Arrrrrrgh my back!

Tykk
Tykk Posts: 153 Member
in Motivation and Support
I threw my back out about three weeks ago. I could barely walk for a week. I'm mobile now, but it's still sore, and I haven't been able to restart my cardio program, let alone weights.

I've been to the doc and I've been to physio, so I don't think there's anything to do that I'm not already doing, but...

I am so frustrated!!!

Replies

  • gmhaggie06
    gmhaggie06 Posts: 207
    You got this brother Tykk!!! You know the battle is 80% in the kitchen anyway!!!
  • Tykk
    Tykk Posts: 153 Member
    Yeah, it's gotta help to drop a few pounds. I had back problems when I was thin as well, but all this weight obviously isn't doing any good.
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Have you tried having your back popped?
    That has always helped me.

    One thing I have started doing was dead lifts.....
    And I think this has helped me with my lower back issues....
    The other thing would be stretching....stiff-legged DLs work great for that.

    But I know what you are going through....trust me
    It is no fun.
  • SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish
    SoLongAndThanksForAllTheFish Posts: 831 Member
    Try going to a good Chiropractor. MDs can screen you and give you painkillers to mask back pain, physical therapists can help you work on exercises while in pain, but a Chiropractor can help you solve a root issue causing your back pain and get you out of pain sooner.
  • Tykk
    Tykk Posts: 153 Member
    Thanks Max. I'm not sure what getting my back popped even means - is that a chiropractic thing?

    I don't dare do dead lifts :) I think planks may be more my speed. But educate me!
  • Pedalpush
    Pedalpush Posts: 246 Member
    Sadly, I can relate. It's a whole lot of no fun. I can rally behind the chiropractor: It's the only thing that helped me - REALLY helped me. That and maintaining movement: sitting and laying down seem to cause the most pain. Keep moving and stretching as your back allows and DON'T push it. It's a painfully slow process (no pun intended).
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    Thanks Max. I'm not sure what getting my back popped even means - is that a chiropractic thing?

    I don't dare do dead lifts :) I think planks may be more my speed. But educate me!

    Yeah a chiropractic visit would do this...
    Sometimes I am able to do it on my own, like on a weight bench, just lock my feet in place, and than twist my torso til it pops....
    Like I said, sometimes I can get it that way.....but a chiropractor would be able to do it for sure.

    I don't know if planks would benefit you in the back area....may aggravate it even more.....
    Planks are geared towards the core/ab muscles.....
    Try doing stiff-legged deadlifts....just start with light weight....just so you can feel the stretch through your back and hamstrings.
    Look on youtube for videos on proper form.
  • Quieau
    Quieau Posts: 428 Member
    IMS treatments ... (needles, sort of like acupuncture but different) ... ahhhhhhhh, they are magical!!
  • Tykk
    Tykk Posts: 153 Member
    I appreciate all the good wishes. It sounds like people are really positive about chiropractors. I'm a little ignorant of what they do that my physio won't do, but it sounds like something I should really check out.

    @Max - the argument I have been given by my physio and my PT is that the core muscles support the lower back, and so are the ones to target. Not true?
  • butterfly1445
    butterfly1445 Posts: 81 Member
    If the soreness is bothering you, (and is muscular soreness), and you can take a warm bath, try Epsom salts. I overworked my back two weeks ago and used Epsom salts with Spearmint and Eucalyptus in a warm bath, and despite turning the water green and smelling strongly, not bad but strong, it really helped ease the soreness and heal a bit faster.

    If it isn't muscle soreness it might not help, but it won't hurt either :) relaxing the tension from the pain might do some good.

    I've never thrown my back out completely but I have issues sometimes and heating pads or hot baths usually help me.

    Good luck!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member


    @Max - the argument I have been given by my physio and my PT is that the core muscles support the lower back, and so are the ones to target. Not true?
    they do. but u need to do something to target your back muscles
    trust me. I would focus on my abs and ignore my back and that did not help me. not until I started doing things that worked my back
    so stretching and DLs I found the best to work for me. and good posture
  • Tykk
    Tykk Posts: 153 Member
    ...Epsom salts... heating pads or hot baths...
    These are big features of our house!!
  • Tykk
    Tykk Posts: 153 Member
    they do. but u need to do something to target your back muscles
    trust me. I would focus on my abs and ignore my back and that did not help me. not until I started doing things that worked my back
    so stretching and DLs I found the best to work for me. and good posture
    Thanks for the tip. Why not, I will try after my back heals... with the smallest weight I can find. :wink:
  • susanrechter
    susanrechter Posts: 386 Member
    chiropractors. went to one and he manipulated my "spine". made crackling sounds. I was freaking out bc I thought he was going to injure me, but all went well. It was weird when he put me in a headlock, then twisted. Oh man! Scared me.

    acupuncture is gentle and it helped my back pain dramatically. They say you have to have around 3 sessions to see results, but I had good results after 1st visit!
  • blackgold86
    blackgold86 Posts: 171 Member
    Yes I would recommend needling too!

    My physio has been working for months on my back.. The only think that has helped has been a once a week session where she puts the needles in my back for 10 mins.. lasts me 4-5 days without any pain!

    Ask your current physio if they do it otherwise see if someone else does!
  • MityMax96
    MityMax96 Posts: 5,778 Member
    chiropractors. went to one and he manipulated my "spine". made crackling sounds. I was freaking out bc I thought he was going to injure me, but all went well. It was weird when he put me in a headlock, then twisted. Oh man! Scared me.

    Man, I felt the same way the first time I saw one.

    He was a pretty heavy set guy, so he gets me up on his table...
    Rotates my legs to one side, and then crawls up on top of me....(Of course I thinking oh man, he is about to have his way with me :laugh: :laugh: )
    Then he puts all his body weight on opposite angles of my body right shoulder to legs being on my left side....
    And then he pops my back....and hear all this cracking....and thinking oh $#!% he just broke my back.
    But damn, after he got off...things felt AWESOME!!! I could move again.

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