Lumbar Elongation Issue

[kuri]

I'm hoping Bill has time to check this thread.

Has anyone dealt with spinal elongation conditions that may cause lumbar pain (L4-L5 area)?

Lately I've been waking up in the middle of the night due to lumbar pain, which also gets manifested as referred pain in my left knee. This happens when sleeping on my back or left side. It's better when sleeping on my right side with a pillow between my legs.

It also helps if while lying on my back I keep one leg bent to relieve pressure. Once I get up and move around I feel pretty good and am not limited in movements.

There is no numbness or tingling in my limbs or back, just a tightness and feeling of weakness these past few days and pain after being stationary. It's been a few weeks since doing any heavy squats/deadlifts, but I'm guessing heavy deads might have started the ball rolling so to speak.

Apparently two of my older brothers, one a chiro, have been dealing with the same issue for a number of years. The chiro brother said that to the best of his knowledge we have a predisposition to L4-L5 problems, attributing it to a kind of lumbar elongation condition, and that he manages it through lots of core/ab work and limiting spinal loading (he also lifts), and chiro adjustments when he can find another good practitioner.

To my surprise my brother also has to sleep on his right side and avoid laying on his back/left side for prolonged periods (I had no idea).

If anyone has had experience or is familiar with this issue and ways in which to best deal with it I'd appreciate some advice.

Thanks,

Chris

[kuri]

OK, it's feeling better after some rest, lots of stretching, core work, and skipping exercises that stress the lumbar.

After sleeping there is still some tightness and pain in the knee but much less than this past week.

[Q.]

I've had problems with this since I was in High School. I couldn't sit up in bed after basketball practice some mornings.

It's bothering me again now and I'm going to a chiro tomorrow morning. I'm pretty sure I know what caused it this time. Thursday was squat day and, as soon as I put the weight on my shoulders for the first rep, it didn't feel right... not stable. I did my reps anyway (dumbass!) and it's been bothering me ever since. This is why I posted the "bad bed" post. I'd like to know what NOT to do the rest of my life because I think I know what to do... I've strengthened my core adequately I believe.

Looks like I'll be swimming again today since the weight room seems out of the question currently.

[UConnJulie]

Kuri, I haven't responded to your thread although I've read it several times ... "spinal elongation issue" is not a term that I am familiar with ... from your symptoms I'd say that I couldn't rule out a mild disk injury, or facet joint sprain, or strain of the deep lumbar muscles. Maybe Bill can shed some light ...

[Q.]

Originally Posted by kuri

It's been a few weeks since doing any heavy squats/deadlifts, but I'm guessing heavy deads might have started the ball rolling so to speak.

I guess maybe mine comment was more about compression, rather than elongation. I don't know but the result is the same.

By the way, I remember from some time back you making the comment that you were doing heavy DL's and it was bothering your back!

[kuri]

Thanks guys, it is getting better but hopefully someone can enlighten me on if this situation is indeed something beyond my control or purely injury. No luck googling it.

I have no doubt that compression triggered and/or caused the issue but would sure like to know if I should altogether avoid heavy spinal loading or if it's "just" an injury.

[UConnJulie]

I would say that depends upon exactly what is going on with your back ... the difficulty with the back is that many things can present with similar symptoms ...

[Q.]

Went to the chiro this morning and am feeling great right now! I only swam today for my w/o but so far so good. He confirmed... probably too much sitting at a desk in front of a computer (damned JP Fitness! .... oh, yeah, and WORK! )