Back Pain

[Frostfire]

So, I rarely have back problems, but for 3 nights in a row I had to sit in a really bad chair for my entire shift at work and I woke up today with a little lower back pain (stupid work ). I know to take it easy and all, but is there a way to tell if it's just stiff muscles, or something worse? I lift squats and deads on Tuesday (in two days) and my plan was to go heavy, but now I'm a little worried . Should I just see how it goes or just take it easy for a week or two? I've been taking it easy the last few weeks because I've been playing around with suits and wraps and such so don't want to continue taking it easy. Also, is heat of cold better? I've been using heat to try to relax the muscles, but I'm not sure which is better. Also, it doesn't hurt when I move around or lift household items so much, only when I sit down. Crazy. Hope it is only temporary! Any thoughts and/or advice?

[Primeval Man-Ro]

I say take it easy. A little over a week ago i hurt my shoulders and upper back working out (either from squats or military presses i'm not sure) so i took a few days off. When i almost felt better i said to myself " i can handle a light workout i'm sure it will be fine." Boy was that ever a bad idea. A day and a half later i wake up with so much pain in my neck and right shoulder i could barely prop myself out of bed. That was friday and it still hurts nearly as much. I know i won't be able to work out now for over a week+ and i'm dreading all the muscle mass i'm gonna lose.

So i guess my advice is play it safe or otherwise you run the risk of really messing yourself up like i did and you won't be able to work out for quite awhile!!!

[PaHulkster]

If your diet is consistent and good will you really lose muslce mass in such a short time?

[wannalift]

crystal,
imo your problem is in your alignment of your spine that is agrivating the muscles. spend a couple of nights sleeping on the floor on your back. its hard, but it works.
~david

[J]

Well it's hard to really say why Crystal's back hurts. As far as lifting I think it depends on whether or not the lifting has anything to do with it hurting. If not, then I wouldn't worry. But it might and it's hard to know for certain. The number one thing to know is if your form is correct on squats and deadlifts. If it isn't, (rounding your back or overarching) your back may slowly start going bad.

If you've never had any back pain at all that seems related to lifting I'd at least cautiously go ahead and lift. (But don't send me the doctor's bill. )

[Mary]

I had a bad back last week, and rearranged my lifting schedule, so I did squats and shoulders on my regular back and tricep day. Got a back massage on Monday, which really helped, and on Friday, when I returned to my back (it would normally have been Tuesday) I found I added a bit to all my lifts. So if you can rearrange it a bit, give your back just a couple of days to heal, then see how you feel.

Regarding pain relief, depending on how bad it is you can alternate hot and cold treatment on your back. Hot would be a water bottle, while cold would be a packet of frozen peas. (Don't reheat and eat them afterwards though. Stick em in the freezer with a marker pen on them saying what they are for.) This will increase the blood flow to the pained area, which as well as helping it heal faster will help with feeding the muscle too. It is one of the ways that we are keeping Neil's legs going, and helps with pain, and prevents muscle atrophy.

Not that you have to worry if it is just a few days anyway. But I know how bad it can sometimes feel if you want to lift but can't. Personally I reckon you could go a few weeks without any problem, but hopefully it isn't bad enough for that.

Oh yeah, if you have a bath and not just a shower, wallow in the water a little bit. Is good for you!

[sensless]

If the back is bothering you from the bad chair it may not impact your lifting at all. At times I have slept in an uncomfortable position or been slouching in front of a computer for an entire day and my back or shoulders have bothered me until I went to the gym and lifted. Perhaps the area just needs to be warmed up and stretched well first to loosen up properly and then you will get back to normal.

Regards,

John Jr.

[Frostfire]

Update: when I woke up this morning, I felt fine, then had to sit for 2 hours in a long boring class and I could feel it the whole time I was sitting , but then I went to Hapkido. When I kicked really high, I could feel it stretching, but didn't hurt. Lifted upper body today and it has felt fine. Now that I'm sitting at the computer I can feel it complaining again. I guess I'm just not going to sit down anymore . I think I will try sleeping on the floor tonight (thanks DD). Definatly seems more like alignment and posture than lifting.

Thanks all for the responses .

[Heyutang]

Hey Crystal,

if the pain is not that much, I don't think you have to stop lifting. This does not sound like a hernia. Maybe it is your posture. Try and do some yoga, stretch a lot in all the directions.
If that doesn't help it might be an internal problem, as opposed to muscular-external.
Cold or Heat? Well, you would have to find out yourself what is bettyer. If you're not sure: what does the pain feel like?
Is it fixed? Does it feel cold? Is it hard? Do you sleep or walk around with your lower back exposed? Then warmth will be better.
Is it more of a burning feeling, and related to fatigue? Is it irritable? Cold may be better then, but use a towel. Don't put a frozen pack directly on your skin.

PM me if it does not get better and becomes chronic.

take care!

[sensless]

I think you should steal a chair from someone else at work, preferably someone you don't like so you can give them the chair that has been bothering your back. That would probably be the best way to solve the problem.

Regards,

John Jr.

[Frostfire]

Thanks Heyutang, I'm definatly convinced its my posture. I lifted really heavy squats and deads today with no problem, but sitting continues to be mildly bad. Plus sleeping on the floor last night really seemed to help (but was darned cold because my furnace is not working and it is cold outside, ~60 degrees F in my house right now too, burr!). Stretching has been good. I did a few yoga postures tonight and it felt nice. Heat is definatly what helps the most too, cold just makes it worse!

And Sensless, I like the way you think . Hee, hee. My brother keeps joking that I need to bring my swiss ball in to sit on all night .

[JP]

My brother keeps joking that I need to bring my swiss ball in to sit on all night .

thats what rochelle does! Honestly, she took her fitball to work and sits on that. She loves it