Lower Back injury, need help figuring out what exactly I hurt...

Ron_Hendrix · 07-06-2009, 05:08 PM

To preface this, I posted this is the General Training forum, but I can't seem to find anyhing on the injury forum that describes what I'm feeling...so...

1. When did the pain begin?
Today, around 10 am CST, almost 3 hours after I finished working out.

2. What were you doing at the time? Or did the pain come on gradually over time?
I was actually trying to contract my lower back and abs while sitting at my desk because I was bored and felt like my posture sucked.

3. Where, anatomically, is the pain?
The insertion point where my lower back meets my glutes.

4. What does the pain feel like? Sharp? Dull? Aching? Stabbing? Shooting?
It's only sharp and stabbing when I actively contract my lower back and glutes.

5. Is the pain constant, or intermittent, or only on certain motions?
dull and constant, I don't really have any limited mobility.

6. What motions make your pain worse?
Just contracting the muscles.

7. What, if anything, makes your pain better?
Not sure really, stretching seems to help somewhat, but only temporary.

8. Does your pain radiate to any other part of your body?
My left hip and glute seem tight and ache some.

9. What things could you do before, that you cannot do now because of your injury?
I don't know yet.

10. What is your main concern regarding the pain and its consequences?
I'd just like to know what I injured and how to correct the problem since I injure this area at least once or twice a year, usually while doing something that puts tremendous strain to stabilize my back with a load overhead or working from the ground to overhead.

11. Have you ever injured that part of your body before? If so, how?
Yes, mostly from lifting something up and overhead and losing my balance and becoming off balanced.

12. Is your pain getting worse over time? And if so, how much worse over what time period?
Not sure yet, gonna ice and use some NSAID's tonight, hopefully that helps.

galya · 07-07-2009, 10:47 AM

QL is my best guess. Getting someone to assess you and stretch you is a good way to go. Find a good physical therapist/chiro. Treatment will confirm the origin of the pain. It might also help to reassess your technique and see why you are getting those symptoms, not compromise technique and work on your TVA and obliques. Pictures are worth a thousand words, why don't you get some posterior shots with your camera and see if there's any obvious imbalanced going on that you are not aware of.

UConnJulie · 07-07-2009, 08:10 PM

Good call Galya.

You could also get a lacrosse ball (or a tennis ball if you're a wimp) and "foam roll" that area. If putting your weight on it is too intense, try doing it against the wall.

Ron_Hendrix · 07-07-2009, 09:54 PM

Thanks ladies, it feels signifigantly better today and only hurts when I contact my lower back. I'm gonna continue to ice and rest the area. Some biking will probably be done over the next couple of days as well.

Gayla, if I understood you correctly, were you telling me to strengthen my TVA and obliques, or not too? I'm a little confused.

Thanks again.

galya · 07-08-2009, 03:34 AM

Yes, strengthen

And picture pls

You can PM it to me.

Ron_Hendrix · 07-08-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galya

Yes, strengthen

And picture pls

You can PM it to me.

No problem, I'll get my wife to take a picture tonight and send it to you. I'll start working planks back in as well. Tried using a tennis ball this morning but felt like I was digging more into my pelvis than my back, gonna do some more SMR work tonight though.

Thanks again, ladies! I appreciate it.

Ron_Hendrix · 07-09-2009, 01:43 PM

Galya, did you need just the posterior or a posterior shot? I didn't wanna take a picture of just my butt and send it to you and get a weird reply back from ya.

galya · 07-09-2009, 03:03 PM

Your whole back, relaxed, with your shirt off, so the muscles are visible. Preferably in shorts, with the ankles in the shot.

bituufg · 07-14-2009, 04:22 AM

There is no correct answer because of the unpredictable nature of back injuries. You may feel fine now, and be laid up a month from now. You must be young to spring back as fast as you have. I would say to take it easy because that bump is a trauma that has not healed, even if you feell better. Check with your doctor if the bump there much longer. In fact, you should ask him or her about the bump. Don't be tough, keep an eye on it.