Exercising After Car Accident? Hurt Back

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JanieJack
JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone. I was rear-ended a couple days ago and still have a lot of pain. Conventional wisdom says rest. Doc says pain killers and flexurall. Interwebs say a lot of people never recover from back pain due to an accident, and I can't help but wonder if perhaps I should be moving (instead of resting) to keep the back flexible and decrease future pain.

If you've had an injury to your back, what was your story and how did you overcome the pain?

Thanks,

JJ
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Replies

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
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    Personally I wouldn't trust anything as important as your back to the advice of random strangers on the internet.....

    I'm assuming your doctor had diagnostic imaging done to rule out serious injury......

    Perhaps some time spent with a physiotherapist (not a chiroquackter) would be your best option, make sure you're doing things right.
  • JanieJack
    JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
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    bump
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
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    Brian is right. Seek medical advice, not interwebz opinions.
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
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    It amazes me how many people seek medical advice on a message board.

    Talk to a doctor.
  • rachaelps
    rachaelps Posts: 38 Member
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    Hi. I feel your pain! I was rear ended on Dec 19th. $11k in damage to my car because a young guy was texting and didn't see the red light I was stopped at. Drove right into the back of me. I suffered a terrible concussion, whiplash, bruised ribs, torn rotator cuff and a back injury. I'm now off the strong drugs, only on flexeril at night to help me sleep through the pain and naproxen 2x day.

    I pretty much only get exercise from walking or from what the physiotherapists make me do as rehab exercises. Yes it has slowed down my weight loss but I tried to do too much once and ended up in the ER with SEVERE back pain and uncontrollable vomiting. Had to go back on to Dilaudid and basically start bed rest all over again.

    Movement is good for a back injury - when it's time. And only when it's the right movement. Seek medical advice first so you can avoid a set back like mine!
  • KHalseth
    KHalseth Posts: 104 Member
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    Ask your doctor about using the pool. I was in an accident in January and couldn't walk much without pain or use cardio equipment but I could use the pool.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
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    Personally I wouldn't trust anything as important as your back to the advice of random strangers on the internet.....

    I'm assuming your doctor had diagnostic imaging done to rule out serious injury......

    Perhaps some time spent with a physiotherapist (not a chiroquackter) would be your best option, make sure you're doing things right.

    This.

    Ask for a referral to a physiotherapist. If you were rear ended it should be covered by insurance.

    I've been rear ended once and struck by a car once, both resulting in back injuries, soft tissue damage. I didn't seek treatment for the first time and suffered for a long time after. For the second, at first I was very limited as to what I could do and physio helped a lot. Once I was well enough to exercise again, exercise (particularly strength training) played a huge roll in recovering from both injuries. I am not 100% but I am pretty close and light years ahead of where I was.
  • jlshea
    jlshea Posts: 494 Member
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    I was in a bad accident in 2007. I tried to work out too soon and got scared off and then just did nothing which is what got me here. I would definitely take into consideration what your doctor or chiropractor are telling you. Ease back into things with low impact activities...maybe yoga or pilates. Seven years later and I am now able to do just as much as I was before the accident in regards to my neck/back injury.
  • granturismo
    granturismo Posts: 232 Member
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    ...
    If you've had an injury to your back, what was your story and how did you overcome the pain?
    ..

    Take everyone's advice so far. Get medical advice.

    I fractured 3 vertebrae in 2010, had titanium rods inserted and these were removed in 2012. All the exercise I started with and continue with today, are from physiotherapists I was referred to by the hospital and one I went to myself in addition to a physical trainer in a gym. I have been able to extend times, weights over the 4 years and stretches have graduated from very easy when I had limited mobility to a little bit more strenuous.

    My injuries were 'traumatic' anf recovery was gradual - I am not in any pain now compared to people with soft tissue injuries, herniated discs, trapped nerves etc.

    Get medical advice before starting any exercise regime.

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  • Zx14chick
    Zx14chick Posts: 255 Member
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    I was in a serious motorcycle accident over three years ago. The driver ran over my left leg causing me to lose a lot of my calf muscle, broke my back leaving me with a rod T3-T10, broke my hips, pelvis and right ankle. I now have a pinched nerve in my back, possibly from the rod, so I have to modify a lot of exercises. I would definitely do as others have said, see a physical therapist and pay attention when your body says to stop. I went back to the gym too early several times and ended up in so much pain that I wouldn't go back for a month or so. If you insist upon getting back in the gym, you need to take it slowly so you don't cause any further injuries and maybe even see a trainer that is accustomed to working with injuries. Good luck and most importantly, listen to your body!!!
  • JanieJack
    JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
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    It amazes me how many people seek medical advice on a message board.

    Talk to a doctor.

    It amazes me how people are so quick to dog out others -usually displaying a lack of reading comprehension in the process. Guess their inner confidence is lacking or they can only love themselves in the context of "Glad I'm not as ___ as s/he."

    I would remind folks that my post clearly notes what the dr said (meds) but anyone who didn't bother to read that probably won't bother to read this either.

    Anyone who's had a serious medical issue knows that sometimes the dr just says what they can to get you out of the office. Just because you don't care to hear stories of what other people did in similar situations doesn't mean the rest of us asking are somehow beneath you. Sure, people make stuff up on the internet but it's an interesting read and sometimes you learn something new.
  • bassgods
    bassgods Posts: 4 Member
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    I found out last August that I have a herniated L5. I also read online about all the negativity and how I wouldn't get back to where I was before. I was pretty nervous for a while. I did see a physical therapist a few times and I still do what he recommended for me, but I have had no surgery. By November of last year I was back to running 3-5 miles a day about 4 days a week, and I run about a 7:30 mile pace. I don't want to offer you any particular advice, and I believe that I was lucky, but I just wanted to say that back injuries do not have to be debilitating if they are treated correctly.
  • weber22c
    weber22c Posts: 41
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    Anyone who's had a serious medical issue knows that sometimes the dr just says what they can to get you out of the office.

    Generally, the best thing to do if you feel your doctor isn't invested in your recovery is to find another doctor who is.
  • weber22c
    weber22c Posts: 41
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    I found out last August that I have a herniated L5. I also read online about all the negativity and how I wouldn't get back to where I was before. I was pretty nervous for a while. I did see a physical therapist a few times and I still do what he recommended for me, but I have had no surgery. By November of last year I was back to running 3-5 miles a day about 4 days a week, and I run about a 7:30 mile pace. I don't want to offer you any particular advice, and I believe that I was lucky, but I just wanted to say that back injuries do not have to be debilitating if they are treated correctly.

    You were definitely lucky. I expect I'll get back to full activity at SOME point, but I herniated a lumbar disc last February and a year later, I still haven't been able to go running, riding, or anything like that yet. In my case, I definitely didn't do myself any favors by ignoring early signs of a back issue - I damaged the disc slightly in February, and then really destroyed it in June 2013. A couple months of PT and 3 sets of epidural steroid injections later, I should be able to start being a bit more active.

    I think people make a full recovery far more often than not (most of my cycling buddies have herniated discs in the past), but it can be a long, slow road for some people, especially if they're not taking proper care of the injury.
  • Jessica2014170
    Jessica2014170 Posts: 3
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    I was in horse riding accident and injured my back, I didn't go to doctor. I have been going to a chiropractor and he has given me the ability to manage my injury. When it happened I couldn't even tie my shoes for two months originally, my back would give out every time. This is only my opinion because I know people don't believe in chiropractors but he has helped me tremendously. Good luck and if the doc says don't I wouldn't.
  • walterm852
    walterm852 Posts: 409 Member
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    If you've had an injury to your back, what was your story and how did you overcome the pain?

    JJ

    Asking opinions about others journeys back to health and fitness it totally appropriate. I think the wording of your title makes it sound like you are asking for opinions on when you should start up again, that is obviously something nobody can answer because its situation is unique.

    The best course of action is obviously what best for you. There is traditional medicine, chiropractic, physical therapy, rolphing, massage, etc

    I hurt my L5 after being hit in the back, it was in 1992. After trying traditional medicine (doctor, X Ray, MRI, pain medication), most of my relief come from chiropractic. The best (most sustained) relief came when I combined chiropractic adjustments with Physical therapy after a FMS evaluation (Full Movement screen, its a certification).

    I re aggravate it from time to time, usually when I had stop exercising, or just recently, while training for a marathon, causing my body to lose its balance between muscles (for my its lower crossed syndrome).

    PM me if you want more details.

    As far as the chiroquacker comment, I bet there are some quacks. I bet 50% of chiropractors finished in the bottom half of there class (ha ha ha), probably the same as regular doctors, attorneys etc. In sports performance, many of the lead specialist are chiropractors (Perry Nicholson at www.stopchasingpain.com and Dr Greg Rose TPI in golf) who go beyond simple adjustments, into full body evaluations, to find the root cause of the issue.
  • just_Jennie1
    just_Jennie1 Posts: 1,233
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    It amazes me how many people seek medical advice on a message board.

    Talk to a doctor.

    It amazes me how people are so quick to dog out others -usually displaying a lack of reading comprehension in the process. Guess their inner confidence is lacking or they can only love themselves in the context of "Glad I'm not as ___ as s/he."

    I would remind folks that my post clearly notes what the dr said (meds) but anyone who didn't bother to read that probably won't bother to read this either.

    Anyone who's had a serious medical issue knows that sometimes the dr just says what they can to get you out of the office. Just because you don't care to hear stories of what other people did in similar situations doesn't mean the rest of us asking are somehow beneath you. Sure, people make stuff up on the internet but it's an interesting read and sometimes you learn something new.

    I read your post. I saw that he prescribed meds but apparently you didn't feel the need to ask him whether or not you should keep moving and what you should do in the meantime. If you felt as though he was "saying what they can to get you out of the office" then perhaps you should find a new doctor because one that is truly concerned about your health and well being would have taken the time to sit down with you, listen to you and answer any questions that you might have.

    Your back injury could be different then Joe's back injury who's was different than Susan's back injury . . . . The point is that no injury is the same. and you really shouldn't screw with your back. If you truly want to know what you can do for exercise or moving around then go see another doctor and get a second opinion.

    I injured my foot over the summer. I was "diagnosed" through the internet and my sister who thought she knew what I had. I did what the internet told me to do based on what it told me I had. It didn't get better so I saw a podiatrist. Turns out that I didn't have the injury I thought I did and not only that but what I was doing to "fix" it was making it much worse which was why I was in such excruciating pain. So yeah. You can search the internet, you can ask others who have had similar injuries but no one but a professional can tell you 100% what you should and shouldn't do.

    Again, I personally wouldn't screw with a back injury.
  • JanieJack
    JanieJack Posts: 3,831 Member
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    For anyone that finds this post later (or for those still following it but, like me, are in the military where "find another doctor" isn't exactly an option) here's some good stretches I found. I've been doing these after walking on the treadmill and it's really helped the pain.

    http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/exercises-to-reduce-low-back-pain#

    Also, some "Do's and Don'ts" of exercsing with back pain:

    http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/lower-back-pain-10/slideshow-exercises

    And finally, here's some other stretches that target things that contribute to chronic lower back pain (tight hips and hamstrings). I felt like some of these were pushing my body too hard for right now, but good to have in the (no pun intended) back pocket for later: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNN3K2qj-L0
  • CarlKRobbo
    CarlKRobbo Posts: 390 Member
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    Ok, so disclaimer, I'm not medically trained (Well first aider, but can't count that..)

    But this is from personal experience....

    Back pain -So from a book by Pavel Tsatsouline - Can't quote word for word, but Basically was "I could teach you a load of stretches to help with back pain, but IMO, you'd be better off getting acquainted with Deadlifts"

    So, take home for me was - "Make it stronger, and it won't get hurt as easily" 2 years later, and I don't have that pain anymore.. BUT bear in mind, I'm a competitive power lifter, my Deadlift form has always been complimented, and I'm now closing in on a 3x BW Deadlift..

    Part 2 IS about stretching and back pain:

    posterior Chain... So it all connects and all adds up... I always start stretching calves .. then hams, Glutes, then lower back etc etc and find that loosens me up, and if my back is tight, it tends to go then. If I skip calves, the tightness comes back (Calf pulls Hams, Pulls glutes, Pulls Lower back, Pulls Mid\Upper back etc etc)

    So start stretches from the bottom, and work your way up. I found understanding how the muscle chain works, helped me with relaxing\training loads...

    Just my 2 cents...
  • jagged95
    jagged95 Posts: 24 Member
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    I was in a horrific accident 5 years ago, and made sure that I got a week's worth of rest. Once I was out of bed I started with walking. Then soon after I started doing some light stretching and biking. Just take your time, and as long as your doctor doesn't want you on bed rest, walking is probably the best thing right now. A little discomfort and soreness will be normal, but any shooting or sharp pain means you are pushing the injury too much.

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