Severe Back Pain

[Roland Conde]

Hey Ripp, I would really appreciate any input you had on this here.

I was squatting this past friday doing a 5rm squat on the texas method, and on the last rep coming out of the hole I accidentally let my chest drop a bit. Finished up my workout and thought nothing of it. Over the weekend my back hurt a little while doing my sat metcon (cindy), but no more than it has before and it was more sore than anything.

I came in to the gym Monday (last night) and after warming up my squat felt a little pain in my lower back/lower spine, but decided to do the first set of my 5x5 and see how I felt. Didn't seem to bad, but my back started to feel more sore and by the 2nd set it hurt to bend over to tie my shoe (though the set itself felt better than the first), so I stopped squatting. Tried warming up the press and continued feeling pain so I stopped the workout all together and went home. Stretched a bit as my back was hurting and felt tight, ate, and went to sleep.

This morning I woke up just now as I sometimes do to pee at night and find that my back hurts like a motherfucker. Getting out of bed was a painful endeavor, and walking around is painful too, as is pretty much moving around in any way. My lower back is pretty warm, which I thought I should mention.

I don't have any money, have no job (trying to find a temporary job so I can get back into school as soon as I can) which is my way of saying I really can't afford to go to the doctor at all. Does this sound like a muscular injury to you? I have no pain in my legs or anything like that, though right before going home from the gym my feet were tingling a little.

I'd really appreciate any bone you can throw me here. I was previously considering coming in wed. for my light day, but now am wondering if I'll even be able to get around tomorrow without being in pain.

Taking an advil and trying to head back to sleep now. Thank you in advance if you can help me out in any way.

[Mark Rippetoe]

The no money/no job deal is going to make this tough, but I think you may have an L4-5 disc. "An" advil is not going to help much, and I think this needs to be looked at if it is not MUCH better in 2 days.

[Roland Conde]

Thanks for the response Ripp, I really appreciate it. By this afternoon I had about the same level of pain I had when making this thread as well as a tremendous urge to crack my back. I took 2 advil, put on some icy hot and tried not to move at all.

The pain is noticeably better currently; it still hurts when I bend over or twist too quickly, but sitting/laying down is tolerable. I'm hoping this continues through till tomorrow night, though I'll definitely refrain from going to the gym tomorrow. At least I'll be able to go look for work.


Should this be notably better in two days, should I consider the rehab sticky by week's end or next week with squats/back extensions?

[coreJack]

Like Rip said, this sounds spinal, so the Starr protocol isn't applicable. I suggest you get Robin McKenzie's book, Treat Your Own Back. He has a protocol for getting through these lumbar flexion injuries, provided they are not very serious.

[fullpen]

I had a problem similar to this when my form was bad. I have come to the conclusion, that at least for me, I was pinching a nerve in the area. I say this because the pain went away after a week and wouldn't come back unless I did something stupid again. I should add that I had a fractured vertebrae and herniated a disc about 4 years ago, so that could complicate things as it relates to others..

[JB1981]

Ice and a good chiropractor. Can't stress how much good adjustments will speed up recovery. Definitely sounds like a possible disc injury. Probably a mild herniation. I'd get an MRI as soon as possible.

[Roland Conde]

Hey, thank you all so much for the replies. I'm feeling much better, though still not 100% percent; I can move around and bend over without any real pain and sans advil, though my back still feels weird and tight leaving me with a strong desire to crack it. Further, there is still about a 1/2inch piece of my left heel that is a little tingly, like it is about to fall asleep, but that is dissipating I believe.

Since I last posted I hunted around online and found a local store that carried a used copy of McKenzie's "Treat your own back", and started doing some of the movements and sitting postural adjustments recommended in there today. Not sure if they're helping but it feels better to do something since I wouldn't dare go to the gym yet. I'm relieved because if this continues hopefully I won't have to see someone about my back, which would save me money I can't afford to spend.

To Ripp or anyone who has been through something similar, how did you approach coming back to the gym, once you felt well enough (which hopefully isn't too long from now considering my rate of recovery)?



P.S: JB1981, do you mean chiropractic adjustments, or adjustments to my form squatting?

[Roland Conde]

I went to the gym Friday and tried doing the rehab sticky since I felt good, with the exception of the slight tingling in my foot. I actually felt better when I left the gym, and the tingling went away. That night while cleaning up around my house I had a tremendous pressure in the middle of my upper back that wouldn't go away and kept me from sleeping for a few hours. I like to think it wasn't from the gym since it was in a completely different place from where I previously had pain, but nonetheless given the intensity of it and what I read here I decided to see a chiro. (I was relieved at the price - $35 a session)

Most of the pressure in my upper back had dissipated by the time I saw him, though the slight numbness in my foot remained. He did some adjustments and said he didn't think an xray was needed given my age (24) and the fact that it wasn't hurting. Just came back from him now and had some more adjustments done, with more recommended, which I don't really have the money for but I guess I'll find somewhere. He recommends I stay away from the gym for now, particularly squats, with the tingling I have. I really don't want to but I guess I'll play it safe for the time being, though I doubt I can stand more than a week before trying something.

If anyone has anything else to toss in I'll gladly take it into consideration, otherwise thanks for the advice everyone.

[Roland83]

Well i didn't have the intense pain you had but i did tweak my back and have tingling in my foot. was the days following my first 400# deadlift. I pretty much did the same as you, chiro etc, general adjustments. This didn't help the tingling immediately but i do think it helped. After a few weeks of adjustments i stopped going and did my own stretching and so on and eventually the tingling reduced over time. Seems like it must have been a nerve or whatever i dont know.

At no stage did i stop lifting but i'm not advising you not to one way or the other as your condition may be different, just describing what i did. I didn't go for any singles on the deadlift during that few weeks though. still get the occasional tingle but hardly anything.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Yes, it is possible to hurt yourself doing heavy single deadlifts. Be careful.