Just messed up my back squatting

[Insomniator]

I went down to squat and heard my pants rip so I laughed a little and immediately felt burning pain in my lower back. I got the bar up just fine but it hurts so so so much right now. I don't know what i did I know there are lot of different back injuries you can get.

Its in my lower back and it hurts the worst to bend down or try to get up. Its a constant burn that has gotten better since i did it (about 2 hours ago) but I don't really know what to do besides never squat again. I'm always super careful with form and the amount of weight and never had any back problems at all. Now I rip my pants and cripple myself!

PS it turned out it was just my boxers.

Do I need to see a chiropractor regardless if it gets better? Would my physical therapist help?

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'd take it easy for a few weeks and go from there.

 

[VulgarDisplay]

I for one absolutely can't squat in boxers because they grab my legs. I actually bought seperate underwear just for going to the gym.

 

[Insomniator]

I for one absolutely can't squat in boxers because they grab my legs. I actually bought seperate underwear just for going to the gym.

I know... I always wear boxer briefs to squat but today i forgot my ipod and wore boxers... must be all the snow making me crazy.

I just picked up a thermal heat wrap hope this feels a little better tomorrow...

 

[rcpratt]

I for one absolutely can't squat in boxers because they grab my legs. I actually bought seperate underwear just for going to the gym.

Seriously. I've always worked out in compression shorts, can't stand boxers for working out.

I'd give it a week of rest before you do anything.

 

[Powermoloch]

Have you ever used gym belts?

I hope you get better, usually if it's just soreness...it goes away in a few days. IF the pain persists, seek medical help.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Have you ever used gym belts?

I hope you get better, usually if it's just soreness...it goes away in a few days. IF the pain persists, seek medical help.

Using a weightlifting belt is not a deterrent against injuries. In fact, it frequently increases the severity of an injury due to the increased intraabdominal pressure.

OP: Where exactly does it hurt on your low back? Above your sacrum? At your sacrum? On the side? Honestly, if you're still in pain or get any tingling/numbness/weakness tomorrow, go to the orthopedist immediately. The sooner back injuries can be addressed, the more hope for healing.

 

[Insomniator]

Using a weightlifting belt is not a deterrent against injuries. In fact, it frequently increases the severity of an injury due to the increased intraabdominal pressure.

OP: Where exactly does it hurt on your low back? Above your sacrum? At your sacrum? On the side? Honestly, if you're still in pain or get any tingling/numbness/weakness tomorrow, go to the orthopedist immediately. The sooner back injuries can be addressed, the more hope for healing.

I think its at the sacrum.. right in the middle of the back. If I bend forward while sitting it reallly hurts to a certain point and then feels normal as I bend all the way forward. I'm going to call my doc tomorrow morning and see if he has anything open. I feel like this wont feel any better overnight.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

I think its at the sacrum.. right in the middle of the back. If I bend forward while sitting it reallly hurts to a certain point and then feels normal as I bend all the way forward. I'm going to call my doc tomorrow morning and see if he has anything open. I feel like this wont feel any better overnight.

If you feel it at the sacrum, it's actually likely to be the L4-L5 disc, especially with the description of events. It's the most commonly herniated disc. If you do see your own general practitioner, make sure you get some anti-inflammatories or something. They'll decrease swelling that could cause extra chance of spinal nerve impingement.

 

[coreyb]

did you warm up?

 

[MrEgo]

Wouldn't it be a bad idea to use a heating pad in this situation?

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Wouldn't it be a bad idea to use a heating pad in this situation?

It would be a terrible idea. Heat promotes inflammation. In this case, inflammation is going to be the enemy. Ice is more appropriate. 15min on, 15min off throughout the day.

 

[DeckardBlade]

A good way to apply the ice to your lower back(and rest it in general)is to use a position like this:

I prefer having my legs elevated, I get more contact with an icepack on my lower back using that position.

 

[Insomniator]

It would be a terrible idea. Heat promotes inflammation. In this case, inflammation is going to be the enemy. Ice is more appropriate. 15min on, 15min off throughout the day.

::removes heat pad::

So my doc gave me Naproxen (anti inflammatory) and cylcobenzaphrine (muscle relaxant). He felt my muscles and said they didn't seem to be injured or too tight (i felt no pain on all the places he pushed) and said it was possible but unlikely that I have a herniated disc. I got X-rays on my lumbar spine just in case but won't have results till Tuesday. I mentioned the heat pad he just said be careful because I can burn myself without knowing it on these meds. Didn't say not to use it though...

I did warmup before hand, on the bike and with gradual increasing weight. I don't believe the injury is from not warming up (though maybe better warmups could have helped) but i really just lost the tightness and control when I laughed a little bit. Knee went in a little, got a little off balance.. you know how it is.

 

[purbeast0]

i have 2 partially bulging discs in my lower lumbar do to poor squatting form.

i went about 18 months before i had it actually checked out because it would go away and the pain would almost be gone, and I would then do something to reaggrivate it. finally one day when I was leaving a vacation, i pulled it bad somehow and had to sit on a plane for 4 hours. when i got off it hurt to stand up straight and breathe. so this is when I got it checked.

turned out it was 2 bad discs and I remember when i initially hurt it.

to this day it still bugs me and there are certain exercises i just don't do and steer clear of, squats and deadlifts being the main 2.

this happened 5 or so years ago.

 

[iluvdeal]

Stories like that is why I have a love/hate relationship with squats. I know how good they are for you, but I also know how potentially dangerous they can be if you have a momentary lapse in your form.

purbeast0, was your injury the result of an acute incident like the OP where you compromised your form one time and got hurt? Or where you squatting with improper form for awhile and it finally caught up to you? What was the mistake in form you were making?

 

[purbeast0]

Stories like that is why I have a love/hate relationship with squats. I know how good they are for you, but I also know how potentially dangerous they can be if you have a momentary lapse in your form.

purbeast0, was your injury the result of an acute incident like the OP where you compromised your form one time and got hurt? Or where you squatting with improper form for awhile and it finally caught up to you? What was the mistake in form you were making?

well i think my form in general wasn't that great, and I wasn't keeping the arch on my back as it should be.

then when i tried heavy weight one day, i came up weird and just felt something wrong in my lower back. i just immediately left the gym.

it was basically my ongoing poor form, and then when i started actually hitting heavier weight, the poor form caused my back to slip. and it wasn't even HEAVY heavy ... I think it was 295lb that I screwed it up on.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

::removes heat pad::

So my doc gave me Naproxen (anti inflammatory) and cylcobenzaphrine (muscle relaxant). He felt my muscles and said they didn't seem to be injured or too tight (i felt no pain on all the places he pushed) and said it was possible but unlikely that I have a herniated disc. I got X-rays on my lumbar spine just in case but won't have results till Tuesday. I mentioned the heat pad he just said be careful because I can burn myself without knowing it on these meds. Didn't say not to use it though...

I did warmup before hand, on the bike and with gradual increasing weight. I don't believe the injury is from not warming up (though maybe better warmups could have helped) but i really just lost the tightness and control when I laughed a little bit. Knee went in a little, got a little off balance.. you know how it is.

No offense, but MDs don't know too much about sports injuries or rehab procedures. Don't use heat. If it is a spine injury (or even just a ligament injury within/on the vertebrae), using heat could increase the inflammation. That edema could cause increased pressure and volume within the injury site. That alone could lead to delayed healing. He's giving you the anti-inflammatories to kick the inflammation down. It'd be silly to negate that by adding heat... because heat will win every time.

This is why you don't horse around in the weight room. I know it's not something most people think of, but laughing during a squat or deadlift is dangerous beyond belief. Sure, it's fine with bicep curls or pull-ups, but when you're under load and intra-abdominal pressure counts, it's not an option.

And to address iluvdeal's comment: this wasn't an issue of squatting. This was an issue of improper behavior during a squat. Laughing, shifting, dancing, stepping improperly during a squat are all bad idea. Squatting itself, with good form, tightness, and at appropriate intensity rarely causes injuries.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Insomniator,

Well, you saw a doctor. That is important. I wouldn't do anything till the x-rays are back.

Also, did it tighten up overnight in your sleep?

 

[eits]

sounds like a disc. see if your regular chiro has any decompression equipment or if he does disc adjustments. if not, chiro + pt might be your best bet.

 

[eits]

Insomniator,

Well, you saw a doctor. That is important. I wouldn't do anything till the x-rays are back.

Also, did it tighten up overnight in your sleep?

x-ray won't show a disc.

 

[eits]

No offense, but MDs don't know too much about sports injuries or rehab procedures. Don't use heat. If it is a spine injury (or even just a ligament injury within/on the vertebrae), using heat could increase the inflammation. That edema could cause increased pressure and volume within the injury site. That alone could lead to delayed healing. He's giving you the anti-inflammatories to kick the inflammation down. It'd be silly to negate that by adding heat... because heat will win every time.

This is why you don't horse around in the weight room. I know it's not something most people think of, but laughing during a squat or deadlift is dangerous beyond belief. Sure, it's fine with bicep curls or pull-ups, but when you're under load and intra-abdominal pressure counts, it's not an option.

And to address iluvdeal's comment: this wasn't an issue of squatting. This was an issue of improper behavior during a squat. Laughing, shifting, dancing, stepping improperly during a squat are all bad idea. Squatting itself, with good form, tightness, and at appropriate intensity rarely causes injuries.

this

 

[eits]

man, i can't wait to open my own clinic soon...