How to fix a back tweak.
Chieflrg
Posts: 9,097 Member
The night before, I tweaked my back when loading/unloading lawn mowers into a vehicle. I don't have to tell anybody who trains that this sort of event is unusual. Especially after officially signing up for your next powerlifting meet 
.
I didn't hear anything pop or blowup. Ive felt this many times before over my lifetime. It was safe to say, things will be okay and no need to panic and become bedridden needing sympathy or soup. I would recover quickly as long as I did the one important thing.
CONTINUE TO TRAIN.
The back got real stiff over night and my ROM wasn't exactly where it was on Friday, but with some extra warmup sets things were improving.
This is the key. If things start feeling better as you train, it's a good sign. If they would get worse, I would then look for alternatives. The point is training in itself helps heal muscles in the same sense as it can help build muscles.
Train your main lifts. If they are too painful to hold good form, then seek a weight or range of motion that the pain isn't worse. If that isn't possible after switching stances or grips, then I would default to lifts that look extremely similar. Some alternative examples of the back squat would be pin or box squats. If those weren't happening, I would opt for something that is less akin and go to front squats, leg press, or lastly leg extensions.
Go down the rolodex checklist & find what is the closest movement that doesn't make things more painful or break form.
The point is that training is nearly always better than not training.
Vid 1: 6th set of 165kg/365lb X 5
Vid 2: 7th set 170kg/375lb X 5
.I didn't hear anything pop or blowup. Ive felt this many times before over my lifetime. It was safe to say, things will be okay and no need to panic and become bedridden needing sympathy or soup. I would recover quickly as long as I did the one important thing.
CONTINUE TO TRAIN.
The back got real stiff over night and my ROM wasn't exactly where it was on Friday, but with some extra warmup sets things were improving.
This is the key. If things start feeling better as you train, it's a good sign. If they would get worse, I would then look for alternatives. The point is training in itself helps heal muscles in the same sense as it can help build muscles.
Train your main lifts. If they are too painful to hold good form, then seek a weight or range of motion that the pain isn't worse. If that isn't possible after switching stances or grips, then I would default to lifts that look extremely similar. Some alternative examples of the back squat would be pin or box squats. If those weren't happening, I would opt for something that is less akin and go to front squats, leg press, or lastly leg extensions.
Go down the rolodex checklist & find what is the closest movement that doesn't make things more painful or break form.
The point is that training is nearly always better than not training.
Vid 1: 6th set of 165kg/365lb X 5
Vid 2: 7th set 170kg/375lb X 5
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Replies
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Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.3 -
AwesomeOpossum74 wrote: »Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.
I understand your situation was scary for you. Just curious why did they perform a Xray or was it coupled with a MRI? Did they think there was a fracture?
I've woke up literally every morning with cricks and swollen joints thoughout my whole body for the past 10+ years. If I had random burning sensations, I would get examined if I was concerned...but as I mentioned I have had tweaks at random times my whole life and they don't burn or sting like a blown disc.
Like I mentioned its important to pay attention if pain is getting better or worse. People has back pain all the time without bulging discs and some people have bulging discs with no sign of pain at all. The body is complicated.
Sorry you had to have surgury, hope things are better.0 -
Not back or lifting specifically, but I can relate to continuing to train while taking note of your abilities and extent and duration of your pain.
I moved recently and have miles of nature trails to walk and explore. But, they are cement so it was a big change from the cushioned high school track I used to walk on. I got carried away exploring my new area and after a week of walking 7 - 8 miles almost every day my knees started yelling at me. I knew it was the cement and uneven terrain and not "real" injuries so I'd ice them every day, took 2 days off from activity and then went back to the trails. Of course, I slowed down my pace and made sure I had sturdier soled shoes. I had to keep icing for another 7 days or so but I kept walking. A short time later I'm back to my old pace on the new terrain. Glad I didn't give up and give in to the pain!1 -
I think you are more in tune to your body, @chieflrg, than most people, due to your medical history. I agree that if exercise makes it better, then do it!
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AwesomeOpossum74 wrote: »Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.
I understand your situation was scary for you. Just curious why did they perform a Xray or was it coupled with a MRI? Did they think there was a fracture?
Why are you questioning the use of xrays? Previous poster stated "XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery." Thus, they took xrays to help assess the nature of the problem. Xrays are usually the first pass at imaging. An MRI is not always necessary.2 -
yes xrays are the first line of imaging.. mri is super spendy….0
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I'm not questioning the use, I was questioning what they were looking for out of curiosity. In many cases neither are necessary unless you intend on having surgery in all fairnessAwesomeOpossum74 wrote: »Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.
I understand your situation was scary for you. Just curious why did they perform a Xray or was it coupled with a MRI? Did they think there was a fracture?
Why are you questioning the use of xrays? Previous poster stated "XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery." Thus, they took xrays to help assess the nature of the problem. Xrays are usually the first pass at imaging. An MRI is not always necessary.
. 0 -
quiksylver296 wrote: »I think you are more in tune to your body, @chieflrg, than most people, due to your medical history. I agree that if exercise makes it better, then do it!
True. Though most people could benefit on the benefit's of training.
If it weren't for knowledgeable extremely strong doctors advice, I might of stopped squatting and deadlifting when I tore my intercostal muscles in my ribs. Instead I continued and fully healed with no relapse that majority of people experience when they stop lifting.
Just trying to pass on the good information in hopes of paying it forward. So much1 -
It is not at all unusual for insurance companies in the US to require that you get an xray before you get an MRI if you want that MRI covered (and unless you're exceedingly wealthy you do). This is also true of what injuries or conditions that may originally have been thought to be soft tissue in nature. I also suspect the secondary pain in his arm that didn't respond to PT was part of why imaging was ordered to begin with.
I'm not questioning the use, I was questioning what they were looking for out of curiosity. In many cases neither are necessary unless you intend on having surgery in all fairnessAwesomeOpossum74 wrote: »Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.
I understand your situation was scary for you. Just curious why did they perform a Xray or was it coupled with a MRI? Did they think there was a fracture?
Why are you questioning the use of xrays? Previous poster stated "XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery." Thus, they took xrays to help assess the nature of the problem. Xrays are usually the first pass at imaging. An MRI is not always necessary..
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It is not at all unusual for insurance companies in the US to require that you get an xray before you get an MRI if you want that MRI covered (and unless you're exceedingly wealthy you do). This is also true of what injuries or conditions that may originally have been thought to be soft tissue in nature. I also suspect the secondary pain in his arm that didn't respond to PT was part of why imaging was ordered to begin with.
I'm not questioning the use, I was questioning what they were looking for out of curiosity. In many cases neither are necessary unless you intend on having surgery in all fairnessAwesomeOpossum74 wrote: »Not to give you a scare, but ...
Not long ago, I began noticing I'd wake up more and more often with a "crick" in my neck. It would get better in about a week, then happen again in a few weeks. I also started noticing that any time I lay down (e.g. to work under my car, or lift weights), I would feel sharp neck pain.
After a few months, my arm "caught on fire". I figured it was a pinched nerve, but it didn't go away this time. I ended up having physical therapy regimen, which didn't fix anything over the course of months. Finally, XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery.
The short story, it's not always your muscles. In this case, continuing to work with the pain probably exacerbated my issue, making it much worse.
I understand your situation was scary for you. Just curious why did they perform a Xray or was it coupled with a MRI? Did they think there was a fracture?
Why are you questioning the use of xrays? Previous poster stated "XRays revealed I had blown a disc in my neck. Required disc replacement surgery." Thus, they took xrays to help assess the nature of the problem. Xrays are usually the first pass at imaging. An MRI is not always necessary..
Hence why I use a doctor that doesn't follow insurance protocol of companies and is privately ran. I know rare, but so less stressful and logical at least in my case.
I prefer not to be handcuffed by insurance companies and let me and the doctor decide what is the best step forward. I think we all have had run ins with insurance companies wanting to do thing *kitten* backwards and it comes out expensive in the end.
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It is not at all unusual for insurance companies in the US to require that you get an xray before you get an MRI if you want that MRI covered (and unless you're exceedingly wealthy you do). This is also true of what injuries or conditions that may originally have been thought to be soft tissue in nature. I also suspect the secondary pain in his arm that didn't respond to PT was part of why imaging was ordered to begin with.
This is basically it. I think my insurance has a set "plan" that must be followed, that is less expensive for them, and probably a lowest common denominator solution. I get it; the vast majority of people pull a muscle or tendon, which will show signs of healing under rest or PT and steroids, so why go through the expense of XRay/MRI, when it's not needed? It was only after that failed that they sent me to the machines. On the other hand, it's unfortunate that I suffered for 3 months before they figured out the deal.
Looking back, I didn't care for my neck as well as I could have, and learned a lesson. I try to keep my neck limber (which helps keep the discs pliable so they don't tear as easily), and I don't carry weight over my head/neck any more.
(P.S. I didn't mean to hijack this thread)0
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