[at-l] numb {BLANKS}

[orangebug74@yahoo.com (Orange Bug)]

Ah, the old pressure on the perineal nerves. What is amazing is how
numb things get, but you don't lose continence! That may have to do
more with where pressure is exerted rather than preservation of
innervation to the urinary sphincter and bladder outlet.

It is pretty scary the first few times you get it, at least as a
medical student. It was an unmentionable adverse effect of bicycle
riding until the 1970's. It has a lot to do with the design of the
seat, the seating position of the rider, and whether the rider gets off
the seat to crank some revolutions or stays glued to the seat. At one
time there was concern it would cause testicular failure or other
permanent side effects, but in general is a temporary event. 

Ah, for those good old days of my lightweight 35 pound Raleigh
10-speed, tooling down Rt 5 from Richmond to Williamsburg. I remember
that and my first exposure to myoglobinuria.

Bill....

--- "Peter H. Fornof" <athiker@plantnet.com> wrote:
> Numb toes? Ah, you should ride 7 to 8 hours a day for six days on a
> bicycle
> across Iowa in the annual RAGBRAI ride. Something else that will go
> unmentioned gets numb. It's been explained to me that this results
> from seat
> pressure on a nerve in the general vicinity of the numbness. Perhaps
> a seam
> or ruck in the sock is exerting some type of pressure? I'd experiment
> with
> different sock combinations (I've gone from a double sock to a single
> sock).
> Changing inserts could also possibly help. I use Superfeet and have
> experienced no foot problems. Of course, if none of these things
> help, consult your physician. Good luck.
> 
> As far as my numbness went, the Doc just advised to ride less.
> 


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