Ok, maybe this has happened to someone else besides me.

I ride/race about 100-300 miles per week. Last weekend I raced Saturday and Sunday rode in the hills. On Sunday I was not feeling comfortable in the saddle but I was not feeling pain. It felt as though my left gonad was between my thigh and the saddle. (I don't think that is possible while wearing bibs.) No big deal I figured, racing and riding hard is not always comfortable.

I took two rest days and planned a hard ride on Wednesday. I got on the bike, rode across the street, and felt an instant sharp pain between my legs that traveled out to my scrotum (left side only). The terrible sharp pain repeated when my foot passed the bottom of the pedal stroke (5-7 o'clock position) almost every pedal stroke. Standing I was ok. Moving very far back or forward on the saddle decreased the frequency of the sharp, stinging sensation.

I went to the Doctor. Hernia was negative. All tests negative. Gonads are fine, not sore, no lumps, no bruises. They gave me Celebrex.

What did I do? It feels like the ligaments/tendons that run up the inside of my thigh are rubbing/rolling over a nerve that shoots some serious pain into the left gonadal.

The bike I've been on for the past month has the saddle about 1 cm higher than my winter training bike. Handlebar drop is about 5 cm lower than winter training bike. Both have the nose slightly downward. Same pedals on both. I've ridden about 2000 miles since January.

Comments? Ideas on what I may have done to myself?

Riding is impossible now.

Ok, maybe this has happened to someone else besides me.

I ride/race about 100-300 miles per week. Last weekend I raced Saturday and Sunday rode in the hills. On Sunday I was not feeling comfortable in the saddle but I was not feeling pain. It felt as though my left gonad was between my thigh and the saddle. (I don't think that is possible while wearing bibs.) No big deal I figured, racing and riding hard is not always comfortable.

I took two rest days and planned a hard ride on Wednesday. I got on the bike, rode across the street, and felt an instant sharp pain between my legs that traveled out to my scrotum (left side only). The terrible sharp pain repeated when my foot passed the bottom of the pedal stroke (5-7 o'clock position) almost every pedal stroke. Standing I was ok. Moving very far back or forward on the saddle decreased the frequency of the sharp, stinging sensation.

I went to the Doctor. Hernia was negative. All tests negative. Gonads are fine, not sore, no lumps, no bruises. They gave me Celebrex.

What did I do? It feels like the ligaments/tendons that run up the inside of my thigh are rubbing/rolling over a nerve that shoots some serious pain into the left gonadal.

The bike I've been on for the past month has the saddle about 1 cm higher than my winter training bike. Handlebar drop is about 5 cm lower than winter training bike. Both have the nose slightly downward. Same pedals on both. I've ridden about 2000 miles since January.

Comments? Ideas on what I may have done to myself?

Riding is impossible now.

they'll do a sonogram on it. Always nice to have jelly spread on you scrotum whilst some guy wands over it for a half hour.. I had the pleasure of that when they thought I may have had testicular cancer. They decided it was an infection in the epididymis and gave me cipro.. Nice horse pills....Looks like something out of the Flintstones..

Lower your saddle, make sure it's LEVEL and check for proper KOPS.

see you doctor...NOW

If your doctor says there's nothing wrong give it a few days then try getting back on your winter trainer. If that's OK then back to the race bike.

Have you upped your mileage/effort recently? I'm no doc, but tendonitis is often the culprit. Never heard of it doing _that_ though. Tendonitis is the swelling of the tendons, so maybe it is pinching a nerve.

They said the next step would be a catscan if it was not better in a week or two. Urine test was negative and the boys feel fine otherwise. The sensation originates behind or to the left of my sack and travels down into the gonad.

The first thing I did was lower the saddle to match the winter bike - approx 1 cm. I had a professional fitting (Serotta fit bike) with that bike about 2 yrs ago so I know that the saddle should be 94.5 cm and reach 57.5 cm. I feel kinda stupid that they were very much different. KOPS are close to the ideal but slightly behind axle - less than cm.

I also brought the tilt closer to level. It was ever so slightly downward on both bikes.

I attempted to ride the winter bike on the trainer yesterday but it was a definite NO, NO. The pain was just as bad on that bike. It is possible that the race bike initiated the injury but now any bike is no good for riding.

If I sit on the saddle in the most neutral position and push my hips forward but do not allow my butt to slide (causing a pulling or stretching of skin/tissue underneath) that seems to find the injured tissue. It does not cause the pain but it feels uncomfortable and tender. So, maybe I slipped forward (quickly or gradually) on the slightly downward saddle?

see you doctor...NOW
My exact thoughts. I went the next day. I will probably make an appointment with a physical therapist.

If your doctor says there's nothing wrong give it a few days then try getting back on your winter trainer. If that's OK then back to the race bike.

Have you upped your mileage/effort recently? I'm no doc, but tendonitis is often the culprit. Never heard of it doing _that_ though. Tendonitis is the swelling of the tendons, so maybe it is pinching a nerve.

About 3 weeks ago I had a really big volume week (mileage was split between two bikes). Two weeks ago was the first race of the year. Last week was race number two. Not a huge increase in my opinion. I wish an explanation could be found that easy.

Tendonitis may be the issue - or swelling of some ligament/muscle. But tendoitis seems like it would gradually worsen - this was an acute thing. One day slight discomfort, the next serious pain.

Forget the doctor, you just need to get laid. Soon. Or, if you are determined to pay, go see the little asian lady on Mills Ave and Orange. Happy ending!

About 3 weeks ago I had a really big volume week (mileage was split between two bikes). Two weeks ago was the first race of the year. Last week was race number two. Not a huge increase in my opinion. I wish an explanation could be found that easy.

Tendonitis may be the issue - or swelling of some ligament/muscle. But tendoitis seems like it would gradually worsen - this was an acute thing. One day slight discomfort, the next serious pain.

You described a fast but worsening condition- Saturday fine, Sunday discomfort, Wednesday extreme pain. When I had ITB problems the onset was almost instantaneous- a little, "Oh, what's that?" followed by, "Ouch, ouch, ouch."

It might be that you injured old Lefty himself. I don't think it's beyond the realm of possibility that he slipped on Sunday even with bibs. Did you check during the ride? In the typical man, when it's nice and warm, Lefty hangs a bit lower than Righty, so he'd be the "usual suspect" for that kind of thing.

Your next stop might be the Sports Medicine Center. See if you can find one with a cycling specialist.

Does it bother you when you walk or run? The leg position is similar (in the 5-7 O'clock range).

Do you have access to a cruiser? Upright position, big comfy saddle? If you do try riding it easy in street clothes and see if you get the pain.

One of the problems here at RBR is that we don't have an injury/recovery forum. You might try posting over on MTBR which does have one- see if any of our mountaineering brethren have had similar problems.

Best of luck.

Oh, I know this one. You have pulled your groin muscle somehow. You will get a phantom pain in you nads from that because the tendon passes nearby or some such thing. I had it happen a few years ago and was really worried it was a hernia because it hurt more in my abdomen than between my legs. Doctor checked me out and said no hernia, pulled groin.
Takes 6-8 weeks to be all the way better...

Your next stop might be the Sports Medicine Center. See if you can find one with a cycling specialist.

I know at least two cyclists in the area that are in orthopedics or physical therapy. I will be trying to see them soon.

Does it bother you when you walk or run? The leg position is similar (in the 5-7 O'clock range).

NO, not at all. I really need to be on the bike to cause the pain. The only other way I can cause the pain off the bike is in a fairly deep squat while leaning way forward (imagine being in the drops with the leg at the top of the pedal stroke). Doing that on the bike however does not hurt.

Do you have access to a cruiser? Upright position, big comfy saddle? If you do try riding it easy in street clothes and see if you get the pain.

I may try using the recumbent bikes at the gym but only if I am directed to stay off bikes for a long time and it is ok with the doctor.


One of the problems here at RBR is that we don't have an injury/recovery forum. You might try posting over on MTBR which does have one- see if any of our mountaineering brethren have had similar problems.

Best of luck.

Good point. I was unsure where to put this thread. I have posted the same thread at other forums.

Thanks for reading and suggestions.

Forget the doctor, you just need to get laid. Soon. Or, if you are determined to pay, go see the little asian lady on Mills Ave and Orange. Happy ending!

Nice! I'll tell my wife.

Oh, I know this one. You have pulled your groin muscle somehow. You will get a phantom pain in you nads from that because the tendon passes nearby or some such thing. I had it happen a few years ago and was really worried it was a hernia because it hurt more in my abdomen than between my legs. Doctor checked me out and said no hernia, pulled groin.
Takes 6-8 weeks to be all the way better...

What did you do during the 6-8 weeks? Could you ride at all? Since your injury, have you had any long term effects, like a recurrence or sensitivity?

Nice! I'll tell my wife.
I have heard that it will cost you much, much more if you tell your wife either before or after you go see the "little asian lady with happy ending." Do what you will, though. . . .

What did you do during the 6-8 weeks? Could you ride at all? Since your injury, have you had any long term effects, like a recurrence or sensitivity?

Well, I wasn't riding (bikes) so much then. My injury involved a redhead. I had to mostly take it easy. Just do what you can bear. Now I do more of those exercises on the machine where you spread your legs against the weight or where you pull your legs in. You know the ones that look really hot when chicks in spandex do it, but look ghey when guys do it. Anyway, those strengthen the inside/outside sides of your thighs and all the attaching ligaments where just riding mostly just gets the fronts and backs.

No relapses, took another shot at the redhead and I won this time :D

I just thought I post an update.

I went to another doctor for a second opinion. After a discussion and complete exam it was concluded that I do not have any strained or pulled muscles in my hips or groin. Furthermore I do not show any signs of tendonitis, strained tendons, or strained ligaments. No hernia. No structural problems with the gonadals.

Fine, but we still do not know exactly what is injured.

All the negatives point toward irritation of a nerve (possibly the pudendal) probably as a result of direct injury to the nerve or the tissue surrounding the nerve. I was prescribed an oral steroid for six days. It may reduce any possible swelling and alleviate the pain. A return visit to the doctor was scheduled for one week.

Of course, no riding (even if I wanted to) while I heal.

I am selling my saddle - Specialized Toupe.

I just thought I post an update.

I went to another doctor for a second opinion. After a discussion and complete exam it was concluded that I do not have any strained or pulled muscles in my hips or groin. Furthermore I do not show any signs of tendonitis, strained tendons, or strained ligaments. No hernia. No structural problems with the gonadals.

Fine, but we still do not know exactly what is injured.

All the negatives point toward irritation of a nerve (possibly the pudendal) probably as a result of direct injury to the nerve or the tissue surrounding the nerve. I was prescribed an oral steroid for six days. It may reduce any possible swelling and alleviate the pain. A return visit to the doctor was scheduled for one week.

Of course, no riding (even if I wanted to) while I heal.

I am selling my saddle - Specialized Toupe.

Thanks for the update. Good luck, and I hope it helps.

I know what you mean about the Toupe (had an Avatar, didn't like it), but you'll find it even harder to ride without it. I suggest replacing it. :D

you might want to talk to the guy who has pain in his p***** after riding.

it was < 1 month ago he posted about that matter

During the exam with the orthopedic doctor we discussed the possibility of my visiting a physical therapist. The doctor had no problem with me contacting a physical therapist so I scheduled an appointment.

I wrote a summary of my symptoms, bike fit, and treatments thus far for the PT to read. At the bottom I listed some other medical history including an accident I had in April 2007 (about 12 months ago) when I was hit by a car on a training ride.

The PT said, "tell me more about this car accident."
An oncoming car made a left turn in front of me cutting off my right of way. He 't-bonded' me in the middle of the intersection hitting my left side. I went over the windshield and onto the pavement. No broken bones, but banged pretty hard; cracked helmet; bike trashed.

The PT found that my hips, especially my left hip is extremely tight, effectively shortening my left leg. We have begun to release some tension in the area. Besides the treatment from the PT at the office, I was prescribed a set of 5 stretches, 5 times a day, to try and open up the area.

The maladjusted bike may have only brought the possible underlying cause (extremely tensed muscles in the hip) to the forefront. My body may have been compensating over the past year and its possible that I eventually reached a point where the compensation has begun to involve nerves in that region.

We'll see how it goes, but I feel a little better yesterday and today.

During the exam with the orthopedic doctor we discussed the possibility of my visiting a physical therapist. The doctor had no problem with me contacting a physical therapist so I scheduled an appointment.

I wrote a summary of my symptoms, bike fit, and treatments thus far for the PT to read. At the bottom I listed some other medical history including an accident I had in April 2007 (about 12 months ago) when I was hit by a car on a training ride.

The PT said, "tell me more about this car accident."
An oncoming car made a left turn in front of me cutting off my right of way. He 't-bonded' me in the middle of the intersection hitting my left side. I went over the windshield and onto the pavement. No broken bones, but banged pretty hard; cracked helmet; bike trashed.

The PT found that my hips, especially my left hip is extremely tight, effectively shortening my left leg. We have begun to release some tension in the area. Besides the treatment from the PT at the office, I was prescribed a set of 5 stretches, 5 times a day, to try and open up the area.

The maladjusted bike may have only brought the possible underlying cause (extremely tensed muscles in the hip) to the forefront. My body may have been compensating over the past year and its possible that I eventually reached a point where the compensation has begun to involve nerves in that region.

We'll see how it goes, but I feel a little better yesterday and today.

The boy compensates in weird ways. About two years ago I developed an inguinal hernia on my left side, but didn't realize it until 5 months ago. It was repaired well but now the other side is giving me grief, reason: the training I did with the hernia over those 2 years made my other side compensate, adding extra muscle. Oh the human body...

I wish you a good recovery.