****ed up my back pretty bad today...

[mike_d]

EDIT: This is really long, theres cliff notes in my second post

What the hell, talk about irony... I was all excited about my back today (I made 2-3 different back topics in this forum TODAY) and it feels like I screwed it up royally. I don't really know what it is, I'll try to explain everything that could be relevant.

Woke up early today, got to the gym at 8:00am for some HIT cardio b/c I missed it yesterday. I did that for 15 minutes, no problems and left the gym, went to school, then after school around 5:00 I went to workout my legs. I felt REALLY good today, got great sleep, ate really well, felt pretty strong, etc... I was planning to maybe hit some new maxes on squats and SLDL's because I was feeling so good.

Since I got back to school from break 2 weeks ago my workouts have been a little off. By that I mean the days I was training have been kinda weird. This is what this week would have looked like (it did, except I probably wont do shoulders today):

Mon - Chest
Tues - Back
Today - Legs
Tomorrow - Shoulders

I had a great back workout and hit a new max on deadlifts on tuesday. The only thing that made me not feel 110% today, was my back was slightly sore from the workout tuesday, but nothing abnormal at all. I always feel like this 2 days after back day and leg day, its normal.

I probably should have trained shoulders today instead of legs, because as I said, my schedule was messed up this week, I trained chest with my buddy on monday and I normally never do that. I've never really worked my 2 huge muscles so close together in a week (back day - rest day - leg day).

So anyways, I decided to work legs because I had tons of energy today and didnt think my back would slow me down at all.

I'm still kinda new at squats, and SLDL's. I've been doing squats for about 3 months now, SL deadlifts for about 1 (regular deadlifts for about 2). My old maxes for both were 245 for squats and 165 for SLDL's. Those are both for reps, I never try and test my 1 rep max, I felt that I was actually one of the safest people who work out. I always control both my negatives (very slowly too I might add) and my exertions at a slow pace (never faster than 1.5, usually around 2 seconds on ANYTHING). I never jerk my excercises with the exception of the occasional barbell curl. But ESPECIALLY not deadlifts of any type, I've always been really worried about my back (I'm 6'3" with a major history in the family of bad backs).

So I'd never really done this before, but I didnt do a warmup set of squats, I only did some major stretches first instead. I usually dont stretch much, and will do a light set instead, but this behaviour wasn't that abnormal for me. Then maybe I loaded a bit much on the bar (215) and did 8 reps, but my last 2-3 I wasn't getting parallel so I decided to lighten the load. As I was doing that I thought "maybe I'll try some of those ATG squats instead of maxing out", I dont really like using heavy weight on squats and thought this would be a good idea. Mind you I'm tall so I wouldnt go ALL the way down, but I was going much deeper than I normally do. This could have been where I messed up my back.

I loaded 135 on and did some deep squats and they were very tiring. I think I should have went even lighter for how low I was going and my particular strength, but I didn't and decided to do it again. I was getting tired and mid-set I started trying to pump out my reps faster, using momentum. I think this is where I did it, but I couldnt tell at the time. I finished that set and felt a bit of pain in my back, but nothing at all to cry about.

I did one more set, alot more controlled (I did kinda scare myself a tiny bit, but knew nothing about the injury). The thing is, its not like i was in any way OUT OF control in the first place, its just I did it in a way I dont normally do.

After that set I was still feeling great and went to do some SLDL's. I started at 135 and still wanted to beat my max SLDL for reps. I did my first set and noticed in the mirror I wasn't getting down that well. In particular my lower back was much higher than normal, I normally bend quite nicely. I was a little weirded out, but again I ignored the subtle cue, did a few stretches, some "fake" SLDL's without the bar, got some water and threw 10's on each side to make it 155, and go down 85% of the way. It was at this point I was kinda second-guessing what I was doing, but I ignored that little voice in my head and did a set. I struggled to get 5 and now my back was starting to get hurt more. Not enough to quit, I figured it was soreness because of how soon I worked my back (2 days ago). But I was weirded out alot and decided to only do 1 more set instead of the 3 I was planning on, then I would just do some calf raises, hit a light 5 minute bike cooldown and call it an early day.

Once again I managed only to get 5 going down 85% because I couldnt go 100% properly today. I think that was the set that did the final damage. It was starting to get pretty painful in the gym and I tried to stretch and massage it out but it wasnt doing anything. I decided just to go home and call it a day worried I pulled a muscle in my back.

I changed slowly and the normal walk to my car seemed longer than ever before. Once I got in the car it was really starting to hurt pretty bad and I was constantly trying to adjust my seat but nothing helped. Little bumps in the road were putting me in agony and when I got home I simply took 2 tylenol and laid down for 2 hours. I'm finally sitting up again, but it seems like the tylenol did **** all and I'm kinda worried I did some permanent damage to my back.

It was around my age that my dad ****ed up his back working construction, and its been rotten ever since. I talked to him because he's seen lots of doctors about his back in his day, and he thinks I slightly slipped a disk out of place, and the pain is my back slowly trying to fix itself.





I'm wondering if anyone on here has had something similiar happen to them. The pain is in the middle of my lower back, slightly to the side of the spinal cord, opposite the heart. Its a very slow and chronic pain, no sharp stings unless I move in a manner my body doesn't want me to. I'm walking very slowly when I have to move and pretty hunched over forward. I'm basically gonna lie down for a while on my bed with a pillow under my back, but other than that is there any cheap home remedies for a college student? I obviously cant afford any sort of back heater, or one of those obusform type devices. I talked to my neighbour on the phone and she said she would come over and massage it if I want but I dont know if thats a good idea if the disk did slip at all.

I want to do everything now to avoid long term damage, including dropping working out completely until it goes away completely. I wont be happy, because I just got back in the gym a month ago from unrelated appendicitis surgery. But obviously I have to do it, so I'm gonna do that, and I think I'm gonna skip my lectures tomorrow (just 2, but their pretty important) to lie down and rest. Luckily it was today, but I still have TONS of work to do this weekend, and I have to go to work saturday to move office equipment which I'm worried about. I highly doubt theres any way out of that, the office lease is up monday morning, and theres only 3 of us (myself included, and I'm the biggest/strongest) to move loads of furniture, monitors and computers up a flight of stairs, and down a long hallway.

I'm gonna rest till then, but I think I ****ed it up royally. I've done alot of **** in my life, and I'm never one to cry wolf about pain but I'm in some serious agony. I *might* go to the doctors tomorrow, but hes far away and I dont know if the car ride is worth the risk.

Sorry for the long post, I just realized how long it was

Reps for any quality help!

[mike_d]

Cliff Notes from above

Worked out my back tuesday, felt great, maxed my deadlifts for reps. Rested yesterday, did legs today. Slightly injured my back squatting or stiff legged deadlifting (I highly suspect spotting, was trying new "ATG Squats"). Didnt really notice the pain, it hurt more and more as I was doing stiff legged deadlifts. I only did 4 sets of squats instead of 6, and 3 sets of SLDL's instead of 5. I left after my 3rd set in pain, in lots of pain now. I can barely walk and my lower back really hurts.

Pain is in my mid-lower back, to slightly to the side of my spine opposite my heart. I have to work Saturday (moving furniture), debating seeing a doctor (the drive might hurt it, I'm trying to go out/move as little as humanly possible). Took tylenol, didnt help, marijuana helps the pain, but still hurts to move.

Think I slipped a disc out of place, if thats the case, what does that mean? When can I work out again? etc...




Thats about as short as I can get it while still leaving important details.

[KopyKat]

If your dad thinks you slipped a disc, and you are having trouble walking up straight without pain, you should for sure check out that doctor. If its just a pulled muscle you could try and use stretches to relieve the pressure. They helped me tons and i was deadlifting and doing back work in no time after my injury. It really depends what it is and thats what your going to have to go to the doc to get determined.

[JacksCleverWit]

The back (especially the discs) is not to be messed with. Get that checked out ASAP. Better to know early, even if it's not a big problem.

[mike_d]

Well I dont actually have a 'doctor' I was just gonna go to a walk-in clinic. From there though I guess he could diagnose me and send me to a specialist if I ****ed it up bad (I think I might have...)


You guys are right, I'm gonna suck it up and drive to the doctor tomorrow.

[Points]

I once hurt my back squatting. Hours after working out I turned in my chair and then I was in pain. Hurt like a MF, but it was just muscle spasm type injury. I was immobile for 2 days.

Because you say the pain is on the side of the spine it may be muscular. Anyway, severe back pain is something to see the Dr about, esp. if you think you 'slipped a disk', if it's just a strain, you can get some stronger pain meds than tylenol and muscle relaxants.

Go to the Dr! In the meantime you can take aspirin, naproxen (Alleve), or/and ibuprofen (Advil) in addition to the tylenol(acetaminophen). Just make sure to not exceed the dosage limits for each particular med. And try a heating pad.

Good work with the Cliff Notes

[Wussy]

Yah that sounds like a disk. . . but muscle pain can be on just one side too. It may be a tear or spasm. I would definately go to a doctor. Plus work Saturday sounds like it involves lifting. . .I'd suggest a day off.

At least healthcare is free here.

[wolfsburg2]

go to the ER. get it checked out immediately if it hurts bad.

[Big Ad]

This sounds similar to something i did last year, did heavy deads on back day and felt a small amount of pain in my lumbar region (a bit lower than you) so stopped the deads for a week. Didn't feel any more pain after this until legs the next week when it felt like i had pulled a muscle in my lower back while squatting - stupidly i did the same thing you did and trained through the pain.

Was a little stiff that night but nothing too bad, the next morning i got on the train to go to work and realised i couldn't sit down without being in pain, by the end of the day i couldn't even stand up due to excruciating pain in my leg and right the way through my hips and down my legs. Day later not getting any better so went to the Doc, he diagnosed it is a joint injury but couldn't specify whether it was disc, ligament or what.

Sent me to physio who did massage, electro-stimulation and some stretches which made me feel about 200% better (could actually stand up straight) - he advised me to keep moving and exercising to stop the muscles around the injury from spasming as this is where most of my pain was coming from. Anyway long story short after a month of physio 3 times a week i started to feel normal again however a year later i still am not back to 100%, am squatting heavy again but only deadlfit light and have to be very careful on all exercises where there is pressure on the lower back - sucks ass.

So the moral to this overly long story is that you will recover but you should go to the Dr ASAP - dont leave as the longer you leave your rehab the worse off your back will be.

[mike_d]

Moral of the story:

Listen to your body. I ignored the 'slight' warning signs because I get pissed having ****ty workouts, but by the sounds of it, I might not be having any workouts for a while. Lifes a bitch sometimes.

[Raider926]

I hope for your sake its just a pulled muscle, a slipped disk I wouldn't wish on anyone. Sorry to hear it bro.

[Locarius]

Do you train at the school?

[Bushmaster]

See a chiropractor ASAP. Could be a herniated disk or some vertebrae that you've knocked out of alignment. Either way the chiro can fix it.

[exarch]

if you slipped a disk, say bye bye to lifting

[JamesToney]

Go to the doctor ASAP and see if it's a disc. If it is, nice knowin ya! :-(

You should have stopped after the squats, and why you were working through INCREASING pain on your SLDL's is beyond me.

[Mikey1]

if you slipped a disk, say bye bye to lifting

agreed.....

i highly doubt you are going to be moving furniture in the next week....if its as bad as you say it is, you will be in pain for at least a week, and id say no lifting for at least 2-3 weeks

[Juggernaut33]

Back injuries suck. The older guys in my gym say that your are only as strong as your back is. How true.

[Dark Phoenix]

If you slipped a disk, you end up with bone.nerve.bone and no padding meaning that two bones are grinding on a nerve. Can cause a lot of problems, including problems with the siatica (sp???) nerve which menas you have pain in your hips.


BTW, do you train at Carleton?

EDIT: try this link to see how you can train while inured http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/ronharris33.htm

[mike_d]

Phew, saw the doctor today, its not as bad as I thought. I was really hoping it wasnt a slipped disc, and thank god it wasnt. The doc said it was a slight muscle strain in my back but they have similiar symptoms and he understood why I thought the disc slipped.

Basically I cant workout for at least next week, then see how I feel. Even if I feel good next week I'm not doing anything. I got a doctors note basically stating that theres no possible way I can do any sort of lifting, and I explained this to my boss who was more understanding then I thought he would be (he's had back problems too...). I feel pretty lucky, I was having visions of not working out for months and tons of physio.

DarkPhoenix I go to Algonquin, and thats where I work out. I might transfer to Carlton next year if I have a strong semester and summer term. I think I'll def. be training there and going to school there by next January unless I get a good co-op from Algonquin. Some of my roommates train there though, and I might go check out the gym a few times this semester. My other roommate is a lifeguard at the pool there...

[wolfsburg2]

glad you are ok dude. i'd be chomping at the bit after a week of not working out, i suggest heavy doses of beer and bitches to keep your mind off the lack of excercise

[forklift]

what i feel as low back pain is often actually coming from some big muscle off to the side, just above the hip. deep massage helps a lot but the massage is painful at first