[Injury] Low Back Pain

[NeuroParadox]

The impossible has happened. Actually, it's quite possible and it could even happen to you. But before I get into things too much I just want to take a minute to introduce myself:

- I'm 17 years old.
- I'm a senior in high school.
- I've played football for 5 years.
- I've been practicing various martial arts for 2 years.
- I'm young and reckless.

These five key points are crucial to what I am about to tell you. Early on in my football career, I sustained a pretty bad injury from being involved in a very HUGE collision of forces on a kickoff return. Luckily I was the one giving most of the hit but never-the-less I still took a massive shock from it. Ever since then I've been having shooting pains in my lower back every now and then. First I consulted my father who is an Orthotist, and he deals with bones and muscles a lot so I thought he might be able to help me. Turns out the best he could do was give some good ol' fatherly wisdom. "Go to a real doctor." is what he said. So I did, and he didn't really know what was wrong with me. His only insight was "Son, you have the back of a 30 year old and you need to stretch more, you are too tight." Being that I am a young and reckless 17 year old, I didn't pay much attention to his wisdom. The pain gradually dissipated over time, but I was still very tight from neglecting to stretch out before working out or playing ball. Then one day at Jujitsu class, after being customarily thrown to the ground on my back at least 100 times, and then proceeding to throw overweight middle-aged men to the ground, something just clicked, and it wasn't a bright idea. It was my back. The next day, I literally could not get out of my bed. Try as I might, I couldn't even move. I was utterly defeated.

Now for the second part of my introduction:

- I hate to not be able to do something.

- I hate not knowing everything, so I try to learn as much as I can all the time. I hate not knowing how to answer someone's question. I hate feeling ignorant. (At least I do understand that I don't know everything, unlike most young people these days.)

- I am willing to keep an open mind about anything, I will absorb any knowledge and use it for my productivity.

Not being able to get out of my own bed in the morning, because of my own neglect and ignorance of body mechanics, improper usage of technique, and complete lack of a sound stretching regimen is an utter disgrace to myself. Not knowing what to do about it is even worse. So now, I come to you oh wise and experienced lords of WWB. Please help me to get back on track, help me out with a good stretching program. As I become more limber and my back heals, then we can talk strength training. Feel free to tell me about any experiences you've had with low back pain. I am your pupil, please teach me.

[USC Ed]

I had the same problem as you when I was sixteen. I hit this fat ****er (6"7 and 300 lbs) and my back just went. I was injured for around two years. The best advice to you is to be disciplined and do not play sports if you are in pain. I had days when I could barely walk but I still was out shotting hoops. Every time I dunked the ball my back would just go but I was stupid and continued to play. I could barely move yet I was dunk bballs. Resist the temptation and sit out when you feel bad. Don't do any further damage. Because of my stupidity I feel pains when I do squats and sometimes when I hit playing sports. This isn't the stretching advice you were after, just advice from someone who suffered a similar injured.

[NeuroParadox]

Thanks for the advice USC Ed. It is very hard for me to sit out and just stop all my training, and I doubt that I'll be able to totally stop doing anything until my back completely heals. I'll still head over to Jujitsu later on and practice wrist and elbow locks if nothing else. Thanks for the quick reply. I'll stay disciplined.

[drew]

Get yourself to a physical therapist. Learn some stretching techniques and practice them. Listen to people who know. Sorry you had to go through this to learn something, but we're all like that when we're young. Hope you heal up fast.

[cwm]

WOW i am glad there is someone else out there like me. Every single thing you said has happened to me. ITs been at least 8 years since i first injured it snowboarding and i have had pains here and there but last month i injured it snowboarding again so bad that for a entire week i couldnt not bend AT ALL. Couldnt bend down to flip up the toilet seat to take a piss for a week. I consulted a friend who is an athelete doctor. He said to get a heat pack.......heat up the area that is sore, and stretch it out. do this a few times a day. then move into light exercises. If your doing back exercises that you used to do, decrease the intensity by about 50%. Also try to strengthen the muscles oposite, which would be your abs. For me the pain was just to the right side of my spine on my lower back. good luck. Also try to keep good posture as much as posible, as you are putting strain on the muscle by slouching which will stop it from healling completely.

[NeuroParadox]

Thanks for the replies Drew and CWM. I have been using the heat pack strategy for a few days now, but I'm still having a lot of trouble stretching because I am so abnormaly tight. I have been trying to get my girlfriend to help me out since she is into yoga, but that stuff is still beyond my stretching capability. Does anyone know any basic stretch that I could do to help my lower back?

[Tank23]

Lie on the floor, bring your knees to your chest. Stretch the hammies and glutes too, I find that stretching the whole posterior chain helps to alleviate lower back tightness.

[drew]

:withstupi

strong hammies = strong back. That's a great stretch to do.

[NeuroParadox]

Thanks for the great stretch and for the advice. My back has healed a lot since it went out and I've been stretching everything like crazy, and it has helped a lot. Thanks for all the help.

- Neuro -

[Big & Tall]

You might try talking to a chiropractor. I went to one recently for low back pain, and it greatly reduced my pain. I wouldn't say it is a total solution, and I would also advise stretching and strengthening the erector chain, but chiros can help.

[steroido]

All this advice seems to be right on the money- get PROFESSIONAL help! I have a very bad back & the ONLY way I can cope is with narcotics. Luckily I'm retired & don't work on the assembly line anymore!!!