Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill......

[Flee]

Ok, I know your first thought. GO SEE A DOCTOR. With that being said...here is what I got.

I injured myself doing dead lifts Sunday. At this very moment it's been 48hrs. It was my last set, last few reps when I felt it. It was a tearing or pulling or straining sensation. It was at the base of the spine, only on the right side.

I began "Rice'ing" immediately. I am currently alternating heat and ice. The back is showing much improvement. It is most painful/stiff after sitting for extended periods of time. Truely standing fully erect with good posture is NOT possible without pain at this time.

I know this is like flying in the dark (without all the fancy night vision stuff). However, I am curious what you think about my injury given the provided info.

Did I damage one or more of my lumborum erector muscles?
Perhaps I damaged the connective tissue.

It doesn't feel like a disk/skeletal issue at all.

Any thoughts you might have are very appreciated.


Thanks,

Ryan

[Bill Hartman]

Uh, go see your doctor.

It's a bit of a crap shoot without examination.

The fact that it's improving is a good sign. Most "injuries" (quotes because it's most likely just a muscle spasm) that occur like that are "brain farts" where one muscle just doesn't fire like it normally would and a spinal segment will shift and BANG! Muscle spasm.

If you find laying on the floor with your legs supported up on a chair (hips and knees at 90 degree angles) has a relieving quality to it, your psoas may be in spasm (the standing up thing is a clue as well).

Keep icing off and on for another 24 hours and see if it calms down some more. Then search for a hip flexor stretch at exrx.com and begin gentle stretches.

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill......

[Flee]

Originally posted by Bill Hartman:
Uh, go see your doctor.

It's a bit of a crap shoot without examination.

The fact that it's improving is a good sign. Most "injuries" (quotes because it's most likely just a muscle spasm) that occur like that are "brain farts" where one muscle just doesn't fire like it normally would and a spinal segment will shift and BANG! Muscle spasm.

If you find laying on the floor with your legs supported up on a chair (hips and knees at 90 degree angles) has a relieving quality to it, your psoas may be in spasm (the standing up thing is a clue as well).

Keep icing off and on for another 24 hours and see if it calms down some more. Then search for a hip flexor stretch at exrx.com and begin gentle stretches.

Bill, Bill, Bill, Bill......

Thanks kindly for your response. I didn't realize that spasms could bring about so much pain, discomfort and stiffness.

It does appear to me that there is a noticible shift in my torso, IE: My right hip is closer to my right rib cage, and this is on the side that is affected.

Yes I do get comfort in the lying 90/90 position.

I'll do as you say and report back.

Thanks again,

Ryan

[Flee]

Steadily improving. Standing with perfect posture is painless, although some stiffness still exists.


exrx.net

I will continue icing on/off. Start some stretches this afternoon. Very conservitive.

Ryan

[FishrCutB8]

I have had the same thing on the right side after deadlifts. Why is this, do you suppose? Sciatic nerve?

[Bill Hartman]

It depends. (I couldn't resist)

If it's just in the lower back, it's not sciatica. That requires pain down the back of the leg.

It could be an number of things like psoas, erector spinae, deep rotator, or quadratus lumborum spasm.

How's your hip extension flexibility? You may be substituting for weakened contribution of glutes due to hip tightness.

Bill

[FishrCutB8]

It sucks....thanks for asking.