I hurt my back [Forum Archive]

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I hurt my back

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Posted by: Sean0621

I have a question for guys who have back problems and have hurt their backs. For the past 2 months I have been having bad problems with my back and neck. I have good weeks and bad weeks. I haven't been able to hit the gym nearly as hard as I'd like, and it's just pissing me off. Like yesterday I woke up and my upper middle back felt strained, then as the day progressed, it got worse and worse, eventually i had to walk around almost hunched over completely. Then the week before, my neck got a really bad kink, and couldn't move it for almost 4 days. I've been going through this cycle practically all of the last two months. I mentioned it to my doctor, but he says I look healthy. Not exactly sure of what I did. I practically don't do squats or deads right now, I haven't worked out yesterday or today, and it's really getting to me. Is there anyway to work through this or am I just asking for trouble if I do, even if I cut out some things, though I hurt my neck doing upright rows somehow a couple weeks ago. Any input you have on this would be appreciated.

Posted by: vanity

do warm up before lifting and do you perform a good post-workout stretching routine?

Posted by: JLB001

Go see a chiropractor and have them do treatments. Last year I put alot of stress on my lower back and it locked up to where I was in pain all the time and walked all goofy. After about 5 treatments, it was good as new! The deep tissue massage helped alot too.

Posted by: Prince

a visit to a chiropractor is probably a good idea.

I just started seeing one this week myself.

Posted by: vanity

If I were you I would go see a qualified physician who specializes in sports related injuries.

I'd be wary of having my neck or spine manipulated by someone who may be little more than a charlatan.

Posted by: Prince

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanity

I'd be wary of having my neck or spine manipulated by someone who may be little more than a charlatan.

why do you think chiropractors are frauds?

Posted by: JLB001

Hmmm....Doctors are pill pushers.

Most doctors will say "oh...let's check your insurance and see how much we can milk out of it"

Hell with a Chiro. he isn't gonna shove pills down yout throat then tell you he wants to do surgery. Most will treat you, if the problems continue, they refer you to the proper type of doctor.

Posted by: Prince

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLB001

Hmmm....Doctors are pill pushers.

no, they're legal drug dealers.

Posted by: Sean0621

I'm naturally paranoid of chiropractors as well. I have no real reason other than word of mouth from friends and family. My father told me that they are all quacks from day one. Of course he also thinks that all doctors are out to steal his money and make up sickness. He has his reasons though he's not just bein crazy. But the back is a touchy issue for me and most people, because if you screw it up permanently you could end up paralyzed, or at least unable to walk straight. The back is scary as hell to me, but I will look into a chiropractor, but I'm going to make sure to get plenty of opinions on it. Plus I'm not even sure insurance covers that, and it's hard enough to find a family physician covered under my insurance plan. But I just fear the Hell out of the chiropractor, I can't even crack my own friends or girlfriends backs when they ask me, I can't handle it, i'm afraid I'll hurt them. Hell i can't even watch someone get they're back cracked. But I'll suck it up if I have to and go in there and let the guy do his thing, I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt me is all

Posted by: oaktownboy

if ur doctor won't check it out and thinks ur "healthy," that should be saying sumthin about ur doctor..go see a chiropractor dawg and make sure all ur disks are aligned and whatnot

Posted by: Sean0621

As for my routine I always warm up before hand, and I always run afterwards. I have a feeling I might have done this helping a friend move, he dropped a 350lbs entertainment center off the Uhaul and I caught it and felt it tighten my upper back real tight and then release. Of course I also made the mistake of doing all my squats on the smith machine before that, and about a week before I helped my friend move, I was doin 295lbs for 6 and when I came off the machine, my back felt a little funny, and I stopped doing squats on the smith machine after that.

Posted by: JLB001

I use to be scared of them too, but when I finally went it was a BIG relief! And my sweetie is in his last year of school to be a chiro. But I was still leary of them when we started dating, he listened to be complain about being sore all the time, never pushed going to see a Chiro on me, let me decide when I had had enough. Alot people do not realize that they have just about the same amount of medical experience and schooling as an MD. They still have to cut dead people open and stuff. They just believe in treating the problem in a little different way than to medicate you with pills that only mask the symptoms and create a false sense of well being.

My insurance covers up to $500 with no cost to me for going.

Posted by: Sean0621

Quote:

Originally Posted by oaktownboy

if ur doctor won't check it out and thinks ur "healthy," that should be saying sumthin about ur doctor..go see a chiropractor dawg and make sure all ur disks are aligned and whatnot

Yeah that's what I thought, he's been my doc since I was a kid, but he's not big on prescribing meds and making a big deal out of small injuries, he just kinda expects ya to tough it out, and I like him for that. But I think it's time I saw someone who specializes in the back.

Posted by: Prince

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean0621

But I just fear the Hell out of the chiropractor, I can't even crack my own friends or girlfriends backs when they ask me, I can't handle it, i'm afraid I'll hurt them. Hell i can't even watch someone get they're back cracked. But I'll suck it up if I have to and go in there and let the guy do his thing, I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt me is all

well, I think what a chiropractor is doing is a bit more than "cracking your back".

the reason I am seeing one is because I started having pain in my right leg and some tingling in my right toe. I immediately knew it had to be nerve related. I have always known that my right leg is a bit shorter than my left, everyone has one leg that is, but mine is a bit more than what is "acceptable". So, he took the x-rays and confirmed that my back is very healthy, no disk degeneration, etc., but as I knew my right leg is shorter, by 10mm to be exact. So, I had my first adjustment today and he is starting me out with a 5mm lift and I am going in 3 times per week for adjustments until we work up to the 10mm and get my back realigned.

Posted by: Sean0621

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLB001

I use to be scared of them too, but when I finally went it was a BIG relief! And my sweetie is in his last year of school to be a chiro. But I was still leary of them when we started ...dating, he listened to be complain about being sore all the time, never pushed going to see a Chiro on me, let me decide when I had had enough. Alot people do not realize that they have just about the same amount of medical experience and schooling as an MD. They still have to cut dead people open and stuff. They just believe in treating the problem in a little different way than to medicate you with pills that only mask the symptoms and create a false sense of well being.

My i...nsurance covers up to $500 with no cost to me for going.

Well I'm gonna give it a shot i guess, I'm gonna ask my doctor if he recomends anyone. I really don't know of anyone around me that goes to one honestly.

Posted by: Sean0621

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert DiMaggio

well, I think what a chiropractor is doing is a bit more than "cracking your back".

Well I know that they are experts at what they do Prince, it still doesn't make me much less paranoid, but what the hell, other than urban legends I guess I don't know anyone that came out worse after they went and saw a chiropractor.

Posted by: Sean0621

Thanks for your help guys

Posted by: rule62

I used to talk down on chiropractors as well, "contempt prior to investigation". That is until they completely fixed my lower back and neck issues. Now I am a regular at my chiropractors office. A healthy spine is a happy spine. I love my chiropractor - one thing though is he is well known and established in DC. Get a referral from someone you trust.

Posted by: Prince

I still want to hear vanity's reason for thinking they're frauds.

Posted by: JLB001

Me too Robert. I'm curious to know.

Posted by: Dale Mabry

Well, what I will say is beware of your chiro. I had a friend who went to a chiro and BAM, he was having to see him 2-3 times a week and whenever he didn't go, the pain just came back.

2 years ago, I was getting nasty bursitis in my right shoulder for 3 months so I decided to look up chiros. I decided to go to one familiar with training and he was even NASM certified. He did a manipulation which made me feel 100% better. He sat me down and had me go through my lifting routine and within 15 minutes, could tell me what was causing my issue, apparently it had to do with my positioning during bench. He showed me how to fix it and I never had to go see him again. Overall a very pleasurable experience.

Point: Get one who lifts, preferrably one who may be PT certified by the NASM or ACSM cuz they have postural analysis CEUs.

Posted by: Prince

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dale Mabry

Well, what I will say is beware of your chiro. I had a friend who went to a chiro and BAM, he was having to see him 2-3 times a week and whenever he didn't go, the pain just came back.

then there was an underlying issue not be addressed.

Posted by: JLB001

There are alot of Chiro's that are competitive bodybuilders and many that have interests in many different sports.

Posted by: Prince

not to mention most bodybuilders see a chiro on a regular basis.

Posted by: largepkg

I do have a bit of a horror story of my own. Although I wouldn't be as presumptive as to say all Chiro's are quacks. More than likely just a bad experience.

About 6 years ago I fractured my back at the L5/S1 region. At the time of seeing the Chiro I wasn't aware it was fractured. I had 10-12 visits of intense stretching and manipulation before I couldn't stand it anymore. He took a few X-rays and said it showed nothing broken. He insisted it would get better and said I had nothing wrong with my back structurally. I decided to get the opinion of a sports medicine doctor and he immediately order a CT scan which revealed the fracture. He also stated that if I didn't catch it as quick as I did I would have permanent damage due to calcification. I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life in that much pain.

The moral of the story, do your homework and don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion!

Good luck

Posted by: JLB001

Quote:

Originally Posted by largepkg

I do have a bit of a horror story of my own. Although I wouldn't be as presumptive as to say all Chiro's are quacks. More than likely just a bad experience.

About 6 years ago I fractured my back at the L5/S1 region. At the time of seeing the Chiro I wasn't aware it was fractured. I had 10-12 visits of intense stretching and manipulation before I couldn't stand it anymore. He took a few X-rays and said it showed nothing broken. He insisted it would get better and said I had nothing wrong with my back structurally. I decided to get the opinion of a sports medicine doctor and he immediately order a CT scan which revealed the fracture. He also stated that if I didn't catch it as quick as I did I would have permanent damage due to calcification. I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life in that much pain.

The moral of the story, do your homework and don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion!

Good luck

We are all glad your doing well! It never hurts to get a 2nd opinion either. Sometimes it is needed. If after 5 visits I was still in pain, I would have seeked out a MD dr.

Posted by: largepkg

If after 5 visits I was still in pain, I would have seeked out a MD dr.I chalk this up to being young and naive! I question everything now.

Largepkg is one skeptical !@#$ now.

Posted by: Prince

Quote:

Originally Posted by largepkg

About 6 years ago I fractured my back at the L5/S1 region. At the time of seeing the Chiro I wasn't aware it was fractured. I had 10-12 visits of intense stretching and manipulation before I couldn't stand it anymore. He took a few X-rays and said it showed nothing broken. He insisted it would get better and said I had nothing wrong with my back structurally. I decided to get the opinion of a sports medicine doctor and he immediately order a CT scan which revealed the fracture. He also stated that if I didn't catch it as quick as I did I would have permanent damage due to calcification. I couldn't imagine living the rest of my life in that much pain.

The moral of the story, do your homework and don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion!

Good luck

If I experiecned any trauma that I felt could have caused a fracture then I would have had the a CT scan before I went to a chiro.

I assume you had some type of accident, right? If so, and you told the chiro this I am very surprised that he did not want more than a simple x-ray, so I would definitely chalk it up as a bad experience and maybe an unexperienced chiro, or a quack.

Posted by: Dale Mabry

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robert DiMaggio

then there was an underlying issue not be addressed.

My point exactly. His Chiro didn't look at the underlying issue. Once he went to the chiro I used he was good in a couple weeks. His issue had something to do with the level of lordosis he was putting himself into when he squatted or something like that.

Posted by: largepkg

Yeah, I hurt my back playing racquetball. I Slammed myself up against the wall pretty hard. I didn't realize I was hurt until I tried to get out of my car an hour later. I guess my adrenaline was pumping so hard it masked the injury. Also, the swelling afterwards against the nerves is more than likely what was causing the pain.

Posted by: Rich46yo

Many chiro's have x-ray machines in their office and do an x-ray study before they start manipulateing the spine. But "cracking your back" isnt all they do. A good chiro does heat therapy, electric stimulation, massage, some even do acupuncture. Mine had a table in his office called a inter-vertabre-traction-whatchamacallit. You lay on your back and these rollers go up and down your spine gently stretching your disc's apart. It was bliss. Theres also a treatment called VAX-D which is a machine that operates on the same principle, that off stretching the spine which re-hydrates the disc's and promotes healing. Chiropracros can help someone an awful lot, but they are neither magicians or charlatans. There will always be a small percentage of people who can only be helped by surgery, but that % is much , much lower then the amount of folks that get flim-flammed into back surgery.

In Europe, where medicine is socialized and surgeons dont make more money by cutting you, they do 1/2 the back sugerys as we do here in America and have the same ,or better, 6 mo results. That means in Europe the same, or more, amount of people say they have gotten better with their treatment as people do here only in Europe they cut 1/2 as much. Now what does this tell you?

I think here in the States folks have a much more "cut and fix the damn thing attitude",that, and many people dont take responsability for their own re-hab. If you have a back problem your going to have to rehab it or you'll never get better. Your going to have to dedicate time each day to back specific strengthening and stretching exercises. This isnt much of a problem with groups like this who work out regular anyway. But other people? Its easier to blame chirpractors and others for their pain not being eliminated.

Sean I'd do two things. #1 I'd get a back workup includeing an imageing study. #2 I'd go to a chiropractor. Your going to have to lay off the lifting until you get a handle on your pain. Your going to have to be patient...............take care..........Rich

Posted by: Sean0621

Well I haven't seen a chiropractor yet, I did get a second opinon from a different doctor today, and I'm going to see a specialst next week, and go to a sports medicine place next week as well, we'll see what they can do. If it doesn't seem like it's helping in a couple weeks then I'll see a chiropractor. So far the doctor diagnosed me with a chronic lumbar and cervical strain. Although there were no x-rays done. I'm on a limited time schedule anyways, I have to go to Camp Lejeune for two weeks at the end of July for training. I'll probably go see a chiropractor after that.

Posted by: JLB001

Ok....so you basically need several deep tissue massages and to be hooked up to the little machine that does electric stimulation. Save yourself a bundle and go to the Chiro first. It's the samething I had in my back.

Posted by: Sean0621

I'm gonna give the doctors guy a chance first and then I'll head to the chiro, thanks for trying to save me some money, but I'm as stubborn as an OX. But like I said if I feel like this isn't going to go anywhere then I'll move on. The doc told me that the sports medicine physical therapist will be able to manipulate my back....I just want to see what they will be doing and go the safe route. I may decide to go to the chiro after one trip to this sports medicine PT. We'll see, I go on Tuesday.

Posted by: JLB001

keep us posted.

Posted by: Sean0621

You got it

Posted by: Sean0621

Well so far I went to the Doc once and the Physical Therapist once. The Doc has me on medication, one is called Naproxen and that's a muscle relaxer, and the other is skelaxen and that is an anti-infamitory. The Physical Therapist gave me a number of exercise to do as i expected. I've never been big on taking any medication, I kinda just let the headaches or the flu run their course, i don't take aspirin or anything ever. So I'm not big on taking whatever the doc gave me, I don't know if it'll help my back or just mask the pain, cuz I hate that, I'd rather just deal with the pain. I don't know how much the Physical therapist can do for me, I'll do the exercises she gave me, but I may have to go to a chiropractor. I just don't think you can tell what exactly is going on with my back without taking x-rays at least. I mean the PT took a good look at it, and I had more time to describe to her the whole history of what is going on with my back, but I am not happy with the way the doc handled me at all, I felt like I was being rushed out of his office and he diagnosed me with a straigned back when even I can tell it's more of a misalignment issue. Anyways I may yet be going to see a chiropractor, I've already figured out which one I'm going to as well.

Posted by: timt

I have had back straining problems in the past, I stand up and it strains and then I fall down I don't get up for a couple of days.
The doc should have given you an anti inflamitories, take them they will help in the healing process. Do your stretches 3 times a day and don't sit to long. Also going to the Chiro can help releave pain but I found that it usually comes back in a couple of hours.

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I hurt my back

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