been doing it for 50 years.

 

Point well-taken.

 

Thanks. I've been doing similar stretches at the gym. I'm sure it's doing something.