Lower back issues - is this going to be long term?!
Discussion
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'
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'
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.
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%.
Thanks for the info though, good to know about the 6 weeks, being 3 weeks in so far
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.Perhaps a change in what you do to keep fit would be in order?
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.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!
Thanks for all the responses guys/gals.
I had my second physio appointment on Tuesday and it was a little hit and miss. The physio suggested that due to constant and excessive compound training my back has developed a desire to be "plank straight" as he described it. Asking me to bend down my back consciously stays straight, and his opinion is that my back has arched at the lower point when I have been pushing it to much and as my back has arched under the stress it has caused my muscles to spasm. He's the professional and not me but that seems a little strange?
Regardless, I have been continuing my stretches and keeping active and I must say it has been getting better, my sleep is still irritated however, and there's still tenderness and caution when exerting myself physically.
This is 3 weeks in now, and I have been advised to resume training next week under light load, no squats or deadlifts until my 6 week check-up. My missus is into her yoga and pilates so she has been showing me some exercises to do whilst warming up.
My hamstrings are a weaker point to my body but they aren't under developed. I'm a keen cyclist and I've been on a regular squat/leg routine for 5 years. That being said I will not rule out some more focused hamstring training from here on. I can already feel a complex coming out about them
I have an old groin? injury that occurs on and off in waves for the last 2 years, I've been through the hospitals and through the physio's and finally I have an X-ray scheduled, I cannot help but think these are combined? Since my back 'Went' my groin has been distinctively worse, there is a clicking and a dull pain on certain movements, particularly moving in bed, and raising my knee and turning my leg inwards causes the painful sensation every time. Fingers crossed they're both minor injuries with relatively quick remedies!
I had my second physio appointment on Tuesday and it was a little hit and miss. The physio suggested that due to constant and excessive compound training my back has developed a desire to be "plank straight" as he described it. Asking me to bend down my back consciously stays straight, and his opinion is that my back has arched at the lower point when I have been pushing it to much and as my back has arched under the stress it has caused my muscles to spasm. He's the professional and not me but that seems a little strange?
Regardless, I have been continuing my stretches and keeping active and I must say it has been getting better, my sleep is still irritated however, and there's still tenderness and caution when exerting myself physically.
This is 3 weeks in now, and I have been advised to resume training next week under light load, no squats or deadlifts until my 6 week check-up. My missus is into her yoga and pilates so she has been showing me some exercises to do whilst warming up.
My hamstrings are a weaker point to my body but they aren't under developed. I'm a keen cyclist and I've been on a regular squat/leg routine for 5 years. That being said I will not rule out some more focused hamstring training from here on. I can already feel a complex coming out about them
I have an old groin? injury that occurs on and off in waves for the last 2 years, I've been through the hospitals and through the physio's and finally I have an X-ray scheduled, I cannot help but think these are combined? Since my back 'Went' my groin has been distinctively worse, there is a clicking and a dull pain on certain movements, particularly moving in bed, and raising my knee and turning my leg inwards causes the painful sensation every time. Fingers crossed they're both minor injuries with relatively quick remedies!
E65Ross said:
OP - where are you based? I'm a chiropractor working in Portsmouth if that's any use to you. If so, happy to do a mates rate for a fellow PHer.
I'm up north, Hull to be precise! Thank you for the offer though, I am seeing the private physio after my weekend at work, hopefully he can give me another massage in the area and then as you say, Ill look to a chiropractor in the area!Condi said:
This book is supposed to be very good, the author was the first person to really deal with back pain from a medical perspective from what I understand. It was his stretches and movements which my chriopractor used when I f
ked mine from sitting badly. Now I do a range of stretches before squatting or deadlifting, and so far no issues.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McK...
Excellent, ill take a gander, for 6 quid cant really complain!ked mine from sitting badly. Now I do a range of stretches before squatting or deadlifting, and so far no issues. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Treat-Your-Back-Robin-McK...
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff