Back Pain After Sleeping and While Bench Pressing

[AmyPie38]

I did a search and didn't have any luck finding some concrete advice for this specific issue, but forgive me if it's already been answered.

I've been having horrible back pain lately. It started out being only once every couple months, then every couple weeks, then every morning, and now even during the day.

The pain occurs most frequently in the morning, right when I get up. I get up to get out of bed, and I feel a pain in my middle back. At first there is a shooting pain that feels to be around the bottom of the thoracic section of my spine. If you were to imagine a line perpendicular to my spine at that point, about the length from the tip of my thumb to the tip of my middle finger (I know this because of always putting my hand back there when it hurts as a natural reaction), that's where the shooting pain occurs. It feels like that shooting pain occurs through the entire line. Afterwards, (after re-arching my back) the pain feels more centralized to the spine instead of being spread out as before. My back gets tense, and I have to stop and slowly roll my back over (as if I was stretching towards my toes) until it losens up. The pain occurs anytime I'm laying on my stomach and attempt to get up or any other time that my back it arched and then rolls over. It seems as though my back gets locked into that arched position when I'm on my stomach, and when I get up, it doesn't want to budge. I also feel it sometimes when I roll to my side in bed, when I turn my body while standing up, and often when I do my bench presses. After bench pressing and even my aerobic classes, I'll lay on my back and bring my knees up to my chest, which typically helps.


I was told that sleeping on your stomach can be harmful for your back and so I have made a point to only sleep on my back or side, which has helped significantly. Even though the pain only comes back once in awhile, I would still like to know if anyone has an idea what the problem could be, and if at-home/gym exercises could help or if it's serious enough that I need to see a doctor about.

Thanks ahead of time to anyone that can help.

[Bill Hartman]

First rule...avoid what makes it hurt more. You've obviously got an issue with extension, so no more lying or sleeping on your stomach.

Do a net search for Thomas Test and see how you do with it. You may also have some hip or anterior pelvic tilt issues that need to be addressed.

Bill

[AmyPie38]

Bill,

I found the test online and performed it. Do I have the right idea that I lay down, pull my knees to my chest, then let one leg down to see if my entire leg touches the floor?

What happens is when I lay down at first, both of my legs are completely touching the ground (but my back is pretty arched to do so). Then when I bring the knees up and let one down, my heel and calf and butt are touching the floor, but the back of my knee and back of my thigh do not. So this would mean positive, yes? Exactly what would a positive verdict mean?

Thanks for your help.

[BFG]

After my injury to my ribs I had tghis all the while on bench pressing so I added overhead extensions before my bench to really open the rib cage out and it seems to do the trick.

I did this so Im side on; on he bench with only my shoulders on the bench lifting my pelvis up
Might be worth a try?

[bryanc]

I don't think your description of your pain really matches a pelvis root for your pain. The anatomy is a bit off; and shooting pains generally point to a neural cause, rather than muscular (not that the muscles can't be causing the deformity). I would suggest rather than trying to decide if you've got positive Thomas test or not, that you make an appointment to see a physician who has some experience in musculoskeletal problems. The symptoms that you provide that would lead me away from a simple problem are your shooting pains, the sensation of locking, and the localization to your thoracic spine.