Cyclist’s Syndrome / Pudendal Neuralgia, recovery advise and how to move forward?

Hi there

I’ve experienced this too. Do be careful as if you’re leaning on the wrong place for a prolonged time it can get worse than just tingling. And a lot worse—complete loss of nervous sensation to your ‘man bits’ (and ALL that entails) and your backside too. It’s not good.

I live in the UK so qualified affordable healthcare shouldn’t be an issue but this one is quite rare and not many medics here knew about this. Even though I’m employed by the the NHS too and am a qualified scientist it took me a long time to get some traction in discussion about this.

One of the commenters above mentioned about the importance of standing up when you can. That’s a very good idea. The problem on road bikes is caused by leaning forwards to shut down wind resistance combined with very high tyre pressures which both lead to the saddle being pressed on a place on a man’s body where it can send some big shocks to the inside front of the spine and cause damage to the pudendal nerve as a result.

I swapped to mountain biking (sorry guys!). The sitting up position is less likely to crush the pudendal nerve and the lower tyre pressure and suspension systems damp down the pounding damage to the nerve in question.

Might go back to the road bike but I’m enjoying the freedom of the off-road experience. Plus which I’m still waiting for the full return of sensation there first.

Best of luck and hope the tingling stops.