I have to postpone lifting,

prattiger65

or any other exercise for that matter. It seems I have bone spurs in my neck pressing on nerves making my left arm numb. I will be having treatment and physical therapy for the next 3 or 4 weeks and have been advised to take it easy during that time. I would have started week 4 of stronglifts today. My question is this; when I resume in a month or so, where do I start back? My initial thought was to deload @ 10lb. Thoughts?

ilovedeadlifts

I would probably retest before starting, or start super low. Stronglifts ramps up pretty quickly so even starting 20-30 pounds too light isn't going to delay progress for more than a couple of weeks.
Plus you're going to want to go a little easy while rehabbing the surgery. I can't imagine putting a heavy bar on my back a week after neck surgery.

Crankstr

I would probably retest before starting, or start super low. Stronglifts ramps up pretty quickly so even starting 20-30 pounds too light isn't going to delay progress for more than a couple of weeks.
Plus you're going to want to go a little easy while rehabbing the surgery. I can't imagine putting a heavy bar on my back a week after neck surgery.

exactly! just start over fresh...worth it to make sure you dont strain anything and set yourself back.

SideSteel

I would probably retest before starting, or start super low. Stronglifts ramps up pretty quicklyso even starting 20-30 pounds too light isn't going to delay progress for more than a couple of weeks.
Plus you're going to want to go a little easy while rehabbing the surgery. I can't imagine putting a heavy bar on my back a week after neck surgery.

^ For reasons listed above I'd actually start over entirely. You may need to go even lighter than you started due to recovery.

Please note the bold especially. What starts out as very light, ends up very heavy, fast.


Do not rush it.

auroranflash

Agree with the above. Physical setbacks are a pain but you will only prolong your recovery by rushing it. I wish you a speedy recovery!

TravisBikes

I had read that a 2 week break, you should deload about 20%.

But everything that SS says too, maybe start with body weight and slowly work your way back up

n3ver3nder

I wouldn't go with a fixed percentage. Do the 'find your working weight test' a la Starting Strength (I'm assuming Stronglifts has something similar, as it's almost the same program). Start with the empty bar, add weight in whatever your preferred increment is until bar speed slows. That's your working weight. It could be lower than you think due to recovery, it could be higher than you think because strength doesn't decay as fast as other aspects of fitness. The best way is going to be to test it.

prattiger65

Thanks for all the input! Just to be clear, as of now surgery is not an option. I am having an epidural steroid injection today and will be doing physical therapy 3 days a week for 3 or 4 weeks. Doc has advised that I take it easy for a bit.

PriceK01

I've stopped Starting Strength for now. Between being out of town, getting sick, then going out of town again I'll have missed too many workouts. I'm going to start again from scratch next week.

prattiger65

Well, PT girl said absolutely no lifting for now. It will probably be weeks if not months before I can lift again so I am resigned to just starting over. You guys can lock this now.

PriceK01

Bummer! Heal soon

ilovedeadlifts

Dang. That doesn't sound good.

After the stories I've heard from other lifters, I avoid corticosteroids like the plague.

Sarauk2sf

Really sorry to hear that. Good luck!