Originally Posted by
Chris Kurisko
I have a great deal of experience with this. It is not fun. I would suggest getting a MRI as soon as humanly possible to get a clear understanding of what you are dealing with. Especially if the pain is constantly reoccurring.
If, when you get a diagnosis than you can start looking more seriously at controlling training variables. There can be many, many factors at play, but in no particular order I would suggest taking a good inventory of your recovery (sleeping situation, additional stress both physically and mentally from outside the gym factors, and eating) Also, I would be curious to know if you are performing the lifts correctly. It would be a good idea to post a form check video in the Staff Coaches forum.
Programming is also a very big deal and in almost every case I have dealt with this sort of thing some part of the programming process was being messed up. You need to pay close attention to rest between sets, working in light days, and recovering between workouts.
In my experience the lifts when done properly and overloaded intelligently they rarely cause issues. Typically bad things occur when the lifts are done wrong or when form goes to crap with too much weight on the bar. Also, I would avoid any running, met-con training, sit ups, leg lifts, and anything outside of the basic lifts. Basically, avoid anything that makes it difficult to keep back locked into extension. A belt and good form on the big lifts is the key.
The best thing I ever did was attend a seminar. If you haven't done that you should make it a priority. And if your back keeps hurting get it looked at by someone who knows what they are talking about. Be wary of anyone who just tells you to take pain killers and avoid lifting weights.