To cut a long story short, the MRI shows I have a protruding disc and it hurts like hell. I am going under the knife when I get a chance.

For the long term I'd like to read stories from other riders who have had issues with their L5/S1 region and what they did about it...

 

Had my second L5/S1 surgery on Feb 28...same place I had the surgery 12 years ago...
Went on a 3,000 trip to Grand Canyon on April 25 and was fine.. but don't expect that on your first surgery....
Get up and walk a lot... good luck.

 

Swimming is the best way to keep your back in shape.

 

Can't help with those numbers but I have compression fractured L3 and 4 twice. In my case after second go around I added Progressive springs/shocks front and rear on my Deuce. Installed factory bars that come back an additional inch or so to keep me more erect. For quite awhile I wore a Nike "weight belt" and kept it really snug and it was a big help when I came out of upper body cast. Got much better at dodging potholes too. it is gonna take patience, common sense and as noted above plenty of walking. John

 

excellent way...great exercise all around, just tiring when starting out, lol. im tall, i stop on long rides and walk around, stretch before, stretch after, but building your back muscles is great..

I think CycleSource Magazine just had an article on working your lower back for strength of your lower muscles not muscle building, but just toning them up for riding/use.

 

I had two protruding disk in that region and was in a lot of pain about 6 years ago. The doctor recommended starting with Cortisone shots to reduce the pain and if things didn't get better then go under the knife. I decided not to do anything and bear the pain until it got better. I was finally back to normal after about 6 months. During that time I did stretching and put heat packs on my lower back twice a day. It was a slow painful healing process but it eventually got better. Depending on how severe your disks are it may or may not work for you. Mine were not protruding bad enough yet that the doctor said surgery was the only option.

 

The article on exercising your back is in the last month of American Iron.

 

flibuoy, did the progressive shocks make much of a difference from the stock ones? Can you explain the difference? My Heritage rides a little hard but I'm 250 and really bad when wife is on back and I hit a pothole.
Thanks,

 

correct sorry..i have the damn American Iron mag. in my bag..

 

page 128 in American Iron Magazine NOV 2008 issue has some back exercises to strengthen muscles in your center/lower of your bike, so other muscles dont have to compensate for the sore/cramped ones.

Basically shoulder shrugs...and the dumbell lawnmower pull..lol..