I started dieting in early November with intentions of starting to workout in early January. I wanted to just get some of the excess fat off and get through the hectic schedules of the holiday season. Well, about 3 weeks ago I felt like I tweaked my lower back. I'm not sure when/how it happened, I just starting having this dull nagging pain in my lower back when I would bend in certain ways. I figured it would go away on it's own, but here I am 3 weeks later and still its here. I'm super motivated to get started on my workouts, but scared of causing further injury. I'm 35 years old and I know some back pain etc, comes with my age and life of laziness.
Any insight or experiences?
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Thread: Working out through pain.
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01-08-2013, 09:31 AM #1
Working out through pain.
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01-08-2013, 10:01 AM #2
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Don't mean to be offensive here but you've hurt your back prior to starting a weight training programme and are asking for other's feedback.
Nobody here knows what's going on with your back. See a doctor and get a diagnosis!Last edited by Caesura75; 01-08-2013 at 12:02 PM.
Accept difference. Not indifference.
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01-08-2013, 10:03 AM #3No brain, no gain.
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01-08-2013, 10:19 AM #4
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01-08-2013, 10:25 AM #5
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01-08-2013, 11:10 AM #6
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As others stated, go to the doc and get it checked out. When it comes to the back there are many possibilities as to what the prob could be, some very serious and some not so.
Years ago I was laying in bed, went to get up and all of a sudden had numbness down my left leg and extreme pain in my lower back. Went to the ER, got some x-rays and turned out it was a compressed disk that had been slowly building up over years of poor posture and sedentary lifestyle.
About 3 weeks ago I had just finished up at the gym and while I was leaving felt a bit of pressure slowly building in my lower back. Pressure turned to pain and after 2 days of no sleep went to ER, turned out it was a strained lumbar. Got some anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxers to help alleviate the pain, and have been working it out. As of today I'm almost 100% healed.
Back pain is nothing to try and 'work through', best be safe and know what it is then guessing and making it worse.
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01-08-2013, 11:16 AM #7
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01-08-2013, 11:24 AM #8
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Besides the doctor you could do some self trigger point therapy and foam rolling. I use a lacrosse ball for trigger points. It helps me keep my traps pain free. Also, make sure your form is good when lifting.
I've hurt my back two times lifting. Once I passed out squatting and another time I let my form fail when pushing myself too hard squatting. I was able to rehab myself both times in about a week. However, they did result in some strength loss that necessitated a deload.
A simple back strain does better if you stay active rather than inactive. This could be a simple as just walking around or running if the problem is bad.
Since your pain has been persisting for a while I'd bet your squat form (or some other exercise) may be a little off.
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01-08-2013, 11:41 AM #9
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01-08-2013, 12:48 PM #10
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01-08-2013, 12:48 PM #11
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01-08-2013, 01:36 PM #12
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01-08-2013, 01:44 PM #13
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01-08-2013, 02:29 PM #14
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I made the same mistake.
However, I don't think anything in the past has worked to make me as relatively pain free as strength training has. If I do get hurt I bounce back faster than I did when I was 20.
I think the OP is just suffering from some weight issues and strength problems. All of which gets better with lifestyle changes.
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01-08-2013, 04:12 PM #15
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Nothing wrong with the questiion.
I dont really care if you go to the doctor or not because they will just tell you to stop lifting.
What you should address is what is causing the pain.
I had a very similar thing going on and after a year or so I finally figured out that it was my tight hamstrings causing that little extra pull on my lower back.
I adjusted my form and worked on ham and glute flexibility and it went away.
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01-08-2013, 04:26 PM #16
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Prior to getting back into the gym 4 years ago, I had chronic low back pain. I have a couple of bulging discs but the problem has totally resolved itself as my back got stronger. I did carry a back belt in the car for a couple of years and on bad days, it was a big help.
I now have the T7/T10, C7/T1 back and neck injury, herniated discs. So I know what I have which is 1/2 the battle. I've had spinal injections, PT, chiropractic care. Not one health care professional ever told me to stop lifting. I was told not to work my traps as it aggravates my neck. I pretty much do any exercise that doesn't cause my pain to worsen. It hurts the same if I sit on the couch, so WTF.. I may as well get moving.
RobIn space, nobody can smell Uranus....
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01-08-2013, 04:39 PM #17
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01-08-2013, 05:46 PM #18
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Ran track at an international level when I was young. I don't recall a time where I didn't work out through pain. The key is to be aware of what kind of pain. Furthermore, I had an almost crippling lower back injury and pain that ended my life as I knew it 5 years ago. Starting bodybuilding has been a miracle and it's now 99% and has completely changed my life for the better. So, the "never work out through pain" comment is safe, but ridiculous.
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01-08-2013, 06:12 PM #19
I would take a anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, and do some stretching and light cardio. I used to have lots of lower back pain, what really helped me was the dead lifts.
Start off slow with no weight on the bar, just to build up the motion in your body. Your body is just not used to working out, so take it easy on the back.
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01-08-2013, 06:22 PM #20
Conversely, I'm lucky if I have another year or two out of my left shoulder before they cut it open, pop it out, and drill a steel ball on the top of it because I ignored the pain entirely for years and I'm barely over 40.
Recognize the pain, understand its origin, learn about your anatomy and mechanics, and act accordingly. Frankly if we never worked out while in some amount of pain most of us would never be working out but I think it's fair to say "never blindly workout through pain." You need to know what you're dealing with when it happens.2 + 2 = 5 (for extremely large values of 2)
Try SCE to AUX
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01-08-2013, 06:54 PM #21
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01-09-2013, 06:35 AM #22
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01-09-2013, 07:49 AM #23
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