Back/spine troubles.

[PlasticJanus]

I've recently been experiencing some pain in my lower back, likely lifting-related. I'm not sure exactly what it is or what's causing it, but I figured NutMisc is as good a place as any to start.

It's not a crippling pain, by any means, but it's enough to cause me to lock up for fear of agitating it. It occurs in the lower back, both in the center as well as the sides. I'm fairly certain that it's spinal in nature. When it acts up, it becomes painful to bend forward or sideways. I can alleviate the pain by assuming a chest-up/butt-out stance.

There have been two instances this week when it's really acted up on me. I was in bed the first time, and had just reached over to grab something on a bedside table. Trying to sit up or roll over proved painful, but it subsided in a few minutes. The second time, I was at the gym. I had just finished a set of bench, and it flared up as I raised myself up from under the bar. My partner suggested it might be a compression issue, having just finished squats, so I did a few decompressions and the pain went away within five minutes.

I'm currently following Starting Strength, so I'm squatting, deadlifting, pressing, benching, and power cleaning. Unfortunately, I no longer have a video camera to record my form, but I think my lower back is fairly decent in all exercises. My partner is pretty perceptive and hasn't raised any red flags.

Does this sound readily identifiable?

Cliffs
Occasional pain in lower-back
Wut do?

[BloodySalad]

Give it a week or two off and see if it clears up. If it doesn't, go check it out with a chiropracter.

[SuffolkPunch]

Does your partner know to check for rounded lower back at the bottom of the squat?

You could try doing some high rep exercises like cable pullthroughs or weighted hypers. Something like 3 x 15-20 reps not to failure. Problem muscles like the lower back often benefit from training in the endurance range.

[lee__d]

Does your partner know to check for rounded lower back at the end of his pelvic thrust?

You could try doing some high rep exercises like cable pullthroughs or weighted hypers. Something like 3 x 15-20 reps not to failure. Problem muscles like the lower back often benefit from training in the endurance range.

this maybe.

stretching, go to an orthopedic doc.

buy dr john sarno;s books on back pain

[MASSter]

this maybe.

stretching, go to an orthopedic doc.

buy dr john sarno;s books on back pain

You have read/used? What's so great about this book?

[lee__d]

You have read/used? What's so great about this book?

I read his second one: http://www.amazon.com/Healing-Back-P.../dp/0446392308

I don't have chronic back pain, but i like how he talks about the connection between pain & stress (and one's state of mind), very interesting. tension myositis syndrome is a cool topic.

[joelash302]

I've recently been experiencing some pain in my lower back, likely lifting-related. I'm not sure exactly what it is or what's causing it, but I figured NutMisc is as good a place as any to start.

It's not a crippling pain, by any means, but it's enough to cause me to lock up for fear of agitating it. It occurs in the lower back, both in the center as well as the sides. I'm fairly certain that it's spinal in nature. When it acts up, it becomes painful to bend forward or sideways. I can alleviate the pain by assuming a chest-up/butt-out stance.

There have been two instances this week when it's really acted up on me. I was in bed the first time, and had just reached over to grab something on a bedside table. Trying to sit up or roll over proved painful, but it subsided in a few minutes. The second time, I was at the gym. I had just finished a set of bench, and it flared up as I raised myself up from under the bar. My partner suggested it might be a compression issue, having just finished squats, so I did a few decompressions and the pain went away within five minutes.

I'm currently following Starting Strength, so I'm squatting, deadlifting, pressing, benching, and power cleaning. Unfortunately, I no longer have a video camera to record my form, but I think my lower back is fairly decent in all exercises. My partner is pretty perceptive and hasn't raised any red flags.

Does this sound readily identifiable?

Cliffs
Occasional pain in lower-back
Wut do?

If you can isolate the pain as dead down the center of the spine, it sounds like a slipped disc, disc bulge, or spondylolisthesis (verterbral shift). Or it could be nothing more than a random BFK in your erectors or something. If you aren't really comfortable with self-diagnosis, a trip to an orthopedic doctor would be the first step without question. Finding someone who is a spine specialist and preferably works for a pro football or hockey team would be even better as they are used to dealing with people who want to get 100% better and under big weight instead of just gardening in the yard. Anything less would be a compromise to yourself.

[PerpetualMotion]

Lift right. Serious. If you're rounding constantly in both the squat and DL then you're putting your spine through a lot of crap. The obvious fix would be to fix whatever is causing your rounding, whether it's technique, mobility, or flexibility related.

Outside of that, and Dr. Stuart McGill has mentioned this, you need to keep a neutral spine throughout the day post-lifting. If you are indeed lifting with lumbar flexion then neutrality of the spine throughout the day becomes important, as you can hurt yourself doing non-lifting related tasks because of the prior weightlifting session.