Despite many attempts to solve low back issues, still unsuccessful

[jake272]

I just can't seem to fix this damn issue with a dull ache in my low back after every workout. I've posted form checks, used Valsalva harder, shoved knees out of the way more, but nonetheless, it still persists. When I tried the superman drill described in the book, I feel the dull ache when I lift my knees off the floor. The pain usually starts with a a small ache in my low back and then spreads up to the middle of my back. It's not terribly painful, but it is hurting my progress and it just doesn't seem to go away, (injured my back deadlifting 4 years ago, so that's probably why.) Can anyone help? This is upsetting me.

[Brodie Butland]

How old are you, and after what lifts does it hurt? What was your prior injury? Have you seen a professional to ask about this? Are there any horse socks?

[Adam Skillin]

Are there any horse socks?

I'll tell you who stole those lunches. That damn Sasquatch!

[jake272]

How old are you, and after what lifts does it hurt? What was your prior injury? Have you seen a professional to ask about this? Are there any horse socks?

I'm 19, hurts after squats, deadlifts, and cleans, injured it deadlifting, lifted with a round low back off the floor, felt a "pop" in my lumbar spine, then dropped the weight to the floor. Had some bad pain standing up for a while, but it went away, although the dull aches from doing those lifts and sometimes sitting in a chair haven't gone away, saw a chiropractor and he gave me pain meds, then got an MRI, but nothing showed up, as for the horse socks, I'm not sure what that means.

[John Hanley]

then got an MRI, but nothing showed up.

Well that's good.

Dude, the pain could be so many things. Kinda sorta sounds like an SI joint sprain (maybe). This sort of injury will produce an aching sensation in the immediate area of the SI joint...and it'll probably be accompanied by the incredibly odd, deep hip pain of the psoas going into protective spasm.

Or...could be a strained QL muscle that you keep refucking.

I'd be seeking out 1) an awesome chiro, 2) a coach

I've said this before, but internet form checks are only a tiny bit useful.

[Adam Skillin]

Do you have any particular insight about SI joint sprains and recovery, John?

[John Hanley]

Do you have any particular insight about SI joint sprains and recovery, John?

Not much. I've done it twice. First several years ago, Pre-Rippetoe, doing the exceptionally moronic, Mike Boyle endorsed, 1-legged deadlift (shame face). Literally...a 1 leg deadlift. I re-tweaked it doing the almost-equally-moronic, formerly Hanley endorsed snatch grip rdl.

Both times I felt a tiny pop at the si joint (duh). The immediate pain wasn't too bad. Enough to startle and piss me off, but I could still walk around, carefully put away plates, etc. The "acute" pain lasted about 2-3 weeks. I probably could have lifted through this stage, but opted not to do anything that aggravated the si joint.

There's now a dull ache on/off in the si joint area. Really dull. And -presumably - the si joint is now a bit unstable, & the most annoying persistent issue is the psoas spasm*. When it spasms the ache gets a bit more intense. I've learned to release my own psoas...which involves digging into your guts (feels gross, but brings instant relief).

Occasionally the joint itself will feel very slightly mis-aligned (a sensation of something just being "off"). A very strong, swift internal (sometimes external) rotation of the femur brings a nice pop of relief and seems to temporarily reset things.

If I were less cheap, I'd go to a chiro...but the issues are really quite mild.

*In my case, regular pulling/squatting (correctly) actually brings relief from the psoas spasm.

Also: I've been randomly chuckling throughout the past few days over "fosburys taste like fosburys". My wife thinks I'm losing it.

[Adam Skillin]

Not much. I've done it twice. First several years ago, Pre-rip, doing the exceptionally moronic, Mike Boyle endorsed, 1-legged deadlift (shame face). Literally...a 1 leg deadlift. I re-tweaked it doing the almost-equally-moronic, formerly Hanley endorsed snatch grip rdl.

Both times I felt a tiny pop at the si joint (duh). The immediate pain wasn't too bad. Enough to startle and piss me off, but I could still walk around, carefully put away plates, etc. The "acute" pain lasted about 2-3 weeks. I probably could have lifted through this stage, but opted not to do anything that aggravated the si joint.

There's now a dull ache on/off in the si joint area. Really dull. And -presumably - the si joint is now a bit unstable, & the most annoying persistent issue is the psoas spasm*. When it spasms the ache gets a bit more intense. I've learned to release my own psoas...which involves digging into your guts (feels gross, but brings instant relief).

Occasionally the joint itself will feel very slightly mis-aligned (a sensation of something just being "off"). A very strong, swift internal (sometimes external) rotation of the femur brings a nice pop of relief and seems to temporarily reset things.

If I were less cheap, I'd go to a chiro...but the issues are really quite mild.

*In my case, regular pulling/squatting (correctly) actually brings relief from the psoas spasm.

Good stuff, thanks for typing that out. I know a lifter who's recovering from this.

[John Hanley]

Good stuff, thanks for typing that out. I know a lifter who's recovering from this.

A few months out from the injury, it's essentially a non-issue.

An inversion table would probably help some.

[Adam Skillin]

A few months out from the injury, it's essentially a non-issue.

An inversion table would probably help some.

Don't have one of those handy at the moment. Can't I just hold her upside-down by the ankles?