Possible herniated disk? can I still power lift?

**Thestef** · 11-08-2005, 12:33 PM

Hi guys,

I made a post in the Exercise section but I wanted some feed back from some experience guys who power lift, and I'm sure who have run into some back injuries.

Last Saturday I was dead lifting 285lbs (not much for a lot of you guys here I'm sure) I used this weight many times before, usually for 1 set of 3 reps.
I did a proper warm up, my usual stretching, and then I did 1 set of 8 with 115lbs, then 1 set of 8 reps with 215lbs, then I did my dead lift with 285, on the 3rd I was half way up and but something in my back let go, and I immediately dropped the weight and pain almost started instantly, I'm guessing my form migth of been a bit off... or else I wouldn't have hurt myself.

I went to see the doctor the next day because my back would hurt even when walking, she honestly didn't tell me much. She said I have a back mechanical injury.. WTF ?? even after explaining to her that I was weight lifting and that I felt something let go in my back, she couldn't tell me what the injury was.
I asked her specifically if I might have a back hernia, and she said yes.. but wasn't' very clear or specific at all... she said to really find out I would need a CAT scan and that my injury, (since its my first back injury) was not progressed enough for them to do a CAT scan, she honnestly didn't seem to think much of my injury or even gave me the impression like I should worry. She said if it still hurt in 1 week I could go for physio and gave me a physio prescription.

So? what do you guys think?

Will I be able to do dead lifts or squat in the near future? 4 to 6 weeks from now? or should I completely cut them out? or keep the weights reletavely low?
and how would I know if I have a tendon or muscle or ligament injury or a herniated disk or just an injured disk?

And if I have an herniated disk.. can I still dead lift or do squats?

I know you guys aren't doctors, but I'm sure a lot of you have had back problems.

Thanks for the help

**jack_of_all** · 11-08-2005, 12:59 PM

if it hurts just to walk then you need to be resting up, not lifting weights. wait until your doctor gets back to you before making a decision, but dont be afraid to get a second opinion.

**Tormented** · 11-08-2005, 01:52 PM

In 4-6 weeks if your back doesn't hurt anymore, and you do deadlifts and it still doesn't hurt, then yes, you will be able to deadlift again. Otherwise maybe not.

**chuckt** · 11-08-2005, 06:13 PM

I herniated my l2-l3 disc when i was 18 (im 21 in 4 days). I did it doing GM's with horrible form, ie a really rounded back. I went to 3 doctors and none of them really seemed to care, and none of them were willing to give me a MRI. I was in a ton of pain, for a while i couldnt walk, i had to sit, and that was still super painful. it was extremely painful to stand up, or to lay down straight, i had to walk bent over, kinda looked like i had a stick in my ass or something. I was in a lot of pain for the next 6 months probaly, at one point the only thing that felt okay was sitting, but turning my head made my nuts feel like they were getting kicked and standing felt like i was getting stabbed in the back. I got an MRI eventually and found i herniated the disc, i was given some anti inflammatory steroids and those helped a bit, and sent to pt which was worthless. I started doing real light squats, tire flips, reverse hypers and stuff probaly 2 months after i hurt it. That was a stupid idea since i think that slowed my recovery a bit. Probaly 6-8 months after i was able to stand and do some normal things again without a ton of pain, i couldnt jump, run or sit comfortably for about a year or so. I had lots of pain in my hip area to this day which i think is due to the fact that i spent the first couple of months bent over when i was standing, i slept with my back and legs elevated, and i was always sitting which all added up to the muscles in my hips getting shortened and real tight. Im still working on loosening them up to this day.
so its been about 3 years, i can run, jump, arch, squat, pull etc, although i do get some discomfort from time to time doing GM's. Im squatting in the mid 6's now, and pulling upper 5's so its totally possible to come back from this.

If you have some specific questions please send me a pm or email me charliet_09@hotmail.com

**Pro** · 11-08-2005, 07:46 PM

Maybe you should check out some sports medicine guy and not some general family doctor who probably doesn't even know what a herniated disc is.

**night-trainer** · 11-08-2005, 11:31 PM

Originally Posted by Pro

Maybe you should check out some sports medicine guy and not some general family doctor who probably doesn't even know what a herniated disc is.

I agree, go to a physio or sports doctor. GP's in general dont know much about injuries, let alone sporting injuries.

**Thestef** · 11-09-2005, 06:08 AM

Thanks for the reply guys,

Chuck, your stories sounds a bit like mine.. as far as how the doctor treated me when I went at the hospital, but I don't think I hurt my back as bad as yours.

The doctor that treated me was a woman, and she was a joint/spinal column specialist, she wasn't just a family doctor.

Its been 4-5 days since my injury and yesterday when I left work my back was a lot better. So I started my own physio, I looked up the exercises on-line. My back didn't hurt at all during the exercises... and when I woke up this morning my back was even better.

I still have a weird feeling in the bottom of my back though and it still hurts a bit.

Anyway's these back problems always sounded like horror stories to me in the past and now after experiencing one, its even worse... and every one would tell me to make sure my form was good and to never bend my back when picking something up off the ground... and I always tried being carefull.
I realize now how fragile the human body can truly be.

Chuck? are you staying that your squatting and dead lifting like around 500 pounds? after having two herniated disk?

**Thestef** · 11-09-2005, 06:48 AM

What are GM's?

**Strongerthanall** · 11-09-2005, 09:03 AM

Dude- Get an MRI and see whats up. If there is a herniation....no. not until it fixes itself. If there isnt...all you have to do is wait a bit for the inflamation to go down and strenthen the muscles in the abdomen and lower back to prevent another episode. Try stretching your hamstrings more, warming up better, and go strict on your form before trying and new PR's. Good Luck. I had 2 bulging disks in my back and 1 herniation in my neck and I am still here at 37 lifting heavier than ever.

**krustster** · 11-09-2005, 09:06 AM

I had a similar injury. Judging by what I've read you probably have a bulging/slipped disc, not a herniated one... if your leg/foot is going numb then it is probably herniated. Obviously this is not a professional diagnosis but apparently the doc wasn't much help so thtat's the best I can do for you. I haven't deadlifted or heavily squatted since I did that...I am waiting till the pain is 1000000% gone and maybe even the green flag from the doc. It's just too risky.

**krustster** · 11-09-2005, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by Strongerthanall

Dude- Get an MRI and see whats up. If there is a herniation....no. not until it fixes itself. If there isnt...all you have to do is wait a bit for the inflamation to go down and strenthen the muscles in the abdomen and lower back to prevent another episode. Try stretching your hamstrings more, warming up better, and go strict on your form before trying and new PR's. Good Luck. I had 2 bulging disks in my back and 1 herniation in my neck and I am still here at 37 lifting heavier than ever.

Awesome...how long was it before you were able to go back?

**Strongerthanall** · 11-09-2005, 09:15 AM

With the back- about 1.5 months. With the neck a little less because it only really affected my bench at heavy weights. I should say, however, I reinjured my back and had to do it all over again. It has been 3 years since I have injured my back.

**Thestef** · 11-09-2005, 09:32 AM

Can you force a doctor to give you a MRI or a CAT scan?

**Thestef** · 11-09-2005, 09:42 AM

I read somewhere that Hernia's don't' fix themselves, once the disk rupture or has a crack or hole were the liquid leaks out from, then the outer part of the disk will never heal, the inside liquid or gel will replenish itself to a certain degree but won't be back 100%, and you can rupture it very easily again since the crack/hole is always there.

**chuckt** · 11-09-2005, 09:45 AM

You can tell a doctor that you would really like to get an MRI just to be sure, so that you know whats going on, if they say no, go somewhere else until you find someone who does. You would probaly be well served to find a doctor or orthopedic surgeon who works with a lot of atheletes as they will probaly understand your situation better.

Im not sure quite what you were asking in terms of my lifts, but before i herniated my back i was squatting mid 4's and pulling mid 4's at a bodyweight similar to what im at now, and i have gotten stronger since the injury and continue to get stronger now, so its totally possible to come back from this and surpass where you were at.

You might not have done anything to the discs if you're feeling real good already. I was training on some strongman stones and tweaked my back and was instantly in pain, i couldnt stand up, etc, i thought i might have re-herniated my back and was pissed, but i iced, and rested and in about a week it was all better, i think i just sent some muscles into spasm or something which tweaked me, perhaps thats what happened to you.
Getting an MRI is always a good idea though

a GM is a goodmorning, you hold the bar on your back like a squat and than bend at the waist while pushing your hips back and bending your knees slightly, and than return back to upright.

The disc is contained in a fibrous pouch, i guess you could think of it as a wicker basket. If you herniate it and thus force the contents out of the disc, its like forcing a small ball or something out of the side of the basket. The area will repair itself, but it wont be of the same strenght as before. I seriously reccomend that you check out Stuart McGill's book "Low Back Disorders"
check it out on amazon, it will give you a great understaing of how your spine works and what happens when it gets injured, its not a difficult read and well worth the cost for the information your get.
You can email Dr. McGill directly at mcgill@healthy.uwaterloo.ca (if you are ever near Waterloo Canada you should see him and seek his advice)
and ultimate back fitness and health

**Strongerthanall** · 11-09-2005, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Thestef

I read somewhere that Hernia's don't' fix themselves, once the disk rupture or has a crack or hole were the liquid leaks out from, then the outer part of the disk will never heal, the inside liquid or gel will replenish itself to a certain degree but won't be back 100%, and you can rupture it very easily again since the crack/hole is always there.

depends on the degree of rupture. with a MRI they can see EXACTLY how bad it is. Oh and if its not that bad, but still hurts...go get "The Mind/Body Prescription" by Dr. Sarno.

**krustster** · 11-09-2005, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by Strongerthanall

With the back- about 1.5 months. With the neck a little less because it only really affected my bench at heavy weights. I should say, however, I reinjured my back and had to do it all over again. It has been 3 years since I have injured my back.

Same thing happened here. I went back a few weeks after I injured it the first time and hurt myself again in short order. I wish I had known better but it didn't hurt, so I assumed it was okay.

Thread: Possible herniated disk? can I still power lift?

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Possible herniated disk? can I still power lift?

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions