Lower back

**NEFLRick** · 11-26-2013, 06:15 AM

So I've never really had problems with my back...until recently. Been having a lot of lower back pain lately. Didn't seem to be getting any better so I went to a chiropractor yesterday.

Seems as if two vertebrae are smushed together and are squeezing a disc and pinching a nerve. Oh joy! So he did an adjustment and put me on a roller table. Felt a little better but still not there. He said it would take a number of treatments (Oh joy again.).

I've lifted my whole adult life (I'm 44 now) and practiced/competed in jiu jitsu for about 7 or 8 years until recently so I consider myself very lucky to have not experienced back problems until now. Still sucks though. I think all of the lifting I've done has helped keep everything strong enough to keep back problems at bay.

Any other advice anyone got on this one? I'd really rather not have chronic back probs like so many people.

Thanks.

AD · 11-26-2013, 06:21 PM

have you seen an orthopedic surgeon for assessment? you may need an MRI.

**NEFLRick** · 11-26-2013, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by AD

have you seen an orthopedic surgeon for assessment? you may need an MRI.

No. I just went to the chiro. We'll see how that works out.

I didn't really do anything in particular which would have caused it so I'm guessing it's just something which has built up over time. So it's not an injury (so to say), it's more of a breakdown I guess.

**bass** · 11-26-2013, 07:27 PM

which workout triggers the pain most, or is it constant?

**NEFLRick** · 11-27-2013, 06:33 AM

The trigger was me working my rear delts--bent over rear fly if you will. I never rounded my back as I've always been careful with that. I've recently started TRT and have been getting stronger and was using 50lb dumbbells for this exercise. I'm guessing I can't do this with heavier weights without support, a little too little too late at this point but something to note for the future.

It's not constant pain, just when I move/stand/sit certain ways. If I lay on my back, it feels great (unfortunately, I can't sleep on my back--never have been able to).

Naxproxin seems to help, which (I believe) indicates inflamation is causing the pain. From the x-rays it seems the inflmation is being caused by the vertebrae being smushed together pushing the disc out. Have pain radiating down my leg a little indicating it's pinching a nerve.

The chirporactor is doing adjustments and has me on a roller table and doing stretches. The roller table is painful at first then just uncomfortable. After 10 mins. (the time he has me on it), y back feels great for about an hour.

I think that about covers it for now.

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 11:14 AM

what's concerning is what the x-rays are showing. I'd definitely do MRI as AD suggested just to see what exactly is going on. unfortunately it might be wear and tear and age! something you might have to live with or surgery! I hope not.

**NEFLRick** · 11-27-2013, 01:44 PM

I'm sure it's wear and tear (I'm 44). No plans for surgery since I've never had problems and everyone I've ever known to have back surgery has had MORE problems. Besides, this isn't all that bad.

Not concerning enough to go get an MRI right now, it is feeling a little better every day now. If it doesn't continue to get better, I'll be headed to get one.

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by NEFLRick

I'm sure it's wear and tear (I'm 44). No plans for surgery since I've never had problems and everyone I've ever known to have back surgery has had MORE problems. Besides, this isn't all that bad.

Not concerning enough to go get an MRI right now, it is feeling a little better every day now. If it doesn't continue to get better, I'll be headed to get one.

yup me too, everyone I know that had a back surgery are far worse today, and one of them got paralyzed from the waist down due to spinal infection. scary stuff! have you tried massages?

**NEFLRick** · 11-27-2013, 04:23 PM

Originally Posted by bass

yup me too, everyone I know that had a back surgery are far worse today, and one of them got paralyzed from the waist down due to spinal infection. scary stuff! have you tried massages?

Yikes!

Actually, funny you mention massage. I was thinking about that because of how good my back feels after the roller table. What type of massage do I ask for (besides the happy ending kind

<--joke)? I've never done massage before so I'm not sure what I should ask for. I think it would really help.

Back has been feeling a lot better today. The chiro said it's a lot looser than it was yesterday as well. So something is getting better. I'll be back to the gym next week just not doing anything which may aggravate it.

**bass** · 11-27-2013, 04:56 PM

How to CRACK your BACK using ASHIATSU Massage - YouTube

this is by far the best effective massage I've ever experienced. just make sure the one climbing on you back weighs no more than 125 lbs female!

**Beethoven** · 11-27-2013, 10:10 PM

Neflrick, I have a past much like yours. Did martial arts for more than 30 years and quite a bit of jiu jitsu as well. I had back problems which showed 2 herniated discs some years back, but not enough for surgery. When I had back pain I did quite a bit of yoga and had great success with it. Also hanging from a bar holding yourself with a baseball type grip on the bar helps a lot. Many years later, another MRI didn't show any herniations. I'm currently trying to strengthen my back again starting with a lot of hyperextensions. I plan on working back to deads. My squats are ok though. But for a long time I didn't do any exercise that my back was not supported. (T bar rows, rear delts with dumbells on an incline bench, etc.)

**NEFLRick** · 11-28-2013, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by bass

How to CRACK your BACK using ASHIATSU Massage - YouTube

this is by far the best effective massage I've ever experienced. just make sure the one climbing on you back weighs no more than 125 lbs female!

Thanks.

Funny massage story:

Only time I've ever gotten a massage I was with my wife at a resort. We were sitting in the waiting room waiting for them to come get us (wasn't a couples massage). So an older woman comes and gets my wife. A couple of minutes later a very hot younger woman comes to get me. I was like great but not great!

So the whole time I got the massage I was concentrating so I didn't do anything to embarrass myself (if you know what I mean--no low t problems back then). So I wasn't able to totally enjoy the massage. I was also hoping my wife didn't see the hottie who was giving me my massage--not that she is the jealous type, not at all. Luckily, she took me back to the waiting room before my wife got out there.

So my first experience with massage, while interesting, wasn't all that relaxing.

**NEFLRick** · 11-28-2013, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Beethoven

Neflrick, I have a past much like yours. Did martial arts for more than 30 years and quite a bit of jiu jitsu as well. I had back problems which showed 2 herniated discs some years back, but not enough for surgery. When I had back pain I did quite a bit of yoga and had great success with it. Also hanging from a bar holding yourself with a baseball type grip on the bar helps a lot. Many years later, another MRI didn't show any herniations. I'm currently trying to strengthen my back again starting with a lot of hyperextensions. I plan on working back to deads. My squats are ok though. But for a long time I didn't do any exercise that my back was not supported. (T bar rows, rear delts with dumbells on an incline bench, etc.)

I started lifting many moons ago. I was training karate at the time and wound up with blood clots in my leg (not from karate) so had to stop. Back then (early 1990s) they put me in the hospital for a week on a heparin drip and then 6 months on coumadin. So I was unable to do anything like karate. They told me I could lift weights so that's when I started.

I lifted heavy until I killed my shoulders. Then got into jiu jitsu for about 7 years. Competed doing that. Moved to FL about 3 years ago and have been unable to find a good no-gi jits place around here so I gave up and have gone back to lifting heavy. I'm getting old anyway (44) and jits isn't an old man's sport.

Always have been very careful with my back and lifted to make it stronger but not over-doing it. I think that's why I've never had back problems (until now). I think my problem right now is more due to age and wear and tear than a specific injury. Just a hazzard of leading an active lifestyle and getting old. But getting old sure beats the alternative!

**Beethoven** · 11-28-2013, 09:16 AM

You're right that jitz is a young mans sport. It also takes a lot of dedication. I still train with some friends now and again but I'm 52, and not going to be competing anytime soon. Try the sun salutations, it worked wonders for my lower back.

**NEFLRick** · 11-28-2013, 08:08 PM

I really enjoy it. However, I have a few problems for training:

-I'm 44
-I'm a super heavyweight, trying to find other super heavyweights can be tough
-I live in NE FL where, quite frankly, they are very behind in the grappling world. I'm originally from NJ where we had LOTS of good grappling. People around here--when I can find no-gi places, just don't go very hard. Frustrating since that's all I did (go hard).
-I'm a super heavyweight (as I said) and, when rolling with other super heavyweights (when I can find them) it's very easy to have something bend the wrong way or come down too hard on something. So very easy to get hurt.
-I found it tougher and tougher to keep up with the youngins. Getting older is a bitch.

But I really miss it. I used to be an amateur judge for MMA in NJ and I'm also a photographer and have shot a lot of pro fights up in NJ. But there just isn't a lot around here in NE Fl.

**Beethoven** · 11-28-2013, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by NEFLRick

I really enjoy it. However, I have a few problems for training:

-I'm 44
-I'm a super heavyweight, trying to find other super heavyweights can be tough
-I live in NE FL where, quite frankly, they are very behind in the grappling world. I'm originally from NJ where we had LOTS of good grappling. People around here--when I can find no-gi places, just don't go very hard. Frustrating since that's all I did (go hard).
-I'm a super heavyweight (as I said) and, when rolling with other super heavyweights (when I can find them) it's very easy to have something bend the wrong way or come down too hard on something. So very easy to get hurt.
-I found it tougher and tougher to keep up with the youngins. Getting older is a bitch.

But I really miss it. I used to be an amateur judge for MMA in NJ and I'm also a photographer and have shot a lot of pro fights up in NJ. But there just isn't a lot around here in NE Fl.

I used to be a heavy in judo but at the lower weight end, always being outweighed. I have a good friend who is an mma judge for the Florida state athletic commission. We are right there bud.

**Beethoven** · 11-28-2013, 10:54 PM

You have some good bjj people up in your old neck of the woods. I'm in the southern part of Fla, we have a lot of good bjj people down here.

**NEFLRick** · 11-29-2013, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Beethoven

You have some good bjj people up in your old neck of the woods. I'm in the southern part of Fla, we have a lot of good bjj people down here.

I've not found any. I've been to a bunch of places. I'm an advanced intermediate (nothing more) and I would go into places and destroy their best people. I'm good but not THAT good (I don't kid myself). I'm sure there are some good places but haven't found any in my neck of the woods. More importantly, everyone does gi and I just don't want to learn a new art (gi is so different than no-gi). I'm too old.

So, unfortunately, I gave it up.

**Beethoven** · 11-29-2013, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by NEFLRick

I've not found any. I've been to a bunch of places. I'm an advanced intermediate (nothing more) and I would go into places and destroy their best people. I'm good but not THAT good (I don't kid myself). I'm sure there are some good places but haven't found any in my neck of the woods. More importantly, everyone does gi and I just don't want to learn a new art (gi is so different than no-gi). I'm too old.

So, unfortunately, I gave it up.

That happened to me early on when there weren't any good schools. But now it has really boomed down here. I did GI and no GI. I like the technical aspect of GI work, that is not to say the no GI isn't technical but just my preference. ;-)

**NEFLRick** · 11-29-2013, 02:32 PM

Oh I love the technical aspect of gi, I'm just too old and really don't want to learn a new style, which is what you're really doing when going from no-gi to gi (or vice versa). I totally respect gi players.