I am 25 years old, about 200 pounds and was just on my last week of a pretty hardcore bulking cycle. I was lifting mostly heavy weight for about 8 weeks to put on mass. My bodyfat is about 8-11%, I don't have a measure anymore. I'm an advanced lifter, and this last week I was doing supersets with medium-weight to ease me off my bulk cycle.
I had noticed a minor soreness in my back a few days earlier, but ignored it and waited a weekend. It seemed to go away, wrong!
After a brief warmup of abs/calves with medium weight, I started my back day. I was using the pullover machine and did a few warmups with light weight. I noticed the seat felt a bit uncomfortable even after height adjustment, but continued anyway. I put on heavier weight after my warmup and went for it. On my seventh or eighth rep I felt the most intense pain in my back. I got up and tried to stretch it out to no avail. It was like someone stabbed a heated knife into my back. I couldn't really move, so I just stood there for like 5 minutes leaning on the machine. Eventually I got the ability to move and made it home.
5 days later the pain is still there. It is a stiffness/pulsing ache that subsides for a bit, and then comes back hard. Sometimes effecting my sleep. I haven't been back to the gym for fear of making it worse.
I've been taking some leftover vicodin for the pain to help me sleep, but the pulsing pain is still there and doesn't seem to be going away or really getting better.
It feels kind of like someone has a pair of plyers and is squeezing/twisting my back muscle. The central pain is located directly below the upper left jutting bone. Sorry I'm not sure of the physiological name of the bone.
Any idea on what this is? I had my girlfriend try to give me a massage and it seemed to really help, however she is tiny and can't really work the muscles that well.
P.S. no health insurance right now!
Thanks for any help
Posted by: Randy
I know I've hurt my lower back a number of times. Mine has been caused by either twisting while lifting, or not bending my knees properly when lifting a heavy object. Sometimes even knowing the correct form, for whatever reason you lift wrong and cause a back injury. Being overweight especially in the abdomen can increase your risk factor too (not saying this is the case for you).
It seems that when you hurt your back once, your more prone to reocurring injury. My advice would be to take this opportunity to take some time off. Make sure your back is completely healed and recovered before doing any back intensive lifting. After it has healed then you may want to gradually introduce some back exercises into your routine to help strengthen your back to help prevent future injury. Until then if your back doesn't start getting better, you may also want to see a doctor. (I know you said you have no insurance though).
Posted by: illad
Thanks for the advice, I am definately taking a few weeks off as I don't want to aggrevate this condition. It's now almost a week but I am noticing a slight day-by-day improvement. I've been doing some back stretching excercises and these seem to help too. I can move freely now without much pain.
Even when I return to lifting I doubt I'll be using heavy weight for a while. It's just disheartening to see your gains go down the crapper. Oh well, my health is more important I guess.
P.S. my abdominals are strong, I work them twice a week and almost got my six pack. I think when I go back to working my back I'll just start with some slow assisted-pullups.
Posted by: Randy
illad...
Glad to hear that you're on the road to recovery...
And your stretching is definately a good idea...
Posted by: 165r
Man I feel your pain, literally. I just found out that I have a degenerated disk in my lower back. If you've had problems before this may be what you have. I've done some research on this problem and it seems that with plenty of rest it will heal itself. Don't push it. I'm dying to run back to the gym because I can actually walk now. But it's gonna take alot more than a few baby steps to get me back to where I was before this happened.
I know it sucks watching yourself shrink as your belly grows but hey there are more important things to worry about. While I was on the phone with my ortho. the call waiting clicked, it was my mother inlaw telling me that my father inlaw was in an accident, pretty bad. Don't sweat it. You did it once, you do it again.
GOOD LUCK
Posted by: illad
Thanks 165r, I'm still waiting to hit the gym. The pain is just a minor nuisance now, but I know if I aggrevate it in the gym it will get MUCH worse. I see my self withering away, but I know it's bets to wait.
They had clips from Arnold's Pumping Iron on E! last night, he was injured for a few months too. The clip showed him in the hospital with cans of protein shake all around him. I guess that helped minimalize his loss.
Posted by: 165r
Yeah I saw that also. Unfortunatly I don't have Arnolds genetics. A month or two off for him back then wouldn't put a dent in his gains. I'm set to see a workmens comp DR. tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Meanwhile my bottle of M1T, swole and whey shakes wait on the shelf.