Need help with back problems please!

M

mich23

Cathlete
I need your advice. I've been working out with Cathe and feeling great. Every so often I "pull" my back. For instance, yesterday I did Push/Pull -- felt great -- then was messing around with the kids and felt my lower back "pull". I'm walking a little funny and couldn't sleep at all.

It hurts right beside my spine on my very low back. This drives me crazy... because it has been happening about every 6 weeks or so, and lasts for 3-4 days. I can't work out -- except maybe stretch max.

I've never went to the doctor - because it's not THAT bad. I can still go to work and function. However, I can't sleep or work out.

I have noticed that the more consistent I am with my workouts the faster I heal from this. Years ago when I would pull my back it would take a good week to feel better. Also, it is so strange because I always seem to "pull" it doing really nothing at all.

Thanks for any advice you can give me!
Michelle
 
Michelle, I never take the time to take my own advice, but I have found that really serious stretching of the hamstrings is the only thing that helps. There is an exercise that Cathe does sometimes on the box and sometimes on the ball, where you are lying on your back and one leg is on the box or ball and the other is in the air, that I find very helpful for avoiding back injury. However, you should NOT do it while you're in pain. Only as a preventative measure.

Also, I don't know about you, but my back is much more painful during PMS. My back is so bad today, I almost couldn't get out of bed this morning. :(
 
Hi Michelle:

It does sound like a muscle pull. Like Nancy mentioned, it is better to stretch it after each workout, to help prevent this type of thing. When this happens to me, I put a heating pad on it when I am lying down on the couch, then after it is warm, stretch it a bit, very slowly and without strain. HTH

Deb
 
Michelle - If it were me, I would find a good chiropractor and get a consultation. My back has a tendency to do exactly what you are describing. It usually only takes a few visits to get me "back to good". I have a very good chiropractor though and she never pressures me to come all the time - just as needed. A good massage never hurt anyone either! ;) Oh, and I was told "moist heat". My Doc said the best thing is those home made rice or whatever heating pads that you throw in the microwave. She says those do wonders for the muscles. If not that, then a moist towel with a heating pad over it works too.
 
Thanks for all your good advice!

This has been so frustrating for me.

This used to happen maybe twice a year. Now every couple of months. Maybe it's because I'm working out and NOT stretching. I'll try to do more stretching and icing it down. I just don't know at what point I'm willing to shell out money for a chiropractor -- even though I think that might be the way I should go since it is happening so often now. (I'm so miserable for the few days that I'm out of joint!)

Thanks again!
Michelle
 
Hi Michelle,
So sorry to hear about your back. When you're able to go back to your weight workouts, you might want to watch how far you bend over when Cathe does double arm rows and how many reps you do. I really tweaked my lower back muscles with CTX back and Supersets so I modified my position for rows and rear flyes and it helped enormously. HTH and that you're feeling better soon!

Jonahnah
Chocolate IS the answer, regardless of the question.
 
Thanks so much. I'll be careful with those exercises.

I'm sitting here with this heating pad on my back. I just got it at Walgreens -- tossed in it in the microwave -- WOW!!! LOVE IT!! I think I'll be using this even when my back doesn't hurt! :)

Michelle
 
Didn't take the time to read posts above but I love my chiropractor - keeps me from missing any workouts.
 
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