Back problems, what are your guys' experiences?

[Nick_S]

I have had dealt with severe lower back pain in the past and some in the present. For me personally, the only thing that made it go away was lots of stretching before and after exercise and lots of strengthening of my core. Haven't had issues for years until recently when I stopped going to the gym because it was an added expense I had to cut out, got a shitty job where I'm always on my feet and can't ride my bike as much. I was convinced I had a slipped disc or something. Numerous doctors simply told me I was out of shape which I didn't believe since I was young and naive and was convinced I was in great shape. I wasn't. I was chubby and ate like shit, never stretched and didn't drink enough water to keep hydrated so it never got better till I took it upon myself to make myself better.
To summarize: Exercise and stretch.

Of course everyone is different. I read an interview with a BMX pro who had such severe pain it at the time basically ended his career. He almost went in for some sort of spinal fusing surgery when he was referred to a specialist who discovered the root cause of his lower back pain stemmed from a misaligned jaw which was causing tension in his neck which in turn, was putting a lot of tension on his back.

[James]

lol


Well I will start by saying that most people have weak backs... even people who appear to be muscular(too much curls for girls, and benching for guys going on)... and this imbalance can cause issues. I will also say that a suprisingly large number of HS and College athletes do not know anything about proper nutrition and exercise, they just do what they are told and have always been told.. which may not always be right.

First you have to find out what works for you... second you got injured.. possibly a herniated disc. Need to find out why.. was your diet lacking and unable to support you physical stress you were putting on your body.. were you not getting enough sleep .. was your form bad.. etc. Although sometimes It just happens unfortunately.

although its funny that akg mentioned deadlifts... when performed properly they can be very beneficial.. I have been Power lifting for about 5-6 years now and been pulling 3x my BW, luckily I have never had an injury. I will say this sometimes I feel fatigued and take a week or two off (this weekend for example I have slept like 30 hours in the past two days). I make sure to eat and sleep enough when I lift heavy. Like I mentioned earlier listen to your body and find out what works for you.

Also over working the back can cause it to hurt, but the pain will usually go away.. during my heavy deadlifts weeks.. my lower back will become fatigued very quickly.. and when I have to run I usually quit lifting 4 weeks prior because if I don't my lower back will go out about half a mile in. Or if I standing for long periods etc.

So what I am saying is hopefully its nothing too serious, but it may already be beyond that point.. Take some real time off to rest..( could be weeks... could be months) and slowly begin building your self back up once (if ever) you feel 100% again. GL.

Basically this, just because you're doing exercises to make you a better rower 18 hrs a week doesn't mean you're in "good physical shape" figure out what is causing your imbalance and do corrective exercise to work around it.

[Thizzelle]

my dad has 2 blown discs in his lower back and always has back problems (he's 6'5") I'm 6'3" my back use to hurt until I started working out. Working on car (leaning over engine for a few hours) makes it sore for a day but that's about it.

I'd suggest just working out the core a little more. deadlifts, crunches and good mornings.

[Farbin Kaiber]

Maybe see if your 'friend' has any medicinal assistance?

[Bearmw]

I don't have the answer but making stretching/yoga a habit can go a long way as well as good nutrition and rest. I think the mental aspect of stretching is at least 50% of the benefit. Try to even out muscle imbalances you may have for additional protection.

[Mr. Burns]

lots of descent advice here.

my story\esperience.

I'm an ex-heavy weight competitive weight lifter.

I literally have demolished my back doing what I thought was "good" weight lifting in my early to mid twenties.

what I did was fast forward the deterioration of my spine.

last summer (intact I made a thread about it) I really messed my back. BAD.
I lifted a puny little 60lbs exercise bike improperly and my lower back finally gave in.

I now have DDD (degenerative disc disorder) T3-T5 herniation and S1 nerve impingement root damage.

the nerve root damage is the absolute worst.
If I'm not careful, I aggravate that nerve and i get back pain that are referred to, well, you guess it...my ballsack.
it's not like a little dull ache, sometimes it can be pretty painful.
it'll last a day or two, then go away.

it took me about 10 months to heal so far, after a LONG period of healing and seeing a physiotherapist.

Like you, I was at the peak of my physical conditioning, and felt almost invincible...until it happened. (the back injury)
I suffered major depression too. (actually search back pain and depression it's rampant) I thought my life was ending, could barely move, constant pain, drugs did nothing.

I can still do most things, except lift heavy, or run for long periods of time.
I've replaced my workout regiment with lighter weights\more reps, and use proper form (no squats and back killing practices, and focus mainly on core strengthening and cardio.)

back injuries can be life changers, but not always for the worst.

it's taken me months and months to get where I am now.
I'm still the same person, I simply don't press 400+lbs a few times a week, or beat up my body..it's had enough and i'm only 34.
I can refocus my goals, and maintain a happy, productive and active lifestyle for myself and with my family.

don't let this knock you down, like it did to me...you'll bounce back, just be careful and don't rush things.
the body is a natural amazing healing machine...in a day where everything is instant and now now now, the human body still has the ability to heal itself. Let it do it's thing, under the proper guidance of educated professionals if need be

all the best.

[freeride53]

Seems like a good time to get to a pain management doctor and get yourself some medical pot helps my uncle who broke his lower back and still is working construction

Haha that'd be dope. But I have an internship coming up that's a little hi-pro and they're making me piss test so that's out.

But today, had a pretty thorough eval and got a little acupuncture.
Then some stretch/massaging that was painful. Low back and gluts are bad news.

[delatlanta1281]

Skateboarding as long as I did and in the style I did for years ruined my lower back. I have a tempurpedic, and a heating pad. Since i bought the mattress I rarely use the heating pad.

[Axxe]

Maybe see if your 'friend' has any medicinal assistance?

Haha that'd be dope. But I have an internship coming up that's a little hi-pro and they're making me piss test so that's out.

But today, had a pretty thorough eval and got a little acupuncture.
Then some stretch/massaging that was painful. Low back and gluts are bad news.

Knew it.

[tim88325is]

I had a herniated disc a few years ago at age 37, one of the lower ones, I forget which number.

A few months of twice weekly physical therapy didn't help, a few months of swimming laps 3 times a week didn't help.

Finally tried a few sessions of medical acupuncture and that worked wonders. Also worked into shooting hoops for about a half an hour every day.

I think the acupuncture really helped lessen the inflammation, allowing the disc to heal/shrink and relieve the pressure on the spinal nerves.

I highly recommend trying to find a good medical acupuncturist in your area. Mine turned out to be a medical doctor who was a Navy guy, worked for the Philly Eagles, and took the Harvard acupuncture course.

The pain can be managed but it can be a frustrating experience until you find the right mix of treatments, I feel 99% back to normal now, good luck!!

[JRKOUPE]

Im a DC......and have 2 bad discs.....and have suffered on/off for 30 yrs.
Get the MRI.....and lets go from there. You can e me the results.

it could be so many things.....ie: severe myofascitis can be so painful its crippling.

Some decent advice here.

And like some1 said....you may not be in "good" shape!!!!!....but you can row like a freak...lol

I bet you have severe imbalances. Most..I say MOST, not all MD's wont help you at all....theyll give meds..send you to PT....and pain mgt docs. Some are good...most seem not to be.


Get the MRI....you may need to meds to break the pain from firing...then get hands on care..balance yourself out..quads....glutes...calves....piriformis..lats. ...quad lumborum..psoas..erectors....etc etc etc etc....

[Mr. Burns]

..psoas...

ever get that massaged?

:curse::curse::curse::curse::curse::curse:

[freeride53]

Knew it.

lol

Im a DC......and have 2 bad discs.....and have suffered on/off for 30 yrs.
Get the MRI.....and lets go from there. You can e me the results.

it could be so many things.....ie: severe myofascitis can be so painful its crippling.

Some decent advice here.

And like some1 said....you may not be in "good" shape!!!!!....but you can row like a freak...lol

I bet you have severe imbalances. Most..I say MOST, not all MD's wont help you at all....theyll give meds..send you to PT....and pain mgt docs. Some are good...most seem not to be.


Get the MRI....you may need to meds to break the pain from firing...then get hands on care..balance yourself out..quads....glutes...calves....piriformis..lats. ...quad lumborum..psoas..erectors....etc etc etc etc....

WOW. Now this is the meaning of community. :)
PM me your email, will be hitting you up as soon as I get it & the result.

Sina

[RUFFLZ]

hope things look up soon brotha, good talking to you the other day.
health comes first, everything else secondary; w/ e30s squished in there somewhere ;)

[freeride53]

hope things look up soon brotha, good talking to you the other day.
health comes first, everything else secondary; w/ e30s squished in their somewhere ;)

thx mah nig

and thx for the advice last week.
i do sorta regret my decision to drop two days before crossing over but it was gettin' unbearable.
btw since i'm not rowing no moe, come down to sd for a weekend. we'll rage