Thread: Dealing With Lower Back Issues

Originally Posted by Prince

Yes, I tried doing light squats and started to feel pain again, so I stopped...I would not even dare do a deadlift (was never that big on them anyway), however I do hyper-extensions for low back strength.

I cannot do even light deadlifts, but I find that my lower back pain goes away on cycle enough to do squats! Heavy enough that it is my knees that started aching, but my back did not. Off cycle, the lower back aches return. Weird.

A friend of mine says the exact same thing happens to him.

By the way, the ache is not when actually squatting, it is later, like that evening and for several days following. On cycle it just does not happen, even though the weights shot up.

I had surgery 3 years ago for herniated L4 and L5 discs. Two years later I had epidurals for another 2 discs. I use naproxen, gabapentin, and vicodin. I try to go light on my back workouts. No more deadlifts, I still do bent over rows though. Just listen to your back! Do what you can. If your too sore take the day off. Also, using an excersize ball for abs works good too.

I have a L4/L5 herniation and L5/S1 with the L5/S1 being the more severe. I did this about 5 years ago. I have seen chiropractors, PTs and even an acupuncturist for the low back pain. I have avoided the orthos, as the first one I saw wanted to cut right away. The L5/S1 was 10mm bulge as seen on MRI. I figured if I was able to walk in to the office, I was not going to let them cut on me.

Anyway, it will flare up every 6-8 months. I have found that leg presses seem to really be something I can't do any more. The last few times of re-injury has been due to the leg press machine. I also avoid back squats. I find that I can do front squats without any back pain. I do deadlifts as well. I just don't go as heavy as I used to do. I avoid any seated exercises with weights overhead, but standing seems to be fine.

i would stay away from squats

^yup, I can do hack squats but that is about it, and I don't go very heavy.

I have a herniated L5-S1. The only thing that keeps it in check is high volume kettlebell swings several days a week. It's like magic!

I had a lamenectomy at L4-L5 at 22 (11 years ago now) and wouldn't change a thing. It was a complete success and I recovered better than they said. I have not done dead lifts since, and I'm careful with squats but I do them. I try too keep to a rep I can do 8-10 times with perfect form. I also do them barefoot, sounds odd, but I don't want any give in a shoe.

I do back hyper extension to make my lower back stronger...