Previous back injury- should I deadlift again?

[oceansapart]

20 years ago I badly herniated 2 discs, l 4-5 area. 17 years ago I had laminectomy / discectomy to correct it. (had to repeat the procedure a year later)

I am feeling really good now, mostly because of years of yoga and stretching. The last 2 years I started lifting weights again on a regular routine 3x a week. I don't have any back pain at all doing squats or deadlift, but I'm very careful, and keep the weights light.

I want to get stronger, and am thinking about going heavier. Is this foolish? My doctor said take it easy, but wtf does he know

[gleason73]

20 years ago I badly herniated 2 discs, l 4-5 area. 17 years ago I had laminectomy / discectomy to correct it. (had to repeat the procedure a year later)

I am feeling really good now, mostly because of years of yoga and stretching. The last 2 years I started lifting weights again on a regular routine 3x a week. I don't have any back pain at all doing squats or deadlift, but I'm very careful, and keep the weights light.

I want to get stronger, and am thinking about going heavier. Is this foolish? My doctor said take it easy, but wtf does he know

sounds like you already are deadlifting?

just be smart and progress in weight slowly to avoid any possible strain or injury.

herniated two discs in 2013, took a year to rehab and lift heavily again - but will never hit the numbers I did then.

Just have to accept these things in these later years...

[oceansapart]

Gleason73-

Thanks good to hear you have recovered so well. I am doing very light deadlift now. About 60kg 6-8 reps after a year of slow improvement.

[Iceman1800]

McGill big 3. Google it and do them daily.

[oceansapart]

Yes. good ones!

Most yoga teachers in the world know those poses, just not with the name McGill attached.

[silverlightning]

if the reward is greater than the risk, yes, if not, no. there's a risk in everything though, so you need to decide in the end.

[Bo_Flecks]

My doctor said take it easy, but wtf does he know

You're right. WTF does a doctor know. Go ahead and deadlift heavy OP. What could go wrong? I'm sure your doctor is just full of shyt. And if you herniate that disc again, no doubt he'll be waiting with his hands out to take your money.

[Tmax55]

I'm curious how people herniate their disks. Once they are herniated most people don't do heavy DL's, but I rarely hear about how the initial injury occurs.

I'm currently working on getting to a 600 DL (I pull sumo), I'm wondering if people hurt their backs doing heavy DL's or in some other way. Am I setting myself up for a disaster?

[ironwill2008]

I want to get stronger, and am thinking about going heavier. Is this foolish? My doctor said take it easy,


...........but wtf does he know

If he's a Board-Certified Orthopedist, it's highly likely that he knows enough to possibly keep you from putting yourself in a wheelchair (or worse) for the rest of your life. If he's not, you've been examined by the wrong doctor; get a 2nd opinion from an Ortho, preferably someone with a Sports Medicine background. This isn't your elbow you're asking about; it's your spine. Screw it up any worse than it already is, and the consequences may be far more serious than you can imagine.








ETA:

If you're just fishing for advices from random bodybuilders with no medical expertise, stay away from Deadlifts until an Ortho gives you a green light to proceed.

[BuffMother]

Yes!!

[oceansapart]

I love random advise Actually I was fishing for some of the many people here with similar back injuries, like Gleason73. My doctor is a fat old GP. I do need to see a good ortho, good advise.

* Leaning towards stopping traditional deadlifts, and going with light rack pulls. Substitute barbell squats for walking lunges. *


Tmax55-
I did mine as a stupid kid in a hurry late at night. Pushing a very heavy boat off the beach, I was really putting my shoulder into it when I felt this strange electric jolt and everything went weak. Years of sciatic pain later I finally got the surgery. It was Ashtanga yoga that made me healthy again. Cannot recommend that enough to those with back injuries. It won't fix the sciatica, but will give you core strength and flexibility like nothing else.

[Zocas]

If he's a Board-Certified Orthopedist, it's highly likely that he knows enough to possibly keep you from putting yourself in a wheelchair (or worse) for the rest of your life. If he's not, you've been examined by the wrong doctor; get a 2nd opinion from an Ortho, preferably someone with a Sports Medicine background. This isn't your elbow you're asking about; it's your spine. Screw it up any worse than it already is, and the consequences may be far more serious than you can imagine.








ETA:

If you're just fishing for advices from random bodybuilders with no medical expertise, stay away from Deadlifts until an Ortho gives you a green light to proceed.

Agreed

[ironwill2008]

.....people here with similar back injuries......

But that's the problem with seeking injury advice; every circumstance is different, and even an Orthopedist would never offer such advice randomly here other than to tell you to get examined/diagnosed in-person.


Again, it's your spinal column at issue; one wrong move on your part, and you're dealing with a lifetime of debilitating pain....or much worse.






Usually, I summarily lock these 'back injury vs weight training' threads as soon as I see them. Not sure why I left this one open. I would think someone who's already had to go under the knife would never want to risk having to go through it again.

[Juggertha]

I suffered for a decade with debilitating disk issues. I rarely deadlift, and find traditional BB DLs aggravate my issues.

But that's me. A trap bar is much better for me, but in general I've developed a decent physique without the DL.

Choose what is best for you.

[philipj]

Start with an empty bar and do good mornings, up to 8 reps. Follow that with slight decline pull overs. Add sets very slowly, same thing with weight, increase very slowly, use weights that your Mother could use.

[Zjunky]

I'm curious how people herniate their disks. Once they are herniated most people don't do heavy DL's, but I rarely hear about how the initial injury occurs.
...

Where do you keep your wallet? Yes, this is a serious question. Hurrying across a street in pouring rain I stepped in an oily spot and fell on my @ss. Well, more precisely my fall was broken by my wallet in my back left pocket. And the rough landing gave me a "serious herniation at L5S1." That was 15 months ago and I just got the approval this month to return to lifting on an "ease into it" basis.

Avoid it if you can. You don't want to feel like you are sitting on broken glass every time you step into a car, sit in a chair, or even do #2 on the toilet.

And carry your wallet in your front pocket.

[Tmax55]

I love random advise Actually I was fishing for some of the many people here with similar back injuries, like Gleason73. My doctor is a fat old GP. I do need to see a good ortho, good advise.

* Leaning towards stopping traditional deadlifts, and going with light rack pulls. Substitute barbell squats for walking lunges. *


Tmax55-
I did mine as a stupid kid in a hurry late at night. Pushing a very heavy boat off the beach, I was really putting my shoulder into it when I felt this strange electric jolt and everything went weak. Years of sciatic pain later I finally got the surgery. It was Ashtanga yoga that made me healthy again. Cannot recommend that enough to those with back injuries. It won't fix the sciatica, but will give you core strength and flexibility like nothing else.

Thanks

[Tmax55]

Where do you keep your wallet? Yes, this is a serious question. Hurrying across a street in pouring rain I stepped in an oily spot and fell on my @ss. Well, more precisely my fall was broken by my wallet in my back left pocket. And the rough landing gave me a "serious herniation at L5S1." That was 15 months ago and I just got the approval this month to return to lifting on an "ease into it" basis.

Avoid it if you can. You don't want to feel like you are sitting on broken glass every time you step into a car, sit in a chair, or even do #2 on the toilet.

And carry your wallet in your front pocket.

I'm married with three kids...I don't keep a wallet - seriously.