upper back pain

Hi guys, this is my first post.

I’ve been cycling for a few years now. I started off on my old marin mountain bike riding on towpaths doing 20ish miles. I'd go out on weekends with my mate and I would have no pain from knee or back. So a few months later we decided to ditch the tow paths and start riding on the road. Then we decided do the London to Windsor in 2009, which was about 45 miles. Did that and again no injury problems. Everything was good. Over the following months of riding on the roads, we started to increase our distance and do 35 miles sometimes more or less, but average 35miles. Then I started to notice my left upper back/trapezius muscle would hurt. This would only happen near the end of the ride. I never took much notice of it as once I got home I was fine. But it became more and more dominant in my riding.

Last year in july I did the London to Cambridge, which is a 60mile event. The last 20 miles my left upper back was killing me. So I decided to buy myself a road bike, which I absolutely love. I got myself a trek madone 5.2 from the guys at Rutlands cycling in Grafham. But the pain was still there. So doing some research I decided to get a bike fit. I booked myself at sigma cycling to have the specialized BG fit. The guy there nick was very helpful and said my stem size is ok, he raised my saddle height and put the specialized footbed in my cycling shoes. After my setup I was eager to get out and ride, but due to the crappy English weather I had to wait. When the weather was better I went for a ride. Again my left bloody back was hurting. By this point I was cursing and wondering if a bike fit isn’t going to solve my problem what is. I had read loads of articles on bike fit and how they are good but this one didn’t help at all.

Now IV been going to see a physio at the varney practice in hertford for 3 weeks. Done 3 sessions. I explained my problem. The chap there is very helpful. He starts off with electrotherapy, which includes interferential therapy, and then Acupuncture followed by deep tissue massage. He also put tape on my back (left side) to keep my back in the correct position for muscle memory correction. My last session with the physio was Tuesday. Now the weather is lovely at the moment I said the guy im gonna go for a ride and see if its helping. He said let me know next week how I got on. So started riding and again after an hour of riding it was hurting again. Before I went out for my ride, I did stretches. This really is putting me down and I have no idea how I can overcome this pain.

I spoke to one of my friends about this and he said I should knock the physio on the head and just do shoulder shrugs with some light weights to build up strength. My girlfriend said I should build up my core muscles to give my back muscles support. Another mate says I should go to this guy who gives him proper deep massage tissue. I just don’t know what to do.
Let me say when im out on my bike, im really comfortable and have no problem getting used to riding a road bike. I came natural to me when I first got on it.

Im not pushing myself because once the pain kicks in im more focused on trying to get rid of the pain by stretching my neck while riding, moving my arms, changing my position on the bike. I even changed the stem from 100m to 80m and made it worse, and very twitchy. Flipped the stem over, moved the handle bar position and still nothing seems to work. Im not going to give up on this. Im more determined to fight this and beat it, so others with this problem can save themselves money and time.

The reason im writing on here is to ask for help. I need advice, tips anything. Its strange my left side hurts but right side doesn’t. im right handed so im guessing maybe my left side is weak and I need to build up muscle. Im already doing shrugs with light dumbbell weights. I will see how that will go.

I really could do with anybody here to help me. Im sorry if I have written a biography, but I don’t want to miss anything out.

Again I really appreciate anybody who reads this and writes back.

I will keep you posted on how im getting on.

lib