What common condition might present with symptoms of severe back pain relieved by sitting or cycling?

The symptoms described, particularly severe back pain that is relieved by sitting or cycling, are characteristic of spinal stenosis. This condition involves the narrowing of the spinal canal, which can lead to compression of the spinal nerves. Patients often report pain that is exacerbated by standing or walking and relieved when sitting or bending forward, as these positions can help relieve pressure on the spinal nerves.

When patients cycle, they naturally adopt a forward-leaning posture, which can also alleviate symptoms by opening up the spinal canal and reducing nerve compression. This dynamic is often referred to as "neurogenic claudication," where the symptoms arise from nerve root compression, leading to pain and discomfort during activities that involve standing or walking.

Other conditions, such as a herniated disc, can also lead to back pain, but the relief experienced when sitting or cycling is not as distinctly associated with this condition. Herniated discs might present with radicular pain that doesn't necessarily improve with these activities. Lumbar strain would typically not have a posture-based relief, as it usually involves muscular pain without the characteristic positional variations seen in spinal stenosis. Osteoarthritis could cause back pain, but it often does not present in a way that is specifically relieved by sitting or cycling. This