Motorcycle accident 3 years ago. Surgery to replace 3 herniated disks pressing into spinal chord and nerve roots in my neck (C4 - C7) with 3 bone grafts and 9 screws holding it all together now. I had major pain in my SHOULDERS and UPPER BACK prior to the surgery, and AFTER the surgery too throughout an 18 month recovery period. I'll tell you what I learned during that whole process, and what I think you need to reconsider about some of your riding and pain problems right now.

1. The location of the pain in your back can be caused by problems and stress being applied to areas OTHER THAN where your back is currently hurting. The anatomy of upper back pain can easily be a result of spinal nerve pressures applied to your NECK cervical joints. So don't assume your current pain is being caused solely by where you had the medical procedure you described. Bad posture NOW or any unconscious attempts you are making that are not good "posture related" can be the actual cause of your discomfort.

2. You say your back hurts whether you are on your Spyder or not. A critical thinking analysis of that results in the fact that it is NOT JUST your Spyder riding causing your problems. Your posture while riding your Spyder may be CONTRIBUTING to it while riding, but riding your Spyder is NOT the SOLE reason you are hurting. You still hurt even when you AREN'T riding your Spyder now.

3. "Sit Up and Beg" is the PREFERRED riding posture if you ARE experiencing neck or back pain when riding. Talk to any Orthopedic or Neurosurgeon, and any certified Physical Therapy specialist, and they ALL will tell you that poor posture is the MAIN cause of neck and back pain and distress, even after a successful surgery to "fix" something like you describe you have had done. Poor spine alignment over extended periods just puts undo stress on your whole neck and back, and after a while all the nerves and muscles in that area WILL start protesting. Pain is how your body tries to prevent you from causing FURTHER damage from happening. If your back hurts in certain positions, quit staying in those positions for extended time periods. It's an old joke, but if you tell your doctor "It hurts when I do this", your doctor is going to say, "Well quit doing that!!!".

Here's my advice. If your "surgery" (or whatever you had done) has been considered a success by your doctor, you have to start making everyday life changes to SUPPORT the results of that surgery. Exercise to keep your back muscles in their proper tone. Do the things necessary to maintain a PROPER POSTURE at ALL times, even when sitting in your comfy chair at home watching TV. Most of us here aren't "Spring Chickens" anymore. We need to do the things that will PREVENT back pain more often than not. Leaning forward in the "sports rider" position, or leaning BACK in the "cruiser rider" position, are NOT the right things to be doing if you have "back problems". Until you get the ergonomics of your own Spyder to allow you to provide proper spine column support, you will keep experiencing the pain.

There were times prior to my surgery and during the 18 months of recovering from it that I thought I would NEVER be able to ride again pain-free. Heck, I couldn't even sit in a CHAIR pain free sometimes. But a combination of initial SUPERVISED Physical Therapy, and CONTINUAL proper exercise after that (daily) to maintain my spine muscles "strong" and not abused have worked. Along with getting the ergonomics on my Spyder properly set up to provide proper back and spine support while riding. The road back may not be easy at all, but you have to do the work and you MUST get the ergonomics of your bike such that you are not contributing to your pain issues yourself.

I sincerely hope you find your answers. Been There...Done That...Got the T-Shirt. I can empathize with what you are going through. But YOU have to do what's needed if it is going to work. Good Luck!