Cathe, I need your advice low back pain

[intensitylisa]

:-( Hi Cathe! Last week Tuesday I did PUB and lifted pretty heavy, for back I used a barbell at 35 lbs and weights 20 lbs dumbell top of pyramid. Wednesday night I did IMAX 1. Thursday and Friday I took off. Then come Saturday I started to have low back pain, I thought it might be monthly back pain, so Saturday I did Kickmax and my back pain was quite severe. I couldn't bend over very well without it hurting and had to use a heating pad and tried hot arthritis creme. While at the grocery store I had to have Lacey pick up items on the bottom shelf. Today, Sunday it still is sore. I originally planned to do MuscleMax but didn't dare and push it, so instead I did your new Low Impact Step (when I know I probably should'nt have done anything. Now my back is stiffening up. I always use proper form and can't understand what is happening. Do you think I sprained my back using heavier than usual weight with PUB? As I said, I did this 3 days prior to the pain. If I move my back in a certain way, it hurts. I am so scared this won't go away and I look forward to working out with you everyday and won't stop until I absolutely can not do it!

 

[kathryn]

Not Cathe here (obviously), but I wanted to encourage you to NOT workout again until someone looks at your back. Working out will proably only make it worse for now. I think any workout at this point is "pushing it."

You could have pulled a muscle at any time during PUB: not just when lifting the weights (when most people are careful about what they doing), but maybe in bending over to put a weight away (when people tend to not think about keeping their core strong and supporting their back, or maybe twist around in order to get the weight back on the rack.

Taking a soak in epsom salts, getting a massage from DH, relaxing, stretching can help for now, but do set up an appointment with a doctor. A chiropractor might be able to help as well, if somehow your vertebrae are out of whack (which can cause back spasms).

 

[intensitylisa]

;-) Thanks for the useful advice Kathryn!

 

[BakerGirl]

I had a similar situation a few months ago. I kept trying to work through the pain, but it only got worse. I finally had to listen to my body and just stop. It took about a week and one full day of just laying on the floor. I'm fine now and working out as hard as ever.

Kathy

 

[intensitylisa]

;( I tried to go for my daily walk today at lunch time and had a heck of a time. I usually walk up steep hills. If I move my lower back just right I get a pain. I guess I will have to put Cathe off until this heals. I don't understand because I have never had this happen before.

 

[andtckrtoo]

Do yourself a favor and don't exercise for a few days - preferably a week or two. You'll feel better.

I pulled a lower back muscle when I was stretching after Kick Max. It wasn't too bad until I went dancing the next day and twisted all around. I took a few days off, and started with RS really carefully - 6", no twists or turn or kicks. Things started getting better then I did Cardio Kicks. All of the twists from punching and kicking just laid me up. I finally got smart and did not work out for a week, and when I started back, I went slowly. Today is the first time I can honestly say that I experienced no twinges when I did anything, and was even able to hold a plank.

When you start back, if any move hurts in any way (even a twinge or a brief flash) don't do that move.

And seeing a doctor is never a bad idea - back pain is not something to fool around with. I knew mine was just a muscle pull because I have no bones where my pain was, but if you did something to a disc or your spine, the sooner you get it checked out the faster you recover.