Lower back issues - is this going to be long term?!

[axel1990chp]

So a few weeks ago I was squatting heavy, nothing particularly monstrous but did push a PB an extra rep. The day after my lower back was unusually sore, I am no stranger to a slight tweak after a heavy PR day but this felt different. I gave myself a week off to rest it, which usually works! then I went back to squats a week later. Monday morning went through my usual warm up and stretch routine for 20 minutes, worked the first warm-up sets and working sets perfectly fine, however a few sets later in, I un-racked the bar and felt a sharp pain in my right lower side (I believe the Thoracolumbar Fascia) and immediately stopped and went home. I did the usual paracetamol/Ibuprofen through the day and slept on it. Next day the pain was alleviated so I went about my business. Started packing for a trip to Dublin on the Wednesday and while I was raking around in the foot of my cupboard for some shoes it went again. Only this time it crippled my entire back, jolted me on all fours and I could barely bend over or look down.

The decision was to get myself straight to the doctors and the doctor that saw me initially informed me that she suspects a "prolapsed disc" which is a slipped disc as far as I am aware! She told me to ring an NHS physio and told me that the pain is good, and didn't prescribe any pain relief. At the risk of boring you the NHS physio was a waiting list which for me was no good so I went private that day. The guy Alex told me that its not slipped, more likely that my back muscles have strained and caused a severe spasm. He gave me a very painful massage and worked with some straps to attempt movement, thankfully after 80 minutes I was able to move around and actually perform tasks. He has offered me another session and when I have the time to pull from work I will.

My worry is that;
A) my doctor didn't have a clue, and the physio could only be masking another issue?
B) I am still experiencing lower back pain and have sharp pains when I move in certain ways.
C) this is going to be the start of a long term issue, old before my time and having to worry about my lower back every time I perform anything labouring!

My pass times are going to the gym and mountain biking, both of which are suspended right now, I couldn't bare having to sacrifice either or change my lifestyle to suit such an injury. The NHS physio is tomorrow, with a hip and back specialist, so hopefully he can give me some more guidance and perhaps get this thing sorted, I am just curious as to who has had similar issues and how did it work out? What steps were taken to make a full recovery and has it every reared its ugly head again?

If you made it this far kudos;
TL:DR = lower back pain - will it be a 'forever injury'

[zeDuffMan]

Most back pain is muscle related and resolves itself in six weeks if you rest.

If it's still there six weeks after the injury then get yourself an MRI and that will determine if there are any prolapsed discs etc.

[axel1990chp]

Is the six weeks just a general guide-line from a civvy stand-point or is it advised through medical lanes? Itching to get back to it!

[zeDuffMan]

axel1990chp said:

Is the six weeks just a general guide-line from a civvy stand-point or is it advised through medical lanes? Itching to get back to it!

Well it's the NHS guideline before you can get any imaging to demonstrate whether a disc has given up the ghost. It's evidence based so there is truth to it, but it's also to save money/resources because the system would collapse if anyone who hurt their back got a scan. But you get a lot of people shelling out for private MRI scans after a few days of back pain only to find nothing wrong and it is indeed muscular. I guess it depends what price you put on piece of mind.

I work in MRI and for me, if you are able to get on day to day, I would just stick it out for the six weeks and see what happens.

It's a cliche but you only get one back and you need to look after it. Surgical intervention carries a lot of risks and people do end up in wheelchairs with the pain so it's not worth pushing it when you're not 100%.

[axel1990chp]

My girlfriend is into her pilates and I have incorporated it into my stretching routine, particularly before deadlifts & squat days in order to prevent a re-occurring groin injury that I suffer from (this is also still in the hands of the NHS to work out!) so its definitely something I will be sticking with.

[axel1990chp]

zeDuffMan said:

axel1990chp said:

Is the six weeks just a general guide-line from a civvy stand-point or is it advised through medical lanes? Itching to get back to it!

Well it's the NHS guideline before you can get any imaging to demonstrate whether a disc has given up the ghost. It's evidence based so there is truth to it, but it's also to save money/resources because the system would collapse if anyone who hurt their back got a scan. But you get a lot of people shelling out for private MRI scans after a few days of back pain only to find nothing wrong and it is indeed muscular. I guess it depends what price you put on piece of mind.

I work in MRI and for me, if you are able to get on day to day, I would just stick it out for the six weeks and see what happens.

It's a cliche but you only get one back and you need to look after it. Surgical intervention carries a lot of risks and people do end up in wheelchairs with the pain so it's not worth pushing it when you're not 100%.

I wouldn't go private for an MRI, as I may have failed to mention in my previous post my back is a lot better than it was initially, I am capable of performing my work activities to an extent, no heavy lifting or ducking through tight spaces (Process plant work) so I believe it definitely is muscle pain as the physio suggested, however just impatiently wanting it to be fixed now, foolish of me I know.

Thanks for the info though, good to know about the 6 weeks, being 3 weeks in so far

[Trabi601]

Don't you think that the groin and back injuries are telling you something about your gym routine?

Perhaps a change in what you do to keep fit would be in order?

[PomBstard]

Having had various lower back aches for a few years, I've found a good physio to be great help. They'll help understand what the problem is that's causing immediate pain, but importantly help you to do your own routine so you don't need to keep going back.

It could be that your routine and other factors have just caused you to use your lower back muscles more than you realise, and now they've gone into spasm. A good hard kneading might do the trick!

[axel1990chp]

Trabi601 said:

Don't you think that the groin and back injuries are telling you something about your gym routine?

Perhaps a change in what you do to keep fit would be in order?

Already ahead on that front my friend! I was doing heavy compounds every day, didn't realise how much strain I was putting my body under until now. The groin injury is unrelated to the gym, though is indeed aggravated by it on time to time.

New workout routine is already underway!

PomBstard said:

Having had various lower back aches for a few years, I've found a good physio to be great help. They'll help understand what the problem is that's causing immediate pain, but importantly help you to do your own routine so you don't need to keep going back.

It could be that your routine and other factors have just caused you to use your lower back muscles more than you realise, and now they've gone into spasm. A good hard kneading might do the trick!

I'm hoping you're right! My back felt a lot better the first time, hoping the same magic can be applied.

[PomBstard]

Yep, getting the knots out, smoothing and relaxing the muscles, and then understanding why it happened are minimum outputs from a good Physio session. And as well as the right stretching exercises, get some Pilates too - works wonders

[Wobbegong]

Could it be due to weak hamstrings? I had back issues a few years ago and it turned out that due to the strength imbalance (strong quads, weak hamstrings) I was ending up with a posture that put excess strain on the lower back.

That is what I was told by the club physio anyway hamstring curls and straight leg deadlifts were added to my weight sessions and the problem eventually disappeared.

[theboss]

If there is any suspicion of a extruding/herniated lumbar disc - get an MRI. If you experience numbness at any point in the lower body - go to A&E.

I had a sudden and severe onset of cauda equina syndrome arising from my L5/S1 disc rupturing earlier this year and have permanent continence and mobility impairments as a consequence. See http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Edited by theboss on Tuesday 23 August 17:24

[anonymous-user]

I've found unfortunately that the older you are the less likely you will make a 100% recovery. Did my lower back about 5 years ago, developed sciatica and although it has lessened I've accepted it will always be weaker and mildy painful for the rest of my days.

Had NHS physio and private too but flexibility is poor now.

[RobM77]

The treatment for both problems that you mention is the same, and the symptoms very similar, so a firm diagnosis is only possible with an MRI, which is too expensive for the NHS to fund for most slipped/prolapsed discs. So none of the health professionals that you saw is wrong, strictly speaking. The vast majority of prolapsed discs recover on their own and don't leave you with lasting pain or problems. I had a very similar experience to you helping a fat lady up in the street about 6 years ago. Sadly I was one of the unlucky ones and am now in permanent pain for the rest of my life (and permanent fatigue, because I barely sleep anymore; oh and irritability, which people on PH may notice from time to time!).

[selym]

I tore a muscle in my lower back and it swelled and pushed on my sciatic nerve initially. If I had rested correctly instead of making changes to my training to protect it I would have sorted and strengthened it years ago. My hamstrings became tight and my glutes were non existent due to the compensation I had made.

Back on it now after the recurrence of the 2011 injury in 2015. Physio, proper stretching, form and posture have sorted me out.

[Derek Chevalier]

selym said:

I tore a muscle in my lower back and it swelled and pushed on my sciatic nerve initially. If I had rested correctly instead of making changes to my training to protect it I would have sorted and strengthened it years ago. My hamstrings became tight and my glutes were non existent due to the compensation I had made.

Back on it now after the recurrence of the 2011 injury in 2015. Physio, proper stretching, form and posture have sorted me out.

Which muscle was that - piriformis?

[selym]

I'll

Derek Chevalier said:

selym said:

I tore a muscle in my lower back and it swelled and pushed on my sciatic nerve initially. If I had rested correctly instead of making changes to my training to protect it I would have sorted and strengthened it years ago. My hamstrings became tight and my glutes were non existent due to the compensation I had made.

Back on it now after the recurrence of the 2011 injury in 2015. Physio, proper stretching, form and posture have sorted me out.

Which muscle was that - piriformis?

I wasn't told. It ran across my glute from my tail bone to my hip. I was sure I'd slipped a disc as the sciatica was irritating but was checked over and it was all in order.

[Derek Chevalier]

selym said:

I'll

Derek Chevalier said:

selym said:

I tore a muscle in my lower back and it swelled and pushed on my sciatic nerve initially. If I had rested correctly instead of making changes to my training to protect it I would have sorted and strengthened it years ago. My hamstrings became tight and my glutes were non existent due to the compensation I had made.

Back on it now after the recurrence of the 2011 injury in 2015. Physio, proper stretching, form and posture have sorted me out.

Which muscle was that - piriformis?

I wasn't told. It ran across my glute from my tail bone to my hip. I was sure I'd slipped a disc as the sciatica was irritating but was checked over and it was all in order.

I've got something similar - correct stretching makes a big difference for me.

[selym]

Derek Chevalier said:

I've got something similar - correct stretching makes a big difference for me.

That is the one; it had weakened due toa 'trauma' and I had not allowed it to heal properly. Due to that, the rest of the area was compensating to take the effort away from the damage. A few tests by the physio proved that. I'm just about to start a functional strength programme to make it stronger and my running should return to the standard I was at in the past (not a high standard!).

[silverthorn2151]

I have been visiting a chiropractor for a few weeks after the pain in my lower back and hips got too much after a couple of days kayaking.

He has worked wonders with a very long standing problem with my lower back, issues with my pelvis and hip. I'm so much more flexible than was.

He uses this machine on my back as well as hideous pain caused by thumbs in the close in muscles to my back.

https://youtu.be/E58jyqZO5t0