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Heavy lifts with back issues

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Does anyone here lift heavy but have occasional back pain? Back issues which may not actually have to do with exercising? How do you deal with it?

Details of my situation:

When I was about 25 I had my first back problem. I ended up getting a couple months physical therapy. If I recall and can describe ? the muscle in my back would cramp and I needed time to get it to relax and give me full range of motion without pain. I had X-rays and saw a specialist - No real disk problem or anything like that, although I do have scoliosis.

Since then I've exercised lightly and paid more attention to posture, occasional back stretches, etc. And it basically hasn't been a problem. I've had similar, but not nearly as extreme pain perhaps 3 times in ten years. One of those three times I remember I lifted something with bad form. All of the times I believe it was part stress related. I also get occasionally a sore back ? perhaps every month or two, nothing major. It goes away in a day or 2 if I stretch and remember to pay attention to posture.

Now, I'm basically 10 weeks into Starting Strength. After about the first 6 weeks, my back was a bit sore. I think it was not from a workout ? just the occasional pain I get. I worked out anyway. It got worse because of the workout, and took a few days to return to normal. Last night, I did it again ? did a workout on a sore back and today I'm paying the price. This time ? I worked out Monday, felt fine Tuesday & Wednesday, had a sore back Thursday before my workout.

I suppose as I write this, it seems obvious I should see a back specialist to see what I can do to avoid this. But any opinions?
 
Just make sure your form is down before you start going too heavy. My back used to be really messed up from working at UPS as a loader. But when I started deadlifting using proper form the majority of my back problems went away.
 
Agreed. I've been very careful about form - reading and re-reading Rippetoe's book and watching the DVD. All the trainers at a crossfit affiliate said my form was great.

I've also been somewhat cautious about adding weight.

Body weight 165
Latest 3*5 sets:
Squat 195
Deadlift 165
Press 95
Bench 135
 
Things that you can do to improve your back's conditioning is continuing to do some of the most important PT exercises that you got. Lifting works some different things and you may or may not be hitting some of the muscles that you need to (rhomboids especially for scoliosis). That'll help keep your back strong as a whole and I would bet it would help. If your back hurts, you need to either ease up or take a small break. If you do take a break, take a few days off and then introduce PT exercises again. I might even go back to my PT and ask some of the questions you have since he or she will most likely be able to answer your questions more fully.
 
I've had low back pain on and off for years, mostly controlled with better posture, not sleeping on stomach, and strengthening the back. It hit back hard this week like bejesuz after a night on my stomach and a bike ride.

I would not even think about doing any heavy back lifts like squats/deads unless form is PERFECT. I plan on going back to religious hyperextensions, plus no more damn slouching (like, ever) or sleeping on stomach. It was amazing how quickly it came on on Monday, I couldn't even walk properly, now it's almost perfect after four nights on the floor in fetal and proper positions at work. Today I can exercise again so I'm going to stop ignoring this lingering problem, once and for all.
 
Originally posted by: technologyslice
Do light weight dead-lifts for reps.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily the option if form is perfect. Deadlift is normally built to be done at heavy weight, low reps. If working on form, then higher reps is fine, but if he wants to work for strength then he's going to need to do low reps.
 
Second SC on going heavy on DLs. Go heavy or go home is the typical mantra for eliciting maximal training response. However, assistance exercises which can help w/ fixing form or improving ROM such as straight legged DLs should be done at fairly light weight.
 
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