My Back is a Mess

DEALER · December 5th, 2008, 02:39 PM

The title says it all. My massage therapist calls me a "spaz".

I over did it about three months ago. Deadlifting and squatting too heavily, too often. I was starting to see significant gains in strength and size, and whammo! All the muscles at the top of my pelvis, to the right of my spine have become quite tangled up.

I have been going to physio and massage therapy regularly, and I have not been happy with the results. I have been told this injury was related to the tightness of my hamstrings, and have been really focusing on stretching them out. My physiotherapist feels like I should make a full recovery but I haven't seen too much progress.

My physiotherapist recommended that I continue to train. I am to be carefull not to try to move too much weight too soon. I have been slowly gaining strength back, and my back was feeling somewhat OK.

My back was getting a little sore after training, I would ice it, then heat it and I would feel decent the next day.

Long story short, my back is really bothering me again lately. I have been making great progress, and training often, but the last few days I have been barely able to put my socks on.

People tell me that I will live with this forever, but I refuse to beleive this. Many athletes recover from back injuries. Has any one here recovered fully from a similar injury?

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

**AbbyMarie** · December 5th, 2008, 02:43 PM

At the risk of sounding like a total dork, have you considered doing any yoga?

My sister's spine was a mess for YEARS following a couple of car accidents. She used to have to go see a chiropractor 1-2 times a week just to be functional, and she did that for years.

She took up yoga and within 9 months, all of her back and neck problems were gone. Her doctor was baffled by it. It was like she got a new spine.

**helpmespock** · December 5th, 2008, 03:16 PM

agree, yoga is well worth it. Nothing "dorksome" about it!

**mooshue** · December 5th, 2008, 04:10 PM

not to hijack the thread, but yoga definately helped me out in many ways, not just flexibility but my balance, both of which are pretty important when tossing around extremely heavy weight safely.

**wildstang** · December 5th, 2008, 11:39 PM

ive nothing against yoga but im a firm believer of flexability wich goes hand in hand with yoga. my flexability i have came from years and years of martial arts. without the flexability after i had spinal surgery i was a mess untill i eventually got limber again. its the only way i can live fairly pain free. but yes once you injure your spine you will always be susceptable to easier re-injury.
plenty of core work needed also. ive never made a complete recovery myself back to 100% but im still fairly pain free and can do everything i used to be able to do before surgery. just use common sense and substitute alternative training methods for the legs 4 a few months to heal properly then come back with lighter weights and more reps untill reconditioned.

**RunningMan27** · December 9th, 2008, 03:07 PM

At times when my body has been screwed up...I had a neck injury and most recently an achilles injury...swimming has helped me tremendously. It keeps me in shape, it keeps muscle tone (and in some cases builds it), and it has done a good job in improving my flexibility.

I need to keep swimming in my regular work out routine, so I would recommend that to anyone else. I have never tried yoga, but I have been told on numerous occasions that it would be good for me. From what I'ver read above, I might give it a shot.

I would also recommend taking a rest on anything that puts too much pressure on your back. Part of the reason my achilles side-lined me for longer than it should have is because I was impatient - by coming back too quickly I ended up starting back near the beginning in my rehab.