healthy_vegan
Cathlete
I did a number on my back and neck with Wednesday's leg routine.
The night before, I noticed that the right side of my upper back and neck were a little sore when I went to bed, and still a little sore in the morning. However, I get that sort of thing a lot, because my job involves sitting in front of a computer all day. The pain is isolated on the right because of mouse use. In any case, typically it's not a big deal. I've learned to live with it.
On Tuesday I did a kickboxing DVD using weighted hand gloves, so my shoulders got a little extra that day. But again, not a big deal. I do kickboxing with weighted hand gloves every week.
Well, I did the first two sets of tri-sets without any difficulty. When I started the third, I reached for my two 40-pound dumbbells and started the set of squats. And I felt this unbelievable, sharp, shooting pain in the right side of my upper back, neck, and shoulder. I put the dumbbells down and basically collapsed on the ground.
I was hoping it was a temporary situation, and I decided to try to soak in a bath. I went to run the bath and discovered that there was no way in the world I was going to be able to put my body into the bath. I could barely move my upper body without intense pain. I lay down on the floor in the bathroom and discovered that I could not get up again. Every now and then I see a television show where somebody "throws his back out" and cannot get up. I always thought that was exaggerated, but now I know
otherwise. I was laying on a bath mat and my head was sliding backwards on the mat -- that really hurt!
I knew I had to get up. Unfortunately, I was upstairs and my husband was downstairs. I lay there calling his name and saying "Help!" (I was definitely reminded of the fallen and cannot get up commercials.) Finally, I determined that I was going to have to do this myself, because he would not be able to hear me. I found that moving slow was ineffective. I did not make any progress. So, I rolled over onto my side and then stood up. OUCH!!!!! That was the worst pain I've had in my life. Now I know what "dizzy with pain" means! I was so light-headed that I only made it out into the hallway and collapsed on the floor again. This time I was closer to the stairs, so my husband was able to hear me. He helped me up (again, ouch!) and got me to a couch.
Now, I had some vicodin left over from a root canal. I had saved it for emergencies, such as this. I'd like to note that I almost never take any sort of pharmaceutical product, not even aspirin. But I did not hesitate this time.
I spent the day in bed, which did feel better. Over the day, it improved slightly, enough that I can move from one room to the next, and I can spend about 30 minutes in front of a computer (like now!) If things aren't much better tomorrow, I'll go the doctor. I'm pretty sure the doctor is going to tell me to wait it out and relax, and possibly proscribe muscle relaxants. I'm not sure I want to take them. (I just took the one vicodin. I really don't like pharmaceuticals. I'm very careful about what I put in my body.) But if things aren't improved, I'll go back.
In any case, now I am wondering what to do. I'm sure this will get better with time (hopefully not too much time, because I was on a roll with STS). However, now I'm a little afraid to pick up those 40-pound dumbbells again. It wasn't the first time I had used them. In fact, I had already used them for narrow squats in the same workout. I think it was just an unfortunate and unlikely occurrence. But I'm worried that my back may be weakened and the same thing may happen again. Basically, I think all the heavy weights were too much for my upper body.
Does anybody have any suggestions or thoughts? I know a medical professional is who I should be asking in general, but I just curious what other STS folk would do. Anybody have a similar experience?
The night before, I noticed that the right side of my upper back and neck were a little sore when I went to bed, and still a little sore in the morning. However, I get that sort of thing a lot, because my job involves sitting in front of a computer all day. The pain is isolated on the right because of mouse use. In any case, typically it's not a big deal. I've learned to live with it.
On Tuesday I did a kickboxing DVD using weighted hand gloves, so my shoulders got a little extra that day. But again, not a big deal. I do kickboxing with weighted hand gloves every week.
Well, I did the first two sets of tri-sets without any difficulty. When I started the third, I reached for my two 40-pound dumbbells and started the set of squats. And I felt this unbelievable, sharp, shooting pain in the right side of my upper back, neck, and shoulder. I put the dumbbells down and basically collapsed on the ground.
I was hoping it was a temporary situation, and I decided to try to soak in a bath. I went to run the bath and discovered that there was no way in the world I was going to be able to put my body into the bath. I could barely move my upper body without intense pain. I lay down on the floor in the bathroom and discovered that I could not get up again. Every now and then I see a television show where somebody "throws his back out" and cannot get up. I always thought that was exaggerated, but now I know
otherwise. I was laying on a bath mat and my head was sliding backwards on the mat -- that really hurt!
I knew I had to get up. Unfortunately, I was upstairs and my husband was downstairs. I lay there calling his name and saying "Help!" (I was definitely reminded of the fallen and cannot get up commercials.) Finally, I determined that I was going to have to do this myself, because he would not be able to hear me. I found that moving slow was ineffective. I did not make any progress. So, I rolled over onto my side and then stood up. OUCH!!!!! That was the worst pain I've had in my life. Now I know what "dizzy with pain" means! I was so light-headed that I only made it out into the hallway and collapsed on the floor again. This time I was closer to the stairs, so my husband was able to hear me. He helped me up (again, ouch!) and got me to a couch.
Now, I had some vicodin left over from a root canal. I had saved it for emergencies, such as this. I'd like to note that I almost never take any sort of pharmaceutical product, not even aspirin. But I did not hesitate this time.
I spent the day in bed, which did feel better. Over the day, it improved slightly, enough that I can move from one room to the next, and I can spend about 30 minutes in front of a computer (like now!) If things aren't much better tomorrow, I'll go the doctor. I'm pretty sure the doctor is going to tell me to wait it out and relax, and possibly proscribe muscle relaxants. I'm not sure I want to take them. (I just took the one vicodin. I really don't like pharmaceuticals. I'm very careful about what I put in my body.) But if things aren't improved, I'll go back.
In any case, now I am wondering what to do. I'm sure this will get better with time (hopefully not too much time, because I was on a roll with STS). However, now I'm a little afraid to pick up those 40-pound dumbbells again. It wasn't the first time I had used them. In fact, I had already used them for narrow squats in the same workout. I think it was just an unfortunate and unlikely occurrence. But I'm worried that my back may be weakened and the same thing may happen again. Basically, I think all the heavy weights were too much for my upper body.
Does anybody have any suggestions or thoughts? I know a medical professional is who I should be asking in general, but I just curious what other STS folk would do. Anybody have a similar experience?
