Lower back injury from deadlift

[greemah]

7 weeks ago I injured myself deadlifting, must have rounded my lower back or something because there was a huge crack and I couldn't bend over for a couple days.

I saw a physio person about it and they said it was like a knuckle crack but in my lower back and it should start coming right after 72 hours. It did get a lot better, but it has never come completely right.

I can move in all directions fine but it feels uncomfortable when sitting for a while, or if I lean forward I feel some pain when my torso is at about 45 degrees. Also if I sit down and stick my leg out straight I can feel it. I have taken a week off training and it made no difference, so not really sure what else to do since it doesn't seem to be improving.

Does anyone have any ideas? Or can anyone recommend anyone to see in Christchurch?

[faint]

Sounds to me like a herniated/slipped disc. Should this be the case, rest up and get someone to critique your deadlift form. Do you look at yourself in the mirror while deadlifting by any chance?

[crazyfacials]

I feel you brah, did squats last sunday and ever since then my back has not been the same...then today tried to warm up with dumbbells for arms and all of a sudden hada sharp pain in my back and wasn't able to move or breathe....no chiros open on sunday too so f*ck my life

[greemah]

Sounds to me like a herniated/slipped disc. Should this be the case, rest up and get someone to critique your deadlift form. Do you look at yourself in the mirror while deadlifting by any chance?

Any idea how long it will take to heal? I can still do lighter deadlifts so have been making sure to stick my ass and chest out and not allow any rounding at all. I'll take this week off again to see if there is any improvement, but it's been 7 weeks now and just seems to stay the same and not get any better

I feel you brah, did squats last sunday and ever since then my back has not been the same...then today tried to warm up with dumbbells for arms and all of a sudden hada sharp pain in my back and wasn't able to move or breathe....no chiros open on sunday too so f*ck my life

It sucks aye, let me know how you go with the chiro, maybe one of them could help me out

[faint]

Any idea how long it will take to heal? I can still do lighter deadlifts so have been making sure to stick my ass and chest out and not allow any rounding at all. I'll take this week off again to see if there is any improvement, but it's been 7 weeks now and just seems to stay the same and not get any better

I had the same problem while first starting deadlifts, I was visiting chiropractors and physio atleast once a week to try and remedy this problem. According to them I had really good technique w/ a straight back and they couldn't figure out why it was causing me so much pain to lift rather light weights. After countless hours trying to critique my own technique via video recording, I found it was my neck that was causing my lower back problems!

Nowdays I do not need to look in the mirror to critique my technique, always make sure your neck is tucked in while keeping it align with your back. There are a few articles on google regarding neck packing if this happens to be the case for you. Even after quite a severe herniated disc I can now deadlift heavy weights for reps with no backpain at all

Hope this helps :wave:

[greemah]

Nowdays I do not need to look in the mirror to critique my technique, always make sure your neck is tucked in while keeping it align with your back. There are a few articles on google regarding neck packing if this happens to be the case for you. Even after quite a severe herniated disc I can now deadlift heavy weights for reps with no backpain at all

Thanks Faint, I have just been googling neck packing, I have never come across this before or hearf of it. It seems to go against other things I've read though, wouldn't it make it easier to round the lower back? This may have been my problem as I always make a conscious effort to lift my head up

Was your herniated disk in your lower back, and what did you do to get it to heal?

[cantygirl]

Just a thought, how is your abdominal strength, I know alot of back injuries are caused from not bracing your abs and obviously bad form aint gonna help.

[greemah]

Nowdays I do not need to look in the mirror to critique my technique, always make sure your neck is tucked in while keeping it align with your back. There are a few articles on google regarding neck packing if this happens to be the case for you. Even after quite a severe herniated disc I can now deadlift heavy weights for reps with no backpain at all

Man, think my neck may be related... was reading about neck packing yesterday so did some practice (not lifting weights) and neck ends up sore as hell. Could this be an indicator of any problems?

Just a thought, how is your abdominal strength, I know alot of back injuries are caused from not bracing your abs and obviously bad form aint gonna help.

I did think about that but I really don't think that will be the cause. I've always worked my abs and think it is more one of my stronger points, and they haven't really been a problem on the deadlift before

[greemah]

Ok I saw a doc and got an x-ray, looks like my tailbone and the bottom part of the spine are actually fused together lol. Not normal but not uncommon either. Anyone know how this may affect my deadlift?

I saw a physio person again and they did acupuncture on my lower back, and within a few hours it was feeling better then it has in months. It feels almost back to normal now, pretty amazed by this. Have a follow up session tomorrow so see how we get on there