Back problems

anabolicdragon · Oct 16, 2002

How do I know if Messed up some disc in my back?

I hurt my back doing clean and presses monday in the gym, it is right in the middle of my lower middle back.

In my condition right now, I can't bend over nor can I do a situp. For me to get out of bed I can't just sit straight up I have to turn to a side then sit up, most any movement I do hurts pretty bad and just doing normal stuff like sitting at the computer typing hurt.
Will this heal on its own I don't have inscurance to get it looked at, what kind of doctor should I go to if thats what it takes, or should I try a massage first?

Vanilla Thunder · Oct 16, 2002

There's no way to really tell without checking it out. The only way to get a good look at your discs is with a MRI. I went to a combo pain specialist and neurologist. If you don't have insurance your best bet is to take a few weeks off, don't lift heavy at all (I know, it's hard), and see how things feel. Also, as soon as your able start stretching everyday for at least 30 minutes. Especially your hamstrings, most back injuries are caused or aggrivated by very stiff hamstrings (Mine were).

I find when I'm in the most pain, it is visually obvious. Take your shirt off and stand in front of a full length mirror. For me, when I've just injured myself, my midsection translates grossly to the right. Meaning my hips are straight and squared up, and my shoulders are straight and squared up, only they are about 4-5 inches to the right. This makes my midsection and abs connect my waist and shoulders at a very odd looking almost 45 degree angle (especially like right now when I'm about 6% with very visible abs). If you look like this, I've found that it passes in about a week, but then you need to take it easy for another week or two at least. If there is a disc being pinched or pressed into a nerve, then you've got a battle ahead of you. Good Luck.

Platz · Oct 16, 2002

It may get better on it's own, but I recommend seeing a chiropractor or therapist specializing in ART.

You can learn more at www.activerelease.com

There is a "provider locator" on the website listed above if you become interested. I think you enter your zipcode and it will return the certified practitioners closest to you.

I tore my hamstring recently, and upon another bro's recommendation, found a certified ART chiro in my area. She worked that thing back to full strength in relatively short order. In fact, I'll be squatting tonight!

She also worked with me on the pricing end of it.

Good Luck!

anabolicdragon · Oct 16, 2002

Update

Well my girlfriend said I seem better this morning than yesterday all though this morning I still could not do a situp nor sit straight up in bed.

I just strecthed for the last 15 minutes, hamstrings, abs, chest, arms, back and man for real it felt so so good, when I finished with my strecthes I was able to do a situp.

After I heal I am going to keep strecthing, I've said that before alot of times and I find it hard to lift then have energy to strecth but seeing the benifits and what could happen not strecthing I think an extra 10 minutes 3 days a week won't kill me.

boing · Oct 17, 2002

Dragon,

Funny you should have this, I messed my back up in exactly the same area last week, funny thing was this is my period of light weight, high reps

Anyway I have the same symptoms and went to the doc, guess I am getting old. Anyway he did a lot of mobility tests for disk, most of which involve bringing your knee to the chest and then rotating outward, plus being able to twist side to side without serious pain.

PM if you want a bunch of exercises that he gave me to do while I can't lift.

Boing "the English_Bulldog"