Recurring Back Muscle Strains

[Dan2394]

Hi,

Over the last couple of years i have had issues with muscles pulling in my back, always on the one side and used to just be lower back. It would occasionally happen when training back.

I went to the doctors a couple of times and got referred to a physio type hospital where they told me it due to weak muscles (can this be true when I train back once or twice a week for the last 5 years?) they gave me a number of stretches/exercises which made no difference.

The last few months it was got worse. I get a muscle strain almost every time I train back, every time I do pull ups and sometimes lay pull down (even if I rest it for a couple of weeks) in my lower back or where the bottom of my lat joins into my back.
Recently it has been going just from bending down to sign in at a reception desk or leaning forward sitting on a chair.

Has anyone experienced anything similar in the past?
Is there anything that could help I.e. sports or deep tissue massage?
Or is the best option to just simply not train back for a prolonged period of time, a month or more?

Any advise you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[BromanianDL]

Recently it has been going just from bending down to sign in at a reception desk or leaning forward sitting on a chair.

This sounds more like a disc problem than a muscle strain if your back hurts every time you round your lower back. I recommend Stuart McGill's book "back mechanic". Take it easy for a bit, and really focus on keeping your lower back straight in your daily activities.

[HeMB]

until you get an mri, you won't know and will get thousand referals to different specialists.

[radrd]

until you get an mri, you won't know and will get thousand referals to different specialists.

This. If it really is muscle though, just training back may not be adequate. Exercises like reverse hyper that target lower back may be necessary.

[Dan2394]

This. If it really is muscle though, just training back may not be adequate. Exercises like reverse hyper that target lower back may be necessary.

Thanks for the replies.

Is it possible to get referred for an MRI scan through your doctor or am I likely to have to pay for this privately?

Thanks