Apologies for not replying for ages. I tried this method for about a month and got an improvement immediately after the workouts, and a day or so later, but the pain came back. I attribute this to some sort of having muscles and joints warm, loose and lubricated. Much like on days I play soccer or just walk around a lot.
For a couple of months I had to do lots of DYI round the house (laying floors so very active) and actually stopped any weightlifting for that period, feeling that the general moving around and rest would help things. As before, moving around a lot - as opposed to sitting on a chair which makes me sore - helped while the body was warm. But once I stopped and rested, things came back.
Nothing really worked, I started lifting again. Light squats and deadlifts,, press and accessories. I’m at 50% of the previous squat. I’m sure I could lift a lot more now but just taking it very slow and controlled.
I have to be honest and say that I reach for the paracetamol more often than the ‘rest’ couple of months but I tell myself it don’t really feel worse. I recall I had a squat PR weeks after the initial acute injury, and felt the same.
I since managed to get an MRI done. Just had the General Practicioner on the phone. All fine except:
-At the L4/5 level there is a right paracentral disc protrusion impinging the right L5 nerve root.
-There is a broad-based disc bulge at the L5/S1 level abutting/mildly impinging the left S1 nerve root.”
Now, these locations are pretty consistent with the radiating pain what I feel (including on the left side - where i got a niggle too). However, I’m fully aware of the sensitivity and specificity of back MRIs, the success rate and pros and cons of surgery (if I ever decide I need it), vs conservative treatment. And the importance of of continuing to become stronger. And the doc was pretty clearly trying to manage my expectations. I’m on a waiting list to speak to an orthopaedist to have more specialist advice.
In the meantime I’ll continue to lift. I’m hoping that as long as the pain does not increase and I lift correctly, I can only get stronger and stronger will make things better. Entirely my decision- won’t hold anyone here to account so appreciate any advice. Essentially I don’t want to make things worse and hope things will get better.
I’m on 3g of paracetamol per day though!
I’ll do a form video later.
Thanks