Chronic lower back pain

[mojojoe]

I have strained the lumbar region of my back twice in the past two years, both times during squats. This is an old injury from over a decade ago that started when I strained my lower back shoveling wet snow, and my back really has never been the same since. I have never had any shooting pains of any kind with any injuries, so it's definitely a ligament/muscle/tendon issue. After the last time I strained my back, I healed like usual after a few weeks off, but as the next few months went by my back became increasingly stiff at all times with moderate pain developing that I just lived with and tried to work through by limiting the stress to my back during work outs. That didn't work so I finally decided to just take time off to heal properly. I've been receiving adjustments from my chiropractor, who is a rather accomplished bodybuilder himself, and I even went for an X-ray which showed that one of my intervertebral discs has thinned over time...I am 32 y/o. I did no lifting or cardio for 6 weeks and instead did strengthening exercises my doc gave my for my lower back, while icing my back several times a day. I also made sure that I improved my posture in hopes that this would help. My big concern is that after all of this time off I still have stiffness, especially when I get up in the morning. My doc said that this is just normal wear and tear that comes with years of lifting and that he is in a similar situation with his neck which is always stiff. He also pointed out that if my symptoms were from a sprain or strain that they would have went away after six weeks off to heal. He said that my lower back is in a degenerative state and he didn't want to send me for an MRI, stating that it would just show wear and tear and not help me, and I didn't go for one since I don't want to foot that bill for no reason. I was told to start slowly back into my work-outs, and continue my lower back exercises, which sounded good. I figured I would just ice my back after every work-out. However, I did my first session of cardio for 25 minutes on an exercise bike yesterday and I am not really shocked that I am really stiff again today. Basically I am looking for opinions from Doc Sust or anyone else who would like to chime in. Should I get an MRI or perhaps take more time off ? Do you think my doc is correct in that I will just always have this problem due to wear and tear of my lower back ? Any opinions will be appreciated because you all know what it's like to not be able to lift...I have lost 10 pounds of mass and put on 5 pounds of fat instead since I haven't been doing cardio...it just really bums me out very badly to say the least. I am dying to proceed, but I don't want to end up back at square one and have to face another 2 months off.

[dedic8ed1]

Hey bro I too hurt my back shoveling snow it healed up after a while but your chiropracter sounds accomplished so that's a good start,now with my injury I had to stop training for 4 months I put on 25 lbs of slop and getting back to training was very difficult but it'll pass in time trust me.The things I did to speed my healing process were Aleve 3 times a day 1 in the morning 1 mid day and 1 later also make sure you have a decent bed a good bed is crucial for recovery and lower back excersizes are also a key element,good luck

[Ufa]

I've had buldgin disc's for a few years. I was taking strong pain killers
(perscribed) you know your in bad shape when the Doc perscribes
120 at a time. Well, I started GH (Saizen) and my disc's seem to have
grown. I no longer have back pains. You should look into GH. If you
got the bucks. Insurance is not going to cover GH unless you hafe AIDS
or are a dwarf.

[Ufa]

I've had buldgin disc's for a few years. I was taking strong pain killers
(perscribed) you know your in bad shape when the Doc perscribes
120 at a time. Well, I started GH (Saizen) and my disc's seem to have
grown. I no longer have back pains. You should look into GH. If you
got the bucks. Insurance is not going to cover GH unless you hafe AIDS
or are a dwarf.

[Doc.Sust]

read the sticky on lumbar rehab, and cryotherapy

[Doc.Sust]

I have strained the lumbar region of my back twice in the past two years, both times during squats. This is an old injury from over a decade ago that started when I strained my lower back shoveling wet snow, and my back really has never been the same since. I have never had any shooting pains of any kind with any injuries, so it's definitely a ligament/muscle/tendon issue. After the last time I strained my back, I healed like usual after a few weeks off, but as the next few months went by my back became increasingly stiff at all times with moderate pain developing that I just lived with and tried to work through by limiting the stress to my back during work outs. That didn't work so I finally decided to just take time off to heal properly. I've been receiving adjustments from my chiropractor, who is a rather accomplished bodybuilder himself, and I even went for an X-ray which showed that one of my intervertebral discs has thinned over time...I am 32 y/o. I did no lifting or cardio for 6 weeks and instead did strengthening exercises my doc gave my for my lower back, while icing my back several times a day. I also made sure that I improved my posture in hopes that this would help. My big concern is that after all of this time off I still have stiffness, especially when I get up in the morning. My doc said that this is just normal wear and tear that comes with years of lifting and that he is in a similar situation with his neck which is always stiff. He also pointed out that if my symptoms were from a sprain or strain that they would have went away after six weeks off to heal. He said that my lower back is in a degenerative state and he didn't want to send me for an MRI, stating that it would just show wear and tear and not help me, and I didn't go for one since I don't want to foot that bill for no reason. I was told to start slowly back into my work-outs, and continue my lower back exercises, which sounded good. I figured I would just ice my back after every work-out. However, I did my first session of cardio for 25 minutes on an exercise bike yesterday and I am not really shocked that I am really stiff again today. Basically I am looking for opinions from Doc Sust or anyone else who would like to chime in. Should I get an MRI or perhaps take more time off ? Do you think my doc is correct in that I will just always have this problem due to wear and tear of my lower back ? Any opinions will be appreciated because you all know what it's like to not be able to lift...I have lost 10 pounds of mass and put on 5 pounds of fat instead since I haven't been doing cardio...it just really bums me out very badly to say the least. I am dying to proceed, but I don't want to end up back at square one and have to face another 2 months off.

an mri coulldnt hurt, if there is nothing there , no big deall, i am sure you can find a dr the will send you for one, iwould go for it, it cant hurt, i do agree with the dr. i have this hapeen to me once every 2- 3 years, and it is just from the wear and tear. keep up with the ice, compare it to my crotherapy sticky and mke sure you are icing right.rehab slowly cardio is a good thing too.also stiffness in the morning is normal in the low back, i have it to, it is called"morning stifnesand is a sign of OA or DJD, and it i normal foe liftrs to have OA/DJD in the lumbar spine. i did when i was 21years old , and i am sur now that i am older, it is worse. OA/DJD happens to all of us(osto arthritis or degen joint disease) thereare things thathelp slow it down, nutriton stretching ,rehb and spinal manipulations and traction of the lumbar spine

[I_AM_HE]

DOC sust r u a ciro?

[Doc.Sust]

DOC sust r u a ciro?

if you are intrested pm me and we will discuss, i dont like to talk to much about myself on th open board anymore

[v-force700]

The treatment I finally used for my lower back pain may or may not work for you. I am not recommending it to you. As I have no idea, what other treatments you may have tried in the past.
In my case, all other treatments have failed. I decided to try the (ATTACHED) treatment, after almost a year of research. It has worked well for me.
<<<V>>>

http://67.18.108.244//showthread.php?t=259515

[Ufa]

Ciro's can help big time.

[mojojoe]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have been doing cardio and have lifted twice now and everything seems to be o.k. It looks like it really is just OA/DJD, because I am stiff when I wake up, but after I drink my morning coffee I do my stretches and back strengthening exercises and then I'm fine for the rest of the day. I also ice after my work-outs just as a precautionary measure. Doc, I did read your stickies several weeks ago and they are the reason for my cryotherapy and the reason that I'm a poster child for good posture now. I am going to look into getting a better bed/mattress...that seems like a good idea. I just finished 6 months of HGH and unfortunately it did not help my back or knee pains one bit. Actually, my elbows starting aching several weeks AFTER I stopped working out and I decided to come off the HGH since it can cause joint pain, and I was concerned it was contributing to my back aches as well. I was only using 3IU a day at the end after going as high as 4.5 IUs/day. I did see improvements in sleep, fat burning, memory, and it appears to have taken several years off of my face, which I think is pretty damn cool. From now on I am just going to do GH as a bridge between cycles. Also, I have considered Adequan as an aid for both my knees and back...I'll have to investigate further.

[Doc.Sust]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. I have been doing cardio and have lifted twice now and everything seems to be o.k. It looks like it really is just OA/DJD, because I am stiff when I wake up, but after I drink my morning coffee I do my stretches and back strengthening exercises and then I'm fine for the rest of the day. I also ice after my work-outs just as a precautionary measure. Doc, I did read your stickies several weeks ago and they are the reason for my cryotherapy and the reason that I'm a poster child for good posture now. I am going to look into getting a better bed/mattress...that seems like a good idea. I just finished 6 months of HGH and unfortunately it did not help my back or knee pains one bit. Actually, my elbows starting aching several weeks AFTER I stopped working out and I decided to come off the HGH since it can cause joint pain, and I was concerned it was contributing to my back aches as well. I was only using 3IU a day at the end after going as high as 4.5 IUs/day. I did see improvements in sleep, fat burning, memory, and it appears to have taken several years off of my face, which I think is pretty damn cool. From now on I am just going to do GH as a bridge between cycles. Also, I have considered Adequan as an aid for both my knees and back...I'll have to investigate further.

i hope the stickies helped, and glad you are using ice regularly, i just got done icing my neck myself. ice works and is the best tool for muscle pain. a new matress is great, let me recomend the new temprapedic matress, it ismade of this specila supportive space age material that molds to your body each time you lie on it, no springs. also make sure you have a VERY firm box spring, it truly makes a difference, i replaced my old matress with this new temprapedic products and it made a HUGE difference, also, have you ever used deca? i know alot of people who had chronic joint pain and this helped them as well

[Doc.Sust]

Ciro's can help big time.

chiro has kept me competing in national and international level powerlifting for the last 12 years and with out it i would have never lasted as long as i have in the sport or been able to set the records that i have.two thumbs up