Recovering from back injury.. Should i ever dead lift again??

[dbantayjr]

I don't think i'm venturing into the forbidden topic. It's been a week since i really pulled my lower back. Through light stretching, and icing down every 2 hours.. I'm starting to slowly but surely recover. If i rehab properly and not push will i be able to do some of my old activities? I've heard once you have a back injury you susceptible to further future injuries. However, i heard if you really strenthen your abdominals and start doing things like deadlifts and goodmornings you can have a good rehab. My questions are:

1. Did any of the top powerlifts ever severly pull their lower back? And if they did they still pull huge amouts in the deadlift.

2. Have any of the forum members have a severe pull? Did you guys make a complete recovery? Also, are there any activites you abstain from since the injury?

3. Any advice from the forum?? Exercises to do, exercises to abstain, and can one fully recover from back injury and still powerlift (squat and deadlift), without living in fear of re-injury?

[mumrah]

is it a simple "pull" or a dislocated/ruptured disc?

[dbantayjr]

Originally Posted by mumrah

is it a simple "pull" or a dislocated/ruptured disc?

it was a pull... i dont think its a tear or a dislocation because its been progressively gettin better with icing and rest.

[JasonDB]

That is an individual choice. I slipped a disk in my lower back when I was 16, and yes I saw the x-rays and it was definately slipped out a good inch from the others. I've as an adult pulled 615x2 and have never had a lower back issue while training, and I think heavy deadlifts early on in my training helped build a stronger lower back that will reduce my chances of reinjury later in life.

That being said my advise is: evaluate your own risks and decide what you wish to do. Don't trust your health and well being to people on a forum.

[bigmick88]

I have the same problem as you. I have always dead lifted regularly in my training and never had a problem. About a month ago I started to dead lift and moved the weight up too soon without warming up my back enough, and I severely strained it or did something to it (haven't been to the doctor). Now every time I do anything with my lower back, I get a bad pain on my ride lower back that goes down into my hip, my ass, and my hamstring. Its really bad. I need advice on this subject to, can someone help us out. I fear that my lower back will never be the same and it used to be one of my strongest points.

[lancs_hotpot]

I injuried my back a while ago. I dont know exactly what it was but im sure it was something pretty bad as i couldnt do any exercise that put pressure on my lower back for at least a year. I think my mistake though was resting it too much. Dont get me wrong rest it for at least a couple of months just to make sure because if it happens again it will only set you back more. Im back deadlifting now but im extra careful. I started by doing very light movements like deadlift and barbell rowing, eventually the area got stronger again. My advice would be to lay off it for a while, taylor your training so your back is protected. Then ease you lower back back into exercise slowly. You will beadlifting heavy in no time.

[mybody001]

i rotated my discs last year (twice within a couple months) and seeing as how i didn't get a dr. check up, everything healed in place and i was living with a dull pain for almost 6 or 7 months. i was off deadlift and any serious heavy back exercises in that time. after i picked up deadlift (heavy), i actually dont feel anymore dull pains. HALLELUJA!!

i'm not a doctor though, take my implications with a grain of salt.

[Shockwave78]

Originally Posted by mybody001

i rotated my discs last year (twice within a couple months) and seeing as how i didn't get a dr. check up, everything healed in place and i was living with a dull pain for almost 6 or 7 months. i was off deadlift and any serious heavy back exercises in that time. after i picked up deadlift (heavy), i actually dont feel anymore dull pains. HALLELUJA!!

i'm not a doctor though, take my implications with a grain of salt.

i got a herniated disc doing situps about 5 years ago, i still feel it, after 3yrs i finally went to a doc and got an MRI, I must say though over the last year or so it has improved a ton though

[allsweaty]

The human body is very resilient. I had terrible back problems and deadlifting actually helped strengthen my back. You just have to listen to your body and be very careful about what you do.

[passerby]

I pulled my lower back doing a warmup set for deads 6 days ago. I wasn't concentrating, causing my form to lapse. For the first 2-3 days it hurt to bend, get up from a seated position, etc. Days 4-5 it was better but it still hurt to slouch while seated. I took ibuprofen for the pain, but I could've done without it - pain was never severe.

It feels a lot better now (day 6). No pain, except for a mild dull ache. Still hurts when I try to hyperextend my back. I haven't done any weightlifting or cardio since that day, but I'm planning to start working out again after a full week has past since the injury.

[passerby]

Originally Posted by bigmick88

I have the same problem as you. I have always dead lifted regularly in my training and never had a problem. About a month ago I started to dead lift and moved the weight up too soon without warming up my back enough, and I severely strained it or did something to it (haven't been to the doctor). Now every time I do anything with my lower back, I get a bad pain on my ride lower back that goes down into my hip, my ass, and my hamstring. Its really bad. I need advice on this subject to, can someone help us out. I fear that my lower back will never be the same and it used to be one of my strongest points.

I remember reading a post somewhere on this site that pain radiating to the legs is indicative of a nerve being pinched. I'm not a doctor or anything, so this obviously could be totally wrong. But since it's been a month since the injury occurred and you still get bad pain, I would recommend seeing a doc. I think I read somewhere that a pinched nerve could be the result of a disc slipping out and pinching a nerve, but again I'm not totally sure. Someone correct me if this is wrong.

Not trying to scare you or anything, but yeah go see a doc.

[jd70]

Originally Posted by allsweaty

The human body is very resilient. I had terrible back problems and deadlifting actually helped strengthen my back. You just have to listen to your body and be very careful about what you do.

Me too. That's why I have started doing deadlifts. Yeah, don't abuse your body if you feel that you are working out too much.

[AFXC1]

Ask a guy who injured his back in two different locations anything...seriously I've recovered from both, but the thing you should emphasize now is listening to the response your body gives you to certain movements, and paying attention to form. Once you feel confident and assured, jump back to doing deadlifts slowly, and progress yourself back up again.

By the way, I had a lower back injury (Acute lumbar strain), and a mid back injury from an incorrect clean and jerk (I was doing 250).

[Kiknskreem]

So all you did was strain some muscles in your back and now you're talking about never deadlifting again???

[aleeboy]

Originally Posted by Kiknskreem

So all you did was strain some muscles in your back and now you're talking about never deadlifting again???

My thoughts exactly! Just let it fix itself out... being a pulled muscle means it will heal pretty quick. Give it 1-2 weeks.

I busted my disk and let me tell you, this takes a long time. I did it in Nov last year and it still gives me ****. I haven't dead lifted or squatted (except free) since and it still sends spasms down my back. Had two injections there too. F my life.

[dbantayjr]

Originally Posted by Kiknskreem

So all you did was strain some muscles in your back and now you're talking about never deadlifting again???

I never really had any back problems prior to this injury. And quite frankly I just dont want to have a ****ed up back for the rest of my life. I love to deadlift, and squat its my favorite excercices. I know my back will heal but, I guess it will be the mental part that will be most difficult for me to hurdle. I was just gettin advice from anyone whos back has been messed up and recovered from it.

Perhaps my form wasnt right, I will be extra careful when doing deads and squats from now on.

[dbantayjr]

Originally Posted by AFXC1

Ask a guy who injured his back in two different locations anything...seriously I've recovered from both, but the thing you should emphasize now is listening to the response your body gives you to certain movements, and paying attention to form. Once you feel confident and assured, jump back to doing deadlifts slowly, and progress yourself back up again.

By the way, I had a lower back injury (Acute lumbar strain), and a mid back injury from an incorrect clean and jerk (I was doing 250).

How much time should i take off?? How do ease back into training, and what excercises should I do and what should I avoid?

[Kiknskreem]

Originally Posted by dbantayjr

I never really had any back problems prior to this injury. And quite frankly I just dont want to have a ****ed up back for the rest of my life. I love to deadlift, and squat its my favorite excercices. I know my back will heal but, I guess it will be the mental part that will be most difficult for me to hurdle. I was just gettin advice from anyone whos back has been messed up and recovered from it.

Perhaps my form wasnt right, I will be extra careful when doing deads and squats from now on.

I see. Keep in mind that pretty much every powerlifter has strained their back at some point.

[AFXC1]

Originally Posted by dbantayjr

How much time should i take off?? How do ease back into training, and what excercises should I do and what should I avoid?

It all depends on the feel of things. If you don't feel better, then you're not ready yet. Simple, right?

Do what you can, i'm telling you, avoid high risk movements, or movements you are unsure about, because at this point I can not give you a guarantee on what should you avoid. You should stead-fast on what your how your body responds to certain movements as I stated before.

[allsweaty]

Originally Posted by dbantayjr

How much time should i take off?? How do ease back into training, and what excercises should I do and what should I avoid?

Maybe try some hyperextensions, and be very careful for the first few, any pain or discomfort and I would stop.