Aches and pains - when to stop

KintsugiCurlyQueen
KintsugiCurlyQueen Posts: 68 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I've been ignoring a dull pain in the lower and left side of my back for some time now - feels like a combination of general lower back pain and having pulled a muscle somewhere. I really don't want to stop working out but at the same time I don't want to do myself permanent damage :( Would it be wise to stop lifting completely until the pain has gone? How about running and yoga? I'm so pissed off - I have four months left on my gym membership and I really don't want to waste a month of it recovering!

Any advice would be greatly appreciated :(

Replies

  • wibblefps
    wibblefps Posts: 78
    I've had this now and again, back - lower left side and usually notice it a few hours after exercise. I'm testing the hypothesis that I'm not doing the right kind of stretches before and after. I'm trying this currently:

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Backpain/Pages/low-back-pain-exercises.aspx

    Seems to be working soo far but it's only been a few days so could just be a coincidence
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    When does it hurt the most, and does anything make it feel better? Does the sensation of pain change throughout the month?

    What kind of exercises do you usually do at the gym?
  • 1capybara
    1capybara Posts: 162 Member
    no you dont have to take a month off to rest, but yes you should do something.....do you have - for ex. - insurance to see a physical therapist or chiropractor or ???? if not, ask your friends: "Who can do a a massage or fix bad backs or ..." thats what i'd do, i bet if you ask 5 friends someone can help ...
  • kirkor
    kirkor Posts: 2,530 Member
    Check your form on your exercises
  • igotabulletproofheart
    igotabulletproofheart Posts: 104 Member
    You don't necessarily have to stop lifting.
    - Check your form
    - Get a foam roller
    - Do yoga either every day or every other day or even on your rest days
    - Increase your potassium intake (bananas are good for this)
    - Take it easy!
    - And get some good sleep!
  • KintsugiCurlyQueen
    KintsugiCurlyQueen Posts: 68 Member
    I've had this now and again, back - lower left side and usually notice it a few hours after exercise. I'm testing the hypothesis that I'm not doing the right kind of stretches before and after. I'm trying this currently:

    http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Backpain/Pages/low-back-pain-exercises.aspx

    Seems to be working soo far but it's only been a few days so could just be a coincidence
    Thanks for the link, will check it out :) Might also add more warm up stretches before my lifting, as my current warm-up doesn't really prepare me for squats and similar exercises.
  • KintsugiCurlyQueen
    KintsugiCurlyQueen Posts: 68 Member
    When does it hurt the most, and does anything make it feel better? Does the sensation of pain change throughout the month?

    What kind of exercises do you usually do at the gym?

    I tend to wake up with the pain and on some days it's just impossible to shift. Makes bending difficult. It disappears if I'm sitting down but I think that probably stiffens my back more so I'm conscious not sitting down for long amounts of time.

    I lift weights so, as others have mentioned (thanks guys!), I'm probably being a bit lazy with my form somewhere along the line.
  • KintsugiCurlyQueen
    KintsugiCurlyQueen Posts: 68 Member
    Thanks to those who mentioned form! I'm going to spend tomorrow's session focusing on my form rather than increasing my weights.

    A foam roller sounds like an idea, too!

    What about treadmill running? All good while I'm feeling like this?
  • bumblebums
    bumblebums Posts: 2,181 Member
    When does it hurt the most, and does anything make it feel better? Does the sensation of pain change throughout the month?

    What kind of exercises do you usually do at the gym?

    I tend to wake up with the pain and on some days it's just impossible to shift. Makes bending difficult. It disappears if I'm sitting down but I think that probably stiffens my back more so I'm conscious not sitting down for long amounts of time.

    So inactivity makes it better, and bending forward makes it hurt on the left side. Right? What do you mean by "on some days it's just impossible to shift"?

    Have you looked up symptoms of sacro-iliac joint syndrome? Does that sound like what you have?
    I lift weights so, as others have mentioned (thanks guys!), I'm probably being a bit lazy with my form somewhere along the line.

    "Lifting weights" encompasses a pretty large variety of activities, so it would be helpful if you were more specific about the activity that triggers the pain.

    Rehab, by the way, does not mean sitting down and doing nothing. Unless your injury is acute and very recent, a proper sports rehab requires activity to prevent scar tissue formation, among other things. If you have something like SI pain, you need to be stronger and more balanced on both sides, so yeah, form is important (although I'd like to hear more about the kind of lifting you do).

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