Lower back injury...pleae help

HELLA SWOLE · May 28, 2007

I was doing deads at a different gym than I usually do today and I warmed up with 135, then 225, then 315 all for 5 reps. I then went to 5 plates per side and did a set of 5 and then moved down to 4 plates and did a set of 8 (I usually do 10). Anyways, the bar seemed to be set a little lower than normal b/c I think the plates are not as big in circumference as the ones I use at my normal gym. Due to this, I think I might have been leaning forward slightly at the beginning of my lift. Anyways, on the last rep with 405lbs on the bar, I felt a huge popping in my lower back...it felt like when someone steps on your back to crack your back and you get like 5 pops simultaneously. I then dropped the weight and came up and was instantly stiff/in pain in the mower lumbar region right about where the spine meets the hip girdle. My training partner asked me if I ripped my shorts (he heard a noise) and I said, no, that was my back that made that noise. I couldn't hear it b/c I had my headphones on..I could only feel it. Anybody have a clue what it could be? I hope to god I did not seriously injure it, but I am in pain and walking around like a 75yr old man. I can not bend over unless I support my upper body by putting my hands on my knees and I can not get comfortable at all. I am icing it and taking ibuprofen right now. Any help would be appreciated.

oldfella · May 28, 2007

HELLA SWOLE said:
I was doing deads at a different gym than I usually do today and I warmed up with 135, then 225, then 315 all for 5 reps. I then went to 5 plates per side and did a set of 5 and then moved down to 4 plates and did a set of 8 (I usually do 10). Anyways, the bar seemed to be set a little lower than normal b/c I think the plates are not as big in circumference as the ones I use at my normal gym. Due to this, I think I might have been leaning forward slightly at the beginning of my lift. Anyways, on the last rep with 405lbs on the bar, I felt a huge popping in my lower back...it felt like when someone steps on your back to crack your back and you get like 5 pops simultaneously. I then dropped the weight and came up and was instantly stiff/in pain in the mower lumbar region right about where the spine meets the hip girdle. My training partner asked me if I ripped my shorts (he heard a noise) and I said, no, that was my back that made that noise. I couldn't hear it b/c I had my headphones on..I could only feel it. Anybody have a clue what it could be? I hope to god I did not seriously injure it, but I am in pain and walking around like a 75yr old man. I can not bend over unless I support my upper body by putting my hands on my knees and I can not get comfortable at all. I am icing it and taking ibuprofen right now. Any help would be appreciated.

Man that sucks. I would go and find a good sports physiotherapist immeadiately. I have one that attends my gym and he brings all his patients in. This guy had me in good shape after a back strain that laid me out for a couple of days. Don't play around with this Hella. Go and get some help now. Keep the ice going until you get to see him/her! Good luck bro and speedy recovery!

JETHRO TULL · May 29, 2007

I HAVE A SHORT TORSO AND NEVER HAVE HAD MUCH IN THE WAY OF BACK PROBLEMS.

ONLY ONCE....DOING BARBELL ROWS....AFTER A HEAVY SQUAT DAY. I WAS GOING TO DO CHINS AND ONE ARM DUMBELL ROWS....BUT LIKE A DUMBASS I DECIDED BARBELL ROWS WOULD BE OKAY IF I STAYED LIGHT. WELL, I FELT STRONG WHEN I DID MY SET AT 225LBS....STRONG AGAIN AT 275...SO I ENDED UP DOING MY LIGHT SETS...WITH 320LBS....LAST SET MY HEALS CAME OFF THE FLOOR, LOST THE ARCH FOR A SECOND...BANG...DROPPED TO ME KNEES...COULDN'T EVEN TAKE A DEEP BREATH.

IT WAS HORRIBLE...I WAS STUPID AND LIMPED UP AND DOWN THE HALLS LEANING ON LOCKERS EVERY FOUR STEPS AND HAD TO HAVE MY STUDENTS HAUL MY FAT ASS OUT OF MY CHAIR CAUSE I COULDN'T GET OUT AFTER I TOOK ATTENDANCE.

COULDN'T SLEEP...THAT SHIT WENT ON FOR A WEEK. I FINALLY WENT INTO TO A CHIROPRACTOR. I NEVER HAD BEEN TO ONE...THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A RIP OFF FOR THE MOST PART. WELL, HE LAYED ME ON MY SIDE POP..ON THE OTHER SIDE..CRACKED IT AGAIN.....AND IMMEDIATELY NO PAIN. I HAD TO USE THE HAND RAIL ON MY WAY INTO THE OFFICE! I WALKED OUT JUST FINE.

DON'T MESS AROUND PUTTING YOURSELF THROUGH UNECESSARY PAIN....GO GET IT CHECKED. THAT'S MY GLORIOUS ADVICE! LOL

Ashop · May 29, 2007

HELLA SWOLE said:
I was doing deads at a different gym than I usually do today and I warmed up with 135, then 225, then 315 all for 5 reps. I then went to 5 plates per side and did a set of 5 and then moved down to 4 plates and did a set of 8 (I usually do 10). Anyways, the bar seemed to be set a little lower than normal b/c I think the plates are not as big in circumference as the ones I use at my normal gym. Due to this, I think I might have been leaning forward slightly at the beginning of my lift. Anyways, on the last rep with 405lbs on the bar, I felt a huge popping in my lower back...it felt like when someone steps on your back to crack your back and you get like 5 pops simultaneously. I then dropped the weight and came up and was instantly stiff/in pain in the mower lumbar region right about where the spine meets the hip girdle. My training partner asked me if I ripped my shorts (he heard a noise) and I said, no, that was my back that made that noise. I couldn't hear it b/c I had my headphones on..I could only feel it. Anybody have a clue what it could be? I hope to god I did not seriously injure it, but I am in pain and walking around like a 75yr old man. I can not bend over unless I support my upper body by putting my hands on my knees and I can not get comfortable at all. I am icing it and taking ibuprofen right now. Any help would be appreciated.

Continue to treat with ibuprofen or advil and take week off from training. if not better see a doctor.

km2000 · May 29, 2007

you very well could have slightly slipped a disk prob the L5 if you are experiencing the pain in the low back hip area.... if you have insurance i would go see a back specialist and get an mri done this will tell you exactly what is wrong... a chiropractor will probably take an xray which wont do you much good... get the mri done and you will have your problem identified and you can go on to treat and correct it....

Big Danny · May 29, 2007

take a week or even two off even if you start feeling better. see a doctor in the mean time.

flexmaster · May 29, 2007

go get an mri, better to know for sure what the problem is rather than guess bro!

Trenababoon · May 29, 2007

Ya, my lower back injury took nerly 8 months to heal to the point where I could deadlift again. I still have troulbe with it sometimes. get and mri, wish I had

ALLEX · May 29, 2007

Diclofenac is a BIG help in this cases. And see your doctor ASAP.

Sassy · May 29, 2007

Oh man... I've been there before. I was doing squats. Heard that same pop and then pain shot down into my butt and hams. Racked the bar and laid in the floor. One of the trainers brought me an ice pack. Luckily, I just pulled my low back, but it took some time to heal.

Best thing of course is to got see a doctor just to confirm it is nothing serious. I took naproxen sodium or Aleve because Ib/Advil doesn't help me much. I also keep it iced. Another thing that always helps my back when I'm having problems with it is massage therapy. This helps work out the inflammation and relax the muscles that are all tensed up.

If you can get a doctor to give you Celebrex, that is some good stuff for inflammation and pain. I thought I heard an ad on TV for it. Maybe it is back on the market again.

Hope you feel better soon!

Future · May 29, 2007

See a doctor ASAP. Ice, ice and more ice as well.

Dahouse · May 29, 2007

Same thing happened to me...

I had the same thing happen where I was deadliftiing and then heard 4-5 loud pops in my lower back and had the pain you described...

My experience was very similar to Jethro's in that I never believed in chiropractors, but broke down and went to see one. In about 15 minutes he had my back pain-free. It was sore the following day and then after one more treatment I would have to say it was about 85% better.

He told me that my 4-5 lower disks had "shifted."

My chiropractor gave me a list of stretches and a few exercises to strengthen my back...which was basically a few different yoga movements. I can't remember which ones at the moment, I will look to see if I can find the workout he gave me.

I also found that reverse-hypers helped a lot.

aw1218 · May 29, 2007

I would go to a Sports Clinic

trapz · May 30, 2007

go get an MRI .... chiro's help, but you need to see if you did any real damage.

i went to a chiro back when i was 24 with back probs, but it wasnt til i was 27 that i found out i have a herniated l5-s1, ruptured l4-l5, and someone degenerated l3-l4

i def. would have changed my training and never went off GH or hrt if i had known how bad my back was.... now it looks like my completely ruptured disc will need fusion or risk permanent nerve injury

lynx · May 30, 2007

Well...did you get it checked out?

Neanderthal · May 31, 2007

Get an MRI

Even if the pain goes away and if you bulged a disc lifting on it could make it get worse. Trust me, you dont want to get a back surgery like I did (even though mine turned out fairly good compared to others with the problem).

Strunk · May 31, 2007

I have to go to the chiropractor from time to time to get my back worked on. Every so often, I'll get a nerve that's pinched and one side of my butt and leg gets numb.

valo · May 31, 2007

I just screwed up my back doing deadlifts a few months ago. The pain was terrible. Not being able to bend over etc. Luckily a few weeks of laying off the weights, anti-inflamatories and icing did the trick. I started to do some lower back exercises to strenghthen the supporting muscles and that seemed to help too.