pinched L5, what are my restrictions?

allenkt · 05-20-2009, 06:53 PM

I posted in a thread a few weeks ago about an issue with numbness and drop foot. I saw a neurologist and determined that I had a pinched L5 nerve in my back. So I haven't done ANYTHING for the past month and I think I've put on 5 pounds or so (and not the good kind).

I feel ok now, the drop foot seems to be gone and I don't have any pain in my back or numbness. I am more than ready to get back into the gym but I'm wondering if I should have any restrictions. I don't know what caused the pinched nerve in the first place so I don't want to do anything to re-injure myself.

Can I still do things like squat and deadlift? Would it help to do some foam rolling before working out, such as the warm-up outlined in Cressey's Maximum Strength book (I think I know the answer to that one already...)?

Any help would be appreciated!

Karl

Jean-Paul · 05-21-2009, 10:12 AM

You can probably get started but please take it real slow. Make sure that you have someone well trained in this field monitor your form so you don't make the same mistake that injured you in the first place. Maybe spend a month or two on corrective movements before starting a hard core program of any kind.

allenkt · 05-22-2009, 12:01 PM

Well I went in today for my EMG (nerve conduction study) and to go over the MRI. He said that the preliminary results from the EMG are that I have a pinched L5 but it is getting better because my symptoms are a lot less than they were a month ago. The MRI showed a slightly bulging S1 disc but that it wasn't showing up on the EMG so it didn't appear to be a serious problem at this point.

I asked him how it would affect me physically and whether or not I could still work out in the gym and squat. He said he didn't see any problem with me squatting, just to make sure I have good form and not to go too heavy for awhile (said to go higher reps and lower weight). I think I have pretty good form on my squats but I think I'll just keep it light for now and maybe I'll just do front squats for awhile instead. Not sure about deadlifts, I may just leave those out for now. In the mean time, I'm still not too excited about running again just yet (that's always aggravated my back) so I am staying on the stationary bike and swimming for cardio.

So my plan is to start Berardi's lean coaching program next month (which is why I was asking about restrictions in the first place) and substitute front squats for back squats and find an alternative for any deadlifts that come along.

Karl